Silver Linings
*************************
The sun crept into existence over Nibelheim's cloudy horizon, causing an explosion of warm colors to expand over the once darkened sky while maiming the remainder of clouds which complicated the process of daylight breaking. The cool wind of night's discourse rippled through the town's Maple trees as the swaying effect erased any thought of possible silence.
As the sun rose and the trees swayed among the morning's gratifying existence, a young, raven haired woman silently escaped the confines of her darkened home with nothing but today's itinerary in her distant mind. During the previous night, she had not closed her eyes once, for memories of the encounter with Cloud Strife would constantly embellish themselves in her mind like an incessant, never-ending movie experience.
Closing the old-fashioned Victorian door securely, yet quietly, Tifa Lockheart practically leapt from the front foyer of her household onto the in-ground stepping stones, which decorated the pathway towards the front gate. It was a beautiful first sight she beheld with widened eyes. The heavens were impassionately painted various colors of orange, gold, and auburn with the implication of an endless abyss on the other side of it's Monet-like exterior.
It was absolutely amazing what lost infatuations could be aroused in result of one simple conversation. In all actuality, it was amazing how nothing seemed to be remotely normal since Cloud had taken her in from the storm, which practically devastated Nibelheim. Tifa had never felt so enlightened and inspired by a single person, besides her deceased mother, in all her life. The feeling was so immaculately intense, what horrified Tifa to an unnerving extent, wasn't the emotional discharge itself, but the fear of loosing the ultimate comfort only a certain blonde haired boy could give her.
Her legs seemed to stay grounded, walking their normal misguided way, but thoughts inside Tifa's swimming head allowed wings to materialize, in effect, causing her head to soar above natural heights. Bodily disproportion entwined with possible romantic interest was the last train of intimidation usually perceptive crimson eyes refused to see, but her heart screamed out differently.
'Don't even think about it,' Tifa chastised herself bitterly, 'I am not going to fall for someone who's not only completely out of my league but also taken by the town's symbol of idolatry. No, I'm not going to allow myself to fall even more deeply into the meteor-sized crevice that is my reputation.'
'Too late,' a small, unknown voice whispered back tauntingly while leaving behind an after effect of rippling echoes.
She stopped, feeling the cool autumn air suddenly prickling at her bare arms with an anticipating shiver running up the spine which miraculously went cold with frightening realization. The sun's exploring rays seemed to fall on Tifa's still body, showering her with it's warm embrace, as the sashaying trees continued to dance in the wind's influential gust. Besides the constant movement of the aroused maple trees, time practically gave the suggestion that it was standing completely still for human kind's undeserving benefit.
'I don't love him. I don't even know him,' Tifa continued the internal struggle passionately, feeling betrayed with every inveracity spoken in her own defense.
'God, that was always your problem. It was exactly what drove you into the life you lived in the past and the consequences you're living through here in the present. You ran and you're still running. What's even more of a shame is you might just be running away from something good this time.'
Those words burned themselves in the pensive teenager's scrupulous conscience, making an unwelcomed home within her already misleading head. Her thought process was so discombobulated, it caused the anxious brunette to question her previously firm beliefs. Nothing was worse than contemplating the life lessons you thought pain and strife taught you, then realizing all that tremendous amount of suffering was possibly in vain.
Tifa placed the black beanie, which resided in her once tightened grip, on her head while increasing leg movement down the stone path below her hammering feet. It was although the quicker she moved, the more thoughts would reinstate themselves in her already overwhelmed conscience. No matter what the brunette did or softly said to reassure herself, the reflections of past and present mistakes would always come back, ten times worse.
Frowning shortly, the adolescent stopped once again, annoyed at the simple fact that this was becoming a constant cycle. Cloud shouldn't have even been a part of this overrated cycle, but unfortunately, his memory seemed to have forcefully penetrated inside, disarranging every other thought in the process. His blonde hair. His shimmering blue orbs. The dimple that chiseled itself into his left cheek whenever he smiled. Everything. It was sheer torture to just merely imagine his perfection, but not be able to reach out and actually touch him to test the theory of whether this man was real or not.
Tifa's feet remained glued to the asphalt below her, the conflicting struggles within being the chains which held her in strict captivity. It drove her mad to realize a man, no, not even a man, a teenage boy, drove her to such insane mental instability. She knew these thoughts wouldn't help her any, for he was in love with someone else. Someone who just so happened to be the symbol of all the perfection this universe was missing.
"Forget this," Tifa murmured while figuratively unwrapping the chains which held her in a frozen position. It felt good to actually move her feet and walk again in peace without the increasing weight of all her thoughts balled up into one colossal issue that became equivalent to the mass of a pickup truck.
'You're missing out on something so good because of the fact that you're so afraid of getting hurt. I'm disgusted of even being a part of you.'
The brunette didn't answer back to her internal accusations in high hopes that if her conscience was ignored, it would just get the hint to leave her already crazed mind alone. She was partially right, for not allowing thoughts to become master of her body caused the already softly spoken voice to become even more distant, soon, gratefully, becoming dead to existence.
Smiling to herself, Tifa approached the Kisargi household with a song in her heavily beating heart as the sun began to rise further and further up into the painted sky. Jumping over the front gate, in fear of awakening her most likely hung over father, Tifa stealthily moved to the side of Yuffie's quiet household and proceeded to take a look in the back. Mr. Kisargi's truck was missing, which meant he went into town to either pick up more beer, cigarettes, or the monthly welfare check. But knowing Yuffie's father, he most likely proceeded to pick up the check and, then afterwards, using practically all of it on beer and cigarettes. So, to put it in layman's terms, the answer to the previous million dollar question was obviously all of the above.
