Hopeful Return
Cloud's eyes fluttered awake. He had just slept the best he had in his entire life. Not to say that he slept too much though. He turned his head to face the sound of a gentle breathing. Tifa's beautiful face lay, sleeping. Her slender form rose and fell with every breath, and Cloud wnted to wake her up, just to hear her voice. He could hear movement below from the bar. He turned his head the other way, searching for some kind of clock. It was 11:03. On a Sunday. You can't open a bar before 12 on a Sunday. Cloud slowly got out of bed, trying hard not to wake Tifa. But he failed.
"Mmmmm...where ya going honey?" mumbled Tifa, opening one eye. Cloud stood for just a second, revelling in the fact that she called him honey. He stared into her Crimson eyes, thinking he could lose himself in them for hours. Finally he shook it off.
"I heard someone talking downstairs, but the bar ain't open yet. I want to go check it out." said Cloud, in a low, soothing voice. "Go back to bed babe." Tifa bolted straight up in bed. "Downstairs?! I'm going too! It's my bar!." She stretched her long, thin arms into the air, and jumped out of bed. Suddenly, she noticed that she was topless. Her face turned red as her eyes, and she grabbed her shirt from the ground.
"Oops." she sputtered, smiling at Cloud. He winked at her, and his face suddenly turned serious. He pulled his own shirt on, and slowly walked over to the door. The only sword around was Yoshiyuki, so he picked it up and held it firmly in both hands. Tifa walked up beside him, and he shot a hand out to block her way.
"No. It could be an assasin or something. Stay here darlin'. Please." he said, staring intently on the stairwell.
"What are you talking about? Who would want us dead?" said Tifa, defiantly trying to remove his arm.
"Not we. You. You were part of AVANLANCHE, and ShinRa did try to blame all this on you. The world doesn't know we didn't do all those awful things yet. And, we don't know if the danger from Sephiroth is truly gone. Just because he's gone doesn't mean we can let our guards down. Now go back to bed, and stay there." said Cloud. The fierce, yet scared look in his eyes betrayed his cool demeanor.
My god...thought Tifa, eyes misting over. I can't tell if he's just scared for my safety, or not, but he really doesn't want to find out what's down there! He won't let me help him...like always, but he's so petrified of what he could find down there...
Cloud put his arm down, and motioned for her to lay down. She agreed, and tried to go back to sleep. Cloud nodded, gave her a quick kiss on the forhead, then another on the lips, and walked out the door. His heavy footsteps reverberated in the hallway, betraying his location to anyone downstairs. The noise had stopped, and Cloud now feared the worst. It was something, and it was after him. Slowly, but surely, Cloud had made his way to the landing of the stairwell. Then, quickly with a reckless abandone never seen before by anyone, Cloud cut a large hole in the wall, and jumped through into the bar. He landed heavily next to the tap, and the landing shook a few bottles off the shelf. They crashed to the floor, but the sound was drowned out by the thing downstairs.
"WELCOME HOME!" yelled the crowd. Everyone was there. Cloud stood, dumbstruck in his pajamas and t-shirt, holding Yoshiyuki. Tifa peered her head from the hole, and sighed. Cloud fainted, or pretended to faint to avoid Tifa's wrath. He DID just cut a hole in her bar after all.
A couple of hours later, Cloud opened an eye. A set of large, razor sharp teeth were bearing down on him. He pulled up Yoshiyuki, cutting the teeth off their body. Cloud stood up, and examined the beast's body. It wasn't large, but it was very muscular. Cloud looked around himself, all was black, save a little hole way up in the sky.
I must be dreaming...thought Cloud. But it all seemed so real. He attempted to jump up to the hole in the sky, figuring if he was dreaming, he'd be able to. When he reaches for it, he stubbed his finger on the ceiling. It was abnormally low. Cloud reached for the hole, and caught his fingers on the edge. He pulled himself up, out of the hole, and back into what he thought was Tifa's bar. Everyone was gone, the only thing around was a few empty bottles and a passed out drunk. Cloud walked up to him, and shook him.
"Hey buddy, where'd everyone go." He didn't answer, and Cloud became worried. He rolled him over, and screamed. The person's head rolled off the body. His face was stuck in an expression of shear horror. One finger pointed toward the stairwell. Cloud unsheathed Yoshiyuki again, and put a towel over the man's carcass. Cloud walked cautiosly to the stairwell. Vile thoughts pounded his brain.
"He's back! Nothing you could ever do will stop him! Give up now, or you too will join your friends in the lifestream." said an evil voice in the back of his head. Cloud froze halfway up the stairs.
"Friends? What do you mean?" said stammered.
"Aeris is no longer alone. She is now surronded by the planet's protectors. You are the last one. In fact, I think you may as well be the last human on the planet. One of last living beings...." the voice trailed off.
