Chapter 10
ONE MORE NIGHT
Tifa sits on her bed, folding her knees. She smiles with full of contentment, her heart is flooded with joy. She feels on top of the world as she will surely be Mrs. Strife in a week, and it is only a matter of time. Imagining how she would surprise her fiancée, no…her husband in her wedding gown makes her giggle to herself.
I will make him drooling…Tifa chuckles. She lets herself fall on the bed, reaches the pillow and hugs it lovingly. Everyone knows her as a sporty and active girl, but she will be totally different in next week, at her wedding day.
Ha…I'll surely make people rethink their opinion about me…she smirks. They may not forget Tifa the sporty bar mistress, but they will realize that the bar mistress will turn into a graceful and beautiful bride, Tifa Lockheart Strife…Tifa giggles again. She continues her thought, I wonder where Cloud will take me for honeymoon ? Costa Del Sol ? Gold Saucer ? That must be fun…and…romantic…Her cheeks start to turn into crimson red imagining their honeymoon.
Eventually she strokes her hair to remove hair strands from her forehead. Tifa closes her eyes, and prays that everything will be fine. Being a normal housewife, giving birth to their future children, and living their peaceful life, those are her dreams, and she wants to share them with her Cloud Strife.
Finally….My dream will come true…she thinks happily before she starts to sleep.
………..
Vincent moves downstairs carefully, not to make any noise. When he reaches the floor, he spreads his look to empty chairs in front of him. The bar has just closed an hour ago, the lamps have been turned off, and it is very quiet in the bar now. Meanwhile, outside the bar, a night nuance embraces Midgar. There are still remains of crowd inside the bar, but Vincent does not care about it. Slowly, he walks toward an empty chair and takes a sit. He looks at the upstairs and finds nobody there. Vincent lifts up his hand, placing a violin he brought from his room on his shoulder. He keeps quiet for a moment, and with graceful motion, he starts to play a song. At first, it sounds awful, and makes Vincent stops for a moment. After shaking his head as a sign that he could not believe his performance, Vincent then plays his violin again. This time, it sounds better. A chained, yet nice melody flows from his violin freely.
Lucrecia….
Vincent thinks about someone he dears at most. He closes his eyes, tries to merge himself into stream of touching melody. He feels the surrounding is pretty perfect to his heart now. Dark, quiet, yet melancholic. His fingers roam at violin strings. As the song progresses, Vincent feels his soul touches the heart of his song. The song depicts a deep sadness and sorrow, as well as missing feeling. Vincent really plays it with his heart, not only with his fingers.
I miss you….he says in his mind, hoping a miracle will be happened to him, just like his friends, but he only gets an echo of his lonely feeling inside his heart. Going deeper into his sorrow, Vincent plays more melancholic song. He wants to savor the moment, enjoying his loneliness, which he does not know when it will come to an end. Vincent keeps on playing his violin. Soft, beautiful, and sad nuance come from his flowing melody.
While he is in deep of his song, a pair of eyes watches him from upstairs. Those eyes first see him with surprised look. Gradually, those eyes turn from a surprised look to a concerned one. As Vincent senses someone is watching him, he glances at upstairs and his eyes meet a beautiful figure of woman stands there. However, he rather ignores her and continues playing his song. The figure stands solemnly, she is likely enjoying the music. After a song comes to an end, she walks down the stairs and approaches Vincent.
"Gee…I never know that you can play music…", Tifa, the woman figure Vincent saw greets him. Vincent pauses for a moment and looks at Tifa.
"Hey…you seldom to talk these days, huh ?", Tifa teases Vincent with playful tone. Actually she knows he is not quite in a mood, but she tries to have a conversation with him. As a response, Vincent only nods his head and says, "Thanks". Tifa places her hand on Vincent's shoulder as she says that she understands what he feels.
"You…really love her, Lucrecia…don't you ?", she asks in soft tone. Slowly, Vincent lifts up his face to meet Tifa's ruby eyes, but he says nothing. From his look, Tifa knows what Vincent will say. Although he just stares at her coldly, she is really sure that the man sitting in front of him keeps a deep love to his lost one.
"It's okay…Vincent….it's okay…", Tifa eases him. She is wondering how Vincent holds his emotion to emerge. Everyone sees him as a senseless and cold person, including herself, and nobody could see what lies beneath his deep heart. Guided only by her woman instinct, Tifa can tell that Vincent conceals a deep sorrow that he does not want to share.
