Disclaimer: Wow...this is my favorite part. I don't own or claim to own Final Fantasy VII or anything to do with it. Square owns it all.
A/N: Sorry this has taken me so long. I have had a lot of school work that I've had to keep up with, but summer's coming up and I'll be a lot better about updating. I also have other fics in the works and I plan on starting another Final Fantasy VIII fic very soon. Please be patient with me.
Kalm...
Nanaki was pacing outside Tifa's bar. He was extremely nervous. He didn't even know what he was going to say to her. He really wanted to see her, though. It had been months since they had any contact with one another.
He gathered up his nerve and proceeded to walk through the door and into the bar.
Tifa was busy wiping down the counter. It was a busy night and she was frantically trying to serve everyone. She heard the small bell above the door ring, signaling that another customer had entered. She looked up and saw a very interesting man walk in. He was tall and wore a shirt that showed his muscular upper body. She thought he was very handsome, even with the scar he had over one eye. His hair really caught her off guard, though. It was spiky, but the strange thing was the color. It was bright read with a black stripe down the middle. She couldn't place it, but for some reason he looked very familiar.
He was looking all around the bar. It seemed he was looking for someone. Tifa figured she might as well help him out. He looked like a nice guy. She walked over to him.
"Hi,"she said,"Can I help you?"
He didn't say anything. He just stared at her. This made her a little nervous.
"Are you looking for someone?"she asked.
He still did not respond. He just looked at her like he didn't understand what she was saying.
"Parlez-vous englais?"she asked jokingly.
Finally he shook himself out of his trance.
"Sorry, I was just a little awed at seeing you for the first time in months, Tifa,"the man apologized.
"Do I know you?"Tifa asked. She was very confused. She didn't think she had ever met this man before, even though he did look quite familiar. She wondered what he was talking about.
"Tifa, it's me, Nanaki?"he said smiling softly.
Tifa had to fight the urge to laugh. This guy must really be crazy if he thought he was Nanaki.
"Rrrrright, well I have to get back to work now unless you want to order something,"she said.
"You don't believe me do you? I guess I don't blame you,"the man said.
"Oh no, I believe you. I've got Santa Clause drinking tequila at the bar, too,"she said facetiously.
"No, Tifa, you don't understand. I've been transformed into a human. It really is me,"he said.
Tifa was starting to get irritated. She didn't have time to humor this nutcase. He didn't seem to be letting up either.
"Listen, I don't know who you are, but I know you are not Nanaki. So either you drop this or I'm going to have to ask you to leave,"she said firmly.
The man's head dropped and a sad look crossed his face. She thought she might have even noticed a small tear forming in his eye.
"I guess I'll go then,"he said with a trembling voice. He turned around and left the bar.
Tifa knew she had done the right thing, but she couldn't help feeling like a heel. The man had looked so sad as he was leaving. Although Tifa couldn't really understand why he would be so sad. It's not like he was really Nanaki.
Nanaki wanted to cry. He hadn't thought about the possibility that she wouldn't recognize him. Come to think of it, no one would recognize him, except maybe Bugenhagen. He felt like an idiot for not thinking of that before. He knew what he had to do. He would just have to figure out some way to prove to Tifa that he was telling the truth.
He would take that night and the next day to think about it. He would come back to the bar the next night with whatever he had thought of.
The next day...
Nanaki sat on the bed in his room at the inn in Kalm. He had spent all last night thinking about a way to prove his identity. He still had his tattooes, but anybody could have gotten those done.
Then it hit him like a sack of bricks. There was one memory he shared with Tifa that nobody else knew about. Only he would be able to describe it to her. It was a conversation they had when they spent the night in the City of the Ancients. Tifa had been upset about what Cait Sith said about Cloud and Aeris being perfect for each other. So all Nanaki would have to do is tell Tifa about that conversation. She would have to believe him.
Later that night...
Tifa was cleaning off a table. This night was much slower than the night before. After she finished she heard the bell over the door. She looked up and saw the same man from the night before. She rolled her eyes. She didn't want to have to deal with this. He walked over to her.