Shaking her head, Tifa snuck back towards the front, knowing it was safe to enter the house without the fear of any uncomfortable confrontations. Just a couple of months and Yuffie wouldn't have to live in that drowning uncomfortableness any longer. It would all be over soon, and she would finally receive the life that should have been her natural birthright in the first place.
Tifa had met Yuffie about a year ago and ever since, the mission to save the victim had grown to uncanny attachment. At first, Tifa had became her mentor, trying to keep the child off the road she herself had been on in the past. But soon, the longing to protect Yuffie had involuntarily turned to love. Love only a mother could feel for a child destined for destruction.
It would be very soon until destiny would take a drastic turn from destruction to succession. Shortly, Tifa would turn eighteen and the two of them would run far away from here. Run away from a place of prejudice and abuse to a place of unspeakable beauty.
FLASHBACK
"Tifa?"
Tifa Lockheart sat leaning against the Nibelheim well, guitar in hand, as a young Yuffie Kisargi perched besides her, head on her shoulder while blowing bubbles into the clear azure skies. Hearing the soft spoken voice, the older teenager stopped strumming the guitar strings and looked over to face the side of her comrade's innocent face.
"Yeah?"
The raven haired girl quit her constant bubble blowing and slowly placed the bottle by her side. Closing her violet eyes and feeling the cool gust of air against her bare arms, she reluctantly spoke up, "Do you think we'll ever get out of here? I mean, do you think we'll ever find a place that would ever make us happy?"
Tifa continued to look to her side at the relaxed preteen resting comfortably on her shoulder. Sighing, she moved her hand over Yuffie's hair and placed aside a stray strand of her unruly hair, which fell over her closed eyes, "I think we'll make it. One day, everything will be OK again. You just have to be patient and keep your eyes open until that opportunity comes."
The surroundings became silent once again, the only source of sound being the birds echoing chirps of hunger, before Tifa proceeded to re-play the guitar for Yuffie. Her fingers flowed against the strings before suddenly feeling a slight body shake on her arm, followed by a droplet of moisture, which rolled down the musician's arm without even considering a break. Looking to her side once again, keeping her fingers completely still, Tifa felt her heart shatter at seeing Yuffie's small, grieving form.
"Hey. Why're you crying?"
"You're gonna leave me, aren't you?"
"What," Tifa asked exasperated at the out of proportioned question. She quickly removed the guitar from her body, placing it by her side, and giving Yuffie the undivided attention she deserved.
Remaining quiet for some time, Yuffie finally opened her glazed eyes, yet made sure to avoid eye contact with the other watchful individual, while bluntly explaining, "You're 17. In a year, you're gonna leave Nibelheim.....and me, behind to find that place that makes you happy. You're gonna forget all about me and I'll never see you again. But you can't leave Teef, I need you here."
"Shhh," Tifa whispered to the hysterical raven haired girl by her side as she removed the sweater from her own body and wrapped it around Yuffie's shivering one. Encasing her arms around the child in pure comfort, Tifa proclaimed softly, "I'm not gonna leave you. I promise."
Yuffie continued to lay her head on her protector's shoulder, tears still freefalling down her face and onto Tifa's t-shirt, "I don't want you to be miserable because of me."
"You're not making me miserable," Tifa explained while placing her chin on the top of Yuffie's head, "listen, I'll make you a deal. When I turn 18, I'll pull a mission impossible and come get you in the middle of the night. We'll leave Nibelheim together. Just you and me. You will never have to see your dad again and you can just start over, what do you say?"
Yuffie's tears stopped as her head slowly lifted up and looked into the ruby eyes which glanced back down at her, "Honest? We'll go away and never have to come back to Nibelheim again?"
Tifa smiled, and nodded her head, "I promise. We'll just....disappear."
Yuffie smiled amongst the tears and laid her head back on Tifa's partially soaked shoulder while drifting off into a peaceful slumber of beautiful dreams that the newly foreseen future beheld. Tifa just sat, leaning against the well, with her arms holding onto the lost girl while her cheek rested on the top of Yuffie's head.
END OF FLASHBACK
Tifa reached underneath the welcome mat of the Kisargi household and pulled out a shimmering copper key. Even though the exterior of the key was dank and not in the least bit glimmering, the sun did wonders to it's surface and made the lock manipulating instrument practically supernatural. Almost like the secret tool to unlocking a greedy leprechaun's pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Slipping the key into the lock, the curious brunette twisted the knob, and proceeded to push open the door. She knew this was considered illegal and extremely frowned upon in Nibelheim. Plus, considering how drastically teetering her reputation was already, Tifa didn't need an attempted robbery to be added onto her War and Peace sized record. But she needed to know how Yuffie was doing. It was a fundamental factor of a heavy conscience reliever, eventually leading to her being able to sleep a good night's rest.
The livingroom was completely empty, besides the obvious couch, television set, and coffee table. It was although this house was owned by a bachelor, not a man trying to raise a growing child. How selfish could this man be because in Tifa's mind, he was ranking pretty high on the totem pole.
"Yuffie?"
Tifa walked through the livingroom and into the kitchen, sticking her head in the confines of the small area and noticing it just as empty as the family room. It was obvious the girl was still asleep, it was, in fact, before noon. Hell would freeze over as soon as God and the devil decided to swap current roles of good and evil before Yuffie Kisiragi ever, at least once, opened her eyes before the time frame was considered an appropriate time to eat lunch.
