Tifa hadn't seen her friends for nearly a month now. She had grown restless
and worried. Cloud used to write everyday since the celebration, but the
letters had ceased. He had said something about finding "her", but it
seemed like such a difficult task, especially in the vastness of the world.
But it looked like her suspicions were incorrect. He must have travelled away or something, Tifa thought. Cloud had always been prompt, and never missed a single day. She loved reading of his exploits. Hunting with Nanaki, training with Cid, fighting with Barret. All of it reassured her that she was safe, and the threat to world had been destroyed.
She sat up and began to clean the bar. Since Midgar was destroyed, she had to open a new bar. It was difficult to get started, as all of the towns had taverns, and nobody was interested in helping her start a new one. And since Barret was busy helping with the new power supply, she only had herself to rely on.
But then she remembered. Mideel was under redevelopment and people from all around were travelling there to set up business. Of course, the governing body of Mideel were only too happy to allow Tifa a place in their town, especially after what she had done for the planet. All of the members of Avalanche were now highly respected. Tifa herself had been on the covers of many magazines already. She was adored by men and envied by women.
Despite this, Tifa was very happy to return to a quiet life, leaving the perils of the world to others. She even took the time to update her wardrobe, dismissing her old clothes for something a bit more fashionable. She now wore full trousers, and a black sleeveless shirt, much like her old white one.
She looked at the clock on the wall. It was nearly eleven o'clock. Business had been pretty slow that day, so she decided to close up for the night. She dropped the sodden cloth and walked towards the door. As she neared it, to her surprise, the door creaked open, and a hooded traveller entered.
"I'm sorry," she said softly with a smile, " I was just closing for the night."
"Is this the 'Seventh Heaven'?" asked the man, eyes concealed under his hood, cape blowing in the wind of the open door. His voice was warm and welcoming.
"No, this is the 'Eighth Heaven'," she said, with a giggle, "the 'Seventh Heaven' was destroyed in Midgar. The name was different, but the service is the same."
The cloaked man let out a slight laugh.
"But as I was saying, I'm closing up for the night. We open tomorrow at twelve."
"Please, let me stay. I will sleep on the floor and pay you dearly," said the traveller in desperation.
Tifa thought for a minute. "I dunno." she started.
"Please," the traveller continued, "I have been travelling for days and have nowhere else to go. And it looks like a storm is about to rip through."
Tifa put her head out of the door. The wind was strong and dark clouds were gathering in the sky. All the signs were right. She couldn't turn this man away.
"Well.ok," she started.
"Oh, thank you!" said the traveller with a smile.
"But don't tell anybody else," interrupted Tifa, "I'm not running an inn here."
"Of course!" laughed the traveller. He wandered towards the bar as Tifa locked the door behind him. His surroundings were comfortable. Several tables and chairs were placed around a hardwood floor. The red-painted walls were covered in framed pictures of Tifa and her friends. The traveller stared at the pictures for quite a while, before swaggering over to the bar, resting on a comfortable stool. Tifa took her place behind the bar.
"What can I get you?" She asked with a smile on her face.
The traveller looked around from his seat. "You have a nice place here," he commented, "have you always liked this type of work?"
Tifa pushed her hair behind her ear. "Yeah, I love it. I just like talking to people," she said, "you thirsty?"
"I could do with some water." The traveller emanated tiredness.
"Really?" asked Tifa. "You don't want anything a little stronger?"
The traveller shook his head. "I better not. I have a long journey in the morning."
Tifa rested her elbows on the bar and bent slightly. "Were are you going?"
"Cosmo Canyon."
"COSMO CANYON!" shouted Tifa, excitedly. "Will you deliver a message for me? Please?"
The traveller rubbed his face. "I don't know, I have a pretty important task to do."
Tifa looked at him longingly. "Please," she pleaded, "I'll make tonight free of charge."
"That is a handsome offer," said the traveller. He looked up at her, still keeping a shadow over his eyes. "What do you want me to take?"
"Just a letter," said Tifa, revealing a letter from behind the bar. It was wrapped in a shiny yellow envelope, with a red sealing on the back. The traveller took it from her, being sure to meet his fingers with hers.
His black gloves made Tifa shiver, but also felt strangely welcoming.
The traveller examined the letter in his hands. "Very old fashioned," he said with a smile.
