A/N: *usual ranting* hee, this has got to be one of the fastest written chapters i've ever done. that's for all the people that actually read my story!!! ^_^ (that's what? one... two... three people?) and a warning. beware or serious twisty-ness. not in a bad way... just surprising... ^_^ You'll never guess. ^^
~Heart's Desire~
-Chapter 4-
"YOU-!" Reno couldn't believe his eyes.
"Let go of her or you'll really be in for it." he hissed, his voice chilling Reno's blood. ::He's still so scary… what is he doing here?!?::
"SEPHIROTH!" Reno yelled.
"How do you know my name?" Sephiroth's green eyes narrowed.
"W- what are you doing here?"
"Coming here to pick up my girlfriend. What do you think?"
"G- g- girlfriend?" Reno yelped, he was shocked, to say the least. "You're going out with Tifa?"
"Of course. I've been going out with her for a year now. What kind of idiot are you?" Sephiroth's voice bore ill will if Reno couldn't come up with a good excuse.
"He just moved here." Tifa said, suddenly speaking up. ::Thank God Sephiroth was going to pick me up today. I was just about to punch the guy's lights out.:: Tifa gritted her teeth.
"You got lucky buster." Sephiroth declared, gently helping Tifa up off the ground. "Are you okay, Tif?"
"Yea. No serious damage." She said, rubbing her wrist lightly. Sephiroth glared at Reno.
"If…"
"What's going on?" Reno looked up to see, yet another, familiar face.
"VINCENT!" he yelled, eyes practically popping out of their sockets at so many familiar faces.
"Do you know him oni-chan?" Tifa inquired her older brother.
"I met his family a while ago before they moved. When they were still at the boarding school." Vincent replied smoothly. "I didn't know they would be moving here though."
"Oh."
"Why don't you go home, take Sephiroth with you huh?" Vincent grinned at his imouto-chan.
"Sure!" Tifa grabbed Sephiroth's hand and they both headed toward Tifa's house.
"Your mom's not home… is she?" Sephiroth asked, starting to pale at the prospect.
"Actually, she is. It's her day off." Tifa grinned. Sephiroth gave a wail.
"NOOO~! Do you know what she did to my *hair* last time?" he gasped, holding his silver, waist length hair in his free hand. Tifa laughed.
"Yea, she took a picture. Don't worry, just stick with me and you'll be fine." She reassured him. Sehiroth didn't believe her. "Trust me!"
"Fine, fine. But only cuz you promise me ice cream after this." Sehiroth mumbled.
"Anything you want babe!" Tifa grinned while winking at him knowing he would buy it for her anyway.
Vincent and Reno watched the both of them turn the corner. "We need to talk." Vincent's voice had reverted from his "happy-older-brother-over-protective" voice to "I'm-a-sharp-shooter-with-vampire- like-features-which-I-still-have" voice.
"Yea, we do." Reno said, watching the happy couple leave his vision.
*
"Mr…?" a dark hair captain asked, walking next the young man.
"Strife. But please, just call me Cloud."
"All right. Hello Cloud. I'm the captain, Captain Kuyota." The captain smiled, offering his hand. Cloud shook it.
"You remind me of Cid."
"Cid? As in Cid Highwind?" he looked at Cloud in surprise. "You know him, sir?"
"Yea. We worked together." Cloud replied vaguely. ::Damn. I wanted to get *away* from all this attention and to find Aeris! I had to open my big mouth!::
"Really? When? My father knew his father." Captain Kuyota looked out into the open seas.
"A while back."
"Don't feel like saying much huh? Silent type huh?" Cloud shrugged.
"I don't like talking about my past too much, that's all."
"Understandable." Captain Kuyota shook his head. "It's amazing we're alive. And we all owe it to AVALANCHE.
"Yes." Cloud looked out. "Is that… land?"
"Yep. We're almost to Silando Island. Where are you heading to, after this?" Captain Kuyota glanced curiously at the spikey blonde hair passenger.
"To… a dream I guess. Ever hear of Paradise Island?"