"Yuff, I was up last night and I was thinking of places where we could go," Tifa shouted out, while jumping over a nearby box and twirling once before deciding to ascend the stairs, "I mean, it's only two months in counting before we book it from this unprecedented inferno we call our precious hometown. Home is where the heart is, huh Yuffie? Let's just say, home is where my foot would be if it had an asshole."
Laughing at the mental picture, Tifa continued to climb the stairs and speak as well, "Well, anyway, I was thinking we could go someplace far and start over. Maybe someplace like Kalm or even Gongola. Someplace serene because honestly, I'm tired of all the commotion and my old woman alter ego is seriously begging for some quiet time."
Yuffie hadn't responded once and the moment was beginning to become very twilight zone-like. Even though the girl was one of the very few people who could easily sleep through the entire day, she was a light sleeper. Her mind had began to process even the slightest noises at being a threat, so even though her body would sleep, her mind would constantly stay on alert.
Tifa stopped at the top of the stairs for a long moment to process some thoughts running through her head. What if Mr. Kisargi had hurt her severely and that's why he had left early this morning? To get away from the town's accusations and law enforcement. Allowing her imagination get the best of her, she walked forward and immediately opened the door to Yuffie Kisargi's room, not even bothering to knock.
On the small bed laid Yuffie, in, what appeared to be, her previous day's clothing. She was fast asleep, velvet eyes hidden behind her heavily closed lids. One factor Tifa couldn't help ignore was the fact she looked so cold, almost to the extent of frozen levels.
"Yuff," Tifa called out, loud enough for Yuffie to clearly hear yet soft enough for bypassers to barely register as a whisper.
Yuffie didn't move. She didn't even twitch once which made Tifa unnaturally nervous in her own skin. Perspiration began to form at her hair line as slender hands shook in a convulsing fashion. Her mouth began to grow dry as last night's dinner began to slowly churn sickly in her, at this moment, manipulative stomach.
Keeping completely still at the doorway, Tifa's voice sank down to tiny decibel levels as small amounts of tears formed in her widened eyes, "Yuffie?"
*************************
"So, I tried coming to see you last night, but you weren't here? Where were you, Cloud?"
Cloud Strife sat un-mesmerized on the couch, a look of boredom evident on his face. She always did this. Blamed him for something he was completely innocent for, yet he always forgave her with no questions asked about her misconceptions. Cloud loved Aeris, she was everything he could have hoped for in a significant other. Yet there was something always lurking in the shadows of their supposedly perfect relationship. Something dark yet evilly charismatic. It was almost as though the trust and honor both had once shared before, quickly evaporated into nothingness.
"Cloud, please tell me. I'm just curious to know where your whereabouts were. I'm worried about you," Aeris proclaimed passionately while crossing her arms across her chest and tapping her foot impatiently on the floor.
"Why do you always do this, Aeris?"
The innocent flower girl was taken aback by her love's sudden outburst. Her foot quit it's incessant beat on the wooden ground as silence finally exploded onto the scene and left both individuals thoughtless of the next argument that would be used in their avid defense.
"I mean, you always accuse me of going out and committing these acts of treason against our relationship. What? Do you have a guilty conscience or something," Cloud exclaimed, finally getting his composure back after a few moments of silence passed over their heads.
"I'm just saying that you were out late last night, what would a guy your age be doing out that late? Nothing's open so basically there was absolutely nothing to do," Aeris shouted back, getting back into her role as the prosecutor of this travesty we as human beings like to call a once stable relationship gone sour.
"It's called a walk, Aeris. Have you ever heard of one? It's when a certain person uses their legs as a form of travel for the sole purpose of getting some air or possibly clearing out some thoughts in their overbearing head," the blonde haired man screamed in his defense, not being able to take any more pressure from the girl who was always supposed to be on his side.
Aeris was dumbfounded by Cloud's direct abruptness and recoiled from the blow inflicted sarcasm. She wanted to apologize to him, but words were the last thing on her mind as her thoughts ran a million miles a minute. Even though she did want to speak, the words would come out in cryptic. Her thoughts were that enwrapped in each other that it was humanly impossible to decipher one from the other at this exact moment.
"You spend every waking minute accusing me of my supposed indiscretions against you that our relationship is completely falling downhill! I mean, do you even care that each day we're drifting farther and farther apart?"
Emerald eyes widened at the comment which was just spat out at her. In a way, it was a relief that Cloud was pushing her more and more away. It was what she wanted, a reason to break completely away from him and be with Zack. But something inside, something selfish, didn't want to let go of this man before her. Aeris didn't want to keep stringing along both men, but she also didn't want to cut one loose either. Both satisfied her in ways that would constitute for a single above average man.
"Cloud, no," the flower girl shouted out while running forward and wrapping her arms around her lover's neck tightly, "I'm so sorry, please, don't break up with me. I need you!"
There was no response on the opposite side. Cloud didn't wrap his arms around Aeris nor did he whisper any reassuring words into her perked ear. Because in all actuality, he didn't know what more to say that would make this situation any better. He could lie to her, it was always an option, but Cloud didn't feel right about it. To say words of a declaration of love to a certain someone requires certain depth. A depth this man didn't come close to possessing at the moment.
"Listen, Aeris," Cloud murmured, pushing back his girlfriend gently, "I don't know how much more I can take. Everyday, you make me frustrated. Don't get me wrong, I love you, but you make me frustrated beyond repair."
