"Wounds Never Lie"

By: Elf Fanatic Lark


Disclaimer: Hmmm....Well, since I last checked I still don't own any FF7 characters! Read on mes amis! Oops! Darn that French CD @_@.


Chapter 1

*Silent Regrets*


"Man! Will this rain ever stop?!" Yuffie complained.

"It's been rainin' for three days straight now! Not to mention that I'm still hungry!"


"Well, no one insisted that you stay here."


"Stay outta it, Vincy. Geeze now you're on my case!?"


"If I were you I would refrain from calling me by that name again." Vincent replied, his voice as merciless as an executioner.

"Hmph..." was her only reply.


A lock was heard opening, and the door soon to follow. A cold breeze filled the house and the rain could be heard pattering outside.


"Hey guys what's up? I just got back from the store, anybody up for lunch?" Tifa called to her friends as she placed an armfull of grocery bags down on the floor.


Yuffie rushed to the front door, she couldn't help but be excited. They hadn't had a descent meal for a couple of days now. (Due to the fact that business was still pretty slow, people were too busy to come and have a drink and relax.) She skidded to a halt in front of a soaking wet brunette, who showed no care to if she was wet or dry.


"So, Tif whatcha'ya got?" Yuffie asked expectantly as she picked up one of the bags Tifa had brought in. She frowned as Tifa held an apple in front of her face.


"Not apples again. Gawd it's like we hav'ta eat rations or somethin'!" Yuffie exclaimed disappointedly.


"Not Today!" Tifa beamed. "Today we have a full course meal! The apple is only a snack!"


"Why the sudden change?" Red asked, who had woken up only moments ago. He had been curled up in front of the fire in the lounge.


"Well...I was kinda hoping to one day renovate this old bar, but I knew we couldn't survive on such meager meals. So I took out my old savings so we could have more food." Tifa's eyes became downcast, but she soon brightened up again.


"Hey, how 'bout I make some pancakes, french toast and some bacon? How about it?" She asked.


"That sounds great! Let me help you with those bags Tif!" Yuffie said, while trying to hold back the drool that had accumulated, at Tifa's description of her plan.


"Lemme just change, and I'll be right back," Tifa called out to Yuffie, who was getting the pans ready to make lunch.


"Alright, jus' hurry up!"


Tifa smiled as she began to walk up the stairs to her room. Yuffie was like a little sister to her, come to think of it, they were all family now. She began to wonder what would've happened if the recent tragedy hadn't occurred, they wouldn't be the same strong hearted people they were today. Maybe after all, this wasn't a total loss.


"On the subject of family, where the heck is Cloud?" she whispered aloud. She hadn't seen much of him for the last few days. Maybe he's in his room? She thought, but first I gotta get outta this wet clothes!


Only a few minutes had lapsed before she had emerged from her bedroom, sporting sweat pants and a white t-shirt. She yawned as she put her long brown hair into a low pony tail. Now I'll see what Cloud's up to! She walked only for a short time, before reaching the darkened end of the hallway. This end of the hallway always gives me the creeps! For some reason the sun doesn't extend all the way down here. Never bothered to figure out why. She slowly walked past two more doors then stopped in front of the last one. It was across from her bedroom. There was a faint beam of light coming from underneath the door.


"Aha! I got you now!" She yelled as she reached for the knob and began turning it. "Now just where have you been these couple of da...." She stopped herself mid sentance as she saw the bedroom was empty. The light that she had seen earlier from under the door was only his Ultima weapon glowing as did his own mako infused eyes.

"Oh..."she whispered in defeat.


She began walking towards the stairs again, but decided against it as she heard a noise coming from the roof.


"So you're up there eh?" She began walking up the few flights of stairs, that led to the roof. What is he doing up there? It's raining cats and dogs! She placed her hand on the knob to the door, once again. The door knob was ice cold, she didn't know why. Maybe it was warning her to stay away.


"That's odd,"she whispered to herself, "the weather outside was pretty humid last time I checked. She shivered as a chill went through her small frame. She opened the door so that it stood only slightly ajar. Her wine colored orbs stared at the shivering figure that sat on the roof. He was no longer the strong leader that she had known, but the empty shell of the one that she held so dear.


"C-Cloud?" she whispered so quietly, she would have bet gil that he hadn't heard her.


"..................." He didn't reply. Just knowing she was near, just hearing her voice was comforting. She had no clue to what he was going through, he was too afraid to tell her. Every night he had nightmares so real, that they frightened him. He would awaken from them in a cold sweat, a shivering wreak, just like now. He couldn't hide his fear any more it was clawing at his very being to be released, begging for another soul to comfort his broken one.


Mostly his dreams were of his Shin-Ra days. But, when he thought he was safe in the sanctuary of his dreams they transformed into nightmares. One of which had pushed him too near the edge. The nightmare in which all of his loved ones had been mercilessly slaughtered, not by his nemesis Sephiroth, or a new foe..........but by himself. Jenova was the puppet master, and he was the mindless puppet, too feeble to think only to obey. For the first time in his life, he cried. His admirable visage broken, he lacked courage, he was too afraid to admit it to others. He didn't want their empty condolences, he wanted answers.


********************

"Cloud?" she asked again louder, unsure if he had heard her the first time, stepping through the door. Unbeknownst to her, this door served as the last shield to Cloud's fear, to the darkness that threatened all of their lives. Soon, a side of Cloud she never new would surface.


(A/n Well, that's the end of Chapter 1!! Yeah! Despite a few complications and a demented computer, everything turned out all right! Thanks to my mom for pulling me out of my creative slump! Please R&R ^__^)