"Thank you, Tifa…", suddenly Vincent speaks up. Tifa's affection seemed to relieve him a bit. She smiles at Vincent upon knowing that he is rather opened now, however she feels that he wants to be alone this time. "Maybe you need your own time now, Vincent…I'm leaving…", she says to him. Tifa then pats Vincent's shoulder once again and leaves him, walking toward outside.
"And…please go on with your violin …I'd love to hear it…", she says to him before opening the door. Vincent only nods and begins to play another melancholic song, actually not for Tifa, but only for him…and Lucrecia, in his heart.
Tifa then tries to open the door and she is surprised to find the door is unlocked. She is very sure she has locked it, but now it is open. Slowly, she opens the door and takes a peek outside. On bar terrace, she finds a standing figure gazes to the midnight sky of Midgar, along with the night silence. Reflected only by the street lamps, the standing figure looks so mysterious, combined with dark night. Recognizing the figure, Tifa buries her surprised feeling, now changes to curious one. Quietly, she steps outside and walks toward the figure, Cloud.
"Cloud…what are you doing here…?", she asks Cloud with curious tone. Cloud is quite startled to see Tifa is suddenly standing some feet next to him. "Tifa…? You're not sleeping yet ?", he asks back. After giggling a little, she then steps closer to Cloud. "We're soul mates after all, one wakes up, the other also follows…". Cloud narrows his eyes, puzzled. Gently, Tifa reaches Cloud's hand and holds it warmly.
"Nah, forget about that…", she exclaims, "I can't sleep because I can't stop thinking our wedding next week". She gives Cloud a puppy-dog eye, a sign that she is happy. Cloud smiles and responds, "You should take care your health, Tifa, don't be too tired…". Tifa smiles back and leans her head on his chest. "Guess I'm just too excited..", she chimes. Cloud smiles again and strokes her hair lovingly. They both then stare at the sky, thinking their own mind in silence.
"Cloud….", suddenly Tifa whispers, calling his name. "This is just like the night before we fought Sephiroth…". Cloud nods his head. "Yeah…that was just you and me…", he agrees, and then adds, "but at the next morning we found out that everyone was looking at us from Highwind the night before…". Still staring at the sky, Cloud smiles. Tifa chuckles on that event. Cloud is right. She remembers how she blushed when everyone congratulated her at that time, witnessing Cloud and her were together in simple yet romantic night. They were not quite sure to stay alive on their fight with Sephiroth on North Crater, but that night, the moment was suited perfectly to both of them. They were going to fight Sephiroth, and they thought the others had left them two, but finally they were united under the same mission and fate again. She has really passed through good times and bad times, none of them will be forgotten.
"And now….", Tifa says, "this night is more romantic with Vincent's violin inside…". Cloud glances at the woman leaning on her chest. His eyes show astonished look. "Yeah…Vincent….", he responds, "I never think that he's kind of….melancholic…". Tifa nods her head as agreement and tries to listen more carefully flowing violin melody from inside the bar. Vincent plays another song, and it still depicts sadness. "Guess he's thinking Lucrecia now…", Cloud tries to inquiry his friend's condition. He then adds, "Better to leave him on his own, Tifa…and let's enjoy our moment…just you and me…". Again, Tifa nods her head. This time, she feels more comfortable as Cloud spoke his words.
"Do you remember Nibelheim ?", Cloud asks Tifa out of blue. Tifa replies, "Yes…especially the well…". Her tone is cheerful when she recalls her past memory. "Yeah…I know..", Cloud responds shortly. "We made promise there, remember ?", Tifa asks him. Smiling faintly, Cloud then replies, "Of course…we were kids then…and I promised you to come and to rescue you whenever you're in trouble..". Smiling faintly, he plays the event again inside his mind. Although it happened long time ago, he can remember it clearly.
"We made promise under the Nibelheim's night sky….That's why I love to see it, just like now…reminding me that moment, your promise…", Tifa chimes intimately. She then wraps her arms around Cloud's waist.
"Do you recall how many times we've faced dangerous times together ?", Cloud asks again. Tifa thinks for a moment, trying to give an answer. "Hmm…I can't remember…Too many things happened…All I know is…we've been through good times and bad times together Cloud…and I'm glad you're finally here…in my arms", Tifa speaks in flirting tone. She glances at him with a meaningful look.
"Geez…you never changed, Tifa..", Cloud grins at her. Tifa smiles back at him. "Guess that's right..", she winks cheerfully.