"Cloud, I'm so sorry. I love you, please forgive me for being such a wretch. It's just, thinking of you holding another girl the way you hold me makes me so crazy. I don't mean to take it out on you, baby, honest to God, it's just, I love you and I don't want to loose you," Aeris proclaimed, looking up into Cloud piercing sapphire eyes and caressing her soft hand over his tender cheek, "Baby, please, give me a second chance."
He continued to look down at Aeris, a smile slowly possessing his lips. Running his hand through her chestnut brown bangs, Cloud sighed and wrapped his arms around the petite girl to pull her closer to him. He did love her. Everytime he was near this girl, his heart would skip not only one beat, but two. Even if Cloud Strife tried, he wasn't so sure he'd be able to break permanently apart from this ravishing beauty in front of him.
"So what do you say we go catch a movie," Cloud whispered in Aeris' ear while slowly pulling back and away from the warm embrace. As he finally released himself from her grasp and had plain view of the female ahead, blue eyes widened in surprise as he screamed out and fell backwards from the extraordinary shocking impact.
There, before Cloud, wasn't the beautiful flower girl, but the enigmatic Tifa Lockheart, with a smile playing her sultry lips. Placing one hand on her narrow hips while using the other to move aside a stray lock of hair, the brunette went down on her knees, crawled on top of Cloud's still form and whispered, inches away from his face, in a seductive voice, "She isn't who you want, so why don't you do us all a favor and stop playing yourself."
Cloud Strife shot up from the comfortable spot on his bed. Sweat drenched his body as stray strands of once perfectly spiked hair stuck to his moist forehead. As he ran a hand over his face, to clear away all the excess moisture, Cloud sat in contemplation of the immensely intense dream sequence. It didn't make any sense, for it wasn't Tifa he wanted, it was Aeris..........wasn't it?
*************************
Music blasted from the stereo system in the Lockhearts only child's room. Tifa sat on her bed, writing in a small book, as the energetic Yuffie Kisargi bounced around the small room to music from The Clash. The atmosphere, even with the horridly loud music was serene as the two girls shared a certain bond blood sisters would be jealous over.
"Teef! C'mon I need a dance partner," Yuffie shouted over the music, while skipping over to the bed her 'guardian' was resting on, and jumping onto it.
"Yuff, I gotta make estimations on our trip," Tifa proclaimed, putting down her book and looking down at the child with curiously interested eyes.
Yuffie stuck out her lower lip and gave it enough energy to quiver playfully, which, instead of giving the implication of getting her way, only made the brunette laugh out at the kid's antics. Leaning forward, Tifa tickled Yuffie's sides causing the raven haired girl to jump up in surprise and began to scream in laughter. As complete pandemonia continued to ensue and Tifa continued her squirming exploration, Yuffie screamed once more, but this time, it wasn't out of joyful delight.
Tifa stopped immediately, seriously glanced down at her, and didn't once falter to lifted Yuffie's shirt up. As Yuffie begged Tifa to stop, it was already to late, she had caught vision of the heavily doused bruises on Yuffie's fragile ribs. The sight almost made the ruby eyed teenager burst out into tears at that very second as tears burned it's way to the surface. Tifa closed her eyes and placed a hand over her mouth, which, at the moment, would serve as a muffler to prevent any incredulous vulgar words from escaping her lips.
"Hey, Teef, it's not as bad as it looks," Yuffie tried to reassure her as she began to sit up on the bed, across from her worried protector.
It was a scary thought, but Tifa didn't have a word of either encouragement or profanity to say. Not about the bruises. Not about the bastard who inflicted these gruesome marks on this girl. Not about anything. All she did, was sit erectly up, hand still on her mouth, and allowed tears to slip from underneath her closed eyelids.
"Tifa, please, don't cry," the child begged, while wrapping her arms around Tifa's shivering form in comfort. Nobody had ever cried for her before, and the feeling felt knowing someone actually cared, felt almost miraculous.
"Just two more years kid and we're out of here. We're out of here," Tifa proclaimed softly while wrapping her arms around Yuffie gently, trying not to touch the damaged area of her skin, "You'll never have to deal with that bastard again. We'll go somewhere people like that don't exist."
Yuffie laid in the older girl's arms, closing her eyes and feeling a certain warmth emitting from these human sources of comfort. Smiling, she whispered loud enough for Tifa to hear, "I love you, mom."
[Focus in on the serene face of Yuffie Kisargi as it shifts back into the current form of the child]
"Yuffie? Yuffie," Tifa screamed loudly as she ran to the bed and shook the girl roughly, "Yuffie! Wake up! Yuffie!"
"Oh god. Oh god," she replied over and over again as she tried to awaken Yuffie and exile the tears which flowed down her cheeks to prevent any blinding, "Yuffie, this isn't a fucking game! I swear to god, you little bitch, if I find out your lying to me, I'll leave Nibelheim and your ass behind!"
There was no response. Not one hint that Yuffie was still alive, just asleep. Tifa sunk down to her knees at this realization and grabbed onto Yuffie's hand to cry into it. Her heart broke as coldness swept over her body in a heavy blanket of frost and ice. Shaking her head, ruby eyes looked back up and whispered, "Please, sweetheart, you're all I've got. You're all I've got left."
She didn't move which made Tifa arise and lay besides the practically slumbering girl, but not before a glint of light hitting a certain object laying innocently on Yuffie's side. Leaning forward to grasp onto it's surface a burning fury passed through Tifa's eyes as she gripped it's content which such aggression it could have broken the object in half.
