I want to thank my reviewers, you are the best! I have gotten a complaint or what you want to call it about how I should add italics when someone is thinking. Thing is, I do just that, but then when I upload the bloody thing, the italics are gone! If anyone knows how I could solve my little problem, please tell me.

Disclaimer: I don't any of the characters in this fiction, nor do I expect to make money of it. I write this purely for my own enjoyment. The characters belong to Square Inc.

Anyway, on with the story.

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"With me?" Sephiroth repeated. He couldn't comprehend what she was saying.

"What lead him to believe you were cheating on him with me of all people?" He asked.

"He said he had seen us standing outside the bar late at night, talking, and didn't believe me when I said that you were just a bar customer." Tifa said confessed. "Then he got angry because he thought I was lying, he hit me a few times, and I fled to my room."

"Why, pray tell, did you flee to your room? Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you beat me pretty badly? I do believe you did, so why should you have any problems with that helpless idiot?"

"I guess I was shocked." She admitted.

Sephiroth didn't reply to that; he had enough trouble controlling his temper. He couldn't for the life of him figure out why he was so angry, but that didn't change the fact that he was. In fact, he was enraged. He couldn't believe what that coward had done. But instead of pursuing the thought further, he turned his attention towards a more pressing problem; the disappearing trail, and how they should get out of the forest.

He turned towards said trail, and inspected the branches blocking the way. Tifa herself joined him, and together they tried to find a way out.

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

Meanwhile, Vincent was making his way out of Nibelhem, following Tifa's tracks. Say what you want about them, but sometimes, the demons in his head were useful. Like right now, for example. He had found her tracks just outside the window and had followed them for some time when he reached a forest that he knew for certain hadn't been there when he came to Nibelhem this morning. Which was very strange, as forests, at least in Vincent's experience didn't just appear in a matter of hours. Swearing softly to himself, he found that Tifa's tracks lead right into that very forest. That was not good. Sighing, he headed into the forest in search of his friend.

And seconds after he had disappeared into the woods, a shadow slipped out of hiding behind a large rock and followed him.

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

After several unsuccessful attempts to remove the tree-branches, Tifa and Sephiroth gave up, and instead opted to sit under one of the large trees in the clearing, waiting for someone or something to happen. The branches had resisted any blows or cuts they had dealt to them and not even a fire spell could even mark them. So in the end, they had to give up.

Sephiroth leaned back against the tree and studied Tifa as she braided her hair into an even plait. Not even the dim light of the forest could conceal the bruises on her face and arms, and once again he got angry at the brainless twit that had caused those bruises, and he got angry with himself. He was angry at himself because he had stayed in Nibelhem when he should be heading for Midgar, because he caused the argument between Tifa and her imbecile fiancé, because didn't leave the village fast enough. But mostly he was angry with himself because he cared about her at all. He wasn't supposed to care whether she lived or died, but here he was, worrying about her when she had a few bruises on her face. Pathetic. He had really changed since he was sent back. Either that, or he had hit his head. Hard.

Tifa finished her plait and threw it back over her shoulder. She was aware of Sephiroth looking at her while she was braiding it, and she wasn't really sure how to handle that. She had become attached to him over the weeks he had come to the bar, but he was still the man that had killed her father and tried to become God. He had been kind to her since he had come back, but there was still the fact that he could be planning something. He wasn't exactly dumb; on the contrary, he was one of the most intelligent men she had ever met. There was a chance that he was using her for some scheme of his. She wouldn't put it past him to do so. But, she decided, for now she would trust. Innocent until proved guilty, as they said. Deciding that that was the right course of action for right now, she too leaned back against the tree.

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

Vincent started to regret entering the forest. Wherever he turned there were branches blocking his way, and he had been forced to cut his way through several times. His cloak was ripped and torn and his trousers would never be the same again. And he had this nagging feeling of being followed, even though he hadn't seen anyone. Nearly two hours had passed since he had entered the forest, and he hadn't gotten closer to the other end. But a few minutes ago, he had seen a glimmer of sunlight ahead, indicating either the end of the accursed forest or a clearing. Gritting his teeth to keep from screaming in frustration when his cloak once again got caught in the underbrush, he struggled onwards.

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

In the clearing, everything was quiet. Tifa barely dared to breath in fear that Sephiroth might turn from the kind and nice person to his earlier personality of Homicidal Maniac/Son Of Two Mothers/Wielder Of A Sword Taller Than Something Really Tall, and Sephiroth didn't dare to say anything because he was afraid she might realize she was sitting a mere few inches from her former enemy and run screaming. Shortly, they both were afraid the other might turn on them and everything would go the hell, and didn't dare to speak. Therefore, they could clearly hear someone approaching in the forest, swearing all the way. Tifa's brow furrowed; she vaguely recognized the voice, but couldn't place it.

"Who's there?" She called out.

The swearing ceased immediately, and the person stopped.

"Tifa?" The person asked, and Tifa jumped to her feet.

"Vincent! What are you doing here?" She asked her long time friend as he finally fought his way out of the underbrush.

"Looking for you. Barrett wanted me to-"He stopped abruptly when he saw Sephiroth sitting in the grass.

Tifa also seemed to have realized that he was still there and quickly reached out and put a hand on Vincent's shoulder, restraining him. Vincent looked over at her, brow furrowed, definitely not understanding anything.

"It's alright, Vincent, he's not going to hurt us." Tifa said quickly.

Vincent, still suspicious, lowered the gun he had drawn almost on reflex, and looked at Sephiroth.

"Explain." He ordered.

"It's a long story. It started a few weeks ago, when he came into the bar in Nibelhem." She started to explain to him.