"Hey Cloud…", Tifa calls him as if something suddenly pops up inside her mind. "Did you ever see a fallen star some days ago ?", she asks. Mentioning word 'fallen star' makes Cloud startled a little. It triggers his memory with Aeris, when they were watching the Cosmo Canyon's night sky and saw a fallen star there. Quickly, Cloud removes his memory. Thinking about Aeris at such moment with Tifa will surely screw up everything. He then replies, "Umm…I didn't see it…I was sleeping…". A slight groggy tone paints his voice.
"It was beautiful scene…", Tifa continues. "I rarely see it…People said if you make a wish under the fallen star…then your wish will become true…". She blushes a bit, making Cloud puzzled. "Cloud…you may not believe such things…but…I made a wish when I saw fallen star several days ago…I wished that we'd be married soon and have everlasting happy marriage…". Her cheeks turn into brighter red, signing that she blushes more.
"Let's hope it will be true…", Cloud gives his opinion, making Tifa smiles at him nicely. "I even curious what if two different persons wish the same thing under the same fallen star….which one will become true ?", Tifa pipes up. "Nah…let's not talk about it again, Cloud…maybe I was too superstitious…but hey, who could refuse if a wish becomes reality ?". She shrugs her shoulder. Tifa does not know, and she never know that at the same time she made a wish, there was another girl who made the same wish, under the same fallen star. (Author : pls refer to chapter 1 ^_^).
Cloud and Tifa then stand together in silence, savoring every moment of Midgar silent night, a scene that can never be happened in light day. The only sound paints this silent moment is only Vincent's violin songs. Tifa is still thinking about Vincent, wondering how he could live his life with missing heart, missing love. Comparing to her condition, she feels lucky to have her love beside her, and it is going to be for the rest of their life. Suddenly, a bitter memory knocks her mind, and she feels she must tell him about it.
"Cloud…", Tifa calls him again. Cloud turns his face to her with caring eyes. Tifa asks, "Do you…really…love..me ?". A bit of uneasy feeling paints her voice. Without giving chance for Cloud to answer, she continues, "I know it sounds silly…but…I asked this because I'm afraid to lose you…again….". Words from Tifa flow with deep emotion beneath them.
"Tifa, what did make you think like this ?", Cloud asks, confused. Somehow, he feels that he already knew the answer. Tifa stares at him with concerned look, and then replies, "I saw you…I saw you…and…her…together at Cosmo Canyon. It was when you had been driven by Sephiroth….". Tifa's voice is trembling. "You didn't see me because I was inside the house. It hurt me, Cloud…she…she hugged you…The way she talked to you, the way she cared about you…It's all clear to me…Open your eyes Cloud…she's still in love with you….I know it, I can feel it…Before she died, she was in love with you, and now, after she's back to life, she still keeps her feeling…but don't forget me Cloud.…I also love you…very much….more than you can imagine…". Tifa sighs and hangs her head down.
Suddenly Cloud feels his throat is rough, he does not know what to say. "Tifa….", he can only say her name with concerned tone. His hand runs through her long hair. Gently, he kisses Tifa's forehead, followed by her cheeks and her lips. Tifa just stands still. After Cloud kissed her, he gives Tifa a caring look.
"Tifa….I love you…", he says in whisper, sweeping her hair softly. Tifa lifts up her face and looks a pair of Mako-blue eyes try to tell her the truth. Cloud continues, "We've been through so far…and now…look at your finger…your ring…we're just waiting for the right moment to come, and it'll be about a week or less….". While talking to Tifa, Cloud holds her hand warmly. "I love you, Tifa…I love you…". Tifa keeps quiet for a moment, and this makes Cloud's heart beat in uncertainty. He has tried his best to convince her about his feeling. He knows he is not used to be an expert in romantic subject.
"What must I do, Cloud ? She's my best friend after all…but I took her hope…that's you, Cloud…I know she suffered because of that…but…I can't let you go, Cloud…I'm so in love with you that I can't stand to see you go away…". Tifa shakes her head. Cloud takes a breath of night air and gazes to the night sky. He then responds, "I don't know Tifa…I'm not used to be in this circumstance…I only know that I love you…and we're getting married in next week…It may come with a price, but we have to pay it for our happiness…We don't even know what lies ahead Tifa…but I'm very sure that we can face it together…".
Tifa looks at him with disbelief. She knows that Cloud is not talented in a matter of love triangle, yet he is not a kind of playboy-guy, but hearing him saying his words makes her heart feel better.
He wants to be with me….he loves me….she thinks, relieved. Smiling nicely, she then caresses his cheek gently.
"Do you really mean what you said ?", she asks for confirmation. Cloud looks at her and nods his head. "Sure", he replies shortly. With his reply, Tifa knows that she is satisfied. That is enough for her.
