Tifa stood on watching the Costa Del Sol's ferry arrive. Breathing in slowly, she watched the pedestrian passengers walk off first. The man she was waiting for stopped in front of her, absent of his red coat. His red hair stood out more than ever and she gave a small chuckle.
"Everything worked out," he informed her quietly. Tifa nodded and looked at the sunny atmosphere. Genesis looked around and spotted a familiar street. "We need to get out of public and to one of my safe houses."
Wordlessly, Tifa followed him. She gritted her teeth as they made their way through the tourist crowd. Genesis brought her to a small house and opened the door. They went in. a simple one story, with a small living room and kitchen graced her view. She blinked at Genesis.
"Why do you have these?" she asked him. Genesis shot her a quick grin. Walking into a room adjacent with the kitchen, he brought out two huge duffel bags.
"In the business I was in, you could never be too sure," he told her. He opened one of the duffels and pulled out two boxes of hair dye. He handed one to her. "If you really want a clean start, it's time to change." Tifa looked at the hair dye box, which was for platinum blonde hair, and stared at him. Genesis shrugged and went into the bathroom.
Tifa watched him wet his hair and put the dye into his hair without thought. She looked down at her own hair and sighed. "Gen, I'll need your help."
Genesis motioned for her to come over and quickly he put the dye in her hair. "I forget sometimes how other people aren't used to living like this. I've done it for so long that I don't know how to do it any differently." Tifa watched him as Genesis wiped his hands of the foam. He made his way into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Pulling out a carton of milk, Genesis started humming to himself.
"You never told me," she scolded him. Genesis laughed gently. "Why do you always hide everything?"
"You were dealing with your own problems, and I was dealing with mine," Genesis informed her gently. "We're like brother and sister, but that doesn't mean that we have to share everything." Tifa shook her head at his obvious avoidance but started to frown.
"Why do you think they traded my life for hers?" she asked him quietly. Genesis stopped his movements and turned toward her. Tifa was looking at herself in the mirror with a look of desperation.
"I think he chose her because he loved her enough to protect her and he knew you would do the same," Genesis said gently. Tifa looked away from the mirror and at him. "Sephiroth is willing to protect the woman that he loves from anything, including death threats. Olivia is known for poison mastery, even some that the experts cannot detect. Sephiroth, being the ever knowing all powerful, decided to give into her demands."
"What were her demands?" Tifa asked and started to clench the sink with her hands. Genesis took in a deep breath.
"Your disappearance and Zack," he said. Tifa looked at him in horror and shook her head.
"I kind of knew it, but I didn't want to believe it. When we left the bar, I was so furious that they chose Aerith over me. I couldn't believe that everything I knew was going to end and I was forced to begin a new life without even a simple apology," Tifa confessed. Unclenching her hands, she looked hopefully at Genesis. "And I'm guessing we're not going to return for a while."
"We can't," Genesis said. "Since I quit, they'll try to cut off my accounts. Luckily all who know about them are most likely fired by now. One of Sephiroth's major flaws is that he doesn't trust anyone once the boss quits. He thinks they're all going to betray him."
"There's only one place where we can go that the Shinra Corporation won't look for us," Tifa told him quietly. Genesis rubbed his chin and nodded. "And there will be one person who will need to know I am alive."
"But can she keep her mouth shut?" Genesis grumbled. Tifa grinned in anticipation. "You know the only reason why they allowed her into your city is because she is his heir." Tifa nodded at his statement.
"We'll worry about it when we get there, all right?" Genesis asked as they both heard a chime sound. Genesis motioned for Tifa to put her head down into the sink. He quickly rinsed her hair and then his. "Take a shower quickly and then we'll deal with everything."
Tifa went ahead and did what he told her to do without question. She washed out her hair and winced at the color. Genesis let out a small chuckle and she whacked him on the chest. He grinned at her. Tifa smiled an amused grin and went to find extra clothes.
"There's a duffel in the bedroom with clothes about your size," Genesis called out from the shower. Tifa went to the bedroom and saw four duffels on the bed. Taking the nearest one, she saw female clothing. She grinned as she realized he had planned everything in advance.
She changed into a light blue ankle length dress, which of course had shorts underneath it, and braided her hair. She walked out into the kitchen and started making a light meal for herself and Genesis.
"Cooking for me? You're so domesticated," Genesis joked as he sat down at the little table. Tifa turned to grin at him and handed him his meal.
"When do we leave?" she asked him. genesis grinned at her obvious need to run. He grabbed a map off the counter and pointed to a town.
"This little village is right across from Wutai," he told her. "There's a ship that goes from there to Wutai village every three days or so. The last one left this morning, so we have plenty of time to get there. We'll have to go through Nibelheim for supplies, though." Tifa tensed but smiled fragilely.
