Disclaimer: I don't own FF7, but I'm sure you all knew that! Haha.

"Wow! You really climb that mountain?" MeiLin asked in awe as she stared out the window at Dao Chao.

"Yeah, it's not really that hard. But I mean I've been going up there ever since I was a kid. It's a nice place to think and get away from everything," the shinobi explained as she poured herself a glass of orange juice.

"It's really a beautiful site," the doctor said as she walked away from the window and into the kitchen where Yuffie was. The ninja nodded as she glared out the window and looked at the mountain. She got a weird feeling when she looked at it now, she guessed it was because of the nightmare that she had about it, she just couldn't seem to shake that uneasy feeling.

"I guess we should start getting ready," MeiLin said as she looked at the clock hanging on the wall.

"Yeah," Yuffie replied quietly. Today was the day. The day she would have to say goodbye to her friend. She was dreading this moment since she stepped foot back in Wutai three days ago. There was such a different feeling in the air, a bad feeling. Nothing seemed the same. Even though nothing seemed to change in the daily life of the people who lived there. But for her things had changed a lot.

A few hours later they arrived at the funeral. It was a big turn out. But the shinobi was hardly surprised, he was a well known and respected man. She looked at the ground as tears welled up in her eyes. She had hoped she wouldn't have to come to another funeral so soon after the passing of her father. The whole thing was so depressing and seemed like it would never end. She had cried so much that she could barely see out of her eyes anymore. Towards the end she took a final look at the man in the open casket. He looked so peaceful, almost like he was sleeping....if only that could be true.

'Why did this happen?' She thought to herself as she stared into the casket. 'What did you know Chekhov? What did you find out that made this person come after you?'

"Two hot chocolates to go please," the brunette said to the lady at the coffee shop as she rubbed her hands together.

"I told you to wear gloves," the blonde said with a smile.

"Well I couldn't find them. I swear even though it snows in Kalm it's never this cold," Tifa explained while still rubbing her hands together.

Cloud smiled, "I guess I'm just use too it."

Tifa smiled before turning back to the counter to get the drinks, "Thank you," she said to the woman as she picked up the two drinks and handed one to Cloud.

The blonde took a sip but almost spit it out when it made contact with his mouth.

"Hey be careful," the brunette said with a laugh as she stepped out of the shop. "It says "caution hot!"

Cloud frowned, " Well maybe they should make the writing a little bigger."

Tifa laughed as they walked down the streets of Midgar. They were coming closer to the Shinra building.

"Is Reeve here?" She asked.

Cloud shrugged, "I'm not sure."

Tifa nodded, "He's still worried about MeiLin."

"Yeah," the blonde replied with a sigh.

"Well hasn't he heard from her like everyday since they got there?" She asked.

"Yeah... but I guess that's not enough," he replied while staring off into the distance obviously thinking about something else...or rather someone.

Tifa noticed and frowned. "Hey!" She exclaimed suddenly trying to change the subject, "Did I tell you that Imara talks supposedly?"

"What?" Cloud asked snapping back into reality.

"Yeah," the girl replied with a laugh. "Shera and Cid swear they have a little genius on their hands. Apparently she said something at the birthday party. But I wasn't around to hear it."

Cloud nodded, "Yeah I guess it must have been when we were..." he began but slowly trailed off.

Tifa looked at him and then looked away quickly. "Yeah.... I guess a lot of stuff happened that evening," she said somewhat sarcastically.

Cloud looked down, he still didn't know what to say exactly. He didn't want to hurt her but he knew he already did obviously, but still he knew that they had to clear up some things.

They walked for a little more in silence until they were in the middle of a park. There was know one there, probably because of the cold weather and all the snow.

"Teef," Cloud began but Tifa quickly cut in.

"I feel so stupid. I really do. I mean when you came back....I was completely happy. And I thought there was something there between us. And I opened myself up to you back in Kalm and I could've sworn you shared the same feelings I did, but apparently not," she explained with a laugh.

Cloud stopped walking and shook his head, "Tifa it's not like that."

The brunette stopped and spun around to face the blonde. "Really? Then how is it like? Because it seems like you led me to believe one thing and then completely did another," she said quietly as tears began to form in her eyes.

"No," the ex soldier started, "Tifa.... when I was gone for those two years.... all I thought about was you. And how I possibly made the biggest mistake by leaving you, I thought if I ever came back you would definitely be with someone else...or you wouldn't feel anything for me," he explained before taking a deep breath. "But then...I don't know things just changed. I still had for feelings for you when we were in Kalm...so when you told me you loved me.... I don't know I was confused. A part of me really wanted to tell you that I loved you too, I mean what I wanted was too be with you...or at least I used to think."

"You "used" to have feelings for me?" She said while a few tears ran down her face.

"I.... Tifa I'll always love you.... But," he began while looking at the ground.

"Cloud, really. This is me okay? Can you honestly look me in the eye and tell me that you know you don't want to be with me and that Yuffie is the one who you want to be with?" She asked as she stepped up right to the blonde and looked him deep in the eyes. "You said yourself that when I told you I loved you in Kalm that a part of you wanted to say it back to me. That part is what drove you for two years. If what you felt or feel for me wasn't real then you wouldn't have thought about me for those two years. Or you wouldn't have kissed me like you did."