"LIES! All you are telling me is lies! I demand to know where they are! Tifa! Where are you!?" yelled Cloud in desperation. A large sword fell from upstaris, clanking down them. It finally stuck in the floor on the landing. Cloud recognized it immediatly.
"Masamune...but how...he's dead..." Cloud whispered, struck by a sudden fear. But it soon disappeared. The voice's plan to make Cloud desperate and alone failed. The only thing it did was piss Cloud off. In a wave of anger, Cloud lowered Yoshiyuki behind him, and charged up the stairs. Yelling the names of his friends at the top of his lungs, he kicked open the door to his room. He was met by a man in a black robe, sticking a sword straight out. Cloud had no time to stop, the momentum was too great. The sword impaled Cloud, straight through the stomach as he dove in the air. The last thing Cloud viewed before he passed out was Sephiroth's gleaming green eyes, smiling at the sword impaled in Cloud.
"You dirty bastard..." said Cloud, as he let his last breath of life flow out.
Once again, Cloud opened one eye. The crowd around him was still there. Still shaken from the dream, he looked cautiously around him. The smiling, but worried faces on his friends told him he was safe. It was just a dream. A disgusting, vile, evil dream. He smiled, and started to laugh. How long had he been out? How long were his friends here before he woke up? How'd they know he was here?
Suddenly, his questions were answered.
"Christ man, I thought you were going for the spikey-head unconcious record! Almost an hour! At least now we can fucking drink!." yelled Cid, slapping his back.
"Git ur ass off the bar! I can't reach da friggin' tap with you in da way!" yelled Barret, sliding him down the bar. Barret never could show Cloud just how concerned about him he really could get. "I've been waitin' here, and Cid said we couldn't drink 'til you lazy bastards woke up! I think we was here for bout 15 minutes, just starin' at the tap, wantin' just a tiny lick."
"Cloud? I have a question for you." said Vincent. His usual depressing tone was gone. But not his formal way of speaking.
"Yeah Vince? What is it?" asked Cloud, who had just began to embrace Tifa in a tight, emotional hug.
"Did you even notice Yuff and I last night? We were here when you came home, but Tifa and your attentions were distracted." said Vince, sliding his arm over Yuffie.
"Aww shit man...you were here?!" said Cloud. The rest of the crew laughed. As the night wore out, goodbyes were exchanged, and Tifa closed the bar. Her and Cloud walked home, to Cloud's old apartment. It was just how he left it. They curled up in bed together, satisfied just feeling the other's body close. All was at peace with them, and the last thoughts through both their minds was of the rest of their lives together.
A/N-To speed up the process of our story, I'm just gonna summarize what happens in the next few weeks here. Inspired by Cloud's return, Tifa realises that she indeed wants to spend the rest of her life as Mrs. Strife. Cloud knows this, and feels the same way, wanting her a a wife. He proposes, blah blah blah, and they are set to be married. Since they have no relatives, it's a small, quickly thrown together wedding. Also, once they discover that most of the Midgar slums were in livable condition, they go there again. Aeris' church is still intact, and in memory of their lost friend, they decide to have the wedding there. (Dont ask, I don't care if most of the slums were destroyed. It's my story!)
Cloud looked around the small church. It was mildly renovated, but only so the pews could sat on without stabbing into you. He examinded the faces of the people around. The wedding party was very small, with Barret, Cid and Vincent all standing next to Cloud as his Best Men, and Kris, Yuffie and Marlene as the Maids of Honor. Reeve sat in the pews with Red and a few others. Many people from their journey had shown up. Godo was there, partly to see Yuffie in a dress, Zack's parents were there by request of Cloud, even the Turks, with Tseng, showed up. The rest of the party was a few other random people that made an impression on Cloud. Cloud turned back to the minister as he was wrapping up the ceremony.
"And, with the power invested in me by Holy and the Planet, I do pronounce this couple, Tifa Lockeheart and Cloud Strife, Mr. and Mrs. Cloud Strife. You may now kiss the bride." said the Minister, in what could have passed for an authentic Irish accent. Cloud turned to his new bride. Even through her silky white veil, he could see the happiness shining in her eyes. He lifted the veil and drew her in. Like their first sober kiss, their lips made a small spark as they touched. It was beautiful. The clapping of the crowd was loud, but not loud enough to drown out the little giggle from the back of the church. Cloud immediatly looked up. He knew that sound.
"Aeris....?" whispered Cloud. Indeed, it was her. Alive, and carrying a single red rose.
Haha! a cliffhanger! Who knows what will happen in five! Well, me! Just wait and you'll know too! Just to let you in on a little secret, Aeris is not the only one that the planet thought deserved to return to life. There is another...