"Yea. It's an old wives tale. No one's ever been able to find it." Kuyota stared at Cloud. "You're not going to try are you? Trust me, it's nothing but a legend."
"I've got to try."
"Hm." Kuyota shook his head. "Young people these days." Kuyota studied Cloud. ::Mako blue eyes? Blond, spikey hair? CLOUD STRIFE? OHMIGOD!:: "Now… you wouldn't happen to be *Cloud* *Strife*, the leader of AVALANCHE, now would you?"
"Uh… yea…" Cloud blushed as the captain kept thanking him over and over again. "It's all right! I just want to be anonymous right now." He explained.
"Ah. All right! Your secret's safe with me!"
"Captain! We're beginning to hit the coral reefs!" yelled one of the sailors.
"Coming!" he yelled back. He turned to Cloud, "I hope you find what you seek."
"I do to. Thank you very much."
"No problem. Now in a couple of hours we'll be landing, see you then."
"See you." Cloud tipped his head back to watch the spray of the ocean waves splash against the ship's side. ::It's been what, about two, three, months since I got on this boat. I wonder how everyone is doing? Tifa, I hope you're all right. You've got to understand though! Aeris… I'll find you soon. Wait for me.:: A wave crashed against a beautiful beach, the renowned beaches of the Silando Island. ::Soon, I'll be with you.::
*
"What the hell do you think you're doing? What are you trying to do to Tifa?" Vincent angrily slammed this hand into the wall, next to Reno's head.
"Brother… you're her *older* *brother*?!?" Reno gulped. Vincent sighed. ::I don't think it's sunk in yet.::
"When you asked why I didn't forget about Tifa while everyone else did?"
"You said, 'We have ties that blind.'" Reno cited from memory.
"Right. And what are ties that bind?"
"Um… I dunno?" Reno laughed nervously and had a sheepish look on his face.
"It means we are closely related, whether by blood, soul, or similar backgrounds etc. For us we have all three, which make us very close friends, or in this world's case, brother. Older. Brother." Vincent accented the last two words.
"So…" Reno thought about the whole situation. ::OHMIGOD! Tifa has a very overprotective older brother and over protective *boyfriend* who *happens* to be out evil, insane Sephiroth who *tried* to destroy the planet and was *suppose* to be dead! How can my day get worse??::
"So… what?"
"Why do you remember? Obviously Tifa and Sephiroth both don't remember anything or… before…"
"They aren't suppose to."
"Why not? And why the hell is Sephiroth here? And how the hell can you let her date him, knowing who he was… is!??"
"Reno. He's not the same person! He's different, not having the same influences he had in the other world. He's a lot nicer, although he hasn't lost his 'tough-guy-can-beat-you-up-whenever' act. He's actually really nice to Tifa, and I get along with him fine."
"But- but…" Reno's mind was a total blank. "Why is he *here*? And how do you remember everything while no one else does. And do I need to know about any other 'old-worlders'?"
"Hn, you'll find out in time to come." Vincent was finally acting Vincentish.
"Can't you at least tell me who? And you didn't answer my last question!"
"No, I don't think I'll tell you who. You'll find out in due time. I can remember because I asked to remember, I want to protect Tifa with all my memories so I'll always be prepared for something.
"I see your age changed."
"Yes."
"Back to the one liners, huh?"
"…"
"Come on! Start being more friendly!"
"I have nothing to say. I need to get home. Good-bye."
"Yeesh. You *could* be a little more friendly."
"Saying good-bye is polite and friendly."
"Yea, what ever. Nice you see you haven't changed *at all*!" Reno stuck his tongue out at Vincent's back.
"Nice to see you still have the personality of a five year old." Vincent retorted.
"HEY!" Reno stomped his feet, practially having a temper tantrum. "Uh…" Reno blushed. ::Damn it! I just proved Vincent's point! Damn it!!!!!!::
*
"So…" Sephiroth began, while watching Tifa make some cookies.
"So…?" Tifa raised an eyebrow.
"What would you have done to that red hair guy if I didn't come along?" Tifa grinned.
