He looked over at Tifa who slept soundly next to him. He brushed the few strands of hair out of her face and smiled. For some reason, he couldn't get to sleep.

He got out of bed and walked to the window. The full moon shown on the water and the leaves blew in the wind. "What's wrong with me?" he asked himself. "Why can't I get to sleep?" He sighed and looked down.

"Cloud?" He turned to look at Tifa. She had awoken, probably from his stirring.

"Yes, Tifa?"

"Why aren't you asleep?" She got out of the bed and walked over to Cloud, placing her hand on his. "Do you feel alright?"

Cloud looked down at Tifa, her silk nightgown shining in the moonlight. He smiled and chuckled. It didn't seem that long ago when she would've kicked his butt for seeing her like this. "I'm fine, just restless."

"Oh, well, now I'm awake to, thanks to you." She smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Sorry."

"Who said I was complaining?" She wrapped her arms around him and sighed.

Cloud put his arm around Tifa's waist and stared out the window. Suddenly, something moved quickly that caught his eye. "Tifa, did you see that?"

"See what?" She looked outside and shrugged. "There's nothing there."

"I must be seeing things."

"Why don't we go into the kitchen and get some cocoa, okay?"

He nodded and let Tifa go as she walked away. He glanced out the window one more time and left.

In the kitchen, Tifa placed a cup of cocoa in front of Cloud and sat down across from him. She smiled and took a sip. "Feeling better, Cloud?"

"Yeah, thanks." He downed his cocoa and closed his eyes. Tifa was the best cook in the world, but tonight he couldn't savor the flavor. He was distracted.

"Cloud?"

"What, Tifa?" He asked moodily. She looked taken aback, then she looked down and walked out of the kitchen and up to their room. As she passed by, Cloud apologized, but she ignored him. He put his forehead in his hand and groaned. "Man, I'm such an idiot."

Suddenly, Cloud heard Tifa scream. He darted up the stairs and into the room. "Tifa!" She lay on the floor, her nightgown slit across her thigh and covered in blood. "Tifa! What happened?" he asked, kneeling beside her. He ran his hand through her soft, silky hair and laid the other on her cold, wet, bloody leg.

"Cloud.he came." she whispered. She looked up at him, revealing her red, swollen cheek. "He.was.here."

"Who was?" He studied her cheek more closely and discovered claw marks. "Who did this?"

"It was." She was having trouble talking with her swollen mouth. She pointed out the window and said, "out.there."

Cloud jumped to his feet and sprinted to the window. "Where are you?" he yelled. "You coward!" He grabbed his Ultimate Weapon from its reserved spot hanging over the bed and leaped out of the window. "Show yourself!"

"It's been a long time, Cloud." That voice. That cold, emotionless voice. It was unmistakable. Cloud turned and saw, leaning against a tree, the silhouette of the man who had injured his wife.

"Why did you do that to Tifa? What possessed you to do such a thing?" he demanded.

The man stood straight and turned to face the man with the sword. His cape fluttered in the wind as his long hair waved slowly about. "Why did I? Why indeed. Have I gone insane? Have I committed another sin? Perhaps I'm seeking answers. Or maybe I'm simply searching for the questions." His red eyes reflected the moon's light as he smiled.

"Vincent."