Chapter 8 : But R comes before T - Tifa
'Hmm, two big soldiers and they both suck their thumbs while they sleep.'
Aeris sat of the beach next to Cloud and Zack, who hadn't woken up since they had returned from the Promised Land. Aeris had been up for an hour or so already, she thought about how quickly everything had changed once again in her life.
'Because of you.'
She stared at Cloud who was sleeping peacefully, the last she watched him sleep was the day before they entered the Temple of the Ancients but he wasn't like this, Jenova was influencing his mind turning his dreams to nightmares.
'But now your different, now your free from her control. You won, you defeated Sephiroth and saved the planet, I'm just sorry I wasn't there with you.'
Across the horizon she watched as the sun made it's appearance over the ocean, the light made the water set a blaze with a fiery orange glow. Aeris breathed in deeply enjoying the moment, it had been so long since she had felt this way, and even though she could come here in the Promised Land it just wasn't the same as the real thing.
'And now I'm back, but... why?' She pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her head on her knees as she stared out to the sea. 'What did Cloud do to let me be allowed back?'
In both directions along the beach all that could be seen was sand for miles and miles, earlier she had wondered if they had been stranded on a deserted island but then again why would the first Cetra leave them like that?
'(Sigh)... ok stop thinking already, I'm sure Cloud will explain everything soon.' She glanced over at him and smiled. 'That's if he ever takes his thumb out of his mouth.'
She took another deep breath, for now all she had to do was wait and enjoy the sunrise, but even so she couldn't get one thought out of her mind.
'Aeris the guys crazy about you, I could see it in his eyes from the moment I stepped in.' She couldn't help but wonder if Zack was right, does Cloud feel that way about her?
Aeris had been sure that Cloud was in love with Tifa after she found out the truth about his story and about how he rescued her and Zack and defeated Sephiroth the first time, but back in the Promised Land he admitted that the two of them weren't together, if Zack is right about that then does that mean...
'I have to know. And at least, I have to let him know.'
_______________________
"Come on Lockheart its not going to..."
Another huge burst of energy exploded and Tifa was once again thrown across the room. Reno was sat on the stairs watching, he sighed and raised his hand casting another cure spell on her.
Tifa jumped back up and brushed her self off. "You know you could actually help me instead of just sitting there."
Reno grinned. "Why? It's fun just watching. Besides didn't you say you could handle this your self?"
It has been two days since Cloud had been dropped into the pool of Lifestream by Sephiroth and as Tifa waited for him to hopefully come back up, she had tried continuously to obtain the materia that had grown out of the pool. Unfortunately each time anyone got close to it they were sent across the room, and it seemed to be getting powerful.
"Look just help me out here, I'm not leaving until I get this materia."
Reno stood up and walked down the stairs to join her. "You know your starting to sound like that Yuffie brat."
"I am not!" Tifa yelled then quickly covering her mouth when she thought that's just how Yuffie would react. "Look just help me get this thing, if the materia's this powerful by just touching it, imagine how powerful it is when someone casts it."
Reno yawned. "Yeah yeah," He walked up to her and crossed his arms. "So what's in it for me if I help? I don't work for free you know."
"What happened to paying us back for helping Elena?" Tifa copied his actions.
"I already did remember? I said I would help you find Cloud, and I did. It's not my fault that you lost him again."
"Hmph... So why are you still here then?"
"Well... there are two reasons actually." Reno dropped his hands to his waist. "First I want to know where Aeris came from... and disappeared to again."
Tifa pushed Reno back. "Why so you can have her taken to some research facility? Your pathetic."
"Hey hey, It's not like that," He straightened his jacket. "Just because I was always after Aeris doesn't mean I didn't like her,"
Tifa's rage calmed as she saw Reno actually been sincere.
"After joining the Turk's it became my job to capture her after awhile. But how could I? I know I've done a lot of dark things in my past but she was just a kid... and I knew the type of research the freak Hojo did on people. After a while it became my only job to capture her, a few excuses about her slipping away each time and I was on easy street. Eventually I got to know her a bit by seeing her around the streets each day, but then the higher ups got fed up and sent me out to obtain her or else there would be hell to pay, no excuses, but that happened to be the day that your annoying spiky friend became friends with her and she got away for real."
