Here's the next chapter. Glad your enjoying it.
Chapter 10.
Meanwhile, Cloud was starting to panic in Kalm. It had been two weeks now since Tifa and her father disappeared. He was starting to think they were never coming back. Zack was starting to get angry too. Sephiroth was starting to doubt the plan. He didn't want to give back the bag of gil that Zack paid him. But he knew that if Tifa and her father didn't show up soon he'd have to.
Zack was cursing silently at the bar. The scout had again told them that there was no sign of Mr. Lockhart or his daughter. "What are we going to do now? I wanted to marry Tifa." Cloud whined. Zack slammed his fist on the counter. "I'm working on it! Don't bug me right now!" He snapped.
Cloud growled and turned his back on his friend. "So much for your brilliant plan. I thought you were trying to help me." He said. Zack growled. "I am! But that snot you want to marry is gone. If she doesn't show up by the end of the week, we're giving up!" He said. Cloud started to snivel. "B-but I want to marry Tifa!" He started to whine even harder.
Zack sighed angrily. "Cloud, she's gone. She's taken off with that loony father of her's. I swear, if she doesn't show up again, I'll go search for the little brat myself! And believe me, I won't be gentle when I find her." He said. Cloud sighed and began drinking his beer again.
A day later, Tifa was staring out at the snow. She wanted to go play. Make snowmen, have a snowball fight and even make snow angels. She sighed abit and shook her head. She leaned against the window frame and smiled as she saw a few children curiously looked around the gates of the mansion. She turned and hurried upstairs to her room.
She was now out in the yard coaxing the kids to come in. She and the children began throwing snowballs and laughing together. Tifa was having a good time with the children. They began making snowmen and having the time of their lives together.
Just then the kids gasped with fear and took off running. Tifa looked up and saw Rufus walking towards her not looking happy. She turned her eyes on the children who were running away. "Wait! Don't go!" She called but they were gone. She sighed and stood. Brushing off the snow on her pants she turned a look on Rufus.
"Tifa, what were you thinking? Bringing commoners into my yard without my permission! That is not acceptable." Rufus said angrily. Tifa scowled. "Commoners?! Those are my people your talking about, Rufus! I was just like them and I still am! So don't you dare call them commoners like that!" She snapped. Rufus growled. "You will not do that again or there will be a punishment." He said turning away.
He took one step towards the mansion when suddenly......SPLAT!! A snowball hit the back of his head throwing his head forward. He spun around angrily only to get another snowball in the face. Tifa was laughing hard now. She had to hold her sides. "Come on, Mr. Rich boy. If your so good, have a snowball fight with me. Unless your afraid to lose." She said in a taunting way.
Rufus growled annoyed. "Don't do that again, Tifa. Or I'll......" he was saying. Tifa had scooped up another ball and flung it at him. It hit him in the chest. "Your losing, loser!" She sang. Rufus smirked. He ducked down and scooped a ball up and flung it at Tifa. She ducked under it just in time. They began to throw snow at each other. Laughing abit both of them ducked under each other's snowballs.
From the window of the house, Vincent was laughing. "Aeris, tell the cook to get breakfast ready. Once they come in they'll be wanting some hot chocolate and hot honey oatmeal." he said. Aeris nodded. "Alright." She said and skipped away. Vincent smiled brightly. "Rufus is starting to forget what happened." He whispered. He turned away.
After the major snowball fight, Rufus and Tifa walked into the mansion soaking wet and cold. But they were laughing hard. Rufus was more wet though. Tifa had won the fight. She was very skilled with throwing snowballs. Although Rufus did get her pretty good.
Vincent stepped up. "Breakfast is served." he said. The two nodded. So they went into the dining room and ate the hot oatmeal. Rufus then turned to Vincent. "Vincent, I have decided that I'm taking the day off today. Could you call all the people I was suppose to have a meeting with and cancel everything. I have decided that I'm going to be normal for a change and hang out with a very interesting bartender's daughter." He said smiling at Tifa who smiled brightly back. Vincent nodded. "Alright." He said and left.
All day, the pair had fun. They went out for a drive through the slums. Tifa was frowning saddly at the sight of people having to freeze on the streets. Rufus was watching with a frown then he made Reno stop the car. Tifa looked up with surprise. Rufus was now talking to someone on the phone in whispers then he grinned at her after hanging up.
An hour later, several people in trucks showed up. They were now setting up tables and starting to serve hot chilie and soup to the starving people. Tifa smiled at Rufus happily. They continued on their way. Tifa was making suggestions on how Rufus could improve the city. He was taking in deep thought and agreed. They went back to the mansion and curled up in the library. Tifa began to read a book to Rufus as he sat in the chair. That night they ate dinner and that was then Tifa decided to ask a few questions.
