The next instillation is at hand and so by the way is the next twist to our little story. As I'm sure you all know it is time to begin the end of this tale. I seven have awaited this day since the beginning and now the end is finally coming forward. Join me now loyal fans of ff7 for the ultimate beginning of the end.
Now for all of you who need a back check. Cloud has had a shocking revelation and so have Shelke and Yuffie. Koty has officially set off in search of knowledge but his methods remain a mystery as things begin to unravel.
So here we are let us see what happens when fate faith and defiance collide. Read and review people you never know what will happen next.
Blade of the youth. "Oh fuck":
It wasn't even dawn yet and cloud felt himself stirring from some unknown sense of dread. No nightmares had come and no screams were heard. But for some reason he felt the need to move. 'Denzel.' Something was wrong he could feel it in his soul. 'What's happening… wait… Koty!'
He moved carefully out from around Tifa and leapt for the door. Whatever was amiss he knew deep down he couldn't allow it to continue. He could very well be endangered himself if it involved Koty and for some reason unknown he felt that it most definitely included the odd man.
He felt his feet drive him fast and far hurtling down the stairs and corridors to the outside world. He would have went to the training grounds but the scenery around him told him that he wasn't anywhere near where he thought he would be.
Once he threw the door to the outside open he found himself staring at the shinra manor in niblehiem. 'Oh no…'
"Koty… Koty where are you?" he spoke certain the man had teleported him to this destination.
"Cloud…" there was a gruff whisper on the wind.
"Who's there? Koty… no head games come out." He looked around with a sense of familiarity taking over him.
"Cloud." The voice was clear now. It was Vincent's voice.
"Vincent…"
The gunman materialized in front of him. He seemed angry and almost determined to frighten cloud with his crimson eyes.
"It's not over. Something's coming. Cloud run!" the man transformed into the galian beast and charged cloud with an intimidating ferocity.
"Vincent…?! Hey" cloud rolled out of the way and reached for his sword. 'Damn… must've left it in the room.'
"You have to run cloud… take Denzel and go… don't come back... run" the beasts voice was panicked as if frightened of events to come. "Its not over… it won't leave you alone until you do it."
"Do what?" cloud then found himself standing in the training grounds. A quiet scenario but something still reeked of disaster.
As he looked down he saw corpses. Body upon body, and tattered limbs upon themselves. 'What the hell' he looked at his hands to see the blood covering himself.
"Cloud! What did you do?!" Nanaki's voice rang out in horror as he walked forward.
"Nothing… I just…" he was for once in his life truly frightened of something. "I didn't do this."
"Then where did you get that?" the large cat was wary as he motioned to a katana jutting up out of the ground in front of cloud.
"That's not mine."
"I'm not so sure…"
"Red you gota believe me."
"Relax cloud… I don't know what's going on but we will figure out a solution to this. Denzel you go with Koty now… get Tifa and Barret. They may be needed. Zack too if you can wake him" the two standing behind red had gone unnoticed till then. Koty wore a look of serious debate on his face and Denzel a glaze of horror.
"Guys I didn't do this… it wasn't me… come on you know I wouldn't do this."
"Nanaki what happened here?" reeve's voice erupted from the tense silence between them. "I saw the security tapes and… oh… cloud. Now cloud I know you're upset but let's try to be reasonable." He was attempting to negotiate for some unknown reason.
"I'm not upset but if someone doesn't tell me what's goin on I'll get that way." Cloud was getting irritable at the situation. "I didn't do this…"
"Oh my… this is going to take a bit of explaining… but cloud… I hate to ask this but for your safety and ours I need you to put these on." The man handed cloud a set of cuffs.
"Man fuck you I didn't do this and I'm not even gona say how ridiculous it would be for me to wear cuffs. I'd just break them when I felt like getting out. How safe would you really be?" A scornful look crossed his face as he lowered his eyes.
"Please cloud…"
"Fine fuckin fine. I'll wear your damn bracelets."
After a short pause and a long walk cloud was in the detention cell wing. 'What the hell is going on… why am I in here…'
"You guys come on… why this…" he asked before reeve came in with a few guard staff wheeling a television behind them.
"Cloud… for the safety of the WRO you need to stay here for a few days… look" he turned the machine on and cloud watched with a pissed off glare.
"What's this?"
"It's the security tape… the soldiers were doing morning drills."
"What time is it?"
"Around six thirty. I'm sorry cloud but for now you need to stay in there."
He watched for a moment as the trainees did their exercises. They were doing the usual calisthenics strength training and bayonet training. The average day as a WRO operative. But then cloud saw himself come out.
One of the recruits stood and saluted him and then almost as quick as he raised his hand the man was lifted from the ground and impaled with a long silver blade. 'No… I don't remember that.' Cloud was lifting the recruit high into the air and with a swift motion hurled him away.