Tifa giggled. "I always loved movies with dragons and castles. The letters they sent in those movies looked like this. I suppose I always wanted to be the princess." She looked at her feet. "It's silly."
"No," said the traveller, smiling at her, "I think it's interesting." He turned the letter around and looked at the name on the front. "Cloud Strife."
"You know him?"
"No," the traveller said abruptly, "but I've heard of him." The traveller's tone became one of anger. "He defeated Sephiroth, in the crater to the north."
Tifa tried to look into his eyes. "Are you ok?" she asked.
He turned away from her gaze. "Yes, I'm fine," he said. His tone returned to how it was before. "Its just that, I knew Sephiroth once."
Tifa stood up straight. "Really?" she asked suspiciously.
"He saved my life, back during the Mako war, many years ago now," he said.
"Wow," said Tifa, with disbelief, "tell me about it?"
"I'd rather not," said the traveller, "but I'll take your letter. I would like to meet this Mr. Strife. He seems like an interesting man."
Tifa seemed to go into a trance. "Yeah, he is," she said, dreamily.
"You've known him a long time?" asked the traveller, interestedly.
"Since we were children," said Tifa. "I really miss him." She turned around and filled a glass full of water.
"I sense you have strong feelings for him," said the traveller, cautiously.
She turned around and handed him his glass of water. "I do. I mean I did. It's complicated."
"I have all night."
For a couple of hours, she treated the stranger to an account of her life up until that moment in time, while outside, a storm broke out. Rain ravaged the village and thunder cracked the air constantly.
Through the entire account, the traveller lost no interest, and paid heed to every word she had said. But through the entire conversation, as questions continually erupted, the stranger never once pulled down his hood.
"What an interesting story," said the traveller after Tifa had finished, "no wonder you're on the cover of every magazine."
Tifa blushed. "Thank you," she said, trying to hold back a smug smile.
The traveller lifted his glass to his lips, which had been constantly refilled during the conversation. He took a sip and placed the glass back on the bar. Then he said, "I need to use the bathroom."
"Oh," said Tifa, quickly, "follow those stairs and it's the first on the left. I suppose its ok if you use my toilet rather than these downstairs."
"Thank you," said the traveller. He got up from his seat and wandered noiselessly up the stairs.
Oh my god, Tifa thought to herself. I'm totally flirting with this guy. Maybe there is happiness after Cloud.
Filled with this happy thought, she began to clean up the bar and set up a comfortable sleeping place for her guest on the floor. She pushed the tables up against the walls and laid down two large blankets on the floor, as well as two pillows.
Then, from behind her, she heard the sound of hard boots walking slowly down the stairs. There was something sinister about the way he was walking now. He had moved earlier in silence, and now he seemed to be making a noise on purpose. The steps became louder as he neared the doorway. Tifa turned to greet him as he came through the doorway.
"I have made your be." Tifa stopped after he revealed himself in the doorway. No longer did a kindly traveller accommodate the room.
Silver hair flowing over his metallic shoulder pads and black clothing, Sephiroth had emerged into the bar. Carrying his sword in his black, gloved hands, he advanced towards Tifa, laughing lightly to himself. He looked just as he had all those years ago when they first met.
Tifa walked backwards towards the door of the bar, trembling with fear.
"You."
"Yes," said Sephiroth with a piercing gaze, "it is I. I have returned."
"But, we.Cloud killed you," said Tifa, hoping this was just a bad dream.
Sephiroth laughed loudly. "No, foolish one. Nobody killed me. I was just hibernating. And now I have come back for revenge. For meteor, for me and my mother!"
Tifa spun around quickly and tried to open the door.
Sephiroth laughed. "I'm afraid it is locked, my dear." And then, by the force of his shear will, alone, he pulled Tifa into his arms, and placed his sword by her neck, clutching her around the waist. "And now that I know were 'he' is, I can finally have my revenge!"
Tifa struggled in his grip, but he showed no signs of waning.
Sephiroth laughed and tightened his grip. "You have been most useful, my pretty," said Sephiroth, relishing in his new-found knowledge, "I am going to send Cloud a present. He will not know what hit him."
"What are you planning?" said Tifa, struggling to breathe in his tightening grip.
"You shall see, my dear," said Sephiroth, smiling a sinister smile, "but first I'm going to have a little fun for myself!"
