Disclaimer: Advent Children is owned by Square-something. This is a non-profit work only for entertainment purposes.

Chapter Two

Late Again

The only movement in the empty slum streets was a tiny girl skipping followed by an older woman at a slower pace. Tifa watched Marlene travel down the streets, amused by the child's enthusiasm to see Cloud. The slight amusement seemed to fade as the woman's uneasiness continued to haunt her.

After hearing from Cloud she had been far more excited to see her old friend than her little friend was now. She had felt so impatient as she pulled Marlene's hair up in Aeris old ribbon. Now though her feet did not want to carry her to the Church that she went to everyday. An ache had been forming in her heart as she watched the young girl skip.

With Aeris old ribbon in her hair Marlene remind Tifa so much of the flower girl. The child-like woman would have been skipping just like the little girl to see Cloud.

This was not the first time Marlene had worn the ribbon before. It had become a normal accessory for the girl. One day after Cloud had left, Marlene and Tifa had been looking through the items left over from AVALANCHEs grand adventure, when they came across the ribbon.

Moments before the discovery, Tifa had been showing off Cloud's dress and they had both laughed themselves to tears. Then Tifa had pulled out the old pink ribbon sobering. She had not expected to see the ribbon sitting in the trunk looking so out of place in the assorted junk gathered over the adventure.

The ribbon had intrigued Marlene and the girl had asked to have it. Tifa had agreed. Aeris would have wanted her ribbon to be in uses not sitting in a trunk forgotten. The only person who would have objected had left along time ago.

Seeing the ribbon had brought an anxiety to Tifa's mind that she could not shake. The phone conversation troubled Tifa the most. Cloud on the phone sound exactly as he had before his mental illness began. It seemed impossible to the young woman that Cloud would have recover so perfectly over a years time with no contact from his friends.

At first she told herself that her trouble was coming from her fear of how Cloud would react to her. He still sounded the same but how would he treat her when they meet. Not wanting to meet at the Seventh Heave made Tifa wonder if he still considered her a friend. Was he just asking to meet her to tell her good bye again?

Tifa had always believed that Cloud would return to her no matter what his note had said. Now she wondered if he had been speaking the truth. He might not come home.

That thought brought tears to her eyes then she saw the bouncing ribbon and remembered the time she and Marlene had found the ribbon.

She had not expected to find the ribbon in that particular trunk but she had not been surprised that Cloud had hidden it away. Cloud had tried to give the ribbon to the group when things settled down after Meteor. The offer was pushed aside. Cid had told Cloud to keep it as a reminder of Aeris.

They had not realized that Cloud had made a great deal off effort to avoid anything that reminded him of the flower girl. Tifa knew. Cloud was still haunted by his self-imposed guilt over Aeris's death.

Things that reminded him of Aeris reminded him of his worse failure. For the year they were together Tifa tried to help but Cloud pushed her aside. Could he have changed that much in a year?

A bright burst of sunlight cut off Tifa's thoughts, they were almost at the church. Tifa looked up at the magnificent building feeling her breath leave her. Meteor had been cruel to most of Midgar but by a miracle the church had been blessed by the destruction.

The plate overhead had spit perfectly around the church forming a protective shell around the building. The destruction of the upper plate allowed fresh sunlight to stream down around the building giving it a holy glow.

Tifa had never been here with Aeris but she believed the other woman would have been pleased with the church. While the building still remained in ruins, Tifa and the children came her often tending to the flowers.

Sometimes it felt like Aeris was watching over Tifa and the children as they worked. Normally, thinking of the church brought a smile to Tifa no matter her mood but not to day.

With no one around the building had taken on an almost sinister air. This would be a perfect place for an ambush, Tifa reasoned. No one would be around to hear any sounds of struggle and the remains of the upper plate would shield them form sight.

Tifa could not bring herself to believe that Cloud would draw her to an ambush but she was begin to believe a stranger had been on that phone. The Cloud she remembered had never returned to the church after Meteor. He had told her the building remind her of how he had never allowed Aeris to meet his true self.

The building was a constant reminder of his failure. Cloud's mental anguish had always been tied to his guilt. If he had over come his guilt why had not he returned before now.