"Reno......."
*************************
The sun crept into existence over Nibelheim's cloudy horizon, causing an explosion of warm colors to expand over the once darkened sky while maiming the remainder of clouds which complicated the process of daylight breaking. The cool wind of night's discourse rippled through the town's Maple trees as the swaying effect erased any thought of possible silence.
As the sun rose and the trees swayed among the morning's gratifying existence, a young, raven haired woman silently escaped the confines of her darkened home with nothing but today's itinerary in her distant mind. During the previous night, she had not closed her eyes once, for memories of the encounter with Cloud Strife would constantly embellish themselves in her mind like an incessant, never-ending movie experience.
Closing the old-fashioned Victorian door securely, yet quietly, Tifa Lockheart practically leapt from the front foyer of her household onto the in-ground stepping stones, which decorated the pathway towards the front gate. It was a beautiful first sight she beheld with widened eyes. The heavens were impassionately painted various colors of orange, gold, and auburn with the implication of an endless abyss on the other side of it's Monet-like exterior.
It was absolutely amazing what lost infatuations could be aroused in result of one simple conversation. In all actuality, it was amazing how nothing seemed to be remotely normal since Cloud had taken her in from the storm, which practically devastated Nibelheim. Tifa had never felt so enlightened and inspired by a single person, besides her deceased mother, in all her life. The feeling was so immaculately intense, what horrified Tifa to an unnerving extent, wasn't the emotional discharge itself, but the fear of loosing the ultimate comfort only a certain blonde haired boy could give her.
Her legs seemed to stay grounded, walking their normal misguided way, but thoughts inside Tifa's swimming head allowed wings to materialize, in effect, causing her head to soar above natural heights. Bodily disproportion entwined with possible romantic interest was the last train of intimidation usually perceptive crimson eyes refused to see, but her heart screamed out differently.
'Don't even think about it,' Tifa chastised herself bitterly, 'I am not going to fall for someone who's not only completely out of my league but also taken by the town's symbol of idolatry. No, I'm not going to allow myself to fall even more deeply into the meteor-sized crevice that is my reputation.'
'Too late,' a small, unknown voice whispered back tauntingly while leaving behind an after effect of rippling echoes.
She stopped, feeling the cool autumn air suddenly prickling at her bare arms with an anticipating shiver running up the spine which miraculously went cold with frightening realization. The sun's exploring rays seemed to fall on Tifa's still body, showering her with it's warm embrace, as the sashaying trees continued to dance in the wind's influential gust. Besides the constant movement of the aroused maple trees, time practically gave the suggestion that it was standing completely still for human kind's undeserving benefit.
'I don't love him. I don't even know him,' Tifa continued the internal struggle passionately, feeling betrayed with every inveracity spoken in her own defense.
'God, that was always your problem. It was exactly what drove you into the life you lived in the past and the consequences you're living through here in the present. You ran and you're still running. What's even more of a shame is you might just be running away from something good this time.'
Those words burned themselves in the pensive teenager's scrupulous conscience, making an unwelcomed home within her already misleading head. Her thought process was so discombobulated, it caused the anxious brunette to question her previously firm beliefs. Nothing was worse than contemplating the life lessons you thought pain and strife taught you, then realizing all that tremendous amount of suffering was possibly in vain.
Tifa placed the black beanie, which resided in her once tightened grip, on her head while increasing leg movement down the stone path below her hammering feet. It was although the quicker she moved, the more thoughts would reinstate themselves in her already overwhelmed conscience. No matter what the brunette did or softly said to reassure herself, the reflections of past and present mistakes would always come back, ten times worse.
Frowning shortly, the adolescent stopped once again, annoyed at the simple fact that this was becoming a constant cycle. Cloud shouldn't have even been a part of this overrated cycle, but unfortunately, his memory seemed to have forcefully penetrated inside, disarranging every other thought in the process. His blonde hair. His shimmering blue orbs. The dimple that chiseled itself into his left cheek whenever he smiled. Everything. It was sheer torture to just merely imagine his perfection, but not be able to reach out and actually touch him to test the theory of whether this man was real or not.
Tifa's feet remained glued to the asphalt below her, the conflicting struggles within being the chains which held her in strict captivity. It drove her mad to realize a man, no, not even a man, a teenage boy, drove her to such insane mental instability. She knew these thoughts wouldn't help her any, for he was in love with someone else. Someone who just so happened to be the symbol of all the perfection this universe was missing.
"Forget this," Tifa murmured while figuratively unwrapping the chains which held her in a frozen position. It felt good to actually move her feet and walk again in peace without the increasing weight of all her thoughts balled up into one colossal issue that became equivalent to the mass of a pickup truck.
'You're missing out on something so good because of the fact that you're so afraid of getting hurt. I'm disgusted of even being a part of you.'
The brunette didn't answer back to her internal accusations in high hopes that if her conscience was ignored, it would just get the hint to leave her already crazed mind alone. She was partially right, for not allowing thoughts to become master of her body caused the already softly spoken voice to become even more distant, soon, gratefully, becoming dead to existence.
Smiling to herself, Tifa approached the Kisargi household with a song in her heavily beating heart as the sun began to rise further and further up into the painted sky. Jumping over the front gate, in fear of awakening her most likely hung over father, Tifa stealthily moved to the side of Yuffie's quiet household and proceeded to take a look in the back. Mr. Kisargi's truck was missing, which meant he went into town to either pick up more beer, cigarettes, or the monthly welfare check. But knowing Yuffie's father, he most likely proceeded to pick up the check and, then afterwards, using practically all of it on beer and cigarettes. So, to put it in layman's terms, the answer to the previous million dollar question was obviously all of the above.
