Tifa glanced up as Aeris entered the kitchen, before quickly looking away again. She absently pushed her wet hair from her eyes, staring at the vegetables she'd gotten out of a garden behind the inn. They were currently sitting in a bowl in the sink soaking, and in all truth weren't all that interesting to stare at. "How's he doing?" she asked suddenly, startling both herself and Aeris.
There was a slight pause before the flower girl answered. "All things considered, he's doing alright." She moved over to the old iron cooking stove. "He gave his fire materia to help out with things down here." Aeris knelt in front of the stove to get a better look at it. "Sadly, I don't know how to work this kind of stove."
Tifa looked up from the cutting board. "I can show you," she offered hesitantly. "Might be a handy skill to know."
Aeris shook her head, rising to her feet. "No thanks, I'll let you handle it." She moved over to the sink and handed Tifa the fire materia. "You're making a soup right?" Tifa simply nodded, accepting the materia from Aeris. "Well, I'll finish this up, while you get the fire going, okay?"
"Right," answered Tifa quietly. They worked in silence after that, backs turned towards each other. Once the martial artist had the fire going though, she couldn't stop herself from speaking. "Aeris…?"
The flower girl sighed, knowing what was about to come. "Yes?"
"This… it isn't right." Tifa leaned back, gazing at the small flames flickering inside the stove. "Can't you complain or something?"
"Tifa…"
"I'm just saying-"
"Tifa, drop it, please." Aeris's hands had curled into fists, tears burning in her eyes as she steadfastly kept her back turned to the other girl. "I don't want to talk about it."
"But," she began to protest. "Can't you just-"
"Life is never fair, end of story Tifa."
"That doesn't mean you roll over and don't do anything about it!"
"Please, can we not talk about this? Please Tifa?"
Tifa rose to her feet to face the back of the other girl. "What would you do if our positions were reversed, and I was the one who was going to die when everything was over?" The flower girl's shoulders hunched as her entire body tensed. "What would you do Aeris?"
"I don't know," her words were a faint whisper; a weak evasion.
"Would you just let me go?"
"I don't know," repeated Aeris, voice shaking.
"Then you'd let me die, without saying a word?"
"I don't know!" yelled Aeris, wheeling around. "Stop asking me! It's not going to happen! I'm the one who's going to die! And that can't be changed! Not by you! Not by me, or anyone! No matter how much I want to live-" She stopped dead, eyes wide as she realized with horror what she'd just admitted.
"Aeris, let me help," asked Tifa gently, reaching out a hand. "I'm sure there's something we can think of."
"We can't," answered Aeris, tears running down her face. She didn't move as Tifa placed her hand on the flower girl's shoulder. "We don't have time to think about this. Jenova's still on our trail, and the Weapon that shot us down could still be after us."
"That's still enough time to think of something."
"This has to be to be done now, and the closer we get to our goal the more Jenova will try to stop us," retorted Aeris. "The black and white materia have to be destroyed. It's the only way to make sure that something like this never happens again."
"And why do you have to-"
Aeris cut her off before Tifa could finish. "It's just- it's just the way things have to go and leave it at that."
"No! That's not what's going to happen," replied Tifa adamantly, "because we're not going to lose you again."
"Tifa, you… I appreciate that you're trying to help, but…" she placed her hand over Tifa's, squeezing it slightly before gently pushing it from her shoulder. "This is something I have to do."
"Why?" demanded Tifa. "Why the hell are you being so stubborn about this!" The flower girl was silent as she picked the pot, which the vegetables had been soaking in. She filled it with of water from the sink, before silently moving it to the stove. "Aeris!" Tifa called, but the other girl did not answer. She ground her teeth together, "What would you do if I told him?"
Aeris swung around so sharply it startled Tifa, but not as much as the fierce look in the other girl's eyes. "I would never forgive you."
Tifa felt her body go cold, but with it also came a calm. She hadn't wanted things to go this far, but she'd already made up her mind. "Then I guess, that's where we are." She was silent, studying the other girl's expression. "I'm your friend Aeris, and I always will be, even if you won't acknowledge me as such." She turned to leave the room, but Aeris grabbed hold of her arm.
"Leave Cloud out of this Tifa! Please!" there was a desperation in her voice, but Tifa didn't turn to face her.
"I made a promise, Aeris. I'm not going to keep him in the dark. I swore that to myself. Keeping something like this secret, it's going to do more harm then good." She took a breath before continuing. "I've already learned that one, and it's something I regret immensely. Don't put yourself in the same situation. Cloud will appreciate you telling him, don't leave him out of this."
Aeris's hand began to tremble, fingers tightening on Tifa's arm. "And watch as he finds some way to blame this all on himself? I- I can't do that, Tifa."
"Then you're going to be a coward, and not say anything. Just as it were if I was walking to my death."
"That's not fair, Tifa."
"Life isn't fair, Aeris, isn't that what you said?"
There was a long moment of silence before Aeris spoke. "Then you're going to tell him."
"Yes," replied Tifa without hesitation.
"Fine." The hand released her, surprising the martial artist. She could hear Aeris march farther into the kitchen, away from her. With a sigh Tifa once again made a move for the door, only to stop as Aeris called out to her. "What will you tell him after? What's going to give him hope?"
Tifa glanced over her shoulder, only to find Aeris was once again at the cutting board, chopping vegetables. "That we're going to find a way to save you."
"And with it, you're going to be giving Jenova another advantage." Tifa stiffened. "She's going to use him again, there's no doubt in that. And if we tell Cloud the truth, he's not going to let us leave him behind. We'll have to watch our fronts and our backs."
"I know that," replied Tifa calmly. "And I'm prepared for it. I will do everything in my power to keep the black materia away from Jenova."
"She won't play fair, she'll-"
"I'm already aware of that, and so is Cloud. I'll guard the black materia with my life, I promise you that Aeris." She smiled weakly, though the determination in her eyes could not be doubted. "Even though we're not going to be friends anymore, are we." It was more of a statement than a question at this point.
"No, we're not."
"I thought as much," whispered Tifa, turning away.
"Tifa." The martial artist paused again. "When things come down to it, and there are no other options, are you going to give me the black materia willingly?"
Tifa was silent for a long moment, thinking the question over before finally replying truthfully. "I don't know." And without another backwards glance, she walked out of the room.
ooooooooooooooooooo
I have to admit, I actually feel guilty about how short this chapter is. But then, on the other hand, that scene was just a darn nuisance to write. So it sort of levels out, maybe, possibly…. I'll probably make up for it in the next chapter, also reveal what Cloud's been up to.
Big thanks to those who reviewed!
Aerisxtifa: Why thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. In all honesty I forget sometimes how hostile other authors make Aeris and Tifa to each other. Their personalities really aren't the clashing type, which made this scene a little bizarre and tricky to write. I'm glad I was able to capture some good emotion with the last chapter. Nibelheim is such a creepy place, I remember being completely freaked out by the town the first time I played through FF7. Those are some interesting points about Tifa, I forgot that she was the mayor's daughter. Boy they've: Tifa, Aeris and Cloud all had it rough and there's still more to come. (evil laughter) Thanks for the review, and I hope you enjoyed the newest chapter.
Winter's Soul: Thank you very much for the review. I hope you enjoyed the newest chapter!
Anyway, till next time!