Cloud's eyes fluttered awake. He had just slept the best he had in his entire life. Not to say that he slept too much though. He turned his head to face the sound of a gentle breathing. Tifa's beautiful face lay, sleeping. Her slender form rose and fell with every breath, and Cloud wnted to wake her up, just to hear her voice. He could hear movement below from the bar. He turned his head the other way, searching for some kind of clock. It was 11:03. On a Sunday. You can't open a bar before 12 on a Sunday. Cloud slowly got out of bed, trying hard not to wake Tifa. But he failed.
"Mmmmm...where ya going honey?" mumbled Tifa, opening one eye. Cloud stood for just a second, revelling in the fact that she called him honey. He stared into her Crimson eyes, thinking he could lose himself in them for hours. Finally he shook it off.
"I heard someone talking downstairs, but the bar ain't open yet. I want to go check it out." said Cloud, in a low, soothing voice. "Go back to bed babe." Tifa bolted straight up in bed. "Downstairs?! I'm going too! It's my bar!." She stretched her long, thin arms into the air, and jumped out of bed. Suddenly, she noticed that she was topless. Her face turned red as her eyes, and she grabbed her shirt from the ground.
"Oops." she sputtered, smiling at Cloud. He winked at her, and his face suddenly turned serious. He pulled his own shirt on, and slowly walked over to the door. The only sword around was Yoshiyuki, so he picked it up and held it firmly in both hands. Tifa walked up beside him, and he shot a hand out to block her way.
"No. It could be an assasin or something. Stay here darlin'. Please." he said, staring intently on the stairwell.
"What are you talking about? Who would want us dead?" said Tifa, defiantly trying to remove his arm.
"Not we. You. You were part of AVANLANCHE, and ShinRa did try to blame all this on you. The world doesn't know we didn't do all those awful things yet. And, we don't know if the danger from Sephiroth is truly gone. Just because he's gone doesn't mean we can let our guards down. Now go back to bed, and stay there." said Cloud. The fierce, yet scared look in his eyes betrayed his cool demeanor.
My god...thought Tifa, eyes misting over. I can't tell if he's just scared for my safety, or not, but he really doesn't want to find out what's down there! He won't let me help him...like always, but he's so petrified of what he could find down there...
Cloud put his arm down, and motioned for her to lay down. She agreed, and tried to go back to sleep. Cloud nodded, gave her a quick kiss on the forhead, then another on the lips, and walked out the door. His heavy footsteps reverberated in the hallway, betraying his location to anyone downstairs. The noise had stopped, and Cloud now feared the worst. It was something, and it was after him. Slowly, but surely, Cloud had made his way to the landing of the stairwell. Then, quickly with a reckless abandone never seen before by anyone, Cloud cut a large hole in the wall, and jumped through into the bar. He landed heavily next to the tap, and the landing shook a few bottles off the shelf. They crashed to the floor, but the sound was drowned out by the thing downstairs.
"WELCOME HOME!" yelled the crowd. Everyone was there. Cloud stood, dumbstruck in his pajamas and t-shirt, holding Yoshiyuki. Tifa peered her head from the hole, and sighed. Cloud fainted, or pretended to faint to avoid Tifa's wrath. He DID just cut a hole in her bar after all.
A couple of hours later, Cloud opened an eye. A set of large, razor sharp teeth were bearing down on him. He pulled up Yoshiyuki, cutting the teeth off their body. Cloud stood up, and examined the beast's body. It wasn't large, but it was very muscular. Cloud looked around himself, all was black, save a little hole way up in the sky.
I must be dreaming...thought Cloud. But it all seemed so real. He attempted to jump up to the hole in the sky, figuring if he was dreaming, he'd be able to. When he reaches for it, he stubbed his finger on the ceiling. It was abnormally low. Cloud reached for the hole, and caught his fingers on the edge. He pulled himself up, out of the hole, and back into what he thought was Tifa's bar. Everyone was gone, the only thing around was a few empty bottles and a passed out drunk. Cloud walked up to him, and shook him.
"Hey buddy, where'd everyone go." He didn't answer, and Cloud became worried. He rolled him over, and screamed. The person's head rolled off the body. His face was stuck in an expression of shear horror. One finger pointed toward the stairwell. Cloud unsheathed Yoshiyuki again, and put a towel over the man's carcass. Cloud walked cautiosly to the stairwell. Vile thoughts pounded his brain.
"He's back! Nothing you could ever do will stop him! Give up now, or you too will join your friends in the lifestream." said an evil voice in the back of his head. Cloud froze halfway up the stairs.
"Friends? What do you mean?" said stammered.
"Aeris is no longer alone. She is now surronded by the planet's protectors. You are the last one. In fact, I think you may as well be the last human on the planet. One of last living beings...." the voice trailed off.