Cloud stared back into Tifa's ruby eyes that were shimmering with tears. It ripped him apart inside to see her like this. He shook his head slowly, "I....I love..." he began before Tifa cut in.

"Yuffie!?" She finished. "Do you "love" her? Or are you just confused about your feelings?" She asked as she placed her hands on the sides of his face. "Cloud," she whispered quietly as she stood up on her tiptoes leaning in close to his face. "I've been in your heart forever and you know it. Don't push me away because you're scared," she explained softly as small wisp of her breath drifted into the cold air.

The blonde stared blankly into her eyes before a single tear ran down his face. He didn't want to lose Tifa. He knew that much for sure. But he just didn't want to lose her friendship. Or was he lying to himself? Was she right? Was he masking his true feelings for her? Why?

"Please" She said quietly as she lightly placed her lips on his.

Cloud didn't move, he was basically just focused on his thoughts at the moment. He slowly closed his eyes as the brunette placed her arms around his neck and kissed him softly. He kissed her back for a second before he pulled away.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly.

"What?" Tifa asked confused.

"I.... I feel nothing. That kiss.... I don't feel anything.... like I might have in the past," he explained quietly while looking her straight in the eye. "Tifa I love you and I always will.... but it's just in a different way. I love Yuffie.... she's the one I want to be with."

The brunette staggered back a little as if she had been hit when Cloud said those words to her. Tears began to stream down her face as she nodded. "I guess there's nothing I can do then," she said while wiping away a few tears.

"Teef," Cloud began as he reached his hand out to her but she quickly moved away.

"Don't," she said as she stepped back.

"I.... I don't what to say. I hope you understand," he said quietly as he looked at the brunette with complete and genuine concern. "I don't want to lose your friendship Tifa. We've been through too much to throw it away now," he added.

The brunette smiled sarcastically before rolling her eyes. "Yeah well maybe you should have thought about that before you fucked my best friend," she said coldly before turning to walk away.

Cloud's eyes widened. He knew he had hurt her a lot and he wasn't sure if it would ever heal. He knew she was upset, it was totally not like her to say smart remarks, let alone ever say a curse word. He let out a sigh, 'I deserve it,' he thought to himself. 'I played with her emotions even though I didn't mean too. Whatever happens is my own fault.' He took a seat down at the park bench before covering his face in his hands. He could have just lost one of his best friends. He wanted to go after her but he figured that right now that probably wasn't the best idea. He felt guilty because he knew that this would forever put a rift between he and herself, but also for Yuffie and her. They were best friends and he completely ruined that. 'You shouldn't have came back at all,' he thought to himself. But if he hadn't then he would never have discovered this love with Yuffie. Although he felt guilty about the broken friendships that possibly were now, he felt it was worth it. He couldn't imagine never to have developed this relationship with Yuffie. She was worth all of the heartbreak and drama. Nobody could take away the happiness he had with her. Not even his childhood friend.

"This floor of the pagoda hasn't been touched since the morning that they found Chekhov," Gigio explained as they walked around the floor.

"Then there should be some clues left behind," Yuffie said as she looked around the room. There were Wutai soldiers scanning the whole pagoda as well as the floor that Chekhov was murdered on.

"Most definitely," MeiLin said with a nod.

"Don't forget this whole section," a woman's voice said as she pointed to a side of the room for the soldiers to investigate.

"Your late," Gigio said with a smile.

"Honestly Gigio are you timing me?" The woman said as she walked over to the three.

"Liana," Yuffie said with a smile.

"Lady Kisiragi it's so good to have you back. I felt like we haven't had a formal greeting since you arrived. Everything was so hectic yesterday with Chekhov's funeral," she said a little quieter.

Yuffie nodded, "Yeah," she replied softly. She looked over to MeiLin who was watching the Wutai soldiers and other various people investigate the room. "Oh I almost forgot, MeiLin this is Liana, Liana this is MeiLin," she said while pointing to the two women.

"Nice to meet you," Liana said with a smile.

"Same here," MeiLin said while extending her hand to Liana. Liana accepted her hand before letting out a small yelp.

"Oh are you okay?" MeiLin asked with concern.

Liana laughed, "Yeah I think I just sprained my wrist."

"Oh well I can take a look at if for you if you want. I'm a doctor," MeiLin said getting ready to inspect Liana's wrist.

"Oh no it's okay really," Liana, said quickly while pulling her hand back. "I better go, everything seems to be going okay here and I've got some other things to take care of."

"Alright see you later Liana," Gigio said with a smile before venturing into the rest of the pagoda.

"Yeah I guess I'll see you tomorrow, I'm sure we'll have some meeting about any progress in Chekhov's murder case," Yuffie said.

"Yes of course, so I'll see you then," Liana replied before Yuffie walked over to a Wutai soldier and began asking him questions.

"I guess I'll be seeing you tomorrow too. I'm usually around Yuffie," MeiLin said with a smile.

"Great," Liana said before turning to leave.

"But just a quick word of advice. You should put some ice on that wrist just in case. You know so it will cut down on swelling," MeiLin explained.

"Right, thanks I'll do that," she replied before exiting out of the Pagoda.

The doctor raised an eyebrow while watching the woman disappear out of the Pagoda.

"Well it looks like they've got everything covered here, you want to go get something to eat?" The Wutainese princess asked while straightening her shirt.

"Sure," MeiLin replied with a smile before she took a quick glance back to where Liana had just exited.