"Hi,"he said nervously.
"Listen, I don't have time for this and-"he cut her off.
"Just give me a few minutes of your time and I promise I will prove to you that I am really Nanaki,"he said.
"Just give it up,"she said.
He looked her straight in the eyes. She was mesmerized by them. There was such a certain comfortable familiarity in them.
"Please,"he said.
"All right,"Tifa said, unable to control herself. The man gave a wide smile.
"Thank you. I promise you will not regret this,"he said. Tifa nodded. She looked over to Grace, the girl she had hired to help her with the bar.
"Grace, would you mind handling the bar? I need to talk to this man for a little while,"she said.
"Sure, Tifa, it's no problem. We're real slow tonight anyway,"Grace replied.
"Thanks,"Tifa said,"All right, you've got my attention. Let's sit down and you can tell me whatever it is you think will convince me you're Nanaki."
She guided him to an empty table and they both sat down.
"What I am going to tell you is something that only you or I would be able to describe. It all happened that night we spent in the City of the Ancients...
I was having trouble sleeping so I decided to go outside and get some fresh air. I exited the room and walked outside, but as soon as I stepped out I heard a soft whimpering. I looked toward the sound to see you sitting on the ground hugging your knees to your chest crying. I walked over to you to find out what was wrong. I lightly put my paw on your shoulder, so as not to startle you.
"What is the matter, Tifa?"I asked. You just continued to cry. I did not really know what to do so I tried to nuzzle your face with my snout. That was a bold move for me, but I really wanted to comfort you.
"Please, tell me what is wrong,"I said. You finally looked up to face me.
"Do you remember what Caith Sith said about Cloud and Aeris being perfect for each other?"you asked. That is when I realized what had been bothering you.
"Yes, I remember,"I replied.
"Do you think it's true? Do you think they're really meant to be together?"you asked. I knew you really wanted me to tell you what you wanted to hear, but I had to be honest.
"I do not know, but I do know if it is true then Cloud is not the one for you and you will find someone better that will truly love you,"I said.
"I wish I could believe you. Look what Cloud is doing just to find Aeris. He is putting so much at risk, but he doesn't care because it would all be worth it to him. Nobody would ever do that for me,"you said sadly.
"Don't think like that, Tifa. You're still very young. You will find someone that will do that for you. I promise,"I said.
Then you smiled at me and I knew I had made you feel better...
So you must believe me. I am Nanaki,"he finished.
Tifa could feel the tears in her eyes. She looked deeply into his while he was telling the story. She knew then that he was telling the truth. He really was Nanaki.
"Oh my God,"she said,"It really is you!"
She threw her arms around his neck and embraced him. She felt him hesitate then slowly wrap his arms around her waist. After a moment she let him go.
"How did this happen? Why did this happen? How long have you been like this?"Tifa asked quickly.
"Wait a moment, Tifa, one question at a time,"Nanaki said smiling.
Tifa laughed,"I'm sorry. Okay, so let's start with how this happened."
"Well, Grandfather told me of a materia master who might be able to help me become a human so I sought him out. I asked him to transform me into a human. He agreed and was successful,"Nanaki explained.
"Why did you want to be human? I thought you were just fine the way you were,"Tifa said sincerely.
"The reasoning behind my choice of transformation is very complicated and I think that explanation should be saved for another time. It is getting late,"Nanaki said.
"You're right, but I do want to talk to you. Do you think we could get together?"Tifa asked hopefully.
"Of course. You are the reason I came here. I shall come by your house tomorrow if that's okay,"he replied.
"Sure, that sounds great. I'll have Grace run the bar tomorrow."
"All right. Then I guess I'll see you tomorrow,"Nanaki said as he got up.
"See you tomorrow,"Tifa agreed.
He walked out of the bar and Tifa couldn't help but smile. She had really missed Nanaki. It would be great to talk to him after all that time. Maybe things were starting to look up.