"LIES! All you are telling me is lies! I demand to know where they are! Tifa! Where are you!?" yelled Cloud in desperation. A large sword fell from upstaris, clanking down them. It finally stuck in the floor on the landing. Cloud recognized it immediatly.
"Masamune...but how...he's dead..." Cloud whispered, struck by a sudden fear. But it soon disappeared. The voice's plan to make Cloud desperate and alone failed. The only thing it did was piss Cloud off. In a wave of anger, Cloud lowered Yoshiyuki behind him, and charged up the stairs. Yelling the names of his friends at the top of his lungs, he kicked open the door to his room. He was met by a man in a black robe, sticking a sword straight out. Cloud had no time to stop, the momentum was too great. The sword impaled Cloud, straight through the stomach as he dove in the air. The last thing Cloud viewed before he passed out was Sephiroth's gleaming green eyes, smiling at the sword impaled in Cloud.
"You dirty bastard..." said Cloud, as he let his last breath of life flow out.
Once again, Cloud opened one eye. The crowd around him was still there. Still shaken from the dream, he looked cautiously around him. The smiling, but worried faces on his friends told him he was safe. It was just a dream. A disgusting, vile, evil dream. He smiled, and started to laugh. How long had he been out? How long were his friends here before he woke up? How'd they know he was here?
Suddenly, his questions were answered.
"Christ man, I thought you were going for the spikey-head unconcious record! Almost an hour! At least now we can fucking drink!." yelled Cid, slapping his back.
"Git ur ass off the bar! I can't reach da friggin' tap with you in da way!" yelled Barret, sliding him down the bar. Barret never could show Cloud just how concerned about him he really could get. "I've been waitin' here, and Cid said we couldn't drink 'til you lazy bastards woke up! I think we was here for bout 15 minutes, just starin' at the tap, wantin' just a tiny lick."
"Cloud? I have a question for you." said Vincent. His usual depressing tone was gone. But not his formal way of speaking.
"Yeah Vince? What is it?" asked Cloud, who had just began to embrace Tifa in a tight, emotional hug.
"Did you even notice Yuff and I last night? We were here when you came home, but Tifa and your attentions were distracted." said Vince, sliding his arm over Yuffie.
"Aww shit man...you were here?!" said Cloud. The rest of the crew laughed. As the night wore out, goodbyes were exchanged, and Tifa closed the bar. Her and Cloud walked home, to Cloud's old apartment. It was just how he left it. They curled up in bed together, satisfied just feeling the other's body close. All was at peace with them, and the last thoughts through both their minds was of the rest of their lives together.
A/N-To speed up the process of our story, I'm just gonna summarize what happens in the next few weeks here. Inspired by Cloud's return, Tifa realises that she indeed wants to spend the rest of her life as Mrs. Strife. Cloud knows this, and feels the same way, wanting her a a wife. He proposes, blah blah blah, and they are set to be married. Since they have no relatives, it's a small, quickly thrown together wedding. Also, once they discover that most of the Midgar slums were in livable condition, they go there again. Aeris' church is still intact, and in memory of their lost friend, they decide to have the wedding there. (Dont ask, I don't care if most of the slums were destroyed. It's my story!)
Cloud looked around the small church. It was mildly renovated, but only so the pews could sat on without stabbing into you. He examinded the faces of the people around. The wedding party was very small, with Barret, Cid and Vincent all standing next to Cloud as his Best Men, and Kris, Yuffie and Marlene as the Maids of Honor. Reeve sat in the pews with Red and a few others. Many people from their journey had shown up. Godo was there, partly to see Yuffie in a dress, Zack's parents were there by request of Cloud, even the Turks, with Tseng, showed up. The rest of the party was a few other random people that made an impression on Cloud. Cloud turned back to the minister as he was wrapping up the ceremony.
"And, with the power invested in me by Holy and the Planet, I do pronounce this couple, Tifa Lockeheart and Cloud Strife, Mr. and Mrs. Cloud Strife. You may now kiss the bride." said the Minister, in what could have passed for an authentic Irish accent. Cloud turned to his new bride. Even through her silky white veil, he could see the happiness shining in her eyes. He lifted the veil and drew her in. Like their first sober kiss, their lips made a small spark as they touched. It was beautiful. The clapping of the crowd was loud, but not loud enough to drown out the little giggle from the back of the church. Cloud immediatly looked up. He knew that sound.
"Aeris....?" whispered Cloud. Indeed, it was her. Alive, and carrying a single red rose.
Haha! a cliffhanger! Who knows what will happen in five! Well, me! Just wait and you'll know too! Just to let you in on a little secret, Aeris is not the only one that the planet thought deserved to return to life. There is another...