Darkness. Ice. Nothing but cold and black. That's all Tifa knew. Her eyes fluttered open, but there was no sign of Cloud or Alex. She glanced around, and realized where she was. Lifestream. She had done it; she gave up her life because of Cloud. And now, she would live in eternity without him. She sighed. 'I would have been without him anyway. What's the difference?' She bit her lip and hugged her knees to her chest, feeling heartbreakingly alone and sad. Had she not been dead, she would have cried. But she'd done enough of that already. She gazed at the glowing green stream and pondered about slipping into the depths, until she heard a voice. "Tihh..."
Tifa's head snapped up and she looked around. She was sure she heard something. Maybe this was just the sounds of the souls. Oh, well. She hugged her knees tighter.
"Tif..."
Her eyes grew wide.
"Tifa..."
Tifa jumped up, edging towards the stream, hoping it would take her and keep her safe from that voice.
"Tifa...don't leave me Tif! Please! Come back to me, Tifa!" She knew that voice. It was Cloud.

Cloud kneeled on the ground, sobbing. He held Tifa's limp body in his arms, begging her to come back. No. She couldn't die. It was all his fault. He'd killed two people incredibly dear to him. He couldn't control his tears; they flowed like waterfalls. His throat began to hurt, but he kept urging her to live. "Please!!! Just open your damn eyes!!! PLEASE, TIFA!!!!" He held her tightly, sobbing into her soft brown locks.

Tifa sighed. That voice. How much pain it had caused her; how much her heart hurt because of it. And yet...she couldn't escape it. She still loved him; her heart wouldn't let go. He wanted her to live, that was good. But he would never want HER. Not like she wanted him. She should just let herself slip away...and escape that voice once and for all. Forget the memories, forget his smile, forget his Mako-blue eyes that pierced her soul. Maybe if she let herself go...she'd forget everything.

*****
Vincent Valentine walked with Yuffie Kisaragi through the forest, dodging random attacks of insects. "Where are we goin again?" Yuffie asked. Vincent pushed his jet black strands out of his face.
"We're meeting Barret and Cid at Rocket Town. Something's up - we just don't know what yet." He looked down at Yuffie's concerned face and smiled as they walked. He enjoyed looking after her, and was happy that he was able to protect her. Not that Yuffie needed any protecting, that is. She was a very able ninja and could kick butt just as well as the next guy. Still, Vincent was stronger, and felt important watching over her. Suddenly, a faint rumbling began echoing throughout the air, growing louder and louder as the ground began to shake. Yuffie's eyes widened.
"What is that??" she asked, fists clenched. Vincent walked closer to her.
"I don't know. Stay close," he said, just as the two were nearly crushed by a giant foot stomping through the woods. Vincent stopped dead, pulling Yuffie back. Once the enormous beast was out of sight, they pushed on.
"THAT THING WAS HUGE!" Yuffie yelled. "What in the world WAS that?!" She rambled, excited. Vincent shook his head.
"That's the reason we're meeting Barret and Cid." He picked up the pace. "The sooner, the better! I have a feeling that thing isn't going to ask us to be friends."
*****
"'Bout damn time you got here," Barret spat. "We've been waitin' for you muthas foreva! So, didja see it?" He polished a few guns.
"If you mean that huge...THING that went charging by, then yes." Yuffie plopped down in a chair and fumbled with a few materia. "So what are we gonna do about it? I mean, what is it? Where'd it come from? What's it want?" She tossed a materia into the air and caught it again.
Vincent pulled his crimson cloak around him and nodded. "We don't have any information on it yet. I think it came from the north Crater." Cid dropped his cigarette.
"You mean to tell me that this thing could be one of that silver-haired bastard's monsters??" He stomped his cigarette out before it lit the carpet on fire. "You gotta be shittin' me."
Vincent sighed. "I don't know for sure, but no, I am not "shitting" you. And watch your mouth, there's a lady in the room." He nodded to Yuffie, who let out a loud belch. Barret stifled a laugh as Cid raised an eyebrow at Vincent.
"Lady...yes...." Cid rolled his eyes. Yuffie jumped up.
"You callin me a guy or somethin?!" she whipped out her weapon. "LET'S GO, OLD MAN! RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!" Cid frowned. Vincent stepped in and set Yuffie back down in the armchair.
"Now stay!" he hissed. "Listen you guys, we don't have time for this. For all we know, our lives could be in danger. What we need to do is find that thing...whatever it is...and see if we need to take care of it." He pushed his long hair back and nodded. Barret stepped towards them.
"Yuh! He's got uh point! Let's get our asses out there and get us some monster ass!" He thrust his fist into the air triumphantly. The others stared at him and blinked.
"Yes...um, something like that." Vincent led the others out the door and toward the Highwind.
*****
Clanking could be heard as the creature pounded its way through the land, heading towards Wutai. Its sights were set on a small, muscular blonde boy by the cliffs. It had one goal - destroy Cloud Strife.