Reno took a deep breath and let it out. "And the rest I'm sure you know. Just because she was on the other team didn't mean I wanted her to get hurt," He smiled and gave her a cocky look. "I'm not all bad."
Tifa stared at the floor embarrassed about blowing up at him before, after a few seconds of waiting she looked back up at him. "So what's the second reason?"
He smiled. "Sorry, can't tell you that one."
"Fine." Tifa sighed and rubbed the bruise on her arm, she had developed many since her goal of obtaining the new materia started. "So now what?"
Reno looked down at his watch. "I don't know about you but I need a drink, all this hard works making me too sober." He turned and headed out the door.
"Hard work?" Tifa followed. "What do you mean hard work? All you've done is watch me work."
"So why don't you join me?" He called back.
Tifa ran and caught up with him, she thought about it for a second and then agreed. "Fine, I guess I should take a break."
"Great." Reno smiled. "And guess what."
"What?" She asked curiously.
He stopped at the lift and pushed the button. "It's your turn to buy the next round."
Tifa stared at him with a blank face. "How can it be my round? Its the first time we've gone drinking together." She yelled.
"So?"
She glared at him angrily and then gave in. "Fine, but does this mean your going to help me?"
The lift stopped and they both stepped in. "Depends, how much you gonna pay me?"
"Pay you!?" Tifa kept herself from beating the hell out of him, she checked her pockets to found a few gil. 'Wait. I have an idea, it did work for Aeris after all.' "Fine I know."
"Hmm?" Reno gave her a curious look.
"How about I go out with you once, even right now, we can go somewhere nice."
Reno look stunned for a second, this was something he obviously wasn't expecting. He returned to his cool, calm look and thought about it for a moment. "A date..? Sure why not."
Tifa smiled and walked up to him, placing a finger on his lips and moved her mouth up to his ear. "Great, you know what that means then?"
Reno swallowed hard. "What?"
"Since this is a romantic date... you can be a gentleman and buy the drinks." She jumped back and smiled innocently.
Reno pouted and leaned against the wall. "I can't believe I fell for that." __________________________________
Meanwhile Cloud and Zack had both awakened and discussed with Aeris what to do next. Zack had recognized the area they were at as the long beach the leads from the Corel area down to the Gongaga River, they were roughly in the middle.
Cloud suggested it would be best to head towards the Gold Saucer and ask Dio to help them get in touch with Cid since his Phs had been damaged by getting wet. Zack however decided he wanted to head to Gongaga, mostly because he felt he should visit his parents but also as he told Aeris before he left, he wanted to let her see for herself how Cloud felt about her.
Eventually they agreed that Cloud and Aeris would head up to the Gold Saucer and once back on the Highwind they could come and pick Zack up. Later once all of Avalanche was together again he would explain what was going on.
Since then Cloud and Aeris had headed off towards Corel hoping that they would reach it before nightfall, out in the open with no supplies or weapons was something neither of them wanted, especially at night. For now the two had mostly been silent, Cloud seemed to be deep in thought and as usual was keeping his thoughts to himself, and for once so was Aeris.
Hours passed since they parted with Zack, since then Cloud had managed to find an old train line that headed north, most likely lead to Corel. Aeris had mostly been enjoying the trip, it was nice to be walking out through countryside with Cloud, but then again she was constantly trying to find away to ask Cloud about his feelings. But Cloud sharing his feelings with someone was more rare than a red and white stripy Chocobo.
'I can't wait any longer. I just have to know.'
"Cloud?"
"Yeah?" Cloud turned round and waited until Aeris caught up the few meters she had dropped behind.
"I, I don't know how to ask this."
"What is it? Is something wrong?"
"No, no, yesterday when we was on the gondola." She looked straight into his eyes. "You said that you and Tifa were like me and Zack."
Cloud thought for a moment and then nodded slowly. "That's right... were just friends. That's what you meant right?"
"Yes." She smiled and took a step closer to him. "Cloud, I'm just going to have to say this and hope Zack is right."
