Here's chapter 6 for your enjoyment. This chapter focuses mostly on Tifa and Rufus, though we will spend a little time with Cloud. From here on in, I plan to update about once a week. Hopefully the holidays won't hinder the continued writing of this monster. Thanks for all the nice reviews so far!

Disclaimer: FFVII certainly doesn't belong to me. Can you imagine if it did? Lord help us all…

Love is Like a War
Chapter 6: Surprise Reunions

Cold…

Tifa stirred, wondering why her head hurt so much. Was I out drinking last night? No, that couldn't be right…she could tell by the quality of light filtering through her closed lids that it wasn't morning…

"Ugh."

She knew she'd have to open her eyes soon, but she dreaded how the light would feel. Just a few more moments, she thought – until she received the alarming sensation of something rough and wet none-too-gently caressing her face.

Her eyes snapped open. She found herself face to face with what appeared to be a large panther with luminous yellow-green eyes. Fighting the urge to scream, she bolted upright and looked around frantically. She was on a couch in some sort of office. Most of the furnishings were black, and one entire wall of the room consisted of floor to ceiling windows. It appeared to be just after sunset. The big cat eyed her curiously. It was all coming back to her now. She was at the Shinra building – and she wasn't alone.

Someone was standing by the window, silhouetted against the early evening stars and the twinkling lights of Midgar. She froze when she heard the voice.

"Back, Dark Nation. You know it's not polite to lick strangers."

Oh, God.

She knew that voice. Low but clear. Somehow smooth as silk and rough as sandpaper at the same time. Bored and arrogant. Rufus Shinra. Of all the people she didn't need to be caught by…

"Mrarrr." The panther slinked back to her favorite shadowy corner. Rufus stepped away from the window and further into the dimly lit office, uncrossing his arms and taking several slow and deliberate strides toward her. He fixed her with his usual piercing stare.

Tifa spluttered. "Y—You—"

Rufus' boots made surprisingly little noise as he walked toward her, almost seeming to imitate the slinking movement of his pet. "My," he said with a slightly sour amusement, "what an eloquent greeting. I hope your brains didn't rattle loose in the fall."

He smirked as he observed the flustered woman, her burgundy eyes going wide at his comments. Unusual eyes, he thought, I remember thinking that when I first saw her back then…

Tifa felt incredibly helpless, and somewhat confused. Had he been…teasing her just then? And she thought she remembered him being more…ruthless? Why hadn't he just locked her up? She trailed him with her eyes as he stalked across the smooth black floor. She was aware just then how little she really knew about him – apart from that he was dangerous.

Rufus sat down in the leather armchair which matched the couch the girl was occupying. With her dark hair and black clothing she almost melted into the dim surroundings. But the eyes, the eyes hold a light all their own…

He smirked at her.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this…unanticipated visit?"

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Cloud wiped the sweat from his forehead and sat down on a boulder. He had finally reached his destination – well, the somewhat arbitrary one that he'd chosen back at the Chocobo Ranch, anyway. He'd thought long and hard and decided there were several places he'd like to travel to, to feel out and fish for the answers he sought. He wasn't expecting miracles…all he wanted was some peace.

The closest of the destinations had been Mideel; where he'd recovered from mako poisoning, and where the lifestream had exploded to the surface. He wasn't sure what he might find there, but he'd always sensed in that town a sort of…closeness to the planet.

The lifestream… The Cetra… Aeris…

He'd been fortunate. Cid's prize gold chocobo, Ed, was still stabled at the ranch. The journey to Mideel had taken nearly no time with one of the world's fastest chocobos carrying him. Cloud had chuckled silently as he stabled the rather grumpy creature (so much like his master) in town. Ed…what kind of name was that for a chocobo?

He'd grabbed a quick, indescribably bland bite to eat in the ruined settlement before making the short hike to the spot where the lifestream was still open to the surface. He rose from the boulder and walked toward the deep crack in the earth.

It's so muggy here. I wonder if that's the natural climate, or it has something to do with this…

Cloud's strange eyes glowed brighter as he stood at the edge of the fissure and looked down. He was surprised – and somewhat alarmed – by what he saw. The glowing aqua green of the lifestream was closer to the surface than he'd last remembered. And it was…bubbling? If that's even the right word to describe it. And…a shape? What on earth?

