ShinRa
By: Quistis & Xu
Disclaimer: We don't own anything but our minds and our own sanities.
Authors' Notes: This is the Sequel to "Diary of the First Lady" by General Quistis.
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Chapter 11: The Empty Grave
Cliff and Tifa finally arrived at the cemetery. As they were walking, she was wondering how he knew about Reno being a little bit of an alcoholic.
"So, Cliff… how are your parents?" she asked.
"They're fine. We live right across the street from your house, Madame." He replied with a slight smile on his face before turning to her. "Don't mind me asking, ma'am, but how come you decided to visit your husband's grave?" he asked.
Tifa was quiet for a while; she only answered when they already got to the mausoleum. "I haven't been able to visit ever since the burial…"
She tried to open the door but it was locked. She sighed heavily.
Cliff got a Swiss knife from his pocket. "Let me open it," he said before she stepped aside. He began to pick the lock, but he stopped when Tifa nudged him. He looked up at her and she had this stern look on her face which told him to stop because someone was coming. Cliff hid the Swiss knife in his pocket and just pretended to be examining the lock. "I wonder where's the key," he stated, pretending to act casual.
Tifa turned to the man who was approaching them. It was the old caretaker of the cemetery. "Excuse me, but are you related to the ShinRas?" the man asked.
Tifa nodded. "I happen to be Rufus's wife." She explained.
Cliff was surprised that Tifa admitted the truth to the caretaker.
The caretaker's mouth dropped open. "Oh my God! Mrs. ShinRa… I never expected… you're alive?" he said in disbelief.
Tifa raised an eyebrow and removed her shades. "Of course, I'm alive! Whoever told you that I was dead lied!" she snapped angrily.
The caretaker calmed down a little, but he wondered why he could feel that something had changed in Tifa. He could recall that he had known her ever since she was a little girl, when her mother died. He was in his mid 20's back then, and he remembered her to be sweet and loving… compared to the Tifa now: seemingly cold and heartless.
"Oh… I remember. She's a ShinRa." He thought disappointedly. He forced a smile. "I'm sorry for the mistake, Ma'am… but news came to town that you're dead. But… how could…"
"Oh, pish posh! Those are nasty rumors. Now, why is this locked?" she demanded from the old man.
The old man blinked twice, sensing the angst from Tifa. "Well… uhm… there's nothing there, ma'am." He explained with a shaky tone.
Tifa frowned. "Nothing there? What do you mean?" she demanded impatiently.
Cliff frowned and faced the old man, waiting for an answer.
The old man took off his straw hat and he had this confused look on his face. "Days after the funeral, somebody stole the body… and it's been missing ever since! It's like President Rufus was alive and…" he stammered.
Tifa's eyes grew wide in shock. "WHAT?!" she said shrilly before marching to the old man with clenched fists. "Are you telling me that some heartless idiot stole the body of my Rufus ShinRa? Why would they even want to do that? Was he that unpleasant and cruel to everyone that they're gonna do something to his cadaver?" she snapped angrily.
Cliff's eyes narrowed at the old man. "Did you see those who stole it?" he asked.
The old man turned to him and shook his head. "I don't know…" he said with a disappointed look on his face.
"Did anybody else visit this mausoleum besides his immediate family members?" Tifa asked with a troubled look on her face. "No one… but I think several years ago, the daughter came here to visit. She was around seven at that time, I believe…" the old man explained, but trailed off when he saw the look of confusion from her face.
Tifa was beginning to feel paranoid and she could feel her surroundings spinning. She just bit her lower lip and covered her mouth with her right hand before she ran off.
Cliff, puzzled at first, ran after her, but she was too fast…
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