"Thank you, Cloud…", she whispers and rests her head on his chest again. Together, they enjoy their moment, wrapped within the night sky.
Cloud lifts up his face to meet the sky again. He does not have any idea how he could say these words. There is no doubt that he loves Tifa. To him, that is the fact he cannot pretend. However, he feels that he exposed only one fact to Tifa, and himself. He hates to admit it, but he knows there is another fact rests deeply, yet secretly, within his heart. For goodness sake, he wants to deny it to everyone, even himself. Cloud knows what this hidden fact is telling him about. Aeris.
………………
Vic is standing in middle of darkness. He cannot see the ground, but he can feel it. He is standing on something, but he cannot see his surrounding. Vic moves his legs slowly as he scans the darkness around him. The farther he walks, the tighter he holds his masamune. At a point, his eyes catch a sparkling green light. Walking faster yet still wary, he approaches the light. When he is close to the green light, suddenly its light grow bigger and bigger, removing darkness that once surrounding him. Vic just watches with awe. The bright green light now surrounds him. Looking around his new environment, Vic finds nothing. Suddenly, another blinding flashlight comes in front of him, forcing him to cover his eyes with his hand even he is already wearing sunglass. Vic steps back and prepares for the worst, but he cannot see what exactly that flashlight is.
It's strange….where am I ? He tries to inquiry his condition. After the blinding light fades out, Vic lowers his arm he used to cover his eyes. His eyes are blinking and gradually he can recognize something in front of him.
"Gosh…AERIS !!!!". Vic shouts with top of his voice after he sees what is in front of him after that blinding flashlight. There, Aeris is standing, but actually she is hanging several inches from ground. To be precise, she is half flying. She does not seem to realize her surrounding because her eyes are closed. Moreover, she looks like sleeping unconsciously. Vic stares at the flower girl, his mouth is opened, and his eyes go wide. He does not have any idea why he was brought here, and now he even goes deeply clueless to find Aeris in such condition. He knows something is going on, and he must find it out as soon as possible. Quickly he leaps into her, trying to grab her. Before he can reach her body, suddenly bright light comes from the ground around Aeris, blazing upwards.
"Yikes !", Vic is forced to step back because the light emits a large amount of unseen energy and hit him, making him unable to reach Aeris. Strangely enough, that light does not hurt Aeris at all. Vic looks at her now, wrapped with strange light, still unconscious.
"What the …", Vic curses on what he sees with more disbelief and worried look. "What really happened here…?", he mutters. Of course he expects no answer. Should there be an answer for him, he would surely be surprised, if not shocked. He looks around, but still no clue.
Suddenly, Vic's eye tip catches a slight motion of Aeris' hand. Quickly, he turns his face again to her, hoping that she is conscious, but she keeps her eyes closed. When Vic studies her face more carefully, he catches that her expression changes.
Hell…what happened to her ? She's…she looks….in pain…. Vic thinks. Unable to think clearly and becomes more driven by his reflex, Vic steps forward to reach her. Again, the bright light that wraps her is forcing him back with stronger energy, making Vic tossed down.
"Unhh…what that was thing ?", he grumbles while stands up again. Dare not to do the same thing, he walks closer to Aeris until he is close enough but careful not to touch her. He lifts up his face and sees Aeris' expression showing that she is hurt in unexplained way. With his mind, he tries to open contact with Planet.
Planet…what happened…please tell me… Short time afterward, he receives an answer, but not his expected one. A strange wave is flooding his mind, hurting him. Vic shuts his teeth tightly to hold his pain, but that strange wave goes crazy inside his mind. Cannot hold it longer, Vic holds his head with his hands and kneels down in pain.
Planet…what is this …?? Planet…I know you can hear me…answer me…Goddamn it…this wave is hurting me ! He contacts Planet again. Faintly, he can hear in his mind Planet's reply, Cetra…Planet suffers….
Yes Planet…I know it ! But what is this ? Vic asks desperately. After he asked, the strange wave goes crazier than before. Vic can only hear moan and groan beneath that wave.
Is she…your future…? Suddenly a voice shows up from the wave. It sounds so clear that Vic can tell this is different from moaning wave, yet he knows that sound is unfamiliar to him. It is not Planet's voice after all.
Wh..what…who…are you ??? Vic asks the voice, demanding an answer.
Look at her….The strange voice orders him. As fear climbs his heart all of a sudden, Vic opens his eyes although the strange wave is still playing in his mind. Vic feels pain for sure, but he swears that he can see clearly another strange phenomenon right in front of him. It is regarding Aeris. Vic witnesses Aeris' painful expression becomes clearer, but her eyes are still closed. Meanwhile, the bright light that wraps her sparkling strangely.
