A/N: This is my first attempt at a fan fic. I'm not sure exactly how I want this story to go, so if anyone has any cool ideas, I'm sure to consider them. Just be nice, and if you're an Aeris fan, don't worry I won't mess her up, but she's not exactly a huge part in this story. Tifa fans will hopefully be happy...I'm not turning her into psycho jealous Tifa. Anywho, I guess you should start reading, eh?

6/17/04: Edited this for imagery content...it seemed a little disjointed to me. Hope this flows smoother now.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own these wonderful characters, the creative minds at Squaresoft do.

Prologue - A Gift

They never call it obsession when they are the obsessed.

"Then what do they call it?" she asked the voice, hoping that she wasn't going mad in the cold. It had been five days now, five days of wandering, and wondering why she even bothered the search.

You'll never find her anyway.

She frowned. She wasn't even sure she was looking for her anymore. She was just looking. All the while listening to arguments in her head. Her face seemed a little worn these days, and if it retained its current state, would lead some to believe her older. And none the wiser.

"Is this what its like to have demons?" she asked herself aloud. There was no one to hear, so she had started talking with herself. There was an odd organic echo in the ruined buildings and highways, and it comforted her to hear something like a human voice, even if it was only her own.

She didn't hear the low growl of some of inhuman being behind her. Her ears refused to recognize it for more than a tremble in the air.

"I'm a demon," it said.

She just kept walking, her boots oddly silent as she trudged through the rocky terrain. It was getting darker now, a veil thickening with each step. She glanced at her watch, straining her tired eyes to read the numerical display. It was nearly noon.

"It's because of Meteor," she whispered nearly inaudible to herself, as if the very word was a curse upon her tongue.

It was then that she stepped out of the tangle of once civilization and into the pit. Jagged scars of the earth lent sanctuary to eternally smoldering fires. The dim light the embers gave off made everything take on a hue of reddish eeriness. It was the desolation that was once downtown Midgar.

"Are you there?" she asked, hoping for a voice, a flicker of something alive.

Then she saw it, the small bright thing amongst the scarred grey of the crater. It was small and frail, but brilliantly alive.

A pink flower, blossoming in the growing darkness.

"Aeris, I never thought you had it in you," she said pulling out the container from her pack. She carefully transported the flower with enough soil to keep its roots protected into the small transparent device.

"He'll like this present very much," she smiled with glee. She tucked the parcel gently into her pack, securing it firmly within, her fingers lingering over it.

"So that's why you're here," said the voice behind her. This time her ears obeyed the voice's commands.

Quickly she whipped around, and stopped in a stance of aggression, her feet planted firmly, fists arrange in a convenient fashion. Her eyes strained on the figure ahead, and then opened wide when they finally caught it in focus.

"Vincent," she said blankly, lowering her fists and relaxing her knees.

He approached her slowly, deliberately, his emotionless stare confirming her identification of him.

"So how long have you been following me?" she asked, placing her hand akimbo, and exhaling in a slow manner.

"A while," he said, his hands relaxed at his side and his back in a rigid sort of formality.

"Well, I'll be heading back now; I've found Cloud's...well all our presents."

She nearly winced as she said "Cloud" and started to turn away. She hesitated in this half stance, and then willed her feet to begin walking away. She had gone five steps before she realized that Vincent was following behind her.

"What?" she asked. She knew that he would probably not respond, considering after all, he was Vincent Valentine.

"Tifa, you're going the wrong way," he said, after a long pause, pointing with his finger in the opposite direction, as if indicating the true path.

She smiled then, and added, "I know. You obviously don't know me as well as you thought." His eyebrows went up at this, but the rest of his face betrayed no expression.

"I guess not," he said, casually placing his human hand on his hip "you have other plans?" She stared at him, as if weighing the options in her mind.

"Yes, and I need your help," she replied, after some time thinking.

He nodded. Tifa turned back around and began her long quick stride. Vincent paused for a moment, letting her get a lead on him before setting out on this new course.