Just as promised, we awoke early to see the flowers Tifa had been enthralled the other day to see. From the early hours of six to seven, she watched absorbingly as the roses near the mansion gates bloomed as the aura of fresh morning surrounded them. She asked questions, and of course I answered.
I pitied her lacked questions... she spoke too much like a child.
By nine in the morning, the quick breakfast we had was over with and as we were about to head to the library wing, a soft shrill ring of the phone in the hall caught my ear.
It was Cid.
"Hey Vince, how's Tifa?"
"She's fine," I kept it simple.
There was a pause before the man on the other line gave a wary sigh, "Listen, I called Barret up here yesterday.. he got here today.. and he's demanding that Tifa be sent over now."
I gave it thought and found the message purely selfish, "What do you want me to do, Cid, turn into Chaos and fly her over there?" I let my voice dither into a slight annoyance.
"Fuck no, Vince!" Cid shot back from the reciever, "I'm coming by there by this afternoon with the Highwind. Just calling to tell you to start packing."
"Fine," I answered indifferently, "But I don't think it's a good idea for her to meet Barret. If he's being as demanding as he is now, he certainly won't help any if he's demanding to her."
A groan was heard through the other line, "Shit Vince.. what do you want me to do? You know I can't fucking tell Barret something like that.. he'll go crazy on my ass!"
"He can't demand anything of her, understand?" I made it clear.
Another long pause hung between us before Cid began to speak softly, "Is it... Is it that bad?"
The words seemed to repeat itself in my mind: was it bad? Should I detail him about the ways she would ask about little things... common things.. how she would always have the look of pure dumbfounded stare... how she would ponder or think things over when questioned about a simple matter.. how she would often speak as if she was a child... or speak as if her mind had always been corrupt.
"No one can expect anything," I answered and noticed myself that my voice carried resent, "Nothing has opened in her mind yet.. no one can expect anything."
My message was followed by an angered groan, "Fuck, man..." Cid let out before stringing it out with other colorful languages that had ever graced his tongue.
"Alright Vince, get packed and I'll be there by late afternoon." Cid responded moments later, before hanging up on me without any other word.
Letting the phone drop from my hands, I eyed it with a blank look; my mind wandered among many thoughts of the situation but never stopped to one problematic event to bother brooding over.
"Vincent?"
I caught the shaky voice to my left and I briskly turned to her with a snap of my neck.
"Who was that?" she eyed me from a fair distance, behind the pivot of the corner in the hall. Her eyes were in the look of curiosity and I was also in the advent of curiosity as a tinge of fright was held in her wine colored eyes.
"Are you having me taken away?" that was why she had the look of fright.
I shook my head to her and reassured her, "No, that was Cid, the friend we were to visit three days from now. He says we must depart to his place tonight."
"Oh.." she let out unsurely, "Are we going then?"
I nodded to her, "We should start packing."
She moved from her hiding and faltered to ask, "You... you and me right?"
"Yes," I answered shortly, watching her with curious, blank eyes. She appeared relieved at my answer, and I wondered whether or not she thought I was abandoning her. I didn't bother to ask if this was true, instead and I asked if she needed assistance, "Would you like some help packing?"
She shook her head quickly, "No, I think I can figure it out," she fidgeted before turning around to leave. Turning back to me, she tucked an unruly hair behind her ear before asking, "Vincent.. I heard you say that I 'haven't opened my mind yet'."
I was surprised, shocked, still. I supposed she did not really know of her illness, or that she took the words as an insult, in which in turn I did not mean to do. It was a simple response and warning meant for Cid and the others. She must have noticed my lack of communication as I suffered to answer inside, as she spoke out again.
"No, it's okay. I know you said it so that..--Mr. Cid was it?-- can understand that I can be a little.. confused from time to time."
"Please, do not mean it as any burden to us, especially me," I told her truthfully, though her expression showed no change, she simply gave me a meek smile; I continued on, "Cid and the others will help you with anything. I will help you with anything. There is nothing to be ashamed of with confusion."
"I know," she replied softly, cascading her head towards the floor, "I-I just wanted to let you know that," she moved her head up, "That I'll be trying. I'll be trying to remember." she gave a last nod and hurried off upstairs.
I watcher her vivid movement, how her step seemed to skip as she hurried off. Was she so positive to remember her past?
I had no doubt to think otherwise.
A/N: To theyreallyloveme : I know you didn't mean to offend anybody, but if you haven't noticed that this fic is a Tifa/Vincent fic and you reviewed for the sake of dissing that couple. I found it inconsiderably rude to me and all my readers. I am sorry to bring this up, but think before you act first please. The fact that you stated Aeris/Vincent coupling is better than Tifa/Vincent coupling will certainly not change my mind about the couple, and I consider the review shameful and advertisive. Please do not do this again. Other's also, please understand from this.
To my readers, I am sorry that you had to read this and that review. Please do not bring any other anger to the reviewer because I'm sure she didn't mean much from it. Thanks again.
Disclaimer: Not mine.. still.