'Hope Zack is right? Did I miss something? What dose she mean.' Cloud stayed silent waiting for Aeris to reveal to him what was on her mind until he saw something approaching Aeris from behind.
"Cloud I..." She was cut off in mid sentence as Cloud jumped at her and threw her to the ground.
She hit the ground and felt a sharp pain in her shoulder as it crashed into the floor, she ignored it and instantly pushed herself up. 'Why did he do that? Is something wrong?'
Her questions were soon answered as she saw Cloud pinned down on the floor by some type of creature, its arms flailing about slashing Clouds arms as he tried to keep it at bay. (Note: This is the same type of creature that attacked Vincent earlier.)
Aeris ran up to Cloud and tried to pull the creature off him but soon she was hit in the side by another force. A second creature pinned her down in the same way as Clouds attacker, each time Aeris tried to push the creature away it took a bite deep into her arms causes blood to gush out of the wounds.
Cloud managed to grab both of the creatures arms keeping it from attacking him with them, though this only seemed to enrage the creature even further as it started digging the claws on its feet in to his sides. Cloud grit his teeth and tried hard to push the thing away but it managed to break free one of its arms from his grip and slashed him across the face.
Cloud felt the sting of the cut as he turned his face away, but as he did he saw Aeris struggling just as much with her attacker. The creatures teeth were getting closer and closer to her neck, when finally they reached their target and bit in deep into Aeris's flesh. Cloud panicked as he saw this and quickly let go of the creature on top of him and took hold of its head in both his hands. The skin of the thing felt like rotting leather but twice as thick, with one strong push Cloud twisted the fiend's head until he heard a sickly crack as its neck snapped in two.
Ignoring the fact that for some reason there were two cracks as the neck finally gave way, Cloud placed his leg under its chest and kicked the creature off himself as hard as he could.
Aeris on the other hand was not doing so well, the brief moments that she could keep the creatures teeth away from her were becoming shorter and her strength was decreasing fast. Then for some reason the creature pushed away from her and started to wave its claws around behind its back, then somehow it managed to start floating backwards. Aeris crawled back and soon saw the full picture and she could see that Cloud had grabbed the creature from behind and it now could do nothing as he held it in the air except wave its arms and legs around franticly.
Cloud turned his face away making sure that the creatures claws didn't hit his face, he raised it as high as he could and then threw the small monster head first into the ground. Before it even had the chance of standing back up Cloud stomped his foot on top of its neck, once again two cracks could be heard as its neck snapped in two.
Giving him self little time to enjoy his victory Cloud ran over to Aeris and studied the wound on her neck.
"It's ok." Aeris answered before Cloud could even ask, she placed her hand over it and pushed down hard. "It probably looks worse than it is."
This didn't reassure him at all. "Maybe you should rest a little, Corel isn't too far from here and we have plenty of time until nightfall."
"No, I'm fine really," She stood up only to fall back to the ground a second later.
Cloud caught her before she hit the floor and held his arms around her making sure she wouldn't try again. "Stubborn."
"I am not." She smiled and stared up at him, he still had his worried look. "I'm sure I can get up in a minu..."
Before she even finished Aeris closed her eyes and her body went limp. Cloud panicked for a second and quickly he placed his hand under her mouth, but soon once he felt her warm breath brushing against his wrist he relaxed. 'She's just asleep. Guess she's exhausted, I surprised she managed to hold off that thing as long as she did, even Barret would have trouble with one of those monsters.'
He wiped away the blood on her neck, luckily the wound was small and it had already stopped bleeding. Cloud sighed in relief and picker her up, her head rested on his shoulder. He felt a stinging pain around his body, until now Cloud hadn't even noticed the countless cuts and scratches he had all over him. 'Those can wait, and as long as we don't run into anymore of those 'things' on the way we'll be in the clear.' Up ahead he could make out the Corel Mountains. 'It's not far now.'
_____________________________
'I hate him so much.'
In his office Tysall stared out the window and watched the last of the day light fall below the horizon. He had been here most of the day, ever since he felt Cloud's presence return.
He faced away from the window and sat back down in his chair, the office was quite large, and mostly filled with strange artifacts which no one but him self knew what they were. But apart from that and the oversized desk the office was pretty much empty and unused.