Well there's chapter 2. As you can see I'm taking things a lot slower with this revision. Let me know how I'm doing. Thanks be to ye.
A/N: Sorry this has taken me so long. I have had a lot of school work that I've had to keep up with, but summer's coming up and I'll be a lot better about updating. I also have other fics in the works and I plan on starting another Final Fantasy VIII fic very soon. Please be patient with me.
Kalm...
Nanaki was pacing outside Tifa's bar. He was extremely nervous. He didn't even know what he was going to say to her. He really wanted to see her, though. It had been months since they had any contact with one another.
He gathered up his nerve and proceeded to walk through the door and into the bar.
Tifa was busy wiping down the counter. It was a busy night and she was frantically trying to serve everyone. She heard the small bell above the door ring, signaling that another customer had entered. She looked up and saw a very interesting man walk in. He was tall and wore a shirt that showed his muscular upper body. She thought he was very handsome, even with the scar he had over one eye. His hair really caught her off guard, though. It was spiky, but the strange thing was the color. It was bright read with a black stripe down the middle. She couldn't place it, but for some reason he looked very familiar.
He was looking all around the bar. It seemed he was looking for someone. Tifa figured she might as well help him out. He looked like a nice guy. She walked over to him.
"Hi,"she said,"Can I help you?"
He didn't say anything. He just stared at her. This made her a little nervous.
"Are you looking for someone?"she asked.
He still did not respond. He just looked at her like he didn't understand what she was saying.
"Parlez-vous englais?"she asked jokingly.
Finally he shook himself out of his trance.
"Sorry, I was just a little awed at seeing you for the first time in months, Tifa,"the man apologized.
"Do I know you?"Tifa asked. She was very confused. She didn't think she had ever met this man before, even though he did look quite familiar. She wondered what he was talking about.
"Tifa, it's me, Nanaki?"he said smiling softly.
Tifa had to fight the urge to laugh. This guy must really be crazy if he thought he was Nanaki.
"Rrrrright, well I have to get back to work now unless you want to order something,"she said.
"You don't believe me do you? I guess I don't blame you,"the man said.
"Oh no, I believe you. I've got Santa Clause drinking tequila at the bar, too,"she said facetiously.
"No, Tifa, you don't understand. I've been transformed into a human. It really is me,"he said.
Tifa was starting to get irritated. She didn't have time to humor this nutcase. He didn't seem to be letting up either.
"Listen, I don't know who you are, but I know you are not Nanaki. So either you drop this or I'm going to have to ask you to leave,"she said firmly.
The man's head dropped and a sad look crossed his face. She thought she might have even noticed a small tear forming in his eye.
"I guess I'll go then,"he said with a trembling voice. He turned around and left the bar.
Tifa knew she had done the right thing, but she couldn't help feeling like a heel. The man had looked so sad as he was leaving. Although Tifa couldn't really understand why he would be so sad. It's not like he was really Nanaki.
Nanaki wanted to cry. He hadn't thought about the possibility that she wouldn't recognize him. Come to think of it, no one would recognize him, except maybe Bugenhagen. He felt like an idiot for not thinking of that before. He knew what he had to do. He would just have to figure out some way to prove to Tifa that he was telling the truth.
He would take that night and the next day to think about it. He would come back to the bar the next night with whatever he had thought of.
The next day...
Nanaki sat on the bed in his room at the inn in Kalm. He had spent all last night thinking about a way to prove his identity. He still had his tattooes, but anybody could have gotten those done.
Then it hit him like a sack of bricks. There was one memory he shared with Tifa that nobody else knew about. Only he would be able to describe it to her. It was a conversation they had when they spent the night in the City of the Ancients. Tifa had been upset about what Cait Sith said about Cloud and Aeris being perfect for each other. So all Nanaki would have to do is tell Tifa about that conversation. She would have to believe him.
Later that night...
Tifa was cleaning off a table. This night was much slower than the night before. After she finished she heard the bell over the door. She looked up and saw the same man from the night before. She rolled her eyes. She didn't want to have to deal with this. He walked over to her.