It's impossible that she can't feel the pain…someone…or something must keep her unconscious…Vic thinks in middle of his self-pain. The bright light now wraps her tighter, and Vic can see something comes out from Aeris' body, flowing around the light. It is continuously leaving Aeris' body and making the light grows lighter, as it feeds the light. After some seconds pass, Aeris' body becomes pale…and it goes faint every seconds. Vic is very sure now that something terrible is going on Aeris, and if he does not stop it quickly, Aeris will pass away. Ordering his body to move, Vic can only steps slowly toward Aeris. Although he is in pain, he intends to get Aeris back, no matter what.
Do you see that, Cetra ? The strange voice comes up again, calling him. She made mistake in her past, with that, I could wake up to gain my supremacy…but I still need her…to be..purified…
The strange voice then laughs in sinister, and slowly it fades away from Vic's mind, as well as the strange wave inside him.
………..
"You played well…I never know that you can play violin". Aeris commends Vincent after he played a song. She claps her hand slowly and smiles nicely at him. Pausing for a moment, Vincent then turns his face to Aeris who is sitting next to him. "Thanks…", he answers in cold tone as always.
"Vincent…you're missing her…Lucrecia, right ?", Aeris asks again with caring tone. She never sees Vincent like this before. To her eyes, Vincent is always cold, but this time, even in his coldness, she can feel what beneath his heart is. Vincent puts down his violin from his shoulder and lets out a deep sigh. "Everyone said that…", he speaks his opinion and turns his face toward outside the bar where Cloud and Tifa are still there. Everything becomes quiet now as he finished his song.
"Can't sleep well ?", suddenly Vincent asks Aeris. After taking a breath, Aeris replies, "Well…I was thinking something that disturbed my mind when I heard your violin play…I guessed it would make me relaxed a bit to listen the music…so I came out from my room and surprised to see that it was you who played the music…". Aeris giggles a little at this point, making Vincent thinks that everyone assumes he is a cold and senseless man.
"Is it about him ?", Vincent asks to the point. He then turns his face and see Aeris' expression changes. She frowns a bit, but she senses that Vincent's question is much like affection to her condition. Hesitantly, she replies, "Umm…not directly related to him…it is something else…but at some points it relates to him…and the others as well…". She then fiddles her fingers.
"His marriage must be hurting you…", Vincent says with deep tone. Aeris only nods her head. "I…just pray for their happiness…", she says with low voice. "This is different from the past…", she continues. A sad tone is reflected from her voice. "I guess you already know how I feel to him, Vincent…but he belongs to Tifa now…I'm just a simple flower girl…I just made you all faced dangers…". She pauses for a moment and hangs her head. "But it'll be over…soon…", her voice trails off at the end.
"Where will you go ?", Vincent asks her, he knows what beyond Aeris' words is. Still hanging her head, she then replies, "I..I have an important thing to do….I..I haven't thought about it…". Aeris' answer touches Vincent's cold heart. He feels sorry for this girl, but he cannot do anything to cheer her up as usually she does to the others. That is absolutely not his specialty, yet he only has some words that may relieve her heart, even a little, but he is pretty sure about his next words.
"Aeris…", Vincent stands up from his chair, ready to go back to his room. Aeris lifts up her head. Vincent then continues, "Don't underestimate yourself…he still loves you….I'm so sure about that…and I repeat again : he does love you…". After he finished his words, Vincent then leaves his chair and Aeris to go back to his bedroom. Aeris does not response upon Vincent's leave. She just watches his back until he gets into his room. Vincent, like Red XIII, is barely talking a lot, but once he speaks up, there is always something beneath his words. She knows it, but this time, she does not know whether she can trust his words, although she always wants to.
AUTHOR'S POST-CHAPTER NOTE :
Gee…I reached chapter 10 and it only touched some points of hidden danger ! Meanwhile, in my previous sequel, chapter 10 was telling a lot of progress within the story…Guess this final sequel would be longest among my other fanfics !!! I just try and hope that I still maintain the interesting aspects to you, readers, so I could please you on my fanfic so you would drop me one or two reviews !(I really hope that…^_^). Meanwhile, I still owe another version of this Lay Your Heart On Me…well…I decide to finish one version, and then moves to other version so both Tifa and Aeris can have Cloud !!! (That's my dream…although I'm CloRis fan)
Thanks to you, readers, and I always appreciate any reviews or critics to my writings ! Tata for now…^_^