They sat in silence while eating. Tifa was staring at her food then she looked up. "Rufus?" She asked. Rufus looked up at her. "Yes?" He asked. Tifa took a deep breath. "What was that red stain on the floor in the West Wing?" She asked. There was a deafening silence. Tifa had seen Vincent, Aeris and Elena's jaws fall open with shock and abit of fear.
But instead of answering, Rufus looked at his servents. "Leave us." he said. Everyone hurried out. They were alone in the room now. Rufus stood and went over to the fireplace and stared into it. Tifa watched for abit then stood herself and walked over to his side. She was watching his face. It was full of pain and she swore she saw tears. "What was the red stain? Was it....." She was asking. Rufus nodded. "Yes. It was. It's my mother's blood." He said. Tifa covered her mouth holding in the gasp. She stepped back. Rufus sighed. He started for the door and nodded for Tifa to follow. Tifa hurried after him.
They went to the study and closed the doors. Rufus strided over to the red velvet curtain and pulled it back. It was a potrait of the very beautiful woman Tifa had seen in the picture in the West Wing.
Rufus stared up at it. "That's my mother. Danielle Shinra. It was five years ago. My father was the President of ShinRa Incorp. He was a very greedy, cruel man. He always had girlfriends. Cheating on my mother. He usually called me a mistake.Wanted me to be what he was. Well, my mother fell in love with someone. Someone that treated her with respect. He treated her like a human being and not some object like my father treated her. The man worked for my father too and that was not a good thing. They were always meeting each other when my father was too busy to notice.
I knew about it of course. I liked this man very much. He treated me like a father would to a son. He was more like a father to me than my own. But then my father found out. He had seen them together in the library. They were hugging each other and exchanging kisses. Out of rage, my father murdered her in her room. In the West Wing. After he shot the man in the chest. I was so angry that I killed my father. I threw his corpse into the slums. No one knew what had happened to him. Not even my servents. But they knew what had happened to my mother. I kind of blamed the man she was in love with too. I hated him for falling for her. For making her fall for him." He said lowering his head.
Tifa stared. She was trying to hold back a tear. "The man. What happened to him?" She asked. Rufus sighed. "He's still alive. I wouldn't let him go. He's one of my servents today. If it weren't for the love my mother had for him, I would have killed him." he said. Tifa studied Rufus. "Who is he?" She asked softly.
Rufus took another sigh and looked up at her. "Vincent." He said. Tifa stepped back with wide eyes. "Vincent?" She whispered. Rufus nodded. "It was his first year of working for my father. He fell in love with her. Because of his charming looks, she fell for him back." he said. Tifa was quiet. "So, he's a slave? Working for you to keep his life?" She asked uneasily. Rufus watched her.
Then he nodded. "Yes. Of course, he's been very loyal so I'm thinking about letting him go." He said looking away. Tifa stared then she smiled. "I don't think he wants to go." She said. Rufus turned back and looked at her. "What?" He asked. Tifa shook her head. "He likes it here. He wants to work for you. Even if you abit of a grouch." She said.
Rufus smiled softly. "Maybe. We shall see when I offer to let him go." He said. He went over to his desk and pushed a button. "Vincent, come into the study." He said. Then he went back to his spot staring upward at his mother's beauty.
The door slowly opened and Vincent stalked in. He hesitated when he saw the potrait but then kept his red eyes on Rufus. "Sir?" He asked. Rufus didn't look up. "Your free, Vincent. I have decided that you no longer have to pay your debt." He said. Vincent was very surprised. "What?" He asked. Rufus looked at him. "You can leave if you'd like. You don't have to work for me anymore." He said.
Vincent was quiet. He was watching Rufus. Then he shook his head. "No. I don't wish to leave, Rufus." He said. Rufus smiled and looked at Tifa. "You were right, Tifa. He does like it here." He said. Vincent glanced at her and then smiled. He looked back at the potrait with longing in his eyes.
Rufus saw the look and smiled. "You may have this potrait, Vincent. If you want, you may stay here as my Head of Security. But you are no longer a slave." He said. Vincent smiled even more. "Thank you, Rufus. And again as I have said for five years, I'm sorry for happened to her. It hurt me deeply when he did that to her." He said. Rufus nodded at Vincent. "I know. And I'm sorry too. You may go now." He said. Vincent bowed and left the room.
Tifa smiled at Rufus. "That was a very kind thing to do." She said. Rufus just waved his hand at her for her to leave. She just nodded and started for the door. She then paused in the door way. She looked back. "Rufus?" She asked. Rufus turned back placing his blue eyes on her. Tifa smiled. "When I first met you, I thought you were cruel, heartless, greedy and the biggest jerk. But when I look at you now, I was wrong. You are none of those." She said. Then she left. Rufus stared after her then smiled softly.
A/N: Well there you go. Rufus finally told Tifa his past and why he was the way he was. Interesting, isn't it? Review and let me know if it was any good.