"Well… I'd have probably punched his lights out, good. But I'm really glad you came. Just in the nick of time too!"
"Oh, how so? Besides, me being your favorite guy? I mean… with your brother included, of course."
"Of course!" Tifa laughed. "Because, if I beat up Reno I would probably have been caught and *then* I'd have this horrible recording on my scholastic permanent records!"
"You and your grades." Sephiroth shook his head.
"Yea, I know. But you love me for it, right?" Tifa grinned.
"Sure. But I happen to love your cooking better." Sephiroth grinned back. Tifa smacked the back of his head. "What was that for?"
"Oh… nothing. I just happen to feel like hitting you, that's all." Sephiroth gave her a mock glare.
"You meanie."
"Me meanie nothing. Now want the cookies or not?"
"Okay, okay!" Tifa smirked. "Women!"
"What is that suppose to mean?" Sephiroth looked at Tifa. ::Uh oh. Hands on hits, tapping her coot, holding a wooden spatula… I don't want to know what she can do with that!!::
"Nothing! Nothing!" Sephiroth put up his hands in a defensive/I-don't-have-anything-to-fight- back-with mode.
"Humph. Why don't I believe you?"
"And you're suppose to be my girlfriend?" Tifa sniffed.
"Do you hate me so much?"
"No! No! That's not what I meant!" Sephiroth heaved a sigh. ::Damn it! I hate it when she does that!:: Sephiroth gave her a hug. "I was only teasing."
"I know!" Tifa gave him a perky grin.
"Why you-!" Tifa gave a shriek and began to run away from Sephiroth's hands.
"Wait! Don't! Please!! Ha- please! Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!" Tifa squirmed as Sephiroth ticked the hell out of her. "SEEEEPHHHIIRROOOOTH!!!!!!!"
"That's what you get." They both looked up when they heard the door open.
"Hey oni-chan! What were you doing?"
"Just tying up loose ends. And having a talk with that Reno guy."
"Oh." All three of them turned toward the sound of a timer going off. "Oh! my cookies!!!" Tifa shoved Sephiroth off of her, gave Vincent a hug and a kiss on the cheek and then made sure her cookies didn't burn.
"Amazing how she can do all that at once." Vincent just nodded.
"Ouch! Damn it! Hot! Ow! My side hurts, thanks a lot Sephiroth! Ow! Hot! Hot!" and Tifa amazed them by showing off her extensive vocabulary in the area of cussing.
"Where did you learn that?" Vincent raised an eyebrow.
"Would you believe it? School!" Tifa gave her oni-chan a grin. "OW! DAMN IT! I'M GOING TO KILL THE STUPID FREAKIN' CRAPPY SHITTY OVEN!" Vincent and Sephiroth winced.
"Just don't let mom hear you saying that."
"I know." Tifa smiled at the both of them. "So… who feels like a Tifa chocolate chip cookie?" both hands raised in the air.
"ME!" they both chorused. Everyone broke out in laughter while trying to take as many cookies as possible.
*
::I can't believe it. Tifa's going out with Sephiroth. Why me?:: Reno hugged his pillow. ::When Cloud's gone, Sephiroth's there. Why did I fall for the girl who seems to be the most out of my reach? Why did I have to follow her here? I could have been happy. Just pretend my feelings weren't there! My god, I'm such an idiot. Tifa…::
*
Cloud saddled the golden chocobo he had just rented. Chick-a-dee, Chick for short. ::Aeris, I *will* find you!:: and with those last thoughts, he set out to find the legendary island, Paradise Island.
*
Reno looked at his ceiling. ::Goddamn it! Vincent still hasn't answer my question! Why the hell is Sephiroth in this world too??::
A/N: Since i forgot to make a comment on Reno's behavior in the last chapter... how odd is it for Reno to not take advantage of a girl? (refering to rose). ^^ and oh man! is sephiroth OOC here or what? not to mention vincent!! o.O;;; i really didn't mean to do that but... the i really like the whole twistiness of it all!!! now i wonder if i should break up sephy-chan and tifa... ^^;;. and yay! cloud *finally* makes his appearence. maybe i can make this even more twisted, what'cha say to that minna-san? R&R!!!! pretty please? pretty pretty please with a cheery on top? pleaaaaseee?????