Shaking her head, Tifa snuck back towards the front, knowing it was safe to enter the house without the fear of any uncomfortable confrontations. Just a couple of months and Yuffie wouldn't have to live in that drowning uncomfortableness any longer. It would all be over soon, and she would finally receive the life that should have been her natural birthright in the first place.
Tifa had met Yuffie about a year ago and ever since, the mission to save the victim had grown to uncanny attachment. At first, Tifa had became her mentor, trying to keep the child off the road she herself had been on in the past. But soon, the longing to protect Yuffie had involuntarily turned to love. Love only a mother could feel for a child destined for destruction.
It would be very soon until destiny would take a drastic turn from destruction to succession. Shortly, Tifa would turn eighteen and the two of them would run far away from here. Run away from a place of prejudice and abuse to a place of unspeakable beauty.
FLASHBACK
"Tifa?"
Tifa Lockheart sat leaning against the Nibelheim well, guitar in hand, as a young Yuffie Kisargi perched besides her, head on her shoulder while blowing bubbles into the clear azure skies. Hearing the soft spoken voice, the older teenager stopped strumming the guitar strings and looked over to face the side of her comrade's innocent face.
"Yeah?"
The raven haired girl quit her constant bubble blowing and slowly placed the bottle by her side. Closing her violet eyes and feeling the cool gust of air against her bare arms, she reluctantly spoke up, "Do you think we'll ever get out of here? I mean, do you think we'll ever find a place that would ever make us happy?"
Tifa continued to look to her side at the relaxed preteen resting comfortably on her shoulder. Sighing, she moved her hand over Yuffie's hair and placed aside a stray strand of her unruly hair, which fell over her closed eyes, "I think we'll make it. One day, everything will be OK again. You just have to be patient and keep your eyes open until that opportunity comes."
The surroundings became silent once again, the only source of sound being the birds echoing chirps of hunger, before Tifa proceeded to re-play the guitar for Yuffie. Her fingers flowed against the strings before suddenly feeling a slight body shake on her arm, followed by a droplet of moisture, which rolled down the musician's arm without even considering a break. Looking to her side once again, keeping her fingers completely still, Tifa felt her heart shatter at seeing Yuffie's small, grieving form.
"Hey. Why're you crying?"
"You're gonna leave me, aren't you?"
"What," Tifa asked exasperated at the out of proportioned question. She quickly removed the guitar from her body, placing it by her side, and giving Yuffie the undivided attention she deserved.
Remaining quiet for some time, Yuffie finally opened her glazed eyes, yet made sure to avoid eye contact with the other watchful individual, while bluntly explaining, "You're 17. In a year, you're gonna leave Nibelheim.....and me, behind to find that place that makes you happy. You're gonna forget all about me and I'll never see you again. But you can't leave Teef, I need you here."
"Shhh," Tifa whispered to the hysterical raven haired girl by her side as she removed the sweater from her own body and wrapped it around Yuffie's shivering one. Encasing her arms around the child in pure comfort, Tifa proclaimed softly, "I'm not gonna leave you. I promise."
Yuffie continued to lay her head on her protector's shoulder, tears still freefalling down her face and onto Tifa's t-shirt, "I don't want you to be miserable because of me."
"You're not making me miserable," Tifa explained while placing her chin on the top of Yuffie's head, "listen, I'll make you a deal. When I turn 18, I'll pull a mission impossible and come get you in the middle of the night. We'll leave Nibelheim together. Just you and me. You will never have to see your dad again and you can just start over, what do you say?"
Yuffie's tears stopped as her head slowly lifted up and looked into the ruby eyes which glanced back down at her, "Honest? We'll go away and never have to come back to Nibelheim again?"
Tifa smiled, and nodded her head, "I promise. We'll just....disappear."
Yuffie smiled amongst the tears and laid her head back on Tifa's partially soaked shoulder while drifting off into a peaceful slumber of beautiful dreams that the newly foreseen future beheld. Tifa just sat, leaning against the well, with her arms holding onto the lost girl while her cheek rested on the top of Yuffie's head.
END OF FLASHBACK
Tifa reached underneath the welcome mat of the Kisargi household and pulled out a shimmering copper key. Even though the exterior of the key was dank and not in the least bit glimmering, the sun did wonders to it's surface and made the lock manipulating instrument practically supernatural. Almost like the secret tool to unlocking a greedy leprechaun's pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Slipping the key into the lock, the curious brunette twisted the knob, and proceeded to push open the door. She knew this was considered illegal and extremely frowned upon in Nibelheim. Plus, considering how drastically teetering her reputation was already, Tifa didn't need an attempted robbery to be added onto her War and Peace sized record. But she needed to know how Yuffie was doing. It was a fundamental factor of a heavy conscience reliever, eventually leading to her being able to sleep a good night's rest.
The livingroom was completely empty, besides the obvious couch, television set, and coffee table. It was although this house was owned by a bachelor, not a man trying to raise a growing child. How selfish could this man be because in Tifa's mind, he was ranking pretty high on the totem pole.
"Yuffie?"
Tifa walked through the livingroom and into the kitchen, sticking her head in the confines of the small area and noticing it just as empty as the family room. It was obvious the girl was still asleep, it was, in fact, before noon. Hell would freeze over as soon as God and the devil decided to swap current roles of good and evil before Yuffie Kisiragi ever, at least once, opened her eyes before the time frame was considered an appropriate time to eat lunch.
