Searching for a Solution

Searching for a Solution

"So I'm a werewolf." Cloud stated after Tifa finished her explanation. "Yes, I'm afraid you are." she answered. "Did I...do this to you?" Cloud asked, gently brushing a finger over Tifa's bruised face. Tifa just nodded, and Cloud looked down on his feet. "I'm sorry." he said softly. "Hey." Tifa took his hand into hers. "It wasn't you. It was that wolf inside you, but not you. You would never hurt me, and I know that." "Thanks." Cloud gave her a look full of love and warmth, and Tifa smiled at him happily. Suddenly the door flew open, and Cid butted in. "Hey pal! You @$&%§ freaked me out last night!" "Sorry Cid." Cloud sighed. "I got an idea!" Cid said frantically. "We could lock Cloud up in the cellar when his time of the month is coming." "Yeah, and he will break down the door and run off into the wood again." Yuffie answered, walking into the room. "Of course we'll have to make a steel door, silly" Cid yelled at the young ninja. "And Cloud will bang against it all night and keep us awake? Forget it." Tifa answered. Cloud snorted. "Okay, guys, could you please stop talking about me as if I wasn't in the room? What about locking me up in the cellar and chaining me to the wall or something like that?" "No no no." Tifa told her boyfriend. "I sure won't chain you up. That didn't work last night." Cloud gave a deep sigh. "Then what shall we do?" The room was completely silent until Yuffie said: "There might be a way to get rid of the wolf inside you." "Yeah? So tell me." Cloud begged. "There's an old witch living in Wutai. Maybe she knows how to do it." "Good. Pack your things, we travel to Wutai." Cloud ordered, his leader nature breaking through. The other three nodded and dashed off.

Soon the quartet found itself on board of the Highwind, with Cid on the steering wheel and cursing like hell. He had managed to do the unimaginable: forget his cigarettes. "I hope there's a @&$§%& tobacco shop in your stinky little town!" the pilot yelled at Yuffie, who was almost rolling on the floor with laughter. Meanwhile, Cloud and Tifa had sneaked off into the operation room. Tifa was sitting on the table, Cloud stood in front of her and they were really busy with tongue-wrestling (A/N: I love this word!). Finally Tifa broke the kiss and looked at her lover, smiling. "I love you, Cloud." "I love you too." he answered with a big goofy-grin on his face. Cloud raised a hand and gently stroke Tifas cheek. "Since I saw you the first time." he whispered before leaning in for a kiss. One second before their lips met, Yuffie butted in. "We are here...oh...." the ninja trailed off. Cloud and Tifa both had blushed to a very deep shade of red. "Get outta here!" Cloud bellowed. "Can't you knock before entering a room?" "Sorry!" Yuffie yelled back. "Calm down, both of you!" Tifa ordered them. "Let's go to that witch."

Cloud knocked the old wooden door, and inside a husky, even older voice could be heard: "Come in, werewolf." Clouds eyebrows went up and he shot Tifa a glance before opening the door and entering the small house. "Welcome, werewolf." the witch greeted him. "Who says I'm a werewolf?" Cloud asked. "I can feel the presence of the wolf in you. And my cat hid under the desk." The old woman grinned at Cloud. "Please sit down. I'm Celeste, and how are you?" "I'm Cloud, and this is my girlfriend, Tifa." The two of them took a seat, and Cloud started to talk. He told the witch about the wolf that had bitten him, about the increasing of his senses and about himself turning into a werewolf. "I see." the witch said after he had finished talking. "Well, there's no way to get the wolf out of you, Cloud." Tifas head propped down, and the witch hastily continued. "But you can try to keep it under control." "How?" Cloud asked curious. "Take this." Celeste handed him a leather necklace with a round pendant dangling from it. "What's this?" Cloud asked, eyeing the pendant carefully as if it could bite him. "It's a talisman called Wolf's Heart. It'll keep the wolf weak, so it won't be able to break out." "Hm. And it works?" The witch chuckled. "I dunno. Never tried it before." Tifa gave hr lover a worried look, but he shrugged it off and took the necklace. "What do I owe you?" "Nothing, son. Just tell me if it worked after next full moon." the witch smiled. "Okay. Thank you." Cloud grinned at Celeste and left the house together with Tifa.

A/N: OK, this is short...sorry bout that. But I didn't have much time to write due to nasty exams :-P Next chapter will be longer, I promise *gives puppy look* Please don't be mad.

Yours truly

Cloud D.