The battle was on and no man was left unattended to as cloud began his slaughter of some sixty WRO operatives. He cut and slashed as if he were possessed and even went so far as to take one of the soldiers by the leg and use him as a makeshift club. Carrying his carcass around without a concern or even a show of emotion as his comrades were broken in half by their own partner. More disturbingly cloud seemed to be withholding a sense of satisfaction on his face at the time.
"Oh fuck… what..." he was speechless. The amount of horror he inflicted upon the men was unreal and something he thought may have even eluded Sephiroth's sadistic tendencies.
"I'm sorry cloud… but for now we need you to stay in there." Reeve turned the monitor off and sat in a chair a good distance from his friend's cell.
"Reeve you know me… that… I couldn't have… I didn't do that… you have to believe me."
"I want to cloud… but… I think maybe you're suffering from a post traumatic stress that we don't have the specialists to deal with. Perhaps it is best that we keep you in there until a specialist can be found."
"You mean to tell me that just when things cool off I start losing my mind. Now I have battle amnesia. Great."
"You were a SOLDIER it isn't uncommon."
"In my head."
"Now cloud this is not a time to be self loathing."
"I was doing great. I finally had the guts to tell Tifa what I felt. I managed to get Denzel to accept me damn lithium was destroyed. Yeah so was edge but… never mind that. Aerith and zack came back and no fucking Sephiroth. Now look. I'm in jail. I'm a murderer and apparently loosing my mind. I have amnesia and aw fuck."
"I'm sorry… were it in my power… I would gladly have traded places with you."
"Yeah thanks for nothing. I just have shitty luck."
"Luck had nothing to do with it." A dark familiar and sadistic tone came to clouds ears but he didn't recognize it.
"Who's there" cloud roared as he stood only to find a frightened reeve easing away from him.
"Now now temper sword man. We wouldn't want to start a scene."
"Great fuckin great. Hey reeve you got some pills or maybe a straight jacket I can borrow. I think I'm actually loosin it."
"He can't hear me only you…"
"So you're in my head too. Why don't you tell your buddies I said fuck off and get outa my life."
"were it so simple we would gladly keep you. You see we are amused by you… you are fun to usssss." The elongated use of the voices s vocabulary told cloud that he knew exactly what he was hearing.
"Its you… the paradox."
"My my how quick you are spire sword man."
'Was that a joke about my hair?' "Fuck you. Stay away from Tifa… I'll kill you if you so much as touch her."
"Cloud… who are you talking to?" reeve was unnerved by clouds sudden outburst. He had not seen anyone down there but cloud and for some reason he was carrying on a conversation.
"Stay out of this" cloud was fuming and reeve was caught in the cross fire between him and the invisible silent being that taunted him. "You hear me I'll kill you. All of you. You stay away from my family."
"Ahhhh… father you hurt us… why do you reject us. Father… father" the creature wailed as if in pain "father why hath thou forsaken us?"
The power then went out in the building. "Son of a bitch who turned out the lights?"
"Cloud… spikes… reeve… are you guys in here" zack came in holding a flashlight.
"Yeah I'm still in this cell… let me the fuck out man." Cloud was hasty with his irritation showing.
"Shit reeve" zack was preoccupied. "We need back up… the director is down. Someone is in here. Clouds still in the cell."
"Hello I'm still in here."
"I can't tell if he's alright he's not speaking but I can see him."
"What's he doing" a WRO operative sounded from outside.
"He's just standing there."
"I'm trying to get the fuck out now open the damn cage." He growled furiously.
"Just… standing there. Cloud are you okay?"
"I'm in the dark in a cage and I don't have a clue what's going on other than that and the fact that I'm hearing voices I'm fine now let me the fuck out."
"Hello… cloud… earth to spikes… damn he isn't budging… well he'll be alright. Let's get the director to the med sector. I'll come back for cloud in a moment."
"Hey wait. You can't just leave me in here… some hero zack. Now what." Cloud looked around the cell for some form of entertainment before an ear shattering laughter broke his concentration.
"My little puppet. How the mighty have fallen. I see you now serve a different purpose in life. As you have clearly seen being a hero is over rated." Sephiroth's voice broke the decadent silence.
"Leave me alone. I'm not in the mood for a chat I'm busy losing my mind."
"Well now here I am to have some friendly banter and you are still so hostile. That's fine. There is no shame in loving ones job and I surely do enjoy toying with you cloud. Would you like to hear a secret?"
"Not interested." He shifted his attention to trying to break the bars on the cell. 'Stupid detention cells… why are they built so damn well?'
"I knew you would see it my way. There is no point in wasting time. But first my secret is important and regardless of your interest I'm going to tell you."
"Alright ill bite what the hell do you want? If it's for me to go fuckin nuts you won't have to wait long."
"As much as it would amuse me no. I have information on a certain friend of yours. Perhaps something pertinent for the survival of your little 'family'"
"I'm listening. Not that I've got anything better to do."
"The paradox is… how can I say… interesting. It's so different from you and I."
"Quite a grasp of the obvious there genius."
