The city of Midgar laid still, as Winter had soon followed. The civilians packed the streets as rain fell gently one cold December night. With the fact that Shinra had been completely wiped out from Midgar, a new mayor was elected to run the reproduction of a new found city.
As Tifa Lockhart sat by her windowsill, staring out into the cold foggy skies, she felt a sudden chill run down her spine. The same feeling she had felt once before, not so long ago. It had probably been nearly a year, when she had seen his face. The face that she had hoped to see every morning when she awoke, and every night when she fell asleep. But to no avail, it never happened. It was the same drenched feeling she had, the feeling that he was either near, or just the thought of him that made her shudder.
True, the two had been great friends, always there for one another. But after that incident only a year ago, he had vanished without a trace. Without even a slight good-bye. Tifa closed her honey colored eyes, as she thought of his words, that echoed each and every night.
'I want to meet her....'
And with that, he left, no one knew exactly why. But everything had finally settled down, and returned to its usual self. Such as Barret and Marlene, the two were hardly apart, and always out and about doing something together. Just like the family Tifa had always wanted and long for. The family that she had needed, someone like him. She quickly swung around, startled by the sudden voices coming up the hidden elevator, of the bar.
"Hey, Barret," she smiled, looking at the man and the little girl who had fallen asleep in his arms. He flashed her a look, that was the typical, considering how well Barret knew and understood her.
"What are you up to?" he questioned, taking a seat at a near by table.
Tifa shook her head, as she stared outside, surpressing her feelings, "Just another cold day in Midgar," she uttered, not at all hearing her friend's comment. Instead, she stared out into the open streets, in hoping to see a familiar face.
Cloud Strife entered the town square, as his boots clattered onto the brick roads. The air laid calm and still as it gently wissed passed him, causing his thick blonde spikes to flutter calmly. His blue eyes glowed, as a car strode by, it's headlights, blinking miraculously, as if telling him to move away. He held tightly onto his Ultima Sword, as he walked down the busy streets, the rain falling harder with every step. Cloud slowly made his way to a diner, as he stood before it. It's sign reading 'Tifa's 7th Heaven'.
Inside, he noticed a young brown-haired woman, standing behind a counter, staring up at a television screen. Her eyes seemed to give off a sweet but tender glow. Just how he had left her be, after that long year. Cloud's expression laid still, as he stared at her, studying her every movement. She hadn't changed at all from how he had remember. Cloud slowly stepped up, and entered the bar.
"How may I----Cloud!" Tifa squealed out, startled and happy all at once. He flashed her a quick smile, as he seated down in front of the young persistent woman.
"How long's it been?!?" she questioned, walking over beside him. He stared up at her, then turned away, slowly. Her smile soon faded as she noticed the sadness in his mako eyes, "What's wrong?"
Cloud glanced up at her, then quickly turned away, "I don't know what to do, anymore..." Tifa stepped closer to him, as she gently placed a comforting hand on his broad shoulder, "I don't know....I don't know what I'm doin'....Tifa," his eyes looked up at her with pity, "I want to see her again...I don't care if its only for a damn minute..." She slowly looked away, as she took a seat beside him.
"It's been so long...," she uttered, looking down, "Is that all you did all this time?" Cloud turned away, without a reply, as he placed his hands on the counter. Barret entered the bar, when he then noticed Cloud and Tifa, quiet in that very moment.
"YO! Is that you?!?!" he exclaimed, stepping up beside him. Tifa looked up, as he slowly stood up, facing Barret.
Cloud smiled, "It's been awhile, and you haven't changed a bit."
Barret smirked, "Your ass is the one who hasn't changed. Still up and about, stealin' ladies hearts, huh?"
Cloud looked down, feeling a bit awkward. Tifa quickly chimed in.
"Hahhaa....oh, Barret. You talk too much," she replied, with a nervous smile, as she gently padded him on the arm.