And for the rest of the night in Mideel, the storm hid the screams of a woman in pain.
But it looked like her suspicions were incorrect. He must have travelled away or something, Tifa thought. Cloud had always been prompt, and never missed a single day. She loved reading of his exploits. Hunting with Nanaki, training with Cid, fighting with Barret. All of it reassured her that she was safe, and the threat to world had been destroyed.
She sat up and began to clean the bar. Since Midgar was destroyed, she had to open a new bar. It was difficult to get started, as all of the towns had taverns, and nobody was interested in helping her start a new one. And since Barret was busy helping with the new power supply, she only had herself to rely on.
But then she remembered. Mideel was under redevelopment and people from all around were travelling there to set up business. Of course, the governing body of Mideel were only too happy to allow Tifa a place in their town, especially after what she had done for the planet. All of the members of Avalanche were now highly respected. Tifa herself had been on the covers of many magazines already. She was adored by men and envied by women.
Despite this, Tifa was very happy to return to a quiet life, leaving the perils of the world to others. She even took the time to update her wardrobe, dismissing her old clothes for something a bit more fashionable. She now wore full trousers, and a black sleeveless shirt, much like her old white one.
She looked at the clock on the wall. It was nearly eleven o'clock. Business had been pretty slow that day, so she decided to close up for the night. She dropped the sodden cloth and walked towards the door. As she neared it, to her surprise, the door creaked open, and a hooded traveller entered.
"I'm sorry," she said softly with a smile, " I was just closing for the night."
"Is this the 'Seventh Heaven'?" asked the man, eyes concealed under his hood, cape blowing in the wind of the open door. His voice was warm and welcoming.
"No, this is the 'Eighth Heaven'," she said, with a giggle, "the 'Seventh Heaven' was destroyed in Midgar. The name was different, but the service is the same."
The cloaked man let out a slight laugh.
"But as I was saying, I'm closing up for the night. We open tomorrow at twelve."
"Please, let me stay. I will sleep on the floor and pay you dearly," said the traveller in desperation.
Tifa thought for a minute. "I dunno." she started.
"Please," the traveller continued, "I have been travelling for days and have nowhere else to go. And it looks like a storm is about to rip through."
Tifa put her head out of the door. The wind was strong and dark clouds were gathering in the sky. All the signs were right. She couldn't turn this man away.
"Well.ok," she started.
"Oh, thank you!" said the traveller with a smile.
"But don't tell anybody else," interrupted Tifa, "I'm not running an inn here."
"Of course!" laughed the traveller. He wandered towards the bar as Tifa locked the door behind him. His surroundings were comfortable. Several tables and chairs were placed around a hardwood floor. The red-painted walls were covered in framed pictures of Tifa and her friends. The traveller stared at the pictures for quite a while, before swaggering over to the bar, resting on a comfortable stool. Tifa took her place behind the bar.
"What can I get you?" She asked with a smile on her face.
The traveller looked around from his seat. "You have a nice place here," he commented, "have you always liked this type of work?"
Tifa pushed her hair behind her ear. "Yeah, I love it. I just like talking to people," she said, "you thirsty?"
"I could do with some water." The traveller emanated tiredness.
"Really?" asked Tifa. "You don't want anything a little stronger?"
The traveller shook his head. "I better not. I have a long journey in the morning."
Tifa rested her elbows on the bar and bent slightly. "Were are you going?"
"Cosmo Canyon."
"COSMO CANYON!" shouted Tifa, excitedly. "Will you deliver a message for me? Please?"
The traveller rubbed his face. "I don't know, I have a pretty important task to do."
Tifa looked at him longingly. "Please," she pleaded, "I'll make tonight free of charge."
"That is a handsome offer," said the traveller. He looked up at her, still keeping a shadow over his eyes. "What do you want me to take?"
"Just a letter," said Tifa, revealing a letter from behind the bar. It was wrapped in a shiny yellow envelope, with a red sealing on the back. The traveller took it from her, being sure to meet his fingers with hers.
His black gloves made Tifa shiver, but also felt strangely welcoming.
The traveller examined the letter in his hands. "Very old fashioned," he said with a smile.
Tifa giggled. "I always loved movies with dragons and castles. The letters they sent in those movies looked like this. I suppose I always wanted to be the princess." She looked at her feet. "It's silly."