'I knew it was possible that he could reach the Promised Land by using the Lifestream but even in the worst outcome I never thought that he would bring 'her' back too.'
He stood up and hit the desk as hard as possible causing the solid wood the crack and split open.
'Dam him! How can he screw up my plans so much without even knowing he's doing it?'
He heard a light knock at the door. "Umm Sir? Is everything ok in there?"
"Get lost!" He spat, this was one time Tysall wasn't in the mood to listen to his cowardly staff.
"(Gulp) Y-yes s-s-sir." Footsteps could be heard running away.
He sighed and sat back down, staring blankly at the door at the other side of the room. 'Strife... I'm going to make you pay for this. No doubt you have been shown most of my plans, this changes much, but don't think you can now win. I've made sure your fate is sealed, there's no way you can change it now.'
A smiled formed across his face. 'Even though now you will probably know you defeated me 2000 years ago, it will only make my revenge more sweet.'
He spun round in his chair and stared out the window. 'Although, the Cetra girl, she wont make it easy. Now I wont be able to let the materia grow and increase its power, she too will be able to touch it. And she will also be able to sense my presence as well as I can sense hers, meaning I can't disguise myself from them anymore either. When will she stop interfering with my plans?'
Tysall stood up and looked down onto the street below, he loved the way these people continued on with their lives unknowing that soon nothing of them with even exist. 'A weapon powerful enough to destroy the Lifestream its self', that's what he had dreamed off, and now it was within his reach.
'But what if the girl gets to the materia... she will have to be eliminated again. Unfortunately I doubt Strife will leave her unguarded for any length of time, this is going to be more difficult. Unless... perhaps someone else can do the job for me, and I think I have the perfect one for the job.'
He was about to reach for the phone when a certain spiky haired Ex-Soldier as he made his way down the street. 'So you're back as well, no problem, I have a purpose for you too.' He grinned. 'This is going to be easier than I thought.'
__________________________
Note: I had to split this chapter in two just so I could get something posted for now since its been along time since I have posted anything at all. The second half wont take too long (I hope) so I should expect another update soon, and also thanks to Kim for the review.
'Hmm, two big soldiers and they both suck their thumbs while they sleep.'
Aeris sat of the beach next to Cloud and Zack, who hadn't woken up since they had returned from the Promised Land. Aeris had been up for an hour or so already, she thought about how quickly everything had changed once again in her life.
'Because of you.'
She stared at Cloud who was sleeping peacefully, the last she watched him sleep was the day before they entered the Temple of the Ancients but he wasn't like this, Jenova was influencing his mind turning his dreams to nightmares.
'But now your different, now your free from her control. You won, you defeated Sephiroth and saved the planet, I'm just sorry I wasn't there with you.'
Across the horizon she watched as the sun made it's appearance over the ocean, the light made the water set a blaze with a fiery orange glow. Aeris breathed in deeply enjoying the moment, it had been so long since she had felt this way, and even though she could come here in the Promised Land it just wasn't the same as the real thing.
'And now I'm back, but... why?' She pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her head on her knees as she stared out to the sea. 'What did Cloud do to let me be allowed back?'
In both directions along the beach all that could be seen was sand for miles and miles, earlier she had wondered if they had been stranded on a deserted island but then again why would the first Cetra leave them like that?
'(Sigh)... ok stop thinking already, I'm sure Cloud will explain everything soon.' She glanced over at him and smiled. 'That's if he ever takes his thumb out of his mouth.'
She took another deep breath, for now all she had to do was wait and enjoy the sunrise, but even so she couldn't get one thought out of her mind.
'Aeris the guys crazy about you, I could see it in his eyes from the moment I stepped in.' She couldn't help but wonder if Zack was right, does Cloud feel that way about her?
Aeris had been sure that Cloud was in love with Tifa after she found out the truth about his story and about how he rescued her and Zack and defeated Sephiroth the first time, but back in the Promised Land he admitted that the two of them weren't together, if Zack is right about that then does that mean...
'I have to know. And at least, I have to let him know.'
_______________________
"Come on Lockheart its not going to..."