There were no more enemies that Tifa know of but that did not mean this was not a trap. Who ever had been on the phone could not have been Cloud or so she hoped.

With this realization, the doubt Tifa had been feeling vanished. Replaced by a new fear. This enemy that called her here most have a great deal of knowledge of the group to have impersonated Cloud so well.

"Marlene," she called out to the girl causally trying to mask her knowledge from the enemy. They need to get out of there as fast as possible. The girl missed Tifa's warnings as she sprinted up the stairs to see Cloud.

Tifa began to call for the girl again but the child gave a terrified gasp as she looked into the church. Afraid for Marlene Tifa broke out into a run planning on grabbing the small girl and escaping.

Only a moment passed as Tifa made her way up the stairs to Marlene. The martial artist froze as she looked to see who was waiting for them in the church.

A slim silver haired man leaned against the alter watching the pair with indifference in his glowing green eyes. Sephiroth, Tifa gasped with horror forcing the stunned Marlene behind her never moving her eyes off the man.

The black clad man standing across from the women was far too young to be the general that haunted Tifa's past. The resemblance was far too uncanny for Tifa to push aside however. Even from this distance she see that his eyes were abnormal cold. An inhuman aura seemed to radiate from the man filling the church like a dark shadow.

"Who are you?" Tifa's voice was strong and her face a mask as she asked her question. Deep in her soul she realized that running would not be an option. She would have to distract the man and allow Marlene to escape and call for help.

A feeling of gratitude filled her as she started at the man. If it had been Cloud waiting in the church she would not have know what to do.

"That doesn't really concern you." Another man stepped out of the shadows answering the question. Like the first he borrow a close resemblance to her long dead enemy. He, however, had a bulkier build than the legendary general and his silver hair had been cut short.

Tifa's trained eyes detected a fighter's grace about his movements. He was strong, stronger than the female martial artist but she detected an over powering arrogance in his expression. A weakness, Tifa mused as she attempted to keep he eyes on both of the young man.

"You're the famous Tifa Lockhart." He openly looked her over smirking at what he saw. Keeping her face carefully blank, Tifa responded to the man. "Yes, what do you want?"

The man sneered at her responses. Had he been expecting to get a rise out of her? He seemed to be radiating arrogance but could it be a shield for inexperience.

"We want that little leech clinging to your nice long legs." Cruel green eyes locked on the girl half hidden behind Tifa. Filled with terror Marlene tightened her grip on Tifa. The older woman placed a protective hand on the girl as she tried to figure out how they would survive.

It would be impossible for her to fight both of the men. The man that was talking was very arrogant but she could tell he was well trained. Not only that he had a large claw like weapon on his left arm. He would be overwhelming in anything but a one-on-one fight.

Her crimson eyes wandered to the longhaired man. During the brief exchange of words he had not so much as moved. His face revealed nothing about himself. Tifa had a feeling that he would be an even more challenging opponent than his friend.

"Don't worry about fighting both of us. This can be settled in a far more sporting manor." Tifa doubted that there was anything sporting about the man but this might give her a chance. "See I'm looking for a good fight and I've hear you're one of the best around."

"You want us to fight over who gets Marlene." The man nodded stepping forwards in anticipation. "That's right you win my friend lets you and the girl go. You loss." The challenge was finished with a quick cutting gesture.

Tifa glanced at the man's companion who regarded her with expressionless eyes. The silver haired man did not seem like the type to allow an honorable fight.

"Don't worry about him." The larger man followed her gaze smirking lightly. "He won't interfere in my fun."

"Marlene hide." Tifa whispered to the young girl as her crimson eyes focused completely on the other martial artist seeking out weakness. If he was being honorable then there might be a chance that Marlene and she could escape. If not then Marlene would be able to escape.

"I am Tifa Lockhart, who are you?" The man's smirk widened with her acceptance, "I am known as Loz." Somewhere in the distance Tifa felt Marlene move into the rubble of the church. The longhair man did not move in response. With Marlene relatively safe, Tifa acted.

Before the man had a chance to react Tifa had crossed the distance unleashing a series of quick palm strike. Her only advantage in this fight was her speed and size. Keeping close to the man to constrain his ability to properly counteract against her.

