Sun and Shadow
By Sephiroth 4000
Chapter 3: Accidents will Happen
Don't forget your raincoat.
I won't.
It's a long way. Should you take Cloud's
chocobo? Maya was hurt in that accident last week.
Accident?
Don't you remember? The accident?
Oh that. Not really.
Hurry, Tifa.
She emerged from the bar, pulling the hood of her raincoat over to shield
her wind chilled face from the pouring rain, and edged around the muddy puddles
to the small chocobo stable adjacent to the bar.
Maya cooed inquiringly as she entered the stable, but then tucked her head back
down with a slightly offended squawk when Tifa headed to Nix, Cloud's
chocobo. Soon she was up on the
feathery back, not bothering with a saddle since Nix didn't like them, and they
were running through the rain.
----------One week ago----------
"I'm going to the store Cloud! What do
we need?"
"Um. . .Eggs. . .milk. . .vanilla icecream. . .and butter."
"Okay! I'll be back in a minute!"
She closed the door harder then intended, and it slammed hard. She shrugged, then pulled up the hood of her
coat, sliding the handle of her shopping basket over one arm. It was raining again, a misty rain, that
softened everything, making it hard to make out any details properly.
Funny what you remember, isn't it.
She saddled up Maya; it wasn't far to the store, but the chocobo was
restless, and clearly needed exercise, though she would wark indignantly at
getting her feathers wet in the soft rain.
She turned the bird easily, and they were soon trotting briskly down the road.
Cold drops of mingled water and mud splashed on Tifa's naked legs, exposed to
the elements by the short brown miniskirt she wore. It was shockingly cold, and she rubbed the mud off, using one
hand to hold the reins.
Careless. . .
"Evening, Ms. Lockhart! What brings
you out on a night like this?"
She smiled wryly at the shop attendant.
"Nothing, except eggs, milk, vanilla ice cream, butter, and shampoo."
He winked at her, then went to fetch her items from the store room. She shivered, though the warmth of the store
was quickly dispelling the chill from outside.
Soon her basket was full with what she needed, and a few other trifling snacks,
and she was on her way home, looking forward to a good long hot bath. She could almost feel the water over her
skin, the bright bathroom light on her closed eyes. . .
Ligh-
Her chocobo startled, wings flaring wide, dancing on one spot, even as from out
of no where, a car came skidding through the night, laughter trailing
maniacally through it's open doors.
Tifa fought desperately for control of Maya; she could jump off, but
then Maya would be. . .
Only a second, and somehow I thought all of that. It's strange, isn't it?
The car swerved wildly to avoid hitting her; but Maya chose just that
instant to lift into the air; she was after all a Gold Chocobo. Tifa was tumbled from her saddle, falling
over and over, frantically trying to gain her feet, but she landed heavily in
the mud, rolling directly into the car's way. . .
A bright star of pain bloomed throughout her fragile body. . .she could feel it
breaking underneath the rolling tires, and even though the driver had hit the
brakes, the car had lost none of it's momentum.
Until then, I didn't know what pain was, not even while we fought against
Sephiroth. Before then, I hadn't realized how badly the human body can be
damaged and still live.
. . . . .That's not true, I know. But I
had forgotten. . .Forgotten what it was like the time I fell from Mt. Nibel. .
.
She was falling. . .falling not into darkness, but into a swirling green light.
Something soothing gently flowed through her shattered body. She was being buoyed back, carried back to
life, and the blonde man who held her so tightly in his arms, Mako blue eyes
narrowed in overwhelming grief.
And a single wondering word slipped from her waking lips.
"Lifestream. . .?"