Another huge burst of energy exploded and Tifa was once again thrown across the room. Reno was sat on the stairs watching, he sighed and raised his hand casting another cure spell on her.
Tifa jumped back up and brushed her self off. "You know you could actually help me instead of just sitting there."
Reno grinned. "Why? It's fun just watching. Besides didn't you say you could handle this your self?"
It has been two days since Cloud had been dropped into the pool of Lifestream by Sephiroth and as Tifa waited for him to hopefully come back up, she had tried continuously to obtain the materia that had grown out of the pool. Unfortunately each time anyone got close to it they were sent across the room, and it seemed to be getting powerful.
"Look just help me out here, I'm not leaving until I get this materia."
Reno stood up and walked down the stairs to join her. "You know your starting to sound like that Yuffie brat."
"I am not!" Tifa yelled then quickly covering her mouth when she thought that's just how Yuffie would react. "Look just help me get this thing, if the materia's this powerful by just touching it, imagine how powerful it is when someone casts it."
Reno yawned. "Yeah yeah," He walked up to her and crossed his arms. "So what's in it for me if I help? I don't work for free you know."
"What happened to paying us back for helping Elena?" Tifa copied his actions.
"I already did remember? I said I would help you find Cloud, and I did. It's not my fault that you lost him again."
"Hmph... So why are you still here then?"
"Well... there are two reasons actually." Reno dropped his hands to his waist. "First I want to know where Aeris came from... and disappeared to again."
Tifa pushed Reno back. "Why so you can have her taken to some research facility? Your pathetic."
"Hey hey, It's not like that," He straightened his jacket. "Just because I was always after Aeris doesn't mean I didn't like her,"
Tifa's rage calmed as she saw Reno actually been sincere.
"After joining the Turk's it became my job to capture her after awhile. But how could I? I know I've done a lot of dark things in my past but she was just a kid... and I knew the type of research the freak Hojo did on people. After a while it became my only job to capture her, a few excuses about her slipping away each time and I was on easy street. Eventually I got to know her a bit by seeing her around the streets each day, but then the higher ups got fed up and sent me out to obtain her or else there would be hell to pay, no excuses, but that happened to be the day that your annoying spiky friend became friends with her and she got away for real."
Reno took a deep breath and let it out. "And the rest I'm sure you know. Just because she was on the other team didn't mean I wanted her to get hurt," He smiled and gave her a cocky look. "I'm not all bad."
Tifa stared at the floor embarrassed about blowing up at him before, after a few seconds of waiting she looked back up at him. "So what's the second reason?"
He smiled. "Sorry, can't tell you that one."
"Fine." Tifa sighed and rubbed the bruise on her arm, she had developed many since her goal of obtaining the new materia started. "So now what?"
Reno looked down at his watch. "I don't know about you but I need a drink, all this hard works making me too sober." He turned and headed out the door.
"Hard work?" Tifa followed. "What do you mean hard work? All you've done is watch me work."
"So why don't you join me?" He called back.
Tifa ran and caught up with him, she thought about it for a second and then agreed. "Fine, I guess I should take a break."
"Great." Reno smiled. "And guess what."
"What?" She asked curiously.
He stopped at the lift and pushed the button. "It's your turn to buy the next round."
Tifa stared at him with a blank face. "How can it be my round? Its the first time we've gone drinking together." She yelled.
"So?"
She glared at him angrily and then gave in. "Fine, but does this mean your going to help me?"
The lift stopped and they both stepped in. "Depends, how much you gonna pay me?"
"Pay you!?" Tifa kept herself from beating the hell out of him, she checked her pockets to found a few gil. 'Wait. I have an idea, it did work for Aeris after all.' "Fine I know."
"Hmm?" Reno gave her a curious look.
"How about I go out with you once, even right now, we can go somewhere nice."
Reno look stunned for a second, this was something he obviously wasn't expecting. He returned to his cool, calm look and thought about it for a moment. "A date..? Sure why not."
Tifa smiled and walked up to him, placing a finger on his lips and moved her mouth up to his ear. "Great, you know what that means then?"
Reno swallowed hard. "What?"
"Since this is a romantic date... you can be a gentleman and buy the drinks." She jumped back and smiled innocently.