"Yuff, I was up last night and I was thinking of places where we could go," Tifa shouted out, while jumping over a nearby box and twirling once before deciding to ascend the stairs, "I mean, it's only two months in counting before we book it from this unprecedented inferno we call our precious hometown. Home is where the heart is, huh Yuffie? Let's just say, home is where my foot would be if it had an asshole."
Laughing at the mental picture, Tifa continued to climb the stairs and speak as well, "Well, anyway, I was thinking we could go someplace far and start over. Maybe someplace like Kalm or even Gongola. Someplace serene because honestly, I'm tired of all the commotion and my old woman alter ego is seriously begging for some quiet time."
Yuffie hadn't responded once and the moment was beginning to become very twilight zone-like. Even though the girl was one of the very few people who could easily sleep through the entire day, she was a light sleeper. Her mind had began to process even the slightest noises at being a threat, so even though her body would sleep, her mind would constantly stay on alert.
Tifa stopped at the top of the stairs for a long moment to process some thoughts running through her head. What if Mr. Kisargi had hurt her severely and that's why he had left early this morning? To get away from the town's accusations and law enforcement. Allowing her imagination get the best of her, she walked forward and immediately opened the door to Yuffie Kisargi's room, not even bothering to knock.
On the small bed laid Yuffie, in, what appeared to be, her previous day's clothing. She was fast asleep, velvet eyes hidden behind her heavily closed lids. One factor Tifa couldn't help ignore was the fact she looked so cold, almost to the extent of frozen levels.
"Yuff," Tifa called out, loud enough for Yuffie to clearly hear yet soft enough for bypassers to barely register as a whisper.
Yuffie didn't move. She didn't even twitch once which made Tifa unnaturally nervous in her own skin. Perspiration began to form at her hair line as slender hands shook in a convulsing fashion. Her mouth began to grow dry as last night's dinner began to slowly churn sickly in her, at this moment, manipulative stomach.
Keeping completely still at the doorway, Tifa's voice sank down to tiny decibel levels as small amounts of tears formed in her widened eyes, "Yuffie?"
*************************
"So, I tried coming to see you last night, but you weren't here? Where were you, Cloud?"
Cloud Strife sat un-mesmerized on the couch, a look of boredom evident on his face. She always did this. Blamed him for something he was completely innocent for, yet he always forgave her with no questions asked about her misconceptions. Cloud loved Aeris, she was everything he could have hoped for in a significant other. Yet there was something always lurking in the shadows of their supposedly perfect relationship. Something dark yet evilly charismatic. It was almost as though the trust and honor both had once shared before, quickly evaporated into nothingness.
"Cloud, please tell me. I'm just curious to know where your whereabouts were. I'm worried about you," Aeris proclaimed passionately while crossing her arms across her chest and tapping her foot impatiently on the floor.
"Why do you always do this, Aeris?"
The innocent flower girl was taken aback by her love's sudden outburst. Her foot quit it's incessant beat on the wooden ground as silence finally exploded onto the scene and left both individuals thoughtless of the next argument that would be used in their avid defense.
"I mean, you always accuse me of going out and committing these acts of treason against our relationship. What? Do you have a guilty conscience or something," Cloud exclaimed, finally getting his composure back after a few moments of silence passed over their heads.
"I'm just saying that you were out late last night, what would a guy your age be doing out that late? Nothing's open so basically there was absolutely nothing to do," Aeris shouted back, getting back into her role as the prosecutor of this travesty we as human beings like to call a once stable relationship gone sour.
"It's called a walk, Aeris. Have you ever heard of one? It's when a certain person uses their legs as a form of travel for the sole purpose of getting some air or possibly clearing out some thoughts in their overbearing head," the blonde haired man screamed in his defense, not being able to take any more pressure from the girl who was always supposed to be on his side.
Aeris was dumbfounded by Cloud's direct abruptness and recoiled from the blow inflicted sarcasm. She wanted to apologize to him, but words were the last thing on her mind as her thoughts ran a million miles a minute. Even though she did want to speak, the words would come out in cryptic. Her thoughts were that enwrapped in each other that it was humanly impossible to decipher one from the other at this exact moment.
"You spend every waking minute accusing me of my supposed indiscretions against you that our relationship is completely falling downhill! I mean, do you even care that each day we're drifting farther and farther apart?"
Emerald eyes widened at the comment which was just spat out at her. In a way, it was a relief that Cloud was pushing her more and more away. It was what she wanted, a reason to break completely away from him and be with Zack. But something inside, something selfish, didn't want to let go of this man before her. Aeris didn't want to keep stringing along both men, but she also didn't want to cut one loose either. Both satisfied her in ways that would constitute for a single above average man.
"Cloud, no," the flower girl shouted out while running forward and wrapping her arms around her lover's neck tightly, "I'm so sorry, please, don't break up with me. I need you!"
There was no response on the opposite side. Cloud didn't wrap his arms around Aeris nor did he whisper any reassuring words into her perked ear. Because in all actuality, he didn't know what more to say that would make this situation any better. He could lie to her, it was always an option, but Cloud didn't feel right about it. To say words of a declaration of love to a certain someone requires certain depth. A depth this man didn't come close to possessing at the moment.
"Listen, Aeris," Cloud murmured, pushing back his girlfriend gently, "I don't know how much more I can take. Everyday, you make me frustrated. Don't get me wrong, I love you, but you make me frustrated beyond repair."
