AN: More inspiration. More story! This chapter is more contemplative. I think I like switching between the girls' and guys' points of view every chapter, so I'll keep with that pattern until I say so, ok? Anyway, you get to see lots of Cloud and Vincent here, you bishounen crazed fangirls (kidding)...

Chapter 2 – Ritornello

Cloud was behind the bar, suddenly realizing why Tifa often looked so tired when she was working. Bartending was hell.

He was tired of the men, especially the very drunk ones who called him "pretty lady". Those were the worst. He never thought he looked that feminine, and was almost offended by their jeers. He suddenly wanted to see Yuffie very, very badly, so she could let him go back to the other side of the counter, where he could be vague and quiet, like he often was.

Vague and quiet...what have I become? What am I?

He blinked. He was never a very depressed type of person, even when things got to be the worst. Ever since he came back to the world of the living, he was met with disappointment. First thing he discovered was that he had been "dead" for five years. And the second...

Tifa. I guess this answers the question of whether or not she would wait for me forever. Lesson learned.

He could tell that Yuffie supposed that he was going to go straight to Tifa, lamenting his horrible life. This was not the case, though. He merely intended to leave her the book and be on his way...somewhere. He'd been wandering for a year now.

I need to do something with what I have left of my life. Even if it means I'm alone.

He scowled. Despite it all, she'd been his constant, a beautiful reminder of hope...of life. He never fully appreciated her until after Aeris was killed. The Ancient was someone special, but her constant flirtations and almost helpless attitude only inflated his ego. She wasn't there when he fell...neither times. That was Tifa. Now, she couldn't bear to look at him, it seemed. He reminded her of pain, and of loss; he knew this to be the case. He shook his head. There were people he had to serve, crazed drunkards who needed a fix before they came on to him again...

"Hey there cutie! Another round!"

Where the hell is Yuffie?

With her usual timing, she burst in through the door, hair ruffled and miffed.

"Gawd awful punk..." she mumbled to herself. Cloud stared at her with a quizzical expression, and then noticed the wad of gum sticking to one of her green-tipped locks. He couldn't help but smirk.

"What are YOU lookin at, huh, Spike?" she said with annoyance, working at the sticky mess with her fingers.

She certainly knows how to change the mood.

"Why don't you go over to Tifa's with that sword..." she said, a maniacal glow in her eye, "...and rough up that, Kale kid? He could sure use a lesson in manners..." He chuckled at the absurdity of Yuffie ranting about manners.

"So you delivered the package?" he said bluntly, ignoring her breathy moaning and muttering. She scowled at him.

"Of course I delivered your stupid package!" she said in a huff, stomping her way up the stairs. He suddenly panicked.

Oh no. You're not leaving me here with these...freaks.

"Yuffie!" he shouted after her, "Aren't you supposed to be working?!"

"I'm on my friggin COFFEE BREAK!" she shouted back, slamming the door to her room.

Meanwhile...

Vincent stood outside the house, unable to move a step further. He always did this, debating with himself whether or not he was intruding, and finally making a decision. Usually he went in, but today was an especially difficult argument.

Even after all this time. Can I really be human?

He'd spent a year after the incident away from her. He needed to sort out this new feeling, something he'd almost forgotten about.

Absolution.

Lucrecia had forgiven him, and now her soul was free in the Lifestream. He'd been freed of his demons as well; they left him soon after Tiveph was destroyed. He didn't even have his claw as a reminder anymore. He was almost human, and it frightened him.

If I forget, if I make the same mistake...

He never spoke with her about what happened afterwards, waking up to find that she had breathed the life back into him. He only listened to her stories, as she told the children, silently waiting in the back of the room. He didn't tell her about the images that flashed through his mind as he lay dying; strangely hoping that he would wake up to her face.

She breathed the life back into me...

He'd given her a gift, when he finally stopped his wanderings. Something he carried in his pocket for weeks. The stone he found in Cosmo Canyon, hidden amongst the pebbles, and the chain he bought later. It was Nanaki that finally talked him into going back, after he ran into Cloud.

Cloud Strife...what a fitting name...

He'd seen what the loss of time had done to him. Cloud walked like a man who'd lost his purpose, lost his pride...and his love. A part of him almost found it justified that Cloud should feel a little bit of the sting of unrequited love that Tifa had endured for all those years. Still, he couldn't blame the man; he was never a monster.

"Hello, Mr. Vincent," a quiet little voice spoke from the shadows. He turned around slowly, seeing the little girl clutching the green notebook standing against the wall.

"Audrey," he said, lightening his voice, "Why are you out here? Shouldn't you be inside?" She solemnly shook her head.

"Miss Tifa said I could go outside," she muttered, barely above a whisper. He gave her a one sided smile.

"Doing more writing?" he said, casually pointing to her notebook. She nodded.

She was a small girl for her age, skinny and short. Her dark hair and pale skin made her look almost sickly, but if she looked at you straight on, you could see that there was something contemplative behind her shy demeanor. Vincent had taken an almost instant liking to her, as she was quiet, polite and thoughtful...something that most children seemed to lack. That, and she didn't seem afraid of him, like most children often were.

"Are you waiting on her?" the girl asked, turning red from her boldness. He felt a smile tugging at the side of his mouth.

Clever little one.

"Would you like to accompany me, then?" he said, extending an arm out to her. She turned a deeper red, nodding with her face towards the ground.

For this chapter:

Cloud's Theme Song: Weak and Powerless A Perfect Circle

Vincent's Theme Song: God Put a Smile Upon Your Face Coldplay