Chapter 5 – in which the Plot continues, more people arrive and I generally think it gets a bit more interesting.

Part 5 : Alliances And Annoyances

"I can't get away from these godawful love scenes!"

"Tifa."

Uhhhhhh... go away...

"Tifa!"

Aaarrgh... why can't people just let me sleep?

"Tifa, I thought you might like to know..."

Vincent, I do NOT want to know, I want to SLEEP.

"Cloud's here."

CLOUD?

HERE?

NOW?

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?"

"I... I just did."

"Oh. Right. Sorry. Where is he?"

"Downstairs. I'm waking everyone up, but I thought you might like to know first."

Tifa shooed him out of the room. "Yes, yes, thank you very very much Vincent, now go away I need to get changed oh my - what am I gonna wear... aaaaaah, Cloud's here! I don't -"

"Tifa..." moaned Yuffie, turning over and trying to curl the pillow around her head. "Shudduuuuuup..."

"Yuffie, Cloud's here! I can't just shut up, I need to think, I-"

"You need to think out loud...?"

"Yes! I - Oh whatever." She threw open the dresser drawers. "Oh, why didn't I pack something decent..."

"You don't wanna look too dressed up," yawned Yuffie, sitting up resignedly.

"Yeah, I know..."

"But then, you need to look like you've made a bit of an effort."

"Yeah..."

"But not too much."

"I know..."

"You need to look mysterious," instructed Yuffie, getting into the role.

"..."

"But not inaccessible. You must be -"

"YUFFIE!"

"Yeah, OK, but isn't that what everyone stresses about? Hey, I don't have a clue what I'm talking about!" She bounced on the bed happily. "Oh, but you should probably hurry up, otherwise you'll be leaving Cloud to Cid's tender mercies."

"Oh, help..." Tifa sighed and bundled her hair up any old way. Skirt and plain top. Same old, same old. Whatever. At least she felt comfortable. "You coming, Yuff?"

"Yeah, I'll come in a minute, just let me get changed."

"OK... um, I'll wait for you, shall I?"

"Tifa!" Yuffie grinned. "Are you scared to go see Cloud again by yourself? Do you need little Yuff to hold your hand?"

"No! Fine, you just stay here!"

Tifa determinedly stamped out of the room and took the stairs heavily three at a time.

She tripped on the rug at the bottom.

"Ooof! Ow!"

"Wha -? Tifa!"

Tifa groaned inwardly as she slowly lifted her eyes from the floor. Nice going...

Cloud helped to her feet.

"Hi, Tif," he said, with a hint of a smile.

"Cloud..." She stepped back to look at him. "Hey. Wow - I mean - Cloud - your hair!"

"My hair?" He raised an eyebrow. "I haven't done anything with it..."

"Yeah, I know - it just - it just always looks like more in real life, y'know - larger than life - Oh whatever Cloud, just give me a hug or-"

They hugged.

After about fifteen seconds of watching with waning interest, Cid coughed loudly.

Then the house shaking to loud bounces down the stairs announced Yuffie's presence. She raised both eyebrows at the scene and proceded to mime being sick. After a further fifteen seconds she added sound effects.

"Okay, cut it out Yuffie," said Tifa, letting go of Cloud. "Cloud; this is Yuffie, remember her?" she said sarcastically. "She stole all your materia once and generally did everything make us believe that we were never teenagers."

"Yeah, I remember Yuff alright."

"Hey Cloud!" Yuffie waved and bounced up to him. "So, do I get a long passionate embrace too?"

"Um... no."

Yuffie stuck her tongue out. "Blaaaa, meanie."

Vincent and Shera walked into the main room.

"Sanity returns!" said Cid thankfully. "Shera, this sucks! I can't escape from these godawful love scenes."

They nodded sympathetically. Tifa glowered. Yuffie smirked.

"Well," continued Cid, "Everyone know each other, right? Isn't this lovely. Cloud, you plannin' on joining this bunch of idiots taking up my house?"

"Hi Cid." For the first time, Cloud walked around to the sofa. "Cid!" he exclaimed, almost jumping back in shock, "What happened?"

"He's just posing," said Yuffie scathingly. "It's just his back, and that's nearly better. He could walk if he could be bothered. And he doesn't need that bandage!" She glared pointedly at the ostentatious white cloth around Cid's head.

"Well, OK," amended Cloud, "What did happen to him that was so terrible?"

The others looked at each other. "Want I should enlighten him?" Yuffie asked helpfully.

"No!" said Tifa. "I mean - Shera, can you explain everything?"

"What's going on?" asked Cloud, looking around at the suddenly serious faces. "Is this the 'something came up' you mentioned?"

"Something like that."

"Some £&ing weird monster attacked me an' they think it's Jenova an' Vincent had a paranoia attack," summarized Cid.

"I thought Shera was going to explain," said Tifa through clenched teeth.

"Didn't hear her, did you?" retorted Cid, "Damn woman never stands up for herself."

"Sorry..." said Shera.

"Wait - Jenova?" asked Cloud.

"Maybe," said Yuffie,

"It's a possibility," said Vincent at the same time. They looked at each other and shrugged.

"It was something that perhaps looked vaguely like it," said Tifa, spreading her hands hopelessly. "We don't know. We thought maybe you -"

"AHEM," interuptted Cid, "We did not think anything! First I heard of it was when he turned up ten minutes ago."

"Well, OK," said Tifa, feeling her face getting hot, "I thought maybe if we all got - back together again we could do something... I mean, it seems pretty dangerous... maybe if we all just... well, went and found it for a start..."

"Just like 'old times', you mean?" Cloud suggested with a humourless grin.

Tifa shrugged.

"What about Barret and Red and that stuffed cat thing?" asked Cid.

"Cait Sith," said Yuffie.

"Reeve," said Vincent.

"Yeah, him. Do we go an' collect all them lot too?"

Tifa looked at Cloud and around at the others. "Why not?" she said.

Yuffie laughed. "What - a reunion for us all? Why not call it the Real Jenova Reunion in honour of the weirdy creatures?"

"That's not funny," said Cloud.

Yuffie grimaced. "Yeah, I know. Sorry."

Shera was hovering nervously and drifting towards the door. "I'll - I'll make some tea, shall I?"

"Yeah, you do that," said Cid absently.

Shera went into the kitchen.

"Need any help?" asked Yuffie, to probably everyone's surprise. "It's getting too depressing in here," she explained, and left too.