~Heart's Desire~
-Chapter 4-
"YOU-!" Reno couldn't believe his eyes.
"Let go of her or you'll really be in for it." he hissed, his voice chilling Reno's blood. ::He's still so scary… what is he doing here?!?::
"SEPHIROTH!" Reno yelled.
"How do you know my name?" Sephiroth's green eyes narrowed.
"W- what are you doing here?"
"Coming here to pick up my girlfriend. What do you think?"
"G- g- girlfriend?" Reno yelped, he was shocked, to say the least. "You're going out with Tifa?"
"Of course. I've been going out with her for a year now. What kind of idiot are you?" Sephiroth's voice bore ill will if Reno couldn't come up with a good excuse.
"He just moved here." Tifa said, suddenly speaking up. ::Thank God Sephiroth was going to pick me up today. I was just about to punch the guy's lights out.:: Tifa gritted her teeth.
"You got lucky buster." Sephiroth declared, gently helping Tifa up off the ground. "Are you okay, Tif?"
"Yea. No serious damage." She said, rubbing her wrist lightly. Sephiroth glared at Reno.
"If…"
"What's going on?" Reno looked up to see, yet another, familiar face.
"VINCENT!" he yelled, eyes practically popping out of their sockets at so many familiar faces.
"Do you know him oni-chan?" Tifa inquired her older brother.
"I met his family a while ago before they moved. When they were still at the boarding school." Vincent replied smoothly. "I didn't know they would be moving here though."
"Oh."
"Why don't you go home, take Sephiroth with you huh?" Vincent grinned at his imouto-chan.
"Sure!" Tifa grabbed Sephiroth's hand and they both headed toward Tifa's house.
"Your mom's not home… is she?" Sephiroth asked, starting to pale at the prospect.
"Actually, she is. It's her day off." Tifa grinned. Sephiroth gave a wail.
"NOOO~! Do you know what she did to my *hair* last time?" he gasped, holding his silver, waist length hair in his free hand. Tifa laughed.
"Yea, she took a picture. Don't worry, just stick with me and you'll be fine." She reassured him. Sehiroth didn't believe her. "Trust me!"
"Fine, fine. But only cuz you promise me ice cream after this." Sehiroth mumbled.
"Anything you want babe!" Tifa grinned while winking at him knowing he would buy it for her anyway.
Vincent and Reno watched the both of them turn the corner. "We need to talk." Vincent's voice had reverted from his "happy-older-brother-over-protective" voice to "I'm-a-sharp-shooter-with-vampire- like-features-which-I-still-have" voice.
"Yea, we do." Reno said, watching the happy couple leave his vision.
*
"Mr…?" a dark hair captain asked, walking next the young man.
"Strife. But please, just call me Cloud."
"All right. Hello Cloud. I'm the captain, Captain Kuyota." The captain smiled, offering his hand. Cloud shook it.
"You remind me of Cid."
"Cid? As in Cid Highwind?" he looked at Cloud in surprise. "You know him, sir?"
"Yea. We worked together." Cloud replied vaguely. ::Damn. I wanted to get *away* from all this attention and to find Aeris! I had to open my big mouth!::
"Really? When? My father knew his father." Captain Kuyota looked out into the open seas.
"A while back."
"Don't feel like saying much huh? Silent type huh?" Cloud shrugged.
"I don't like talking about my past too much, that's all."
"Understandable." Captain Kuyota shook his head. "It's amazing we're alive. And we all owe it to AVALANCHE.
"Yes." Cloud looked out. "Is that… land?"
"Yep. We're almost to Silando Island. Where are you heading to, after this?" Captain Kuyota glanced curiously at the spikey blonde hair passenger.
"To… a dream I guess. Ever hear of Paradise Island?"
"Yea. It's an old wives tale. No one's ever been able to find it." Kuyota stared at Cloud. "You're not going to try are you? Trust me, it's nothing but a legend."
"I've got to try."