"Doesn't matter," she told him after she swallowed her food. Genesis grinned at her and nodded.
"Luckily for us there's a small gas station right outside our hometown," he told her. "I had to go there a couple of years ago for a mission. Everything grew up, Tifa." Tifa nodded and put her finger on Wutai.
"We'll need a good excuse for you," she told him. "After all, I don't think SOLDIER generals are welcome on the continent."
"They would be if there was a mercenary who fought for the Wutai during the war," Genesis said. "You did save the daughter of their leader, didn't you?"
"Yuffie was in trouble. Those guards were going to kill her if I didn't get to her in time," she told him. Genesis shook his head and smiled. "That war took a lot out of everyone, didn't it, Genesis?"
"It took a piece of my soul," he responded quietly. "We were doing a routine mission in Wutai when I saw a young woman kill five guards who were trying to savagely destroy a younger girl. I never could look at warfare the same again." Tifa's eyes widened as Genesis gave a small chuckle.
"Yes, Tifa, I was there that night," he said. "We were given orders to blow the temple up and to get the innocent bystanders out. It was supposedly going to end the war."
"Now the war's only intensified," Tifa thought aloud. Genesis sent her a pensive glance and gave a short nod. "Then why are we going there?"
"It's the one place in the world that SOLDIER cannot look," Genesis told her. "I've tried countless times and couldn't get in."
"Then can we hit the road?" Tifa asked abruptly. Genesis watched as she grabbed the duffel bags. "I want to get there."
A week later they arrived in Wutai village unharmed. After a tense visit to their hometown, and miraciously without anyone noticing them, Genesis and Tifa decided to pick up the pace of their adventure. Getting into Wutai Village had been the harder part of the trek. The guards at the gate were unwilling to allow she and Genesis in because they recognized him. They had camped outside the city for three days before help came.
"We cannot trust SOLDIER," a guard told Tifa savagely. tifa sighed for the hundredth time and took a breath in.
"He's not a part of SOLDIER anymore," she told the man impatiently. "Let me see Godo and everything will be resolved!" The guard shook his head at her. Tifa groaned and turned away from the gate. Someone cleared their throat from behind her and Tifa saw someone she never thought to see again.
"What are you doing here?" she asked the figure. The person shrugged at her and went to the gate. The guard immediately let the gate open, but paused when the figure pointed to her and Genesis.
"Yes sir!" the guard bellowed. Tifa followed the figure and stopped when the person turned around to look at her.
"I'm sorry it took me so long," he stated. Tifa smiled as Bernard handed her a pair of gloves. "It took me a week to find these gloves. I'd been here sooner… but they were my only way of making it up to you."
"Why?" she asked him. Bernard raised an eyebrow and showed her his forearm tattoo. A mountain and spear adorned a small section of his under forearm and he motioned for Tifa to show him hers. She bared her right forearm and there were two gloved hands embracing with thorns around them and a single rose blossom on top of them.
"We made a promise once that no matter what happened, we would always be there. I'm sorry that I couldn't leave with you that night. I needed to get everything together and get the plans here safely," Bernard nodded toward Genesis. "And I needed to make sure his unit got here safely."
"They did, didn't they?" Genesis asked condescendingly. Bernard grinned cruelly at Genesis.
"We can take this outside, old man," Bernard told him grimly. Genesis chuckled and patted Bernard's shoulder.
"And we will later," Genesis told him happily. "We need to take care of her first." Bernard nodded and turned toward Tifa. He held out his arm and guided her toward the inn.
"My mother needs someone to work with her," he told her gently. "She needs a cook to keep up with all of our unusual tourists."
"Unusual?" Tifa asked him. Bernard nodded toward the town council building.
"Godo wants to outreach to other people," Bernard informed her. "Apparently, he wants to make a true truce with Shinra, but only if Shinra will stop attacking his fortresses."
"Why is Shinra attacking?" Tifa asked. "The war should be over." Bernard grinned at her.
"War is never over for someone who had their pride damaged," bernard stated firmly. He looked at Genesis. "Sephiroth's going to want your blood, you know." Genesis grinned a smile that Tifa never witnessed on his face.
"Don't worry, mister mercenary. I won't be here that long to cause trouble," Genesis stated firmly. He nodded toward Tifa. "I just wanted to make sure she was in a place where she could be safe from all the trouble I'm about to cause."
"You promised me you wouldn't!" Tifa exclaimed at him. genesis shrugged his shoulders.
"A man of war can never settle, Tifa," he told her. Tifa's eyes narrowed at him. "I'm too involved not to anymore. I need it. Fighting is my addiction. Too bad poor Bernard here got out of it."