"It doesn't belong in the life stream. Kind of like you and I. it won't just simply die. It doesn't even exist yet."
"What's your point?"
"If it were to find a means of existence perhaps it would be destroyed easily."
"And why are you so concerned with it. If it kills everything then why do you care? That just means you have an easy job."
"It is trying to take that which is my birth right. And this I cannot allow. The planet is mine. And so are you. Puppet. I will not allow a mere falsification of life to steal my inheritance."
"Fuck you and your inheritance. I don't care. I want out of this cell and I want to kill that damn thing. I won't let it hurt Tifa."
"Because you want to make her hurt? A man after my own heart. I should know. After all we are so much alike. Aren't we cloud?"
"We're nothing alike."
"That's right. You cherish too much... that is fine. That just means I can take it all away later. But what fun would it be if I weren't the one to bring you such despair. No I believe I will help you for now."
"I don't need your help." Suddenly screams were heard echoing from upstairs. 'Damit the base… is it under attack again?'
"You say that but I believe it isn't up to you. You see you are only my puppet. And I cannot allow someone else to steal my stage. Now go cloud… become my harbinger. Give me war."
His words were infuriating but for some reason cloud found himself desiring to do as the evil man said. 'Alright ill make sure to bring it right to you later.' As cloud thought this the cell door swung open and the man disappeared.
intermission.
To keep you up to speed cloud has officially been labeled a murderer and now something is terribly wrong inside the base. What is going to happen? Well check it out and see. If you have any inquiries about references to this you may send a message or review to these and ill explain the best I can. For now though let's continue. resume
Blade of the youth "strength of the young."
"Denzel…" the man behind him shouted as if trying to gather the boy's attention. "Denzel remember what I've taught you." Koty's voice trailed off as Denzel lifted the heavy blade that had for a small time been his keep sake.
He had taken after cloud's love of blades. One holstered at his side and a large one slung across his shoulder made him seem both deadly and slightly taller. The mid length blade in his hand was held in an iron grip that he had months ago lacked. He had matured now and was as competent with a sword as any member of the shinra militia had ever been. Strong and swift he had easily bested several recruits from training sessions he had been through. He even managed to hold the swords with almost a professional air as he ran alongside his teacher down hallways that had been Marlene's favorite spot to play tag.
"now go. Become your weapon become one with the battle. Show them your strength" he echoed over the creatures who had invaded the path of the young boy.
Denzel said nothing as he hacked and thrust through the beasts with ease. He spun the swords with expert timing and precision. He jumped the fallen and brought to them new ranks with great speed.
One of the larger creatures however caught him off guard and met him with a swift strike from its arm.
"show him Denzel." Koty drew Cerberus and fired several shots dropping numerous creatures in the process. "show him the meaning of strength."
Denzel drew his large sword and connected it with his smaller one to create an even larger and more deadly blade. He swung at the beast and it tried to block. The block was in vain as the blade severed the creature's limb with ease. Denzel was now in complete control as he severed the monsters leg and now had it crawling away in defeat.
"finish him…" Koty holstered his keepsake weapon and nodded.
"but." Denzel's morals kicked in.
"it is in pain Denzel. Don't let it suffer."
Lifting the blade he halted and in the back of his mind he apologized for the wrong he was about to commit. His worries and doubts aside he dropped the blade like a heavy damnation upon the creature.
"you did well. Now there are more to take care of let's make haste before they release cloud."
"why is that so bad?"
"cloud is not in control of himself… he would be more of a threat than this entire collection of misshapen monstrosities."
"Koty… what the hell is going on." The man had spoken too soon as cloud emerged from the corner and looked at Denzel with a strange air. "did he just."
Koty drew Cerberus with caution. "cloud what color are Tifa's eyes."
"what the hell man?"
"answer the question or I will have no choice." He aimed at cloud bringing a shock from both the swordsman and Denzel.
"dark hazel… why…"
He seemed skeptical but swiftly spun Cerberus and holstered it. "if you turn you die. Understood?"
"turn. What the hell is going on?"
"the training… the power you've gained. It is forbidden for a reason."
"yeah you said that before. I know." 'forbidden what did he mean by that anyway?'
"it takes from your humanity to give you great power. As all training it takes to give. That little spell was different from what I've seen and I don't know the outcome of what will happen if you turn."
"you mean my…"
"your dark form… this form." Koty's eyes darkened and glazed over obsidian and his voice became a demonic requiem of thunder. "you change you die."
"alright no limit breaks got it." Irritated cloud returned to Denzel who swung a sword in his direction "Denzel?" he dodged and watched as the blade tore into another of the strange creatures. "what the hell was that?"
"one of the unborn. A malevolent sign of things to come. They aren't after me though if that is what you insinuate."
"whatever let's just get rid of them… wait. Unborn… what is that."
"a soul from the nexus of time and space. Those who fall prey to the paradox." he said before either he or cloud realized what that meant.
"damit." Dawning realization struck him as he took off in a burst run for Tifa's room. 'they're after Tifa.'