"Cloud, I'm so sorry. I love you, please forgive me for being such a wretch. It's just, thinking of you holding another girl the way you hold me makes me so crazy. I don't mean to take it out on you, baby, honest to God, it's just, I love you and I don't want to loose you," Aeris proclaimed, looking up into Cloud piercing sapphire eyes and caressing her soft hand over his tender cheek, "Baby, please, give me a second chance."
He continued to look down at Aeris, a smile slowly possessing his lips. Running his hand through her chestnut brown bangs, Cloud sighed and wrapped his arms around the petite girl to pull her closer to him. He did love her. Everytime he was near this girl, his heart would skip not only one beat, but two. Even if Cloud Strife tried, he wasn't so sure he'd be able to break permanently apart from this ravishing beauty in front of him.
"So what do you say we go catch a movie," Cloud whispered in Aeris' ear while slowly pulling back and away from the warm embrace. As he finally released himself from her grasp and had plain view of the female ahead, blue eyes widened in surprise as he screamed out and fell backwards from the extraordinary shocking impact.
There, before Cloud, wasn't the beautiful flower girl, but the enigmatic Tifa Lockheart, with a smile playing her sultry lips. Placing one hand on her narrow hips while using the other to move aside a stray lock of hair, the brunette went down on her knees, crawled on top of Cloud's still form and whispered, inches away from his face, in a seductive voice, "She isn't who you want, so why don't you do us all a favor and stop playing yourself."
Cloud Strife shot up from the comfortable spot on his bed. Sweat drenched his body as stray strands of once perfectly spiked hair stuck to his moist forehead. As he ran a hand over his face, to clear away all the excess moisture, Cloud sat in contemplation of the immensely intense dream sequence. It didn't make any sense, for it wasn't Tifa he wanted, it was Aeris..........wasn't it?
*************************
Music blasted from the stereo system in the Lockhearts only child's room. Tifa sat on her bed, writing in a small book, as the energetic Yuffie Kisargi bounced around the small room to music from The Clash. The atmosphere, even with the horridly loud music was serene as the two girls shared a certain bond blood sisters would be jealous over.
"Teef! C'mon I need a dance partner," Yuffie shouted over the music, while skipping over to the bed her 'guardian' was resting on, and jumping onto it.
"Yuff, I gotta make estimations on our trip," Tifa proclaimed, putting down her book and looking down at the child with curiously interested eyes.
Yuffie stuck out her lower lip and gave it enough energy to quiver playfully, which, instead of giving the implication of getting her way, only made the brunette laugh out at the kid's antics. Leaning forward, Tifa tickled Yuffie's sides causing the raven haired girl to jump up in surprise and began to scream in laughter. As complete pandemonia continued to ensue and Tifa continued her squirming exploration, Yuffie screamed once more, but this time, it wasn't out of joyful delight.
Tifa stopped immediately, seriously glanced down at her, and didn't once falter to lifted Yuffie's shirt up. As Yuffie begged Tifa to stop, it was already to late, she had caught vision of the heavily doused bruises on Yuffie's fragile ribs. The sight almost made the ruby eyed teenager burst out into tears at that very second as tears burned it's way to the surface. Tifa closed her eyes and placed a hand over her mouth, which, at the moment, would serve as a muffler to prevent any incredulous vulgar words from escaping her lips.
"Hey, Teef, it's not as bad as it looks," Yuffie tried to reassure her as she began to sit up on the bed, across from her worried protector.
It was a scary thought, but Tifa didn't have a word of either encouragement or profanity to say. Not about the bruises. Not about the bastard who inflicted these gruesome marks on this girl. Not about anything. All she did, was sit erectly up, hand still on her mouth, and allowed tears to slip from underneath her closed eyelids.
"Tifa, please, don't cry," the child begged, while wrapping her arms around Tifa's shivering form in comfort. Nobody had ever cried for her before, and the feeling felt knowing someone actually cared, felt almost miraculous.
"Just two more years kid and we're out of here. We're out of here," Tifa proclaimed softly while wrapping her arms around Yuffie gently, trying not to touch the damaged area of her skin, "You'll never have to deal with that bastard again. We'll go somewhere people like that don't exist."
Yuffie laid in the older girl's arms, closing her eyes and feeling a certain warmth emitting from these human sources of comfort. Smiling, she whispered loud enough for Tifa to hear, "I love you, mom."
[Focus in on the serene face of Yuffie Kisargi as it shifts back into the current form of the child]
"Yuffie? Yuffie," Tifa screamed loudly as she ran to the bed and shook the girl roughly, "Yuffie! Wake up! Yuffie!"
"Oh god. Oh god," she replied over and over again as she tried to awaken Yuffie and exile the tears which flowed down her cheeks to prevent any blinding, "Yuffie, this isn't a fucking game! I swear to god, you little bitch, if I find out your lying to me, I'll leave Nibelheim and your ass behind!"
There was no response. Not one hint that Yuffie was still alive, just asleep. Tifa sunk down to her knees at this realization and grabbed onto Yuffie's hand to cry into it. Her heart broke as coldness swept over her body in a heavy blanket of frost and ice. Shaking her head, ruby eyes looked back up and whispered, "Please, sweetheart, you're all I've got. You're all I've got left."
She didn't move which made Tifa arise and lay besides the practically slumbering girl, but not before a glint of light hitting a certain object laying innocently on Yuffie's side. Leaning forward to grasp onto it's surface a burning fury passed through Tifa's eyes as she gripped it's content which such aggression it could have broken the object in half.
"Reno......."