Barret shot her a sudden look, "The hell are you talkin' bout? You know it damn well yourself. All she's been doin' was thinkin' of your spikey ass!" Cloud's eyes adjusted on the young woman, as she nervously laughed. But he knew very well, what she had been thinking.
"So where ya livin' up to about now?" Barret asked, sitting down.
"I just dropped in Midgar, and decided to come by. After all, it's not like I see you two everyday of my life," he replied, fidgeting with a cup of sugar, on the counter. Tifa turned away as she resumed to sitting down.
"Still travelin', aren't ya? Well, when are you gonna settle down in your own home?" he questioned, with a cheesed up look. Cloud paused, deep in thought.
"I wasn't too sure, but is there a vacant apartment in Sector 6?" Cloud asked, turning to Tifa. She looked up at him, hiding how excited she had been.
"Yeah," Barret replied, flashing Tifa a look, as he then turned back to Cloud.
"Well, I should be going..," he uttered, "Didn't mean to bother you." Tifa slowly stood up, as her heart beated quickly as it called out to him. Cloud....did you forget your promise?
The City Tower rang loudly, as the clock struck midnight. The skies laid calm, expect for the expectancy of thunder, that was bound to come. Cloud walked down an empty street, with only a few lights on, not paying much attention to his wet clothes. His eyes adjusted to the cold hard ground beneath him, as he uttered something below his breath. He gradually walked over to an open area, where all was quiet, except for a couple of people on the other end, talking quietly among themselves.
He paused, when a loud cry rang out, calling for help. Cloud's eyes slowly adjusted onto a dark street alley, where he noticed tall figures moving inward, quickly. He held tightly onto his sword, as he made his way into the dark alley, where it was extremely quiet, except for a girls mournful sobs. He stopped in his tracks, when he realized who was producing all that noise. A young woman sat curled up in a corner, covering her eyes, as if shielding herself, her clothes drenched with heavy rain. The three tall, built men stood before her, laughing loudly at the girl's plead.
One of them, a brown haired man, slowly approached her, as he kneeled down, bringing a rough hand to her pale face, "Ah, Sweetie. Don't be afraid, we'll take good care of you." The young girl quickly slapped his hand away, as she pulled herself back. The man raised a hand to strike her, when...
"What the hell are you doin'?!??!" Cloud called out, causing each one of them to swing around. They stared at him, as they exchanged glances.
"And who the hell do you think you are? Mr. Hero?" one of them mocked, as the others laughed out loudly.
Cloud smiled, a cold-hearted smile, "Your worse nightmare." The men continued to laugh out loudly, as they stepped up, with a pleased grin. Cloud gradually pulled out his Ultima weapon as they stared at it in awe.
One of them laughed, humorlessly, "You've got to be kiddin'! Come on, men! Take him down!" The three of them charged at Cloud quickly, when there was a sudden flash that gave in then quickly winced away. His blue eyes gave off a sudden eerie glow, as he stood there, surrounded by a puddle of blood, sword in hand. As the bodies, laid lifeless on the ground beside him. He slowly looked up, his eyes matted on the young girl before him. Cloud hadn't made the attempt to move, when he finally did, he walked over, kneeling in front of her.
She had long brownish red hair, that hung loosely behind her, part of it, covering her eyes. She was a petite young woman, dressed up in a raggedy dress, to the point where no one could even make out the color. It hung loosely on her thin figure, as she sat trembling in the corner of the street alley. Not daring to look up.
"Are you all right?" Cloud questioned, coldly, as if he hadn't at all wanted to save her, but that it was only his job. She slowly looked up, revealing her face. She had looked quite beautiful even with all the dirt that washed up onto her face. As she gently brushed at her dark bangs, Cloud stared at her hard, as his eyes quickly met hers. Green eyes, green emerald eyes that sparkled even in that dark alley. She slowly sat up, her eyes without blinking once.
