Chapter Ten: A Gift
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII or the characters. The plot of this story is my own, so no stealing.
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"Tifa."
The woman's eyes snapped open, revealing not the Cosmo Canyon dwelling that she fell asleep in, but a world of pure white. Sitting up, she felt her hand brush up against something soft.
Flowers.
As she stood up, she realized she was surrounded by them; the same ones that were in her Church.
"Don't turn around."
Just as she was about to turn her head, Tifa felt a presence at her back. It was warm and made her hair stand on end. And that voice, it sounded like…
"Cloud! Where are you--,"
"I'll disappear if you turn around."
Hearing this, she kept her head forward, although it took everything in her not to do so. She had so many things she wanted to ask him, so many things she was unsure of.
"…when will you come home, Cloud?"
He sighed with uncertainty.
"I don't know. She and I are still trying to figure things out."
"Aeris?"
He nodded.
"We know we have to destroy the White Materia…but we're still trying to figure out how."
"That's what Nanaki told me."
He chuckled.
"Hm, Red was always the wisest of our group; even more so than Vincent."
"Oh, speaking of him, he and Yuffie are headed to the City of the Ancients to find the White Materia. They're going to bring it back to Cosmo so we can try to find a way to break it."
He sighed.
"That's not going to work. The thing is that it can not be destroyed by brute strength. The White Materia was made unbreakable."
"Then how are we supposed to destroy it?"
"The answer doesn't lie with the physical world."
"Did she tell you that?"
"Yeah."
She hung her head. Looks like she's got everything taken care of, she thought. After the first battle with Sephiroth, it seems like I've always been set off to the side to run the Bar or take care of the kids. I really do want to aid my friends who are all working so hard…
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her right shoulder.
"Tifa?"
"Yes, Cloud?"
"Be strong for me, okay?"
Nodding, she placed her left hand on his.
"I'll be strong for you so I can welcome you home."
"Sounds like a plan."
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The world of white had faded away and she was in Cosmo one more. Sitting up, she felt something in-between her index and middle finger. It was a single flower.
"Thank you, Cloud."
Standing up, she walked into the kitchen and put the white flower in a vase and then looked out the window. It was very early in the morning, but she felt as if she had slept all night and most of the day. Full of energy, she made herself a light breakfast and then headed down the infirmary.
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Author's Note: Yes, I know, this was short, but it's better than nothing, right? Good. So don't complain. Anyway, I have finally figured out how the story is going to end. ((Yes, I have been writing without knowing the ending.)) So…Yay!
tosses confetti into the air
So yeah, this chapter is a 4th of July present for ya'll.
fireworks go off
In other news, I just finished this awesome anime series called 'Death Note'. Totally kicks behind. Read it. Or suffer! cackles
Oh, and for those who read the series, I'm going to be crossplaying as Yagami Light soon…an uber bishie version of him.
With all of that being said, peace out!
-C