"Cloud?"
That voice... it wasn't
his voice.
"Cloud!"
A cold hand touched
my shoulder and shook me. Why wouldn't it leave me alone? I wanted to stay
in that dream, to be with him. So little people knew such feelings, ah,
but I was different. I never asked to be, but I just was. And so I lived
my life as another so that I would be taken as a normal person.
It shook me again,
this time I opened my eyes, even though I would rather have them never
open up again. A burst of light touched my eyes and I already felt them
water. My hand shot up to block it, yet something was already shading my
eyes.
"Tifa...?" was all
I was able to mumble.
I was finally able
to look at her, worried whine-colored eyes, a half-opened mouth whispering
my name while long strands of brown hair spilled over her shoulder and
onto my bare chest. I winced, she looked very worried, and sometimes, I
wished she would leave me alone. No one needs to worry for me. Why should
they?
My hand reached to
caress her cheek, and her face softened. She placed her head on my
chest and whispered a few words that I couldn't understand. I sighed, my
eyes wandering around the room. It was a simple room, nothing very special
in value. Both of us had moved to Kalm after the incident, and we had bought
this house since it was good to settle down a bit. Every once in a while,
the whole group would meet up here, it was always good to see all of them.
They were also supposed
to meet again here, today. Of all nights to have such dreams. Tifa looks
at me as if she understands that it was nothing more than a dream, but
I know that as soon as the others arrive, she'll share her suspicions with
the others. And thus another ruckus will emerge.
I hid my frown and
looked back at the ceiling. How strange it felt. My thoughts went back
to the dream I had had earlier. So many questions filled my head, and yet,
I didn't want any answers. I only wanted to feel. It wasn't much as to
get my answers from Sephiroth... my General, but his caressing hand, the
way he had touched my face so gently...
Tifa's hand brushed
my arm, so harshly it seemed. She got up from the bed and walked towards
the hallway, only wearing a small shirt and undergarments. I closed my
eyes, if only I could escape from here. It wasn't that I didn't love Tifa,
far from it, but something was missing.
"Cloud... you do know
that the others are coming here today, don't you?" she yelled from downstairs.
I didn't want to respond, only stay in this bed forever, or until sleep
would consume me again.
"Yeah, I know."
I got up, even though
I didn't want to, and got ready. The last thing I need is more suspicions
from Tifa. But...
The sun shone so brightly
today, and not even a cloud in the sky to disturb such a beautiful day.
The town was active, people going here, going there. They almost seemed
like a popular of ants, rushing to do things as if the world would come
to a stop anytime soon.
Of course, it wouldn't.
Not now atleast.
I sat on a bench outside
the house, what else could I do but to look at the passing people? From
far away, I could hear the Highwind coming nearer. That meant I would expect
atleast Red XIII, Vincent, Cid and Barret. I didn't know about Yuffie,
she didn't come to our last reunion. I heard she was traveling around the
world, but who knows?
Tifa came and sat beside
me, her shoulder brushing mine. I let my gaze follow the street as she
nudged closer to me. She felt so cold, her skin, and so I put an arm around
her and let her sit closer to me. Suddenly, as I looked back at her, I
thought to see a tall silvered hair figure stand in her place, but I blinked,
and the image went away.
"Cloud, are you feeling
okay?" Her eyes begged me to tell her, but I couldn't. How could I have
told her this? That I saw Sephiroth in a dream, and that he talked to me?
And I knew that deep in her, hatred for Sephiroth grew every time I talked
about him. Why couldn't they understand? He wasn't evil...
"No, I'm okay Tifa.
Stop worrying." I kept whispering in her ears, and it almost seemed as
if I was talking to thin air.
In a burst of violent
sounds, Cid and Barret walked towards us, followed by the others, laughing
loudly and hysterically. Vincent and Red XIII behind them, seemed a little
embarrassed by their comportment. I don't blame them, I almost immediately
dug my head in my hands.
"Yo!" Even halfway
through town, they began their salutes. I couldn't believe them.
They came up on the
gallery as both me and Tifa got up to greet them. I did feel good. To be
with the ones we had long fought by. I even felt a faint smile forming
on my face, when was the last time I had smiled?
In a rush of power,
I suddenly felt lightheaded, and my head throbbed so badly I thought it
would soon burst. My hand simultaneously clutched at my head. I could hear
the voices around me shouting for things, and I couldn't hear them. My
fingers fell numb, and soon the feelings in my legs left me. I saw the
blue sky disappear into a pool of darkness.
It wasn't so bad. I
would be able to sleep...
Author's
Note: Again, sorry for the short chapter. I just wanted to introduce
other characters! (No, it definitely wont be a Tifa x Cloud fic.) Anyways,
this was a pretty boring chapter, don't you think? I'm sorry if it wasn't
as great, I've been suffering from these headaches lately. ^_^;; Anyways,
please review!