Not to her surprise the man took the blows without even an attempt to block. Tifa did not stop her attack. Each of her blows was carefully planned out to see his defensive capabilities. Still he did not respond to her attacks.

Taking a risk, Tifa attempted to kick him. This time he responded. With inhuman speed, far more speed than Tifa could have every imagined him having, he grabbed her foot.

The next thing Tifa realized was she was flying through the air along with a storm of flower petals towards one of the brick wall. Instincts honed by the trails of Meteor kicked in and Tifa was able to stretch her body lean body out catching herself against the wall. She quickly reevaluated her opponent, as she looked up the meet him in the eyes.

A wide smirk stretched out across his face as he realized that she was still capable of fighting. The arrogance she detected before reached out of the mako eyes like a horrible beast.

The longer she looked into his eyes the more she realized that she could win this fight. Physical he was far more superior than she was but he lacked her experience.

The crimson-eyed woman drew her legs together and leaped off the wall. Flower petals erupted under her as she landed in a crouched behind Loz.

A slight smile crossed her lips as she started to move for the attack.

A blunt object slammed into her head and the world erupted into flashes of light.

I shouldn't have left. The thought rolled through Cloud's mind as he raced his way through the busy streets of Midgar desperately trying to get the church.

The moment he heard that Tifa had left he knew the voices were behind it. As he arrived in the city the few doubts he had vanished. He could feel the voice in the city. The closer he got to the church the stronger he felt there presence.

If he had called Tifa more often then she would have known there was something amiss. Why were they even going after Tifa? He tried his best not to think of the answer but it continued to haunt him. Jenova was getting at him through Tifa.

Or it could be something else. He had been away for a year Tifa could have come in contact with something that Jenova would have wanted. The possibility did not seem likely but he did not want to think that Jenova was after Tifa. The horrible things the creature might do to Tifa keep parading through his mind.

Some hero he turned out to be. He tried so hard to protect his friends from danger that he ended up placing them in more danger.

There was still time for Cloud to get there. He could feel in a very surreal way that the voices had not come to get what they wanted. Tifa was not weak. She was a trained martial artist. She could protect herself.

The argument sounded weak but it was all that was keeping him from breaking down. He had lead to all this. The answer to his problem was so simple that he had not even seen it in the first place. Even if he could save Tifa, she would hate him for how he had treated her this year.

Cloud's dark thoughts were pushed away as his vision flashed white. Pins and needs raced across his body till he could no longer feel it. Not now.

The white melted away not to the road but a brightly light ruin with yellow flowers growing everywhere. The church, Cloud thought in shock. He felt his arm moved distantly and he looked down. It was not his arm he was looking at but a thinner one with a tight black leather sleeve holding a very strange looking gun.

Cloud choked as he looked pasted the strange gun. Lying on the ground below him was the unconscious figure of Tifa. Unlike the vision with Sephiroth he could see that her chest was rising. She was alive he thought with some relief then he felt he grip on the trigger tighten.

No, he could not shoot Tifa. Against his will his finger continued to tighten the trigger. He could feel the excitement of the kill racing through his mind. This was not real. He was on Fenrir coming to the church.

Despite his wishes, everything felt real. The bloodlust was nearly consuming as he looked over the fallen form of Tifa.

Disgust washed over Cloud in response to the bloodlust but he pushed the feeling away. He had to save Tifa. Using every once of his will he tried to move the gun. Nothing happened.

Goodnight sweet angel, a voice purred in Cloud's mind. He was done with the foreplay now it was time for the kill.

No! Cloud screamed as panic ripped through his mind consuming all thought. Something happened. A new sensation of power washed over him whipping away the panic. Then everything went dark.

Cloud's mind felt raw as he opened his eyes looking around with confusion. The Fenrir was lying beside him on the ground.

Several people were looking down at him with surprised expression. They were saying things to him but Cloud's mind was having a difficult time processing anything but the pain in his mind and an ache that had started on his right side.

He seemed to have fallen off the Fenrir. How had it happened? The pain in his mind was making it very difficult for him to remember what had happened. He could remember going some were very important then white.

A flash of static filled his mind then he remembered everything. Tifa, if what he had just seen was true then they were trying to kill her.

With the thought of Tifa in trouble filling his head, Cloud stood up. He winced slightly realizing that his right side had been injured when he fell off Fenrir. It was not important. Tifa was in trouble.