Cloud stared at her, his expression turning hard, he slowly brushed her brown hair from her face. Startled at the similarities. She stared at him, frightened. When suddenly her expression turned to anger, as her hand quickly slapped him across the face. He turned back to her, surprise.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!!!! You're just like the rest of them!!! GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!!!!" she yelled out loudly, as she quickly scrambled onto her feet.
Cloud stood up, standing a few feet away from her, "Aeris...."
She stared hard at him, her eyes burning with rage, "I don't know what the hell you're talkin' about! GET AWAY FROM ME!!!!" Cloud slowly walked towards her, as she continued to back away. When she suddenly began running, without once turning back. He stood there, shocked and confused.
That was her....it had to be her...., Cloud thought, as he stood there, looking at her figure as she soon disappeared behind the buildings.
"AERIS!!!" he called out, as he ran after her. She hadn't at all managed to slow down, instead the girl continued running, when she suddenly bumped into a tall man.
"HEY! WATCH IT!" he yelled out, resuming to his pleasant walk. Cloud ran passed him, knocking him over yet again, "DAMN, THESE BRATS! Still chasing eachother, like they were still kids!!"
He paused, staring around him, when he heard a soft sob in a nearby corner. Cloud stood still, as he listened closely. He quickly swung around, noticing her behind a parked car.
"GET AWAY!!! I don't know you!!!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" she cried out, loudly nearly overwhelmed with tears. He stared at her, his eyes burning deeply, as he slowly approached her.
"Listen to me...," Cloud murmured, only about two feet away from her. Aeris stood in dismay, as she studied his complexion. Before he had a chance to continue, she quickly made way passed him. But his sudden grip on her wrist, pulled her to a stop. Aeris swung back, now standing in front of him.
He pulled her closer, "It is you...." She stared at him, her big emerald eyes open widely.
"The hell are you talking about?!?! It isn't me, this 'Aeris' girl, you're talkin' about!" she replied, harshly. Cloud stared at her, hard, his eyes studying her features. She felt a sudden chill run down her spine, as his blue eyes moved intently back and fourth. Aeris quickly tried to budge, but to no avail, she just stood in one spot.
"You're hurting me," she murmured, trying to pry his fingers off her wrist. Cloud quickly loosened his grip, when he then began dragging her towards the square. Aeris pulled back, her hair covering her eyes.
"LET GO!" she yelled out again., she glanced around, noticing the people that stood in that area. She then opened her mouth to say something, "LET GO!!!!" Cloud turned around, annoyed, at the young girl. A young man slowly approached them, but continued to walk by.
He gave the two an odd look, the glanced at Cloud, "If you decide to find a hooker, at least look for a cleaner one." Aeris, quickly offended by this, swung around violently, ready to pounce. Cloud turned to her, his hands still upon her wrist.
"The hell did you say?!??!!?!!" she scolded, gripping tightly onto his shirt. The man slowly backed up, "DID YOU HEAR ME??!?!!? I SAID------." Before she had a chance to finish, Cloud's gloved hand quickly clasped onto her mouth, as he quickly pulled her away by her waist.
She immediately pulled his hand from her mouth, "LET GO!" Cloud looked around, nervously, as the people around them stared at the disoriented girl and himself. He quickly pulled her and continued into the direction of the train station. Aeris roughly pulled away, as she glared at him.
"What did you do that for?!?!?!" she screamed, "I don't know who the hell Aeris is, okay!!! Leave me alone!!!" And with that, she quickly walked away from him, walking in a quite unusual way. He went after her, pulling her back, by the waist. Then roughly pressing her against a brick wall, with one hand over her mouth.
"If you don't want to get hurt, you're goin' with me," he uttered, cold air, escaping his mouth. Aeris closed her eyes, her chest heaving up and down, as she felt herself begin to fall unconscious, gripping tightly agaisnt her beating heart. She slowly reopened them, to still find him standing before her. She gently nodded her head, as he pulled away from her. But before Aeris had managed to make another attempt, she noticed nothing, except for the blackness that descended upon her.