Behind the shadows

As Cloud had said, they quit on asking anymore questions. It relieved Yuffie, calmed down Aerith and made Tifa smile, just a bit.

Time past quickly, the boys hasn't had a single lead gotten from their little plan. Though, Cloud isn't much depressed. Tifa has been frequently visiting without Cloud persuading or asking her anymore.

With their little time in the Music's cove, the two have been in a rather closer relationship. Cid has been getting used to Tifa coming in search of Cloud. He actually likes it. Cloud was always energetic when Tifa's around and the young lady would help out without pay just to pass time.

"My my, Tifa" Shera, Cid's wife has been often to check up on the shop and her husband. On occasions she sees Tifa, they would have a talk with a cup of tea.

"You've been coming quite often now…what's rare is when you don't come" Shera smiled. Tifa blushed and took a glance at Cloud that was being yelled at by Cid.

"Come on! You got better to do than moping around! Sometimes I think Tifa's a better worker than you!" Cid meant this half-heartedly. Cloud knows it too. Shera saw Tifa's gaze and followed it. She took a glance at a sighing Cloud and his husband. She suddenly gave him a cold stare.

Cid felt it and turned his head. Shera smiled at him and said "It's the ending of a day today, the last customer already left, let the boy do his cleaning the way he wants it…"

Cid cursed which earned him a colder stare. He exits to the back in defeat. Shera sighed at it which caused Tifa and Cloud giggling.

Cloud continued his cleaning, while Tifa had her attention back at Shera.

"You were looking at Cloud, awhile ago? Aren't you, dear?" was what Shera suddenly told her. Tifa's face turned bright red. She bowed her head and began fidgeting causing Shera to giggle.

"Dear, I know…Cid and I know about that unsaid love of yours" Shera smiled. Tifa felt her face getting warmer. She began giving small lances at Cloud, but his back was facing her.

"No need to worry sweetheart!" Shera smiled. Tifa looked at her with a confused look and a fast beating heart.

"Cloud loves you too" She blurted out. Tifa, just hearing it felt her heart going to explode. Hearing that, even not from him, from someone whose been somehow observing them, it has to be true…and Tifa had never felt so happy.

"But…" her doubts were getting to her "What if what you think isn't really what it is?"

Shera gave Tifa a looked of amusement "Never underestimate me, Tifa. I know a boy in love even if his grumpy, bad mouthed and loud" she giggled. Tifa looked at her and began to giggle too.

Cloud, done with his cleaning, spotted the two ladies giggling. He wondered what they were talking about, but never went far with his curiosity. He remembered what Cid told him when Tifa and Shera first met and began chatting.

"Never ask what women talks about, Mostly it would be just something a man can't understand and will never understand…except if you're not a real man, of course "

Suddenly, Cid came from his behind and pat his shoulder "Remember what I said….real men will never and can never understand what women talks about"

Those words just keeps making Cloud chuckle. Tifa and Shera saw him chuckling with Cid. Shera then began whispering at Tifa who seem curious on what their laughing about.

"Never get curious about what men talks and laughs about..."

"Why?" Tifa was curious.

"Women can never understand what men talks about…well except if you're not really feminine"

Tifa just blinked and smiled. Her curiosity cut.

The shops already closed, it's the sad time of the day when they had to go separate ways.

While they seem frozen and silent outside the shop, Tifa was actually thinking of what Shera told her. And Cloud, what Cid told him a little while ago in the back while h changes.

Flashback

"Strife" Cid suddenly knocked on the staff room. Cloud just finished changing and was off. He opened the door "Yes Sir?"
"I have something to tell you"

Cloud wasn't expecting a talk, he thought of the usual thing Cid would tell him "I miss a spot to clean? Or did I do something bad?"

"Neither, It's about that little secret love of yours" Cid said so straightforwardly. Now, Cloud was really not expecting this. Why would someone like Cid tell something like this?

"Uhm…I think Tifa's waiting for me" Cloud, was trying to get out, but Cid was blocking the way. Something was up with Cid. There has got to be! Cid hates mushy stuff!

"Now listen here, if neither of you two tell that word, those feelings of your will get spoiled!"

"What word?" Cloud asked, not really giving full attention. Cid sighed.

"'I Love you'!" Cloud felt a disgusting feeling in his gut. Did Cid Highwind, owner of Music's cove and known as a bad mouthed blabber mouth told him I Love you?

Cid cursed. It was a good thing no one else was near.

"Back to the point Strife!" he said in serious tone "Tell that feelings of yours to Tifa!"

"But, what if she doesn't accept them?" Cloud, getting into the conversation just couldn't understand how he got to say that so straight.

"Are you blind? The girl likes you!" Cid couldn't believe his talking such things with his employee.

"How are you sure?"

"You are blind, aren't you?" Cid gave him a stare. Cloud just remained silent "She likes you Kid! Even Shera knows it! Get a clue! So get to it and confess!" he stormed off without a word. Leaving Cloud blushing with joy knowing, even not from her directly that Tifa likes him.

