Hahahaha! School will never get in the way of my eduacation...
----------
Deep in sleep, Tifa turned over in her bed and snuggled against the pillow. Slowly, her bedroom opened without a creak. A person advanced toward her without making a sound. Even the deadly model could not hear. She turned over again, and hair fanned out over the pillow. The person towered over the unsuspecting Tifa; a mischievous smirk slowly slithered onto the person's face. Suddenly, ice-cold water squirted all over her face. Tifa woke up with a shriek and quickly sat up in the bed. Her head swayed from side to side in a daze.
"Wake up, sleeping beauty," Cloud said mockingly. "It's seven in the morning!"
Tifa stared at him, stunned, until she saw a sport bottle of water in his hands. Her face twisted in rage, and she leapt at him, intending to strangle him. Cloud quickly grabbed her wrists, but he was unable to keep his balance. Cloud fell on his back, with Tifa still in his grasp.
"Someone's cranky this morning," he teased.
"Anyone would be cranky if they had cold water splashed on their face in the morning, you bas"
"Tsk, tsk. Not nice to swear, Miss Lockhart."
"Why did you do that?!" Tifa yelled. "What did I do to you?!"
"This was for eavesdropping on a private conversation last Saturday," he replied. "Be grateful...I actually thought of putting a fresh fish your bed, but I was lenient. Now we are even."
Tifa gnashed her teeth in anger.
"We would be even if you didn't play mind games on me!" Tifa retorted. "What gives you the right to treat people like this?"
"Why are you still on top of me?" Cloud asked calmly. "I've already let go of you."
Tifa looked down and realized that Cloud was telling the truth. To her horror, Tifa saw that she had been hovering over him, on her hands and knees, Tifa's face turned crimson red, and she quickly got off of him. Cloud got on his feet and brushed the wrinkles off of his shirt.
"Meet me at my dining room when you're...more presentable."
Tifa gasped when she realized that she was wearing a very short nightgown. Cloud walked towards the door, whistling tunes on his breathe. Instinctively, he ducked, and a pillow came flying over his head and hit the door.
----------
Yuffie walked along the long hall and spotted Tifa. She ran towards her friend and greeted her.
"Morning, Tifa!" Yuffie shouted cheerfully. "Did you get a good night's sleep?"
Tifa gave Yuffie a side glance that said: "Are you stupid?"
"I'll take that as a no," Yuffie said.
"I slept just fine," Tifa grumbled. "It was the wake up call that was the trip."
"Cloud Strife?" asked Yuffie.
Tifa nodded in dismay and rubbed the side of her head.
"I wonder why he picks on you so much," said Yuffie. "I'm beginning to think that Cloud may actually be insane."
"What took you so long?" Tifa ridiculed.
Tifa put her arm around Yuffie and they laughed together. Yuffie leaned on Tifa for support.
"I just hope he doesn't rub off on me!" Tifa exclaimed. "I do not want to be anything like that psycho."
----------
A man sat in the dark shadows of an abandoned apartment building. A small, beeping sound came from his pocket, and he dug his hands in. Pulling out a cell phone, he received the call.
"Yeah," he whispered. "What is it?"
The man listened carefully for his instructions.
"I understand, Mr. Gerald. I'll do it."
The man shut his cell phone and placed it back in his pocket.
"Finally, some action..."
------------
Cloud ate his breakfast, showing very little emotion. Tifa stared at him and she stuffed egg into mouth, waiting for him to say something. He kept silent and did even stare at his "companion"; Cloud acted as if Tifa was not even there.
"Uh, hello?" Tifa said.
"Yes, Miss Lockhart?"
"Are we going to start my training today?" asked Tifa. "I've been here for a week now."
"What training? I never said anything about 'training'."
"Don't be stupid!" Tifa retorted. "Aren't I here for you to train me?"
Instead of answering immediately, Cloud continued to enjoy his meal, much to Tifa's annoyance.
"Miss Lockhart," he said. "The problem that you seem to have...has nothing to do with anything psychical. I let you run free so I could examine you a bit further."
"Huh?"
"I'll explain when we go out after breakfast..."
Tifa slammed her fork down on the plate.
"I'll never go out with you again!!!" she bellowed.
"Don't worry, Miss Lockhart," Cloud replied. "I won't 'wheel barrel' you again. I promise."
"How do I know that you won't do anything worse?"
"You can trust me," Cloud answered.
"I don't!"
"Then you are in for a very stressful Sunday, Miss Lockhart."
----------
Marlene waltzed into the kitchen in the afternoon, unannounced, and saw Heather, cleaning the dishes with Cid. She carefully snuck into the pantry and went on a search to raid it of its hidden doughnuts. Marlene found the bag of doughnuts and greedily snatched it from the shelf. A piece of paper that was underneath it fluttered to the floor. Marlene picked it up and noticed that there were magazine letters on it. She went out of the pantry and walked over to Heather.
"Hey," Marlene said. "What is this?"