Reno pouted and leaned against the wall. "I can't believe I fell for that." __________________________________
Meanwhile Cloud and Zack had both awakened and discussed with Aeris what to do next. Zack had recognized the area they were at as the long beach the leads from the Corel area down to the Gongaga River, they were roughly in the middle.
Cloud suggested it would be best to head towards the Gold Saucer and ask Dio to help them get in touch with Cid since his Phs had been damaged by getting wet. Zack however decided he wanted to head to Gongaga, mostly because he felt he should visit his parents but also as he told Aeris before he left, he wanted to let her see for herself how Cloud felt about her.
Eventually they agreed that Cloud and Aeris would head up to the Gold Saucer and once back on the Highwind they could come and pick Zack up. Later once all of Avalanche was together again he would explain what was going on.
Since then Cloud and Aeris had headed off towards Corel hoping that they would reach it before nightfall, out in the open with no supplies or weapons was something neither of them wanted, especially at night. For now the two had mostly been silent, Cloud seemed to be deep in thought and as usual was keeping his thoughts to himself, and for once so was Aeris.
Hours passed since they parted with Zack, since then Cloud had managed to find an old train line that headed north, most likely lead to Corel. Aeris had mostly been enjoying the trip, it was nice to be walking out through countryside with Cloud, but then again she was constantly trying to find away to ask Cloud about his feelings. But Cloud sharing his feelings with someone was more rare than a red and white stripy Chocobo.
'I can't wait any longer. I just have to know.'
"Cloud?"
"Yeah?" Cloud turned round and waited until Aeris caught up the few meters she had dropped behind.
"I, I don't know how to ask this."
"What is it? Is something wrong?"
"No, no, yesterday when we was on the gondola." She looked straight into his eyes. "You said that you and Tifa were like me and Zack."
Cloud thought for a moment and then nodded slowly. "That's right... were just friends. That's what you meant right?"
"Yes." She smiled and took a step closer to him. "Cloud, I'm just going to have to say this and hope Zack is right."
'Hope Zack is right? Did I miss something? What dose she mean.' Cloud stayed silent waiting for Aeris to reveal to him what was on her mind until he saw something approaching Aeris from behind.
"Cloud I..." She was cut off in mid sentence as Cloud jumped at her and threw her to the ground.
She hit the ground and felt a sharp pain in her shoulder as it crashed into the floor, she ignored it and instantly pushed herself up. 'Why did he do that? Is something wrong?'
Her questions were soon answered as she saw Cloud pinned down on the floor by some type of creature, its arms flailing about slashing Clouds arms as he tried to keep it at bay. (Note: This is the same type of creature that attacked Vincent earlier.)
Aeris ran up to Cloud and tried to pull the creature off him but soon she was hit in the side by another force. A second creature pinned her down in the same way as Clouds attacker, each time Aeris tried to push the creature away it took a bite deep into her arms causes blood to gush out of the wounds.
Cloud managed to grab both of the creatures arms keeping it from attacking him with them, though this only seemed to enrage the creature even further as it started digging the claws on its feet in to his sides. Cloud grit his teeth and tried hard to push the thing away but it managed to break free one of its arms from his grip and slashed him across the face.
Cloud felt the sting of the cut as he turned his face away, but as he did he saw Aeris struggling just as much with her attacker. The creatures teeth were getting closer and closer to her neck, when finally they reached their target and bit in deep into Aeris's flesh. Cloud panicked as he saw this and quickly let go of the creature on top of him and took hold of its head in both his hands. The skin of the thing felt like rotting leather but twice as thick, with one strong push Cloud twisted the fiend's head until he heard a sickly crack as its neck snapped in two.
Ignoring the fact that for some reason there were two cracks as the neck finally gave way, Cloud placed his leg under its chest and kicked the creature off himself as hard as he could.
Aeris on the other hand was not doing so well, the brief moments that she could keep the creatures teeth away from her were becoming shorter and her strength was decreasing fast. Then for some reason the creature pushed away from her and started to wave its claws around behind its back, then somehow it managed to start floating backwards. Aeris crawled back and soon saw the full picture and she could see that Cloud had grabbed the creature from behind and it now could do nothing as he held it in the air except wave its arms and legs around franticly.