"Denzel you and I shall clear this floor zack will handle the floor above us. Cloud will handle the floor with Tifa's room do not fret. However do not get too comfortable either. Are you sure you can handle this?" Koty put a hand on the boys shoulder in reassurance.
"I can do it. But Marlene…"
"she is with her father. She is safe. Do not let fear cloud your judgment." He immediately drew his gun and started dashing down the hall. "It is time show them the strength of your youth."
Upstairs and through hallways cloud found the room with ease but through the monsters and fallen WRO he couldn't reach the door to his beloved's room. 'I need a weapon.' As he said this he heard Sephiroth's sinister laughter and masamune materialized in his right hand. 'now I know this won't end well. But I guess it'll do.'
Sword in hand he ran forward cutting down monsters and jumping over corpses with the speed of a wolf. "get out of the way." He slammed the blade down on a monster and it dropped in two pieces on the floor in front of him. "stay away from her!" he disemboweled one of the monsters trying to claw its way through her door.
After defeating those in the hallway he opened the door to find the creature zack months prior kneeling as if in reverence to Tifa who sat idle on the bed. She appeared to be in a trance. Hypnotized or still sleeping one.
"Tifa! Get away from her".
The creature paid no heed to his words as it slid a carful clawed finger beneath the covers. 'what's it up to…' cloud watched as if afraid that his presence endangered Tifa.
The covers moved and it was apparent to cloud that the creature's hands were in some rather unceremonious places as it move from between her legs to her belly with a smooth swift motion.
"don't you touch her… damit!" he lunged at the creature before noting its disappearance. "ill kill you…" he swung before being caught by a strong gauntlet covered hand.
"cloud… careful… it's gone…" Koty and Denzel were standing behind him and he looked to Tifa who still sat legs spread on the bed like a doll that had been discarded halfway through a moment of playtime.
"Tifa? Tifa!? Tifa baby come on speak to me." He ran to her and shook her shoulders "it's me cloud. Tifa? What the hell did it do to her?"
She turned her head but her eyes weren't focused on him. they were lost as if she were still asleep. Dreaming or dazed cloud couldn't tell in his moment of panic but he noticed the motion and hesitantly reached for her face. She seemed unresponsive until she touched his hand and allowed him the satisfaction of knowing she knew he was there.
It would have been welcomed if he weren't scared out of his mind but the kiss she gave him next was hallow and somewhat animalistic. It felt to him like a machine trying to complete its focus. 'Tifa… what happened? Why don't you see me?'
"because she is one of them now. And so are we." Koty answered his question out loud.
"wait what does that mean."
"it means… the end is nigh…" he spoke in ominous riddles "she has succumb to the paradox… she is a puppet now. And I think you noticed that no one else has acknowledged your voice."
"yeah kina creepy. Why is that?"
"you are… under its curse… it seems to require you…"
"how come you and Denzel can hear me then?"
"he can't… to him you aren't speaking… you are simply standing there… your voice is muffled by the shroud of the paradox… but not your actions."
"wait so you mean that I'm just thinking I'm talking."
"you could say that… in a sense the paradox has taken that which you need and used it against you to better its chances of completing its mission. For you it is your voice. For Tifa it is her… her essence…"
"you mean she's a vegetable."
"no… she isn't paralyzed but she will remain in that trance until the paradox can fully assess its path… which is indeterminate for time."
"so till further notice only you can hear me."
"yes… I'm afraid so… Tifa can hear you but I'm not sure if she will respond." He spoke again too quickly as Tifa immediately grabbed clouds face and studied him for a time before kissing him again as if analyzing his lips. "cloud… I don't know everything… but perhaps… the power of love can overshadow the power of a paradox."
"so what do you mean…?"
"that is your story… you must write it with your own hand. I am sorry."
"Koty…" zack ran in panting "have you seen… oh shit cloud." He drew the buster sword only to be attacked and disarmed by Denzel. "what the… damn you little. Man Denzel you're good at that but I don't think now's the time."
"he's okay." Denzel spoke looking at cloud with a strange glance. "I don't know how but I think he'll be alright."
"okay we'll take your word for it now gimme that back you little brat." He snatched his faithful sword from the boys grasp.
"let us leave him to himself and Tifa…" Koty motioned for the other two to leave.
"are you insane? He'll slaughter her." Zack retorted.
"she is safe. Even death parts for the power of love." He spoke as he almost dragged the man from his reluctant post.
intermission.
Again time for another movement of time. A great shift in the time. Try about three weeks. That should do. Now on with the story resume.
Blade of the youth. "words actions and the tears of a jilted lover."
"it's been three weeks now." Aerith was restless.
"she'll be fine." Yuffie cooed the older woman as she patted her nervous hands. "it's just a moment…"
"she hasn't spoken or even got out of bed since the attack. I don't think it's a moment."
"yeah cloud hasn't spoken sense either. Something really bad must have happened. If even Tifa was affected it must have been terrible."