"I'm proud of that accomplishment," bernard told him. genesis shook his head and looked east again. He looked down at Tifa.
"When I'm done causing trouble, and when it has gotten out of my system, I will come back," he promised. Tifa closed her eyes and looked at him.
"The reason why I wanted Zack to quit SOLDIER was for him to not become like you," she confessed to him. Genesis gave her a mocking bow. He put down all of his duffel bags in front of her.
"Then this is my last gift to you," he told her. "Think of it as a sign of penance… but remember, Tifa, I never asked for forgiveness for who I am. I'm not that kind of man."
"Genesis, when you come back… I'll make you a grand meal," she promised reluctantly. Genesis smiled a genuine smile at her.
"When I come back… I'll look forward to it," Genesis said in response. He nodded toward her and Bernard. "Keep her safe."
He raced toward the gate and jumped the wall. Tifa shook her head at the act of foolishness and looked toward Bernard.
"He can't help it, can he?" she asked him. Bernard shook his head. He picked up the duffel bags and pointed to the building again. Tifa nodded and let him lead.
"Ma!" Bernard shouted when they opened the door. A small woman with long black hair came out into the huge hallway with her hands on her hips. The long hallway had a huge staircase at the back and about four doors in it. The woman came out from one of the three on the left side of the hall. On the right, there was a last door and the staircase. Bernard grinned at the woman.
"Young man, that is no way to speak to your mother!" she scolded. The woman came up to him and hugged him. looking around him, she spotted Tifa. She hugged the girl close and patted her head. "It definitely has been a while, young lady."
"I need…" Tifa started to say when the woman put her hand up.
"I need a cook and a tenant for the rooms across from the kitchen. My irresponsible son is never home, so I need someone dependable. Can you do that for me, dearie?" she asked Tifa. Tifa nodded earnestly.
"Anything for you, Natalia," Tifa nodded in response. Natalia smiled and motioned for Tifa to follow. They went to the third door on the right and Tifa was led into a huge kitchen.
"This is the kitchen. The door to my right leads to the huge dining room, where the guests get breakfast and dinner. We do special orders for lunch, and a meal for dinner. I pick out whatever is cheapest at market and we cook it the same day. Your quarters are straight through that door near the fridge. You'll have your own bathroom, so you don't need to disturb the guests. There's a small living area and a bedroom. I'll give you a small paycheck every week, but you'll live here rent free and you won't have to pay any of your bills," Natalia informed Tifa. Tifa's eyes widened.
"I want to pay for something," Tifa told her. Natalia put her hand up.
"You cook. That alone will keep my business thriving. Remember, dearie, I had your cooking once," Natalia said and grinned at Tifa. "This is your home, too. You and my son have been friends a very long time, and I plan to repay you the many debts I have for him coming home. You are staying this time, aren't you boy?"
"Yeah, Ma. I'm staying permanently this time," Bernard informed Natalia. Natalia nodded and looked at Tifa's hair. She shook her head.
"When the dye goes out, we'll dye it black," she told her. then she looked at Bernard. "Tifa's your cousin, is she not?"
"Yes, Ma. She's a cousin that lost her job in the city and needed family to help her through her troubles," Bernard recited. Tifa chuckled at Natalia's piercing gaze. Bernard quickly quieted and Natalia put her hand on his shoulder.
"I will take care of it, boy," she said determinedly. She nodded to Tifa and smiled widely. "Now, dearie. Lets take those bags and get you settled." She and Tifa went into the small bedroom and opened up the duffel bags. Natalia gasped in surprise. Tifa looked over her shoulder and saw piles of money. Tifa put a hand to her mouth and sat herself down on the bed. She put her hand to her forehead and smiled.
"He said it would help… but I didn't know how much it would," Tifa admitted to Natalia. She looked at the money again and smiled. "Is there a bank where we can deposit this?"
"My dear, I would consider depositing it in small amounts. A humongous amount like this will get international attention. Subtlety is how we should proceed," she handed Tifa 2000 gil. "This should be a good starting amount. We'll go to the bank now."
Two Months Later…
Tifa looked worriedly at herself in the mirror. Looking down at her stomach she shook her head and put both hands on the sink. Finally, she looked herself in the eyes through the mirror.
"I can't be pregnant," she muttered. She took one of her hands and felt the bulge of her stomach.
A/N: There's an end to another chapter. I'm going to try to get another one done within the next couple of days. That one will more than likely be the time jumps. I think I'll have two or three. I'm also thinking that they'll be done from Tifa and Zack's points of view with different events happening in their lives, but they'll be really important ones. All in all, after next chapter we'll jump eighteen years into the future.
Leave a review, if you would like. Normal disclaimers apply.
Until next time!