Heather twisted her head from the dishes, and Marlene held the paper out to her. Heather read over the paper, and became as pale as a ghost. She began to tremble in terror.
"What's wrong?" asked Cid.
Cid was answered by Heather's hysterical screaming. She let the paper fall on the floor and burst out the kitchen door, crying and screaming all throughout the house. Marlene dropped her soon-forgotten "treasure" and ran after Heather.
"Heather? What is it? What's wrong?"
Cid picked up the paper on the floor and it read:
It's time to end this game of hide and seek. Death will soon come upon you, children!
Underneath the note was a blue spade symbol.
----------
Earlier on, Tifa found herself in an unfamiliar place. Though she knew that they were still in New York State, it was clear that Cloud had taken her out of NYC. She peered out of the window and saw Lake Seneca, one of the famous Finger Lakes. Up ahead, a town, filled with old English buildings, crowned the horizon.
"Um, Cloud?" said Tifa. "We're are we?"
"Geneva," Cloud answered. "We're going to a yearly event."
Tifa watched the shimmering lake. It was like a precious sapphire just polished and put out on display. Out on the water, several sail boats were skimming the dark blue. The sun shined through the sky with no clouds to hinder it.
"Why isn't Marlene coming?" asked Tifa. "She told me that she loved the water."
"It's an event for college students and older. No children allowed."
Tifa slouched on the front passenger seat and leaned her head on the window.
"Cid usually goes with me every year," Cloud continued. "But after last year, I'll never take him with me again."
"Why not?" asked Tifa.
"He caused an incident last year. During the last event, a famous singer, which Cid hated, came to entertain the people who came. Just my luck, he wasn't the only person there that hated the singer. So...he rallied up a small group of people...they got their hands on tomatoes, eggs, and water balloons...and right in the middle of the concert..."
"They did not!" Tifa exclaimed.
Cloud nodded in shame.
"I could tell that Cid was kinda wild," Tifa said, "but I didn't think that"
"I had to hide, so no one knew that he was with me," Cloud muttered. "And he thinks I'm a pain!"
"Which is less than what I can say for you, Cloud-sensei," Tifa replied.
----------
Cloud parked the car along the sidewalk. He grabbed his wallet and opened the car door. Tifa stepped out as well.
"Where's the event?" Tifa questioned. "Aren't we going to this event?"
"We need to find you a swimming suit."
"What do you mean?!" Tifa retorted. "I had several swimming suits in my closet!"
Cloud put a gentle, fatherly arm around Tifa. She winced when he touched her, but Tifa did not try to nudge him off.
"Now Miss Lockart," Cloud said, "Where did all of your swimming suits come from?"
"Designers gave them to me," she replied. "I don't swim that often."
"Are they good quality swimsuits?"
"Yes."
"Then tell me," Cloud commanded, "Would you rather dirty up a perfectly good swimsuit that you received from a renowned designer? Or would you rather get a cheap one?"
Tifa rubbed her chin in thought.
"You have a point there," Tifa declared.
Cloud gave Tifa a smile. Tifa grinned back.
"Are you ready to tell me what I'm here for?" she asked.
Cloud gave her a nod, and Tifa felt relief.
"According to Mr. Shinra's observations, the accounts of others, and my findings, your problem does not lie in your physical condition."
Cloud put his pointing finger on Tifa's forehead.
"It lies here."
"I don't understand," Tifa said.
"The corners that you have driven yourself in are mental corners," Cloud continued. "You have let your profession as an assassin affect how you react with your surroundings. You're here with me so I can break you of that. Think of me as your personal psychiatrist."
"Whatever, Cloud-sensei," Tifa replied. "You are the last person that should be my psychiatrist."
To Tifa's surprise, Cloud flashed her a look of death. He shook his head and chuckled under his breathe. Tifa remembered the arm that was around her.
"You see?" Cloud said. "We can get along quite nicely."
"We'll get along better," Tifa replied, "if you take your arm off of me."
----------
Cloud leaned on the door of the bathroom. He heaved a sigh and glanced at his watch.
"Are you almost finished?" Cloud inquired.
"Honestly! Men are so impatient!"
"That's because men have a shorter life span!" Cloud replied. "Hurry up!"
"I'm coming! I'm coming! Geeez!"
Cloud got off of the door, and Tifa came out with an annoyed look on her face.
"Men only wear trunks," Tifa grumbled. "Women have to cover their chest."
"Not in some places in France," Cloud teased.
Tifa rolled her eyes and walked past him.
"Are we going to this clandestine event yet?" Tifa asked.
"Nope."
"Ugh!"
----------
Meanwhile, three men stood from afar on the roof of a building, watching them. One man stepped forward and stared at Cloud in disgust.
"Look at that stupid boy," he replied. "All peaceful and confident. I'd like to rip that smug grin off his face!"
"Patience, my friend," the second man replied. "We have to wait for the opportune moment..."
"You're no fun," the third man retorted.
-----------
Until next time...