"No," said the traveller, smiling at her, "I think it's interesting." He turned the letter around and looked at the name on the front. "Cloud Strife."
"You know him?"
"No," the traveller said abruptly, "but I've heard of him." The traveller's tone became one of anger. "He defeated Sephiroth, in the crater to the north."
Tifa tried to look into his eyes. "Are you ok?" she asked.
He turned away from her gaze. "Yes, I'm fine," he said. His tone returned to how it was before. "Its just that, I knew Sephiroth once."
Tifa stood up straight. "Really?" she asked suspiciously.
"He saved my life, back during the Mako war, many years ago now," he said.
"Wow," said Tifa, with disbelief, "tell me about it?"
"I'd rather not," said the traveller, "but I'll take your letter. I would like to meet this Mr. Strife. He seems like an interesting man."
Tifa seemed to go into a trance. "Yeah, he is," she said, dreamily.
"You've known him a long time?" asked the traveller, interestedly.
"Since we were children," said Tifa. "I really miss him." She turned around and filled a glass full of water.
"I sense you have strong feelings for him," said the traveller, cautiously.
She turned around and handed him his glass of water. "I do. I mean I did. It's complicated."
"I have all night."
For a couple of hours, she treated the stranger to an account of her life up until that moment in time, while outside, a storm broke out. Rain ravaged the village and thunder cracked the air constantly.
Through the entire account, the traveller lost no interest, and paid heed to every word she had said. But through the entire conversation, as questions continually erupted, the stranger never once pulled down his hood.
"What an interesting story," said the traveller after Tifa had finished, "no wonder you're on the cover of every magazine."
Tifa blushed. "Thank you," she said, trying to hold back a smug smile.
The traveller lifted his glass to his lips, which had been constantly refilled during the conversation. He took a sip and placed the glass back on the bar. Then he said, "I need to use the bathroom."
"Oh," said Tifa, quickly, "follow those stairs and it's the first on the left. I suppose its ok if you use my toilet rather than these downstairs."
"Thank you," said the traveller. He got up from his seat and wandered noiselessly up the stairs.
Oh my god, Tifa thought to herself. I'm totally flirting with this guy. Maybe there is happiness after Cloud.
Filled with this happy thought, she began to clean up the bar and set up a comfortable sleeping place for her guest on the floor. She pushed the tables up against the walls and laid down two large blankets on the floor, as well as two pillows.
Then, from behind her, she heard the sound of hard boots walking slowly down the stairs. There was something sinister about the way he was walking now. He had moved earlier in silence, and now he seemed to be making a noise on purpose. The steps became louder as he neared the doorway. Tifa turned to greet him as he came through the doorway.
"I have made your be." Tifa stopped after he revealed himself in the doorway. No longer did a kindly traveller accommodate the room.
Silver hair flowing over his metallic shoulder pads and black clothing, Sephiroth had emerged into the bar. Carrying his sword in his black, gloved hands, he advanced towards Tifa, laughing lightly to himself. He looked just as he had all those years ago when they first met.
Tifa walked backwards towards the door of the bar, trembling with fear.
"You."
"Yes," said Sephiroth with a piercing gaze, "it is I. I have returned."
"But, we.Cloud killed you," said Tifa, hoping this was just a bad dream.
Sephiroth laughed loudly. "No, foolish one. Nobody killed me. I was just hibernating. And now I have come back for revenge. For meteor, for me and my mother!"
Tifa spun around quickly and tried to open the door.
Sephiroth laughed. "I'm afraid it is locked, my dear." And then, by the force of his shear will, alone, he pulled Tifa into his arms, and placed his sword by her neck, clutching her around the waist. "And now that I know were 'he' is, I can finally have my revenge!"
Tifa struggled in his grip, but he showed no signs of waning.
Sephiroth laughed and tightened his grip. "You have been most useful, my pretty," said Sephiroth, relishing in his new-found knowledge, "I am going to send Cloud a present. He will not know what hit him."
"What are you planning?" said Tifa, struggling to breathe in his tightening grip.
"You shall see, my dear," said Sephiroth, smiling a sinister smile, "but first I'm going to have a little fun for myself!"
And for the rest of the night in Mideel, the storm hid the screams of a woman in pain.