"Hm." Kuyota shook his head. "Young people these days." Kuyota studied Cloud. ::Mako blue eyes? Blond, spikey hair? CLOUD STRIFE? OHMIGOD!:: "Now… you wouldn't happen to be *Cloud* *Strife*, the leader of AVALANCHE, now would you?"
"Uh… yea…" Cloud blushed as the captain kept thanking him over and over again. "It's all right! I just want to be anonymous right now." He explained.
"Ah. All right! Your secret's safe with me!"
"Captain! We're beginning to hit the coral reefs!" yelled one of the sailors.
"Coming!" he yelled back. He turned to Cloud, "I hope you find what you seek."
"I do to. Thank you very much."
"No problem. Now in a couple of hours we'll be landing, see you then."
"See you." Cloud tipped his head back to watch the spray of the ocean waves splash against the ship's side. ::It's been what, about two, three, months since I got on this boat. I wonder how everyone is doing? Tifa, I hope you're all right. You've got to understand though! Aeris… I'll find you soon. Wait for me.:: A wave crashed against a beautiful beach, the renowned beaches of the Silando Island. ::Soon, I'll be with you.::
*
"What the hell do you think you're doing? What are you trying to do to Tifa?" Vincent angrily slammed this hand into the wall, next to Reno's head.
"Brother… you're her *older* *brother*?!?" Reno gulped. Vincent sighed. ::I don't think it's sunk in yet.::
"When you asked why I didn't forget about Tifa while everyone else did?"
"You said, 'We have ties that blind.'" Reno cited from memory.
"Right. And what are ties that bind?"
"Um… I dunno?" Reno laughed nervously and had a sheepish look on his face.
"It means we are closely related, whether by blood, soul, or similar backgrounds etc. For us we have all three, which make us very close friends, or in this world's case, brother. Older. Brother." Vincent accented the last two words.
"So…" Reno thought about the whole situation. ::OHMIGOD! Tifa has a very overprotective older brother and over protective *boyfriend* who *happens* to be out evil, insane Sephiroth who *tried* to destroy the planet and was *suppose* to be dead! How can my day get worse??::
"So… what?"
"Why do you remember? Obviously Tifa and Sephiroth both don't remember anything or… before…"
"They aren't suppose to."
"Why not? And why the hell is Sephiroth here? And how the hell can you let her date him, knowing who he was… is!??"
"Reno. He's not the same person! He's different, not having the same influences he had in the other world. He's a lot nicer, although he hasn't lost his 'tough-guy-can-beat-you-up-whenever' act. He's actually really nice to Tifa, and I get along with him fine."
"But- but…" Reno's mind was a total blank. "Why is he *here*? And how do you remember everything while no one else does. And do I need to know about any other 'old-worlders'?"
"Hn, you'll find out in time to come." Vincent was finally acting Vincentish.
"Can't you at least tell me who? And you didn't answer my last question!"
"No, I don't think I'll tell you who. You'll find out in due time. I can remember because I asked to remember, I want to protect Tifa with all my memories so I'll always be prepared for something.
"I see your age changed."
"Yes."
"Back to the one liners, huh?"
"…"
"Come on! Start being more friendly!"
"I have nothing to say. I need to get home. Good-bye."
"Yeesh. You *could* be a little more friendly."
"Saying good-bye is polite and friendly."
"Yea, what ever. Nice you see you haven't changed *at all*!" Reno stuck his tongue out at Vincent's back.
"Nice to see you still have the personality of a five year old." Vincent retorted.
"HEY!" Reno stomped his feet, practially having a temper tantrum. "Uh…" Reno blushed. ::Damn it! I just proved Vincent's point! Damn it!!!!!!::
*
"So…" Sephiroth began, while watching Tifa make some cookies.
"So…?" Tifa raised an eyebrow.
"What would you have done to that red hair guy if I didn't come along?" Tifa grinned.
"Well… I'd have probably punched his lights out, good. But I'm really glad you came. Just in the nick of time too!"
"Oh, how so? Besides, me being your favorite guy? I mean… with your brother included, of course."