Cloud had continued his usual routine minus trying to talk to people. he found it annoying when they waved their hands in his face and tried to get him to speak knowing well he wouldn't. not that he didn't want to talk he just couldn't. the curse had made sure of that. If you could call it a curse.
He found it useless to walk around or even take an off moment to talk to Koty. He simply retreated to Tifa's room where she would study him as if she had never seen him but knew what and who he was.
"I guess it's just me and you now teef. I… I'm sorry I couldn't help you…"
She pulled on his ears and hair as if amazed at his appearance. "you don't understand a word I'm saying do you."
She tilted her head in confusion while looking into his cerulean eyes. She was beautiful even if she seemed like a newborn with a fascination for playing with everything on him.
He stood and she immediately returned to her former trance like state staring listlessly at the far wall. Noting this he sat back down and she impulsively went to playing with his face and hair again.
"at least someone isn't calling me emo and stupid. I guess I've got nothing better to do so ill stay here. You mind?" she continued to trace his face with her hands and kissed him curiously on occasion. "I knew you wouldn't."
She then tried to summon his hands to hers. "what's the matter Tifa" she curiously thumbed his knuckles and removed his gloves with fascination. "oh so you just wanted to see these things. Ooh be careful they're dangerous. Haha." He looked into her eyes before he noticed her looking down and brushing her hair away from her chest. She looked at her chest with a quizzical nature before putting her hand over it.
A few moments past and she jumped as if she had found something strange.
"what is it?" he was worried but as he said this she immediately placed her ear on his chest. "what… Tifa."
She backed up and placed his hand on her chest and then to his own as if trying to show him something.
"huh? I don't understand."
She patted her chest a few times with her free hand as if to motion for him to come. "like this?" Before he could move she pulled his ear to her torso. "your heart beat… oh I get it. Wait… what did Koty mean by essence… did he mean that she lost her memories… oh no…" it struck him then. She remembered everything but her understanding had been stolen. She was trying to show him something.
"I wish you could just tell me… uhhh…" he sighed as he allowed her to study him more.
After a while of being touched cloud finally had enough and decided he would do some touching of his own. He kissed her. Angrily but with good intent.
"let's see how you like it." He almost prided himself before noticing Tifa's eyes were glowing as if she was waiting for him to do that the entire time.
The music their breathing made pulsed in his head. They were staring at each other intently as if enjoying the view. 'I've never seen her so beautiful before. What's the matter with me?'
It was slow. A deliberate motion of the hands legs and hearts and it was all in a matter of a few movements. He was already embracing her unclothed form. She was exposed entirely to him and he to her.
She still held her curious nature and ever so cautiously examined herself lifting and playing with her breasts as if she hadn't noticed them before. This did little to dull clouds untamed emotions at the moment. She had no idea what she was doing and cloud could finally state that honestly.
After having completely going over her breasts to the point that her nipples were hard and extremely hard not to stare at she moved to her abdomen running fingers down her taut stomach and even going so far as to gently probe her navel as if she thought pressing it would do something amazing. The whole process made cloud slightly uncomfortable. 'why is she so… aw fuck it she's gorgeous. I'm sick of being this way. I'm just going to enjoy life. For as long as I have it… well … I'm gona try… kina hard to do when you can't actually talk.' He watched in fascination as she brushed her hips down to her thighs.
He was actually enjoying the show when she stopped. 'something's wrong. is she okay?'
"are you alright?" she kept looking down with a confused expression. He didn't know what was going through her mind and therefore never saw her next action coming.
She placed a hand between her legs. At the touch she jumped slightly before continuing her exploration. She was confused about her body and cloud had no idea how it was even possible.
"how do I explain this?" he fought the urge to look before she gasped. The only sound he had heard her make in nearly three weeks. "what's wrong?" He looked down to find that a single finger had been lost in her delicate folds. "oh… um…" she removed her finger and reached for his hand. "wait Tifa."
She placed the hand impatiently on her face before kissing him again. "okay that I can do that…"
It wasn't long before he found himself beneath her. She was definitely strong even if she was slightly confused. And this fact stated cloud was taken aback by her strength as she took over the moment.
"Tifa…" he fought inner conflict. "she may be like this forever… but… no… I can't… but what if she never… somewhere in there… she's still… Tifa."
He struggled to free himself only to find Tifa holding his wrists down with a concerned almost defensive look on her face. "its alright… I won't hurt you." She must have understood him because at the words she released him and repositioned herself to her back.
"I'm… gona give it to you… no more of you taking care of me… its time I took care of you… I'm not running away and you're not going to chase after me anymore…" he positioned himself at her entrance before hesitating. "I… no more running." He pushed gently and she flinched as he broke through her. "I'm sorry I know I hurt." He lowered his head and tried to remove himself before her hand came to his face and brought his eyes to meet hers.
"cll…..ud." something stirred behind her eyes. "cloud…" she said his name as if finally regaining herself.