Chapter 10.
Meanwhile, Cloud was starting to panic in Kalm. It had been two weeks now since Tifa and her father disappeared. He was starting to think they were never coming back. Zack was starting to get angry too. Sephiroth was starting to doubt the plan. He didn't want to give back the bag of gil that Zack paid him. But he knew that if Tifa and her father didn't show up soon he'd have to.
Zack was cursing silently at the bar. The scout had again told them that there was no sign of Mr. Lockhart or his daughter. "What are we going to do now? I wanted to marry Tifa." Cloud whined. Zack slammed his fist on the counter. "I'm working on it! Don't bug me right now!" He snapped.
Cloud growled and turned his back on his friend. "So much for your brilliant plan. I thought you were trying to help me." He said. Zack growled. "I am! But that snot you want to marry is gone. If she doesn't show up by the end of the week, we're giving up!" He said. Cloud started to snivel. "B-but I want to marry Tifa!" He started to whine even harder.
Zack sighed angrily. "Cloud, she's gone. She's taken off with that loony father of her's. I swear, if she doesn't show up again, I'll go search for the little brat myself! And believe me, I won't be gentle when I find her." He said. Cloud sighed and began drinking his beer again.
A day later, Tifa was staring out at the snow. She wanted to go play. Make snowmen, have a snowball fight and even make snow angels. She sighed abit and shook her head. She leaned against the window frame and smiled as she saw a few children curiously looked around the gates of the mansion. She turned and hurried upstairs to her room.
She was now out in the yard coaxing the kids to come in. She and the children began throwing snowballs and laughing together. Tifa was having a good time with the children. They began making snowmen and having the time of their lives together.
Just then the kids gasped with fear and took off running. Tifa looked up and saw Rufus walking towards her not looking happy. She turned her eyes on the children who were running away. "Wait! Don't go!" She called but they were gone. She sighed and stood. Brushing off the snow on her pants she turned a look on Rufus.
"Tifa, what were you thinking? Bringing commoners into my yard without my permission! That is not acceptable." Rufus said angrily. Tifa scowled. "Commoners?! Those are my people your talking about, Rufus! I was just like them and I still am! So don't you dare call them commoners like that!" She snapped. Rufus growled. "You will not do that again or there will be a punishment." He said turning away.
He took one step towards the mansion when suddenly......SPLAT!! A snowball hit the back of his head throwing his head forward. He spun around angrily only to get another snowball in the face. Tifa was laughing hard now. She had to hold her sides. "Come on, Mr. Rich boy. If your so good, have a snowball fight with me. Unless your afraid to lose." She said in a taunting way.
Rufus growled annoyed. "Don't do that again, Tifa. Or I'll......" he was saying. Tifa had scooped up another ball and flung it at him. It hit him in the chest. "Your losing, loser!" She sang. Rufus smirked. He ducked down and scooped a ball up and flung it at Tifa. She ducked under it just in time. They began to throw snow at each other. Laughing abit both of them ducked under each other's snowballs.
From the window of the house, Vincent was laughing. "Aeris, tell the cook to get breakfast ready. Once they come in they'll be wanting some hot chocolate and hot honey oatmeal." he said. Aeris nodded. "Alright." She said and skipped away. Vincent smiled brightly. "Rufus is starting to forget what happened." He whispered. He turned away.
After the major snowball fight, Rufus and Tifa walked into the mansion soaking wet and cold. But they were laughing hard. Rufus was more wet though. Tifa had won the fight. She was very skilled with throwing snowballs. Although Rufus did get her pretty good.
Vincent stepped up. "Breakfast is served." he said. The two nodded. So they went into the dining room and ate the hot oatmeal. Rufus then turned to Vincent. "Vincent, I have decided that I'm taking the day off today. Could you call all the people I was suppose to have a meeting with and cancel everything. I have decided that I'm going to be normal for a change and hang out with a very interesting bartender's daughter." He said smiling at Tifa who smiled brightly back. Vincent nodded. "Alright." He said and left.
All day, the pair had fun. They went out for a drive through the slums. Tifa was frowning saddly at the sight of people having to freeze on the streets. Rufus was watching with a frown then he made Reno stop the car. Tifa looked up with surprise. Rufus was now talking to someone on the phone in whispers then he grinned at her after hanging up.
An hour later, several people in trucks showed up. They were now setting up tables and starting to serve hot chilie and soup to the starving people. Tifa smiled at Rufus happily. They continued on their way. Tifa was making suggestions on how Rufus could improve the city. He was taking in deep thought and agreed. They went back to the mansion and curled up in the library. Tifa began to read a book to Rufus as he sat in the chair. That night they ate dinner and that was then Tifa decided to ask a few questions.