"Of course!" Tifa laughed. "Because, if I beat up Reno I would probably have been caught and *then* I'd have this horrible recording on my scholastic permanent records!"
"You and your grades." Sephiroth shook his head.
"Yea, I know. But you love me for it, right?" Tifa grinned.
"Sure. But I happen to love your cooking better." Sephiroth grinned back. Tifa smacked the back of his head. "What was that for?"
"Oh… nothing. I just happen to feel like hitting you, that's all." Sephiroth gave her a mock glare.
"You meanie."
"Me meanie nothing. Now want the cookies or not?"
"Okay, okay!" Tifa smirked. "Women!"
"What is that suppose to mean?" Sephiroth looked at Tifa. ::Uh oh. Hands on hits, tapping her coot, holding a wooden spatula… I don't want to know what she can do with that!!::
"Nothing! Nothing!" Sephiroth put up his hands in a defensive/I-don't-have-anything-to-fight- back-with mode.
"Humph. Why don't I believe you?"
"And you're suppose to be my girlfriend?" Tifa sniffed.
"Do you hate me so much?"
"No! No! That's not what I meant!" Sephiroth heaved a sigh. ::Damn it! I hate it when she does that!:: Sephiroth gave her a hug. "I was only teasing."
"I know!" Tifa gave him a perky grin.
"Why you-!" Tifa gave a shriek and began to run away from Sephiroth's hands.
"Wait! Don't! Please!! Ha- please! Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!" Tifa squirmed as Sephiroth ticked the hell out of her. "SEEEEPHHHIIRROOOOTH!!!!!!!"
"That's what you get." They both looked up when they heard the door open.
"Hey oni-chan! What were you doing?"
"Just tying up loose ends. And having a talk with that Reno guy."
"Oh." All three of them turned toward the sound of a timer going off. "Oh! my cookies!!!" Tifa shoved Sephiroth off of her, gave Vincent a hug and a kiss on the cheek and then made sure her cookies didn't burn.
"Amazing how she can do all that at once." Vincent just nodded.
"Ouch! Damn it! Hot! Ow! My side hurts, thanks a lot Sephiroth! Ow! Hot! Hot!" and Tifa amazed them by showing off her extensive vocabulary in the area of cussing.
"Where did you learn that?" Vincent raised an eyebrow.
"Would you believe it? School!" Tifa gave her oni-chan a grin. "OW! DAMN IT! I'M GOING TO KILL THE STUPID FREAKIN' CRAPPY SHITTY OVEN!" Vincent and Sephiroth winced.
"Just don't let mom hear you saying that."
"I know." Tifa smiled at the both of them. "So… who feels like a Tifa chocolate chip cookie?" both hands raised in the air.
"ME!" they both chorused. Everyone broke out in laughter while trying to take as many cookies as possible.
*
::I can't believe it. Tifa's going out with Sephiroth. Why me?:: Reno hugged his pillow. ::When Cloud's gone, Sephiroth's there. Why did I fall for the girl who seems to be the most out of my reach? Why did I have to follow her here? I could have been happy. Just pretend my feelings weren't there! My god, I'm such an idiot. Tifa…::
*
Cloud saddled the golden chocobo he had just rented. Chick-a-dee, Chick for short. ::Aeris, I *will* find you!:: and with those last thoughts, he set out to find the legendary island, Paradise Island.
*
Reno looked at his ceiling. ::Goddamn it! Vincent still hasn't answer my question! Why the hell is Sephiroth in this world too??::
A/N: Since i forgot to make a comment on Reno's behavior in the last chapter... how odd is it for Reno to not take advantage of a girl? (refering to rose). ^^ and oh man! is sephiroth OOC here or what? not to mention vincent!! o.O;;; i really didn't mean to do that but... the i really like the whole twistiness of it all!!! now i wonder if i should break up sephy-chan and tifa... ^^;;. and yay! cloud *finally* makes his appearence. maybe i can make this even more twisted, what'cha say to that minna-san? R&R!!!! pretty please? pretty pretty please with a cheery on top? pleaaaaseee?????