"I love you so much… I'll show you." He moved deeper inside of her and a single tear fell from his eye to her chest. "I'm just sorry that I didn't act sooner… I wish I could have told you how beautiful you are. How you're all the colors I want to be… all the music I want to play… my lullaby and … I love you so much Tifa." He was crying unashamed now. "but actions speak louder than words right. So here I'll show you." The tears fell as he thrust into her. "I should have said so much… and now I'll never get the chance… but at least maybe if you ever return to normal you'll see."
"cloud…" she was quiet as she gasped so quiet that cloud couldn't hear her as he buried his eyes in her shoulder.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you… I'm so sorry…" it was slow and it took a moment but he finally heard her.
"cloud… why are you crying?" she sounded like an angle and to his broken heart she was a curaga materia package.
"Tifa… you're…" he was between a smile and a breakdown.
"I'm what?"
"you can hear me?" his eyes erupted in tears. Before Tifa realized what they were doing.
"cloud…baby you're supposed to be happy about this." She giggled.
"terrible time for jokes babe." He half heartedly laughed as he allowed the tears to fall.
"baby why are you crying…?" she tried to ignore his sizeable member inserted deep within her.
"you don't even want to know… trust me."
"maybe I do."
"I just love you too much. That's all." He again cried into her shoulder.
"mmm that's it baby let it out… shhh… oh…"
"what's wrong?"
"did you forget where you're at?" She looked down to remind him of his position.
"oh… Tifa… I"
"I wanted it… please don't leave now."
"I won't… I won't ever leave again."
"I'm not sure you'll last that long." She joked again. "but don't worry I don't think I will either. Not with the way you're doing it." She bucked her hips against him.
"Tifa…" he grunted as she began to squeeze him from inside. "I love you."
"I know… I love you too… please harder."
"Tifa." He couldn't stop screaming her name. it was like a prayer for him and she saved him from himself every time he said it. "Tifa."
Their rhythm became elegant and quick but not bone crushing in its speed as they ground their hips into each other.
She pulled him from within and in return he squeezed her tightly to himself. hands trailed off and his wound up one around her back and one on her left breast. Hers planted themselves between his shoulders and pulled on him with a ravenous appetite for skin and strength.
"cloud…" she moaned as she caught a glimpse of his sweat covered form. "your so… mmm"
He caught her eyes and she seemed even more beautiful than ever. Her wetness was an excuse not to look at her eyes. If looks could kill then her eyes would have definitely destroyed him should he linger longer. They were the deep darkness that shrouded his heart when he needed to hide. They were the color of a brilliant lager, a dark bourbon which intoxicated him with the slightest drop. And he was already drunken with her beauty.
"oh Tifa… I love you." Though he was happy the tears still flowed like a river. Drenching his face so that she could see both his shame and his regret leaving him all because of her.
"cloud… cloud I love you baby." She marveled at his arms as she grabbed his biceps. "I love you so much."
His heart raced as he watched her dance beneath him. she was his goddess in a time of faithlessness. His beauty for the beast that couldn't love. His kryptonite and his greatest strength. His Tifa his wife to be. His love.
"yes… yes! YES!" she was then rolling against his hips with a furious and deliberate motion and cloud couldn't resist but follow suit. He found himself looking up at her and suckling gently at her nipples before being pulled in for another kiss.
He was so caught in the moment that he was shocked when Tifa's voice and high pitched shrieks attempted to warn him of her climax. However he wasn't far from there himself and just as she fell over the edge she firmly gripped him and dragged him along with her into the fall of ecstasy.
"CLOUD! CLOUD! CLOUD I LOVE YOU…" she was between a scream and a pant as she fell backward onto the bed.
"I love you too Tifa" his voice was more composed but his breath was almost as ragged as hers.
She continued to squeeze every last ounce of his release out of him even after they lay exhausted on the bed too tired to move or even separate. She wanted all of him everything he had and then all that she could get.
"I love you so much…" he panted. "I'm sorry I didn't say it more… please… don't leave again…"
"I was never gone… I knew you were there I just wanted you to come to me… to find me…"
"find you…"
"yeah… and here I am… you never needed to say it… but I like it when you do" she sighed as she continued to squeeze him.
"someone wanted this more than I did I think." He jested at her particular attention.
"no… but I think I may have enjoyed it more" she stabbed back at him before settling on the amount of him that she had claimed. They then repositioned themselves.
"not possible." He threw the sheets over them before pinning Tifa's wrists above her head.
"and what do we think we are doing Mr. strife."
"we are showing you that I love you Mrs. Strife."
She almost laughed if it weren't for the door being slammed against the wall and zack followed by Barret barging in weapons drawn.
"ahhh…" Tifa hid beneath the covers.
"hey guys… cant you knock." Cloud shielded Tifa's dignity and scorned the men at the same time.
"spiky you spoke… wait… Tifa spoke… well sorta… wait a minute… OM FRIGIN G DUDE. I am so sorry cloud we'll get outa your way. Come on bear we need ta go" zack hastily pulled on the man's arm before turning around. "wait. You aint trying to kill'er are you?"