Cloud leaned over, squinting. A trick of the light, perhaps? No. It was something…pink?

"Cloud…"

He gasped and flailed as he almost lost his footing. He looked around, expecting to see someone nearby that could have called to him.

"Down here, Cloud. Please…"

He looked once again into the churning lifestream. To his shock, a face began to form upon the surface. Cloud got down on his hands and knees, grabbing at the rough rocks and staring in disbelief.

"Aeris?!"

The face of Aeris Gainsborough smiled softly.

"Cloud…you must trust me…jump in…"

Cloud looked into Aeris' beautiful, sad eyes. "I—" He stood up, wrinkling his eyebrows in thought.

"Cloud…I know how you suffer…and I know how to make it go away. I know, because I feel the same pain…"

He could hear the pleading in her far away, ethereal voice. Aeris would never ask him to do something to harm himself…right?

Suddenly, seeing her face there, he knew he had to do it. He wanted to jump, even if it might kill him. This might be the only chance he'd get to find out why Aeris continued to haunt him. Tifa's tear stained face flashed briefly before him. It's not like I have anything to lose anymore…

Cloud Strife steeled himself and jumped, squeezing his eyes tightly shut as he plummeted noiselessly toward the turbulent surface of the lifestream…

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Tifa bit her lip and looked down at her hands clasped in her lap. She could feel the cold and patient eyes of Rufus Shinra fixed upon her, waiting for an answer to his question.

Should I just…tell him why I came? I guess my situation can't get much worse. She slowly raised her eyes to meet his, and found him staring intently. God, the way he looks at you…like you're the only thing in the world…you could get lost in eyes like that… She cleared her throat. What the hell am I thinking about?!

Tifa blinked, gathering her strength and contemplating the best way to explain. "I…received a letter recently. From a friend in North Corel." Rufus raised an eyebrow and leaned forward in his chair. He flicked a strand of hair away from his face and loosely clasped his hands between his knees. His body language seemed to invite her to continue.

She looked him squarely in the eye, thinking about Barret's letter, and the possible implications should the worst be true. It was easier to confront him when she remembered that he could be responsible for sapping the precious life force from the planet even as they spoke.

"This friend asked for my help. Wanted me to find out if the Shinra Electric Power Company was actually stupid enough to be tampering with the Mt. Corel mako reactor." She looked at the president defiantly, her posture fearless, eyes burning with anger from the past and the present.

Rufus couldn't hide his surprise. I guess it shouldn't shock me that AVALANCHE would maintain such close ties…they make quite the little information network. He got up and poured himself a drink as he considered his answer. "Would you care for a drink?"

She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow impatiently. "All I would care for is an explanation."

Rufus resisted the urge to roll his eyes. These AVALANCHE people really were self-righteous. He didn't know why he didn't just have her thrown out of the building. He turned to face her, ice cold vodka from the Great Glacier in hand. "…Actually, it's not us. Someone else is doing it. Sorry to disappoint you. Will there be anything else?" He sipped the vodka.

Tifa's jaw dropped, Rufus' answer rendering her temporarily speechless. He returned fluidly to the armchair, settling into a surprisingly relaxed pose.

"But, then…who?"

"Hn. If I had that information, what makes you think I would give it to you? You're lucky I even dignified your accusations with any response at all."

She stood up, clutching her powerfully gloved hands at her sides. "I could always just beat it out of you!"

A hand flew to her mouth as soon as she uttered those words. I can't believe I just threatened to pummel Rufus Shinra!

Rufus didn't laugh. He was aware she was a skilled fighter. He slowly pulled back one flap of his jacket to reveal the handgun concealed there. He tended to take threats against his person quite seriously. He spoke in a bored but dangerous tone.

"I wouldn't recommend that, Miss Lockhart. It would be shame indeed if I had to shoot such a beautiful woman."

Tifa flushed with anger and embarrassment. How dare he try to intimidate me!

"Why should I believe what you say anyway? You could be lying through your teeth just to get rid of me!" She bit her lip.

The phone on Rufus' desk rang. He got up to answer it, not noticing the color that still lingered on Tifa's cheeks. She listened to Rufus' half of the phone conversation. It didn't reveal much.