He pushed through the crowd of onlookers to get to his motorcycle. A quick glance at his bike told him it was fine and he stood it up. There was still time for him to get to Tifa. There had to be.

"What do you think your doing?" Rage filled Loz's face as he shouted at his smaller companion. Yazoo ignored the man's rage knowing that explaining they had time restraints would be meaningless. The Lockhart woman was irrelevant. Irrelevant, he thought as he looked at he woman but still a threat.

She knew they were seeking the child that made her dangerous. Yazoo could feel their brother coming. With his current pace he would arrive soon and his knowing that information would affect the plan. Beside, he thought with a slight smirk, the master wanted them to make their brother suffer.

Raising the Velvet Nightmare to the woman he began wondering were he should shoot her. In the head, no that would be too quick. The liver was a better choice that way big brother would be able to see her die.

He looked up to see Loz was still glaring at him. "Why don't you make yourself useful and get the girl." The rasher man glared at him once more then turned on his heel heading to the pillar where the child was hidden.

This had all been rather easy. Yazoo did not seek out challenges like Loz but it would have been far more fun to see her struggle a bit more before he finished her.

There was still enough time to wake her up and hear her scream. That would be an enjoyable sound. Her voice had been very attractive when she had been talking. She would make a wonderful screamer.

He paused a moment imagining the sounds of her screams ringing out through the church. Torture in such a holy place, oh the irony.

Then again he really did not have time for that. A nice clean headshot would do the trick. If he could not enjoy seeing her have a slow death, why let big brother.

Goodbye sweet Angel, then a loud buzz filled his mind. To his horror his hand acted against his will through the gun far away from him. A powerful presence entered his mind. He felt his will forced away leaving him an empty doll.

Then the presence left his mind. Yazoo sank to his knees panting slightly from the force of the presence. He had felt that once but only from the master. That had not been the master it had been too erratic and emotional. The master was anything but that.

He then looked down at the fallen form of Tifa Lockhart and his green eyes went wide. Had it been Cloud. The concept did not seem possible. There was no other logical course. The master had no reason to save this woman.

Fear coursed through him as the pulled himself to his feet reestablishing his mask. They had to leave here before Cloud arrived. If Cloud could do that to him from a distance, Yazoo could only imagine what he could do to either of them in person.

He picked up his gun quickly, not even looking in the fallen woman's direction. The silver haired gun marksman did not want to risk that invasion ever again.

"What's your problem?" Loz asked his eyes far more annoyed than curious. Under the big man's right arm was a squirming little girl. Yazoo walked pasted the other man trying to keep his fear hidden. "We're leaving."

It was not until he stepped into the warm sunlight outside the church that he realized his hands were trembling.

Cloud jumped of the Fenrir as he approach the steps of the church letting the motorcycle collapses on the ground, he did not even notice. He left his assortment of swords, knowing that he would not need them. After his blackout he could no longer feel the voice but something told him they were no longer in the church. His only hope was that they had left Tifa there as well.

"Tifa," he started screaming as the made his way up the steps. No one answered his cry but he continued. Tifa had to be there he could not have let her die.

The sweet scent of flowers greeted him pulling at a distant memory but he ignored it. Tifa was far more important then what his mind was trying to remember.

A soft moan came from the center of the room. Cloud made his way though the ruins not even remembering how, all that mattered was Tifa.

There she was lying on the ground just like in his vision. "Don't be dead," he pleaded as he knelt down beside her. She was still alive, he thought with a slight amount of relief but he could not find her injury.

He lifted in into his arms as if she were bubble that would break with the slightest pressure. Once again he had failed her. "I am so sorry." He whispered knowing that the words did not matter. How could she forgive him after this?

"Cloud," he looked down with surprise to see her crimson eyes looking up into his blue ones. A slight smile played on her lips as she looked at him. "Your late." Her voice sound surprisingly content, with that said she drifted back to sleep.

Cloud tightened his grip on her trying to think of what to do. The pain in his head had begun to return along with the ache running down his right side. Thinking clearly was becoming quite difficult for him.

He removed his hand from behind her head for a moment. Then froze as he saw a dark blood stand on his black glove.