"NO NOW OUT!" Tifa screamed as she hurled a pillow at the offish men.
As they left cloud heard them say something.
"sounded like he was turning the katana on'er" zack sighed. "my bad."
"nah you know spikes. He likes big swords… apparently Tifa does too if ya feelin me" Barret's humor didn't go unchecked as he received a hearty laugh from zack.
"I hear ya man I hear ya." They laughed all the way down the hall from the sound of it.
"were we really that loud?" she gasped as she covered her mouth with her hand.
"nah. They've been watching me lately probably were close by anyway and heard the ruckus." He replied as he nestled next to her on the pillow.
"watching you?" an incredulous look from Tifa is as good as being caught lying.
"long story."
intermission
Well that was exhilarating. Nothing like a nice lemon. Anyways this is about where we're gona pick up just a few hours later. So on to the next one.
Blade of the youth "beholder"
It had been a long three weeks for zack. His best friend had failed to reconcile any form of communication and his girlfriend stayed worried about her own. Things couldn't get much further from good. They had been relentlessly attacked by foreign creatures, reeve had nearly been comatized by whatever had managed to get into clouds cell, and the more they killed of the loathsome creatures the more they pressed forward.
Now cloud and Tifa had officially been caught getting off on one another and though it wasn't unexpected or unwanted it still rubbed Zack's hair the wrong way. Something just felt so completely wrong about the situation. 'maybe it's all in my head. I mean bein dead may have been a little too peaceful after all.'
He paced the floor contemplating as to why things seemed so out of place. Short of the rampant monster attacks now things were normal. 'come to think of it these monsters are extremely predictable. They always seem to show up whenever cloud is out of commission or locked up.' the attacks only happened in the event that cloud was indisposed. They never seemed to follow cloud or even for that matter be within the same vicinity.
'spiky must be one scary mother fucker… these things don't want anything to do with him… however a katana wielding nutcase is the last thing I would wana see too I guess.' He continued to decipher the strange events taking place. The monster attacks were more frequent now. The troops had been on edge thanks to this. Reeve was still out of commission and no one had forgotten about Vincent's untimely demise. However at the very least their own personal psychic juggernaut had been handy. Koty as it were single handedly kept the base at a standstill with the hordes of monsters that plagued their every move. He was becoming an asset of true value in their time of crisis. However zack still had an itchy feeling about the now fledgling marksman that had so eagerly taken up post as the one man army of the WRO. 'he has some issues to work out. But with him me and Denzel I guess we won't have to worry about the monsters. Speaking of which that little guy packs a wallop. I've never seen someone so young take down monsters with such grace. Well saving me of course.' He prided himself for his achievements.
"Zackary… a word." Koty was behind him and reading a book of foreign origin.
"its zack." He retorted offended by the man's use of his full name. "sure whadaya want?"
"the monsters here are indigenous to the area. Yes?"
"I guess."
"interesting. The advent of the paradox has heightened their sense of personal displacement and drawn them to this place. But why?"
"mind speaking English buddy?" zack pinched the bridge of his nose in confusion at the man's theories.
"it is nothing to be concerned about. I know the methods of monsters. After all it takes one to know one."
"creepy. You don't get out much do you?"
"I don't grasp your concept."
"look you need to stop being so creepy you're freakin me out. It just means that you're uptight. Try to relax a little."
"pardon?"
"relax you know… get a girl… get a drink… some music hell even if its creepy violin music. I imagine that's probably what you delve into being that you look a little like a vampire."
"huhhh… again I am referred to as a creature of blood lust. Is it unanimous?"
"no I didn't mean."
"it was a joke Zackary."
"its ZACK… and it didn't sound so joking to me."
"now who's tense?"
The way he never seemed to peel his eyes from the paper he read reminded zack of the time he had talked to Sephiroth in the nibelhiem manor before he burned the town to the ground. It filled him with a sense of unease. However at least Koty was slightly of better humor, albeit dry humor. It still made his head pound with memories of his former commander. 'Sephiroth… how did all of it come down to this… even… you… you were a hero… and…'
"something troubles you?" the man added as he turned a page.
"no I was just." Zack lost his words.
"reminiscing?"
"you could say that."
"the feeling is mutual."
"what?"
"I acknowledge that the world is harsh… and in return to spite its harshness I show mercy… you acknowledge its harshness and respond by feeling like you should have made it better when you had the chance. Our defining difference is that I enjoy my work. I am a professional. War is my profession, pain my hobby and I… I am a catastrophe… however even with my fate labeled I find a way to defy destiny. That is what sets us apart. You don't choose to defy. And that is why you reminisce. Because you feel that time has come and gone."
"Sephiroth is dead and the world is in total chaos. I think it's a little late for defiance."
"no. there is always something to defy. Nature, man, destiny, all things revolve around defiance. You live simply because you defy death."
"as I said before you freak me out."