"…Mmhm. Yes…very interesting…Yes, I'd like to leave as soon as possible. Prepare the helicopter…That's right, inform them. I'll see you on the roof in…" he looked at his watch and then over at Tifa. "20 minutes. And send Reeve up here, will you? …Yes. Thank you, Garver."

Rufus hung up the phone and clapped his hands together. "I'm afraid our little chat will have to end here. It has been most entertaining, but I'm afraid I have business to attend to. I'll have Reeve show you out after I've spoken with him."

Rufus shuffled a few papers, slipping them into an expensive looking briefcase. Tifa couldn't believe his nerve. Did he really think he'd be rid of her that easily? She walked over to stand in front of his desk. "Hold on! You haven't given me a straight answer! Do you really expect me to just go away?"

Rufus shrugged, snapping the briefcase shut. "I don't expect you to do anything."

Reeve entered, lingering in the doorway. Rufus walked over to him, and the two shared an exchange of clipped phrases. Tifa had pretty good hearing, but she wasn't able to glean much.

"Turks…" "Junon..."
"Corel…" "Reactor…"

"Developments…" "Investigate…."

Wait…reactor? Tifa walked toward the two men. Rufus finished his final instruction to Reeve as he noticed Miss Lockhart approaching. Stubborn woman…

"Reeve, kindly show Miss Lockhart to the front entrance—"

Tifa interrupted. "Where are you going?"

Rufus looked at her as though she were a fly he wished to swat away. "Where I am going is none of your concern. Good day, Miss Lockhart." He turned to leave the office, and was surprised to feel a hand grab his arm firmly. Bold, he thought, looking down at the woman. Doesn't she know when to quit?

Tifa looked up into Rufus Shinra's plainly irritated face. "I heard you talking about the reactor just now. If you won't tell me what's going on, you're going to have to take me with you!" Tifa squeezed Rufus' arm through the expensive fabric of his coat. I must be insane, she reasoned. She hazarded a glance into Rufus' steely eyes. He's quite tall…

"How do you know that has anything to do with where I'm going?"

She dropped her hand from his arm and pushed some hair behind her ear nervously. "Call it 'women's intuition'," she supplied.

Rufus observed the girl. Look at her, he thought, trying to be so strong. But I can see the desperation in her eyes…

"Give me one good reason why I should let you tag along."

I must be losing it, thought Rufus, but I suppose she could prove useful…

Tifa was surprised. She looked from Rufus to Reeve and back. "I…well, if it's really not Shinra doing something with the reactors…I have friends that might know something… but they'd never tell you…" She looked at Reeve imploringly.

Reeve was leaning against the doorframe of the office, observing the two with curiosity. "Barret?" he asked her. She nodded. Reeve crossed his arms and addressed Rufus.

"Sir, she may be right. And even if she can't tell us anything we don't already know, she might be helpful in some capacity…"

Tifa looked back at Rufus, who sighed with resignation. The look on his face was almost similar to the pout of a petulant child. "Fine. But understand this. You will be going by my rules. He took a step forward and looked down at her. They were practically toe to toe.

"And if you try any…sabotage, or get in my way, you will be extremely sorry." He stared directly into her eyes for a long moment. Tifa just managed not to crumble to tiny bits under the intense force of his gaze. Her knees felt like jelly by the time Rufus stepped away.

"Reeve, take care of things here, will you? And when you get that information I asked for…"

Tifa watched Reeve give a small, sharp nod. I wonder what that's about… Rufus threw her one last icy glare and swept out of the office. Tifa stared after him in shock.

Reeve put a hand on her shoulder to snap her out of her trance. "You'd better follow him. He's not exactly the waiting type."

Tifa spared Reeve a quick smile. "Thanks." She grabbed the small bag she'd arrived with and ran out of the office, just in time to see Rufus enter the stairwell which presumably led to the roof. She dashed after him, hair flying behind her, slender legs working overtime.

Barret…I'm coming!

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So there we have it. I'm thinking about changing the name of this story. I don't know. I'm not sure the present title is really….doing it for me. Any opinions?

Next chapter, a special treat for everyone (as it certainly was when I was writing it): we'll finally rendezvous with the Turks!