"Hi,"he said nervously.
"Listen, I don't have time for this and-"he cut her off.
"Just give me a few minutes of your time and I promise I will prove to you that I am really Nanaki,"he said.
"Just give it up,"she said.
He looked her straight in the eyes. She was mesmerized by them. There was such a certain comfortable familiarity in them.
"Please,"he said.
"All right,"Tifa said, unable to control herself. The man gave a wide smile.
"Thank you. I promise you will not regret this,"he said. Tifa nodded. She looked over to Grace, the girl she had hired to help her with the bar.
"Grace, would you mind handling the bar? I need to talk to this man for a little while,"she said.
"Sure, Tifa, it's no problem. We're real slow tonight anyway,"Grace replied.
"Thanks,"Tifa said,"All right, you've got my attention. Let's sit down and you can tell me whatever it is you think will convince me you're Nanaki."
She guided him to an empty table and they both sat down.
"What I am going to tell you is something that only you or I would be able to describe. It all happened that night we spent in the City of the Ancients...
I was having trouble sleeping so I decided to go outside and get some fresh air. I exited the room and walked outside, but as soon as I stepped out I heard a soft whimpering. I looked toward the sound to see you sitting on the ground hugging your knees to your chest crying. I walked over to you to find out what was wrong. I lightly put my paw on your shoulder, so as not to startle you.
"What is the matter, Tifa?"I asked. You just continued to cry. I did not really know what to do so I tried to nuzzle your face with my snout. That was a bold move for me, but I really wanted to comfort you.
"Please, tell me what is wrong,"I said. You finally looked up to face me.
"Do you remember what Caith Sith said about Cloud and Aeris being perfect for each other?"you asked. That is when I realized what had been bothering you.
"Yes, I remember,"I replied.
"Do you think it's true? Do you think they're really meant to be together?"you asked. I knew you really wanted me to tell you what you wanted to hear, but I had to be honest.
"I do not know, but I do know if it is true then Cloud is not the one for you and you will find someone better that will truly love you,"I said.
"I wish I could believe you. Look what Cloud is doing just to find Aeris. He is putting so much at risk, but he doesn't care because it would all be worth it to him. Nobody would ever do that for me,"you said sadly.
"Don't think like that, Tifa. You're still very young. You will find someone that will do that for you. I promise,"I said.
Then you smiled at me and I knew I had made you feel better...
So you must believe me. I am Nanaki,"he finished.
Tifa could feel the tears in her eyes. She looked deeply into his while he was telling the story. She knew then that he was telling the truth. He really was Nanaki.
"Oh my God,"she said,"It really is you!"
She threw her arms around his neck and embraced him. She felt him hesitate then slowly wrap his arms around her waist. After a moment she let him go.
"How did this happen? Why did this happen? How long have you been like this?"Tifa asked quickly.
"Wait a moment, Tifa, one question at a time,"Nanaki said smiling.
Tifa laughed,"I'm sorry. Okay, so let's start with how this happened."
"Well, Grandfather told me of a materia master who might be able to help me become a human so I sought him out. I asked him to transform me into a human. He agreed and was successful,"Nanaki explained.
"Why did you want to be human? I thought you were just fine the way you were,"Tifa said sincerely.
"The reasoning behind my choice of transformation is very complicated and I think that explanation should be saved for another time. It is getting late,"Nanaki said.
"You're right, but I do want to talk to you. Do you think we could get together?"Tifa asked hopefully.
"Of course. You are the reason I came here. I shall come by your house tomorrow if that's okay,"he replied.
"Sure, that sounds great. I'll have Grace run the bar tomorrow."
"All right. Then I guess I'll see you tomorrow,"Nanaki said as he got up.
"See you tomorrow,"Tifa agreed.
He walked out of the bar and Tifa couldn't help but smile. She had really missed Nanaki. It would be great to talk to him after all that time. Maybe things were starting to look up.
Well there's chapter 2. As you can see I'm taking things a lot slower with this revision. Let me know how I'm doing. Thanks be to ye.