A head injury, he carefully lifted her head to see the extent of her damage. He pulled her dark hair away to find a large knot forming on the back of her skull.

"Tifa." Picking her up had been the wrong thing to do. He could have made everything worse. That was what he did was not it made things worse.

He cradled her against him trying to remember if the hospital had been restored. Through the pain, he could remember one on the upper plates but nothing in the slums. There was a doctor in the slums was not there. Wait he'd moved had not he.

A flash of movement caused Cloud to look around. "Whose there?" He called out into the silences surrounding them.

There was no answer or any additional movements. It had been the first time he had actually looked at the church. This was the first time in two years.

It was just as beautiful as Tifa had told him all those times before back when he was to afraid to come. The few flowers Aeris had multiplied into thousands. Aeris would love this, he thought looking back at Tifa.

The broken boards tugged at his memory. This was where he fell after the second mission. When he had first learned Aeris name.

Strange, it did not seem to hurt as much as he imagined it would. It actually felt nice remembering this time with Aeris instead of that one time.

The scent of flowers remind him of the flower girl memories of their time together began dancing in his mind. A strange dizziness began to overcome him and he felt his eyes closing ever so slightly.

Tifa, he jerked back into awareness as he remembered his friend in his arms. He shook his head violently clearing his mind of the stray memories. What in the world was wrong with him? How could he fall asleep when Tifa need his help?

He stood up careful of her precious cargo and began heading towards the Fenrir. There might no longer be hospitals or doctors around but there were medical supplies back at the Seventh Heaven.

Aeris brushed through Tifa's raven hair as she looked down at the sleeping woman. The injury her dark haired friend had sustained had not been fatal but it was still alarming. The young ancient knew what would happen, it still hurt to see her friend lying on the ground.

The men had taken Marlene. Aeris was not worried Marlene would be safe for a time longer. When the girl was in true danger Cloud would be there to save her.

A frantic shouting filled the tranquil walls as the young hero made his way into the church. Tifa moaned slightly, his screams awaking her into a semblance of awareness.

He was by he side in an instant picking her up speaking to her gentle. Seeing the panic and fear in his eyes made Aeris wonder if he looked at her like that when she died.

Now was not the time for such frivolous thoughts she had her duty to accomplish.

The young ancient reach out her hand touching Cloud gentle on the forehead. A slight barrier kept her from completely making contact with the young man.

It was just as she thought He was no longer able to maintain his hold on Cloud. She pushed her will against the barrier and she could feel it crumble against her. His energy was almost spent, she thought sadly. Soon He would merge with the life stream. May He find happiness there, she silently prayed.

The barrier completely shattered. She felt herself falling into the alien realm of Cloud's thoughts. Gently, she began to guide Cloud's mind into a state she could speak to him.

Tifa, Cloud pulled away from as his desire to save Tifa broke off the contact. Aeris smiled as she watch him carry Tifa out of the church. The martial artist would be blushing horrible if she know what was happening.

Once Cloud was able to get Tifa to a safe place Aeris would attempt to establish contact again.

Cloud stumbled into the Seventh Heaven surprised at how quiet everything was. None of the children were running around like tiny mad men trying to attack him.

The sound of tiny cheers reached him. With a smile he realized they were watching that movie. His attention turned back to Tifa who appeared to be in a deep sleep. Her unconsciousness troubled him greatly. The limited medical knowledge he had told him that people falling a sleep with head injury was bad news. During the ride here he had attempted to awaken her but nothing work.

If he remembered correctly Tifa keep the medical supplies in the kitchen. He started in that direction when a thick dizziness ran though his mind. Just like at the church.

The sweet smell of flowers seemed to surround him as he stood there. His feet began moving up the stair. It felt as though someone was guiding him there.

He was not afraid. This did not feel like Jenova ripping through his mind it felt peaceful.

After trailing up the stairs he came to a door, it seemed familiar but his mind was to daze to remember exactly were it lead.

The door was slightly ajar so he pushed it open with his foot. Walking into the room seemed to make him very drowsy.

A bed was lying in the middle of the room looking like it was just waiting for them. Cloud walked towards it practical collapsing on it with Tifa still in his arms.

Lying there the sweet smell of flowers drew him away into a comfortable darkness.