"because I am different or because I make sense?"
"neither. You're just a freak."
"ah. Now you show defiance. You see that's what heroes are made of."
At that strange comment zack noticed the title of the strange book the man held. In his hand the words 'holy bible.' Were printed on the cover. But at his side zack noticed an eerie reminder of the past. A copy of the famed poem 'loveless' hung loosely from his hip.
"man what are you reading that for. When I was a kid I couldn't even understand junk like that and I don't know as I can now."
"the bible gives me insight into events of both the past and the future."
"I didn't mean that. But again why are you reading it."
"it is… intellectual."
"yeah and full of crap too."
"blasphemers earn a deep spot in the fiery pit fair." His tone was that of a warning.
"it was written by a man. How much trust can you put in it?"
"I suppose you have a point." He closed the book. "but faith is something very few people have. And that my friend is why so many people live miserable lives."
"you all holier than thou or are you just adding to your freak factor?"
The man let out a slight chuckle. "I find faith where I can. And I don't believe that some gathering form of misconstrued luck put me where I am. It is … comforting to believe in a higher power."
"why? I don't get it. You bring people back from the dead and send even more to replace them. How does a person like you find interest in religion?"
"I do not have a religion. It is against my faith."
"oh so if you read the bible you don't have religion now?"
"as much as I admire your sarcasm the answer is no. you follow a person's words for religion. And follow your heart for faith. Like when you had faith that cloud would save the world. No one told you, you simply believed. That is faith. Religion would be me telling you that he would and you simply protecting him because I said so."
"again you are a creepy bastard."
"ah but beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
"and what does that make me?"
"not the beholder."
intermission.
Now that we're on to business allow me to perplex you with a little insider knowledge about the relations between the characters. Zack obviously is wary of Koty though he trusts him. and for good reason. Koty did after all kill one of their own. But he has also ended an immediate threat to protect them. Easy to see there. Shelke and Yuffie are not romantically intertwined though I'm sure there were some speculations. They are only… how can I put this… a temporary item.
Obviously cloud and Tifa are nuts for each other but their views on things may differ. If any questions arise I encourage you to send an email or rev me. But for now on with the story.
resume
Blade of the youth. "strong one."
"yes that is it. Again. With more anger. Let me see your strength." Koty's darkened voice bellowed over the training grounds as the soldiers crowded around the duo in the center.
Denzel was undergoing training again and for some reason seemed almost naturally borne to wield a sword. "raahhh" he swung wildly and was caught off guard as Koty grabbed his arm and with a flick of his wrist put the boy on the ground.
"anger is good. But controlling it is more pertinent. Show me anger but do not let it flow from your body. Allow it to become the steel in your blade. For now I will let you recover. You have made much progress and I am proud of you… kohai."
"kohai?" the boy heaved as he stood.
"it means protégé. Do not worry the details know only that you are my kohai. That's all that is necessary."
"do you think I'll ever be as strong as cloud?"
"in time kohai." He rested his hand on Denzel's shoulder. "but for now you shall train. Now go rest. Later we will teach you the truth of bushido and the art of war."
"bushido?"
"a code of honor made by a group of elite warriors from my world. It was their life's ambition to honor the code of bushido."
"oh… alright… I'm gona do it? So that I can be as strong as you and cloud."
"but my how strong you are already my kohai. Much more training would possibly make you stronger than myself." He smiled as he pushed the boy forward. "but strong one isn't it more important enjoy life?"
"I guess so."
"do not guess know."
"what?"
"do you enjoy your life?"
The boy stared at the ground.
"you enjoy playing with Marlene, and cloud and Tifa's care for you do you not?"
"yeah I guess."
"do not guess. Yes or no."
"yes… I do."
"then do not worry about how strong you are. Only strengthen yourself so that you may protect that which matters to you."
"okay."
"now run along strong one. Go play with Marlene."
The child nodded and left the grounds as Koty stood with a sense of pride as if watching his own son grow in front of him.
"he's got potential…" Jonah walked into Koty's line of peripheral vision as he folded his arms. "should you really be getting attached though?"
"Jonah… he is my… nephew… as you were my friend… it isn't possible to refrain from growing close to him."
"were… I thought we were still friends… Koty…"
"Jonah." He sighed disapprovingly.
"yeah wires and all aside… at least I'm still here… right bud?"
"your optimism never ceases to amaze me fairwater."
"shit happens I get over it. Why don't you?"
"I wouldn't know how."
"its easy. Just put on a smile and kick trouble's ass. Then laugh about it over a few drinks."
"easier said than done my friend."
"like hell. I drink all the time… well I use to at any rate. Now I really don't drink at all… no need. Wires…"
"hahaha" the man laughed at the robotic mans sense of humor. "Jonah… it is good to see your spirit has stayed… even if your body is in disrepair."
"so what was all this strong one mess… you know he'll never be able to get hold of one of those right?" he motioned to Koty's now gauntlet covered arm.
"nothing is certain Jonah. Even I know that."