End of Flashback

"Uhm…Teef" Cloud broke the silence. Tifa looked at him. Her stare was enough to make him nervous.

"Uh, I have something to say" Cloud spoke.

"Me too…" Tifa began blushing. Cloud raised an eyebrow.

"Really?" Tifa nodded, her heartbeat going fast.

"Well, you first" Cloud said, seeming unable to speak.

"No, you first" Tifa quickly responded. This just left them back to being silent. They both bowed their head, feeling a determination to say what they want to say.

Both looked at each other and spoke in unison.

"I Love you!"

Both looked at each other, cheeks burning scarlet. After a few minutes of continued stare, Tifa spoke.

"Well, I better be going…" she said, feeling quite uneasy.

"Uhm, sure….so, this is…bye?" Cloud asked, not really wanting her to go just yet.

"Yeah…" Tifa nodded "…Bye…" then she walked slowly opposite from Cloud. Cloud did the same, not even daring to look behind as Tifa disappears. He wasn't a feet away when he heard Tifa.

"Cloud!"

He turned and saw she was already in front of him. She pulled his jacket and kissed him straight on the lips. She quickly let go.

"Uhm…I…" Tifa was blushing, not really knowing what to do…well; she had an urge to do it, where the urge came from? Her heart.

"See you…!" she said suddenly running off. Cloud was left dumbfounded while his lips curved up to a smile.

As Tifa was running, she touched her lips and felt embarrassed at what she just did. Remembering what Shera told her.

"You know, sometimes words aren't enough to tell what you feel…since sometimes people can be dense, so make sure when the time comes, show him you really love him"

'Oh man…' Tifa said in her thoughts, still running 'Our teeth hit each other… I'm so stupid! Ouch…'

She ran home overjoyed and a little bit pained with her teeth.

Cloud was covering his mouth, also feeling a sting of pain from their teeth hitting each other. He was quite amused and simply delighted. He thought after that, they were just going to be simply awkward. He didn't expect Tifa to do such a thing. It made him really glad she did. He began to run when he saw the school. The wind blowing on his face just made him feel more hyped up.

While the two just had a moment they were waiting for, behind the shadows, they didn't realize someone had seen everything and she wasn't happy.

It's been two days; Cloud was off on work since tests are coming up. He hasn't seen Tifa yet since she's also busy on studying. He couldn't wait to see her. He really wanted too so badly.

"Hey Lover Boy, concentrate on the test before you go to cloud 9" Zack punched him on the shoulders. Cloud did the same to him. He's told Zack and Vincent of what happened. Vincent congratulated him while Zack was so proud and said his giving all his support to him.

"Hey…" Vincent entered Cloud and Zack's room. It was self review time so everyone was silent reviewing, but everyone suddenly loses concentration when one of the Lockhart's fiancée suddenly appears in their classroom.

"Way to make an entrance" Zack grinned. Vincent glanced at the class, some of the girls almost squealed. It was much of a fact that Vincent is known as a handsome and rich guy in school. So was Zack and Cloud, who seem to be getting his own fan club one of these days.

"What you need, Vincent?" Cloud asked "Is Tifa reviewing?"

Vincent smiled at Cloud "Yes, Tifa is trying her best to concentrate even if she keeps looking at the sky outside"

"Why?" Zack wondered and looked out the window; he first noticed the clouds "OH! Now I get it! Because there are Clouds" he smiled. Vincent gave him a glare. Zack didn't understood what it was for, until he heard some murmurs. He forgot they weren't alone.

"Clouds? Those it mean Tifa's thinking of Cloud?"

"SO Tifa likes Cloud?"

Zack looked at Cloud and he wasn't happy. What's happened between Tifa and him is a big secret never to be told until the right time.

Zack sighed and called everyone's attention "Hey! Stop making rumors! There's nothing going on with Cloud and Tifa!" he said in a serious tone, Cloud's amaze how Zack managed to act serious "Tifa's been lately interested in clouds…she seems to be interested in their particle something and how their made…"

That got the class to agree. Well everyone agrees with Zack. And it wasn't much of a surprise to them if Tifa gets interested in clouds, she's good at studying, being always on top of the list in every test.

When everyone was convinced, Zack began pouting. Vincent sighed and gave them a folder and headed out.

A teacher came in and that automatically got everyone back into studying. Cloud and Zack looked at each other and opened the folder. Inside was an envelope. Inside it were tickets. There was more. A note.

'Aerith wanted us to come to the mansion with them after the test for semester vacation. Reasons, unknown.'

"Why?" Cloud asked Zack. He was wondering why she would suddenly give them tickets to come to their mansion.

"Who cares? Were going! Meaning, we can find out something about them!" Zack whispered his cheer.

Zack was right; they can finally continue their plan on knowing the truth. And the reasons to why Aerith invited them…maybe she just felt like it, though Vincent has told me that Zack and him can get there piece of cake since their boyfriend and fiancée.

Maybe he got in because Aerith still seemed interested in him. Well, reasons are still unknown. What matters is, their getting in, where everything started….the Lockhart Mansion.

Please Review! What do you think? Is it good?