They sat in silence while eating. Tifa was staring at her food then she looked up. "Rufus?" She asked. Rufus looked up at her. "Yes?" He asked. Tifa took a deep breath. "What was that red stain on the floor in the West Wing?" She asked. There was a deafening silence. Tifa had seen Vincent, Aeris and Elena's jaws fall open with shock and abit of fear.
But instead of answering, Rufus looked at his servents. "Leave us." he said. Everyone hurried out. They were alone in the room now. Rufus stood and went over to the fireplace and stared into it. Tifa watched for abit then stood herself and walked over to his side. She was watching his face. It was full of pain and she swore she saw tears. "What was the red stain? Was it....." She was asking. Rufus nodded. "Yes. It was. It's my mother's blood." He said. Tifa covered her mouth holding in the gasp. She stepped back. Rufus sighed. He started for the door and nodded for Tifa to follow. Tifa hurried after him.
They went to the study and closed the doors. Rufus strided over to the red velvet curtain and pulled it back. It was a potrait of the very beautiful woman Tifa had seen in the picture in the West Wing.
Rufus stared up at it. "That's my mother. Danielle Shinra. It was five years ago. My father was the President of ShinRa Incorp. He was a very greedy, cruel man. He always had girlfriends. Cheating on my mother. He usually called me a mistake.Wanted me to be what he was. Well, my mother fell in love with someone. Someone that treated her with respect. He treated her like a human being and not some object like my father treated her. The man worked for my father too and that was not a good thing. They were always meeting each other when my father was too busy to notice.
I knew about it of course. I liked this man very much. He treated me like a father would to a son. He was more like a father to me than my own. But then my father found out. He had seen them together in the library. They were hugging each other and exchanging kisses. Out of rage, my father murdered her in her room. In the West Wing. After he shot the man in the chest. I was so angry that I killed my father. I threw his corpse into the slums. No one knew what had happened to him. Not even my servents. But they knew what had happened to my mother. I kind of blamed the man she was in love with too. I hated him for falling for her. For making her fall for him." He said lowering his head.
Tifa stared. She was trying to hold back a tear. "The man. What happened to him?" She asked. Rufus sighed. "He's still alive. I wouldn't let him go. He's one of my servents today. If it weren't for the love my mother had for him, I would have killed him." he said. Tifa studied Rufus. "Who is he?" She asked softly.
Rufus took another sigh and looked up at her. "Vincent." He said. Tifa stepped back with wide eyes. "Vincent?" She whispered. Rufus nodded. "It was his first year of working for my father. He fell in love with her. Because of his charming looks, she fell for him back." he said. Tifa was quiet. "So, he's a slave? Working for you to keep his life?" She asked uneasily. Rufus watched her.
Then he nodded. "Yes. Of course, he's been very loyal so I'm thinking about letting him go." He said looking away. Tifa stared then she smiled. "I don't think he wants to go." She said. Rufus turned back and looked at her. "What?" He asked. Tifa shook her head. "He likes it here. He wants to work for you. Even if you abit of a grouch." She said.
Rufus smiled softly. "Maybe. We shall see when I offer to let him go." He said. He went over to his desk and pushed a button. "Vincent, come into the study." He said. Then he went back to his spot staring upward at his mother's beauty.
The door slowly opened and Vincent stalked in. He hesitated when he saw the potrait but then kept his red eyes on Rufus. "Sir?" He asked. Rufus didn't look up. "Your free, Vincent. I have decided that you no longer have to pay your debt." He said. Vincent was very surprised. "What?" He asked. Rufus looked at him. "You can leave if you'd like. You don't have to work for me anymore." He said.
Vincent was quiet. He was watching Rufus. Then he shook his head. "No. I don't wish to leave, Rufus." He said. Rufus smiled and looked at Tifa. "You were right, Tifa. He does like it here." He said. Vincent glanced at her and then smiled. He looked back at the potrait with longing in his eyes.
Rufus saw the look and smiled. "You may have this potrait, Vincent. If you want, you may stay here as my Head of Security. But you are no longer a slave." He said. Vincent smiled even more. "Thank you, Rufus. And again as I have said for five years, I'm sorry for happened to her. It hurt me deeply when he did that to her." He said. Rufus nodded at Vincent. "I know. And I'm sorry too. You may go now." He said. Vincent bowed and left the room.
Tifa smiled at Rufus. "That was a very kind thing to do." She said. Rufus just waved his hand at her for her to leave. She just nodded and started for the door. She then paused in the door way. She looked back. "Rufus?" She asked. Rufus turned back placing his blue eyes on her. Tifa smiled. "When I first met you, I thought you were cruel, heartless, greedy and the biggest jerk. But when I look at you now, I was wrong. You are none of those." She said. Then she left. Rufus stared after her then smiled softly.
A/N: Well there you go. Rufus finally told Tifa his past and why he was the way he was. Interesting, isn't it? Review and let me know if it was any good.