Cloud turned his face away making sure that the creatures claws didn't hit his face, he raised it as high as he could and then threw the small monster head first into the ground. Before it even had the chance of standing back up Cloud stomped his foot on top of its neck, once again two cracks could be heard as its neck snapped in two.
Giving him self little time to enjoy his victory Cloud ran over to Aeris and studied the wound on her neck.
"It's ok." Aeris answered before Cloud could even ask, she placed her hand over it and pushed down hard. "It probably looks worse than it is."
This didn't reassure him at all. "Maybe you should rest a little, Corel isn't too far from here and we have plenty of time until nightfall."
"No, I'm fine really," She stood up only to fall back to the ground a second later.
Cloud caught her before she hit the floor and held his arms around her making sure she wouldn't try again. "Stubborn."
"I am not." She smiled and stared up at him, he still had his worried look. "I'm sure I can get up in a minu..."
Before she even finished Aeris closed her eyes and her body went limp. Cloud panicked for a second and quickly he placed his hand under her mouth, but soon once he felt her warm breath brushing against his wrist he relaxed. 'She's just asleep. Guess she's exhausted, I surprised she managed to hold off that thing as long as she did, even Barret would have trouble with one of those monsters.'
He wiped away the blood on her neck, luckily the wound was small and it had already stopped bleeding. Cloud sighed in relief and picker her up, her head rested on his shoulder. He felt a stinging pain around his body, until now Cloud hadn't even noticed the countless cuts and scratches he had all over him. 'Those can wait, and as long as we don't run into anymore of those 'things' on the way we'll be in the clear.' Up ahead he could make out the Corel Mountains. 'It's not far now.'
_____________________________
'I hate him so much.'
In his office Tysall stared out the window and watched the last of the day light fall below the horizon. He had been here most of the day, ever since he felt Cloud's presence return.
He faced away from the window and sat back down in his chair, the office was quite large, and mostly filled with strange artifacts which no one but him self knew what they were. But apart from that and the oversized desk the office was pretty much empty and unused.
'I knew it was possible that he could reach the Promised Land by using the Lifestream but even in the worst outcome I never thought that he would bring 'her' back too.'
He stood up and hit the desk as hard as possible causing the solid wood the crack and split open.
'Dam him! How can he screw up my plans so much without even knowing he's doing it?'
He heard a light knock at the door. "Umm Sir? Is everything ok in there?"
"Get lost!" He spat, this was one time Tysall wasn't in the mood to listen to his cowardly staff.
"(Gulp) Y-yes s-s-sir." Footsteps could be heard running away.
He sighed and sat back down, staring blankly at the door at the other side of the room. 'Strife... I'm going to make you pay for this. No doubt you have been shown most of my plans, this changes much, but don't think you can now win. I've made sure your fate is sealed, there's no way you can change it now.'
A smiled formed across his face. 'Even though now you will probably know you defeated me 2000 years ago, it will only make my revenge more sweet.'
He spun round in his chair and stared out the window. 'Although, the Cetra girl, she wont make it easy. Now I wont be able to let the materia grow and increase its power, she too will be able to touch it. And she will also be able to sense my presence as well as I can sense hers, meaning I can't disguise myself from them anymore either. When will she stop interfering with my plans?'
Tysall stood up and looked down onto the street below, he loved the way these people continued on with their lives unknowing that soon nothing of them with even exist. 'A weapon powerful enough to destroy the Lifestream its self', that's what he had dreamed off, and now it was within his reach.
'But what if the girl gets to the materia... she will have to be eliminated again. Unfortunately I doubt Strife will leave her unguarded for any length of time, this is going to be more difficult. Unless... perhaps someone else can do the job for me, and I think I have the perfect one for the job.'
He was about to reach for the phone when a certain spiky haired Ex-Soldier as he made his way down the street. 'So you're back as well, no problem, I have a purpose for you too.' He grinned. 'This is going to be easier than I thought.'
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Note: I had to split this chapter in two just so I could get something posted for now since its been along time since I have posted anything at all. The second half wont take too long (I hope) so I should expect another update soon, and also thanks to Kim for the review.