Stained Souls

Chapter 2: Welcomed Home

Cloud and Vincent were at the door of wood with only an eastern wind accompanying them from time to time. Vincent looked at the door then to Cloud, wondering what the hero's next move will be. At this point he was not sure of Cloud about anything.

The youth stood by his side taken whole by another conundrum. The door would lead him inside to what he has been running from all this time. Does he really want to go back? Would it really change anything? He was torn through the middle of either choice. The thought of opening the door or not swam around and around. Dancing, teasing him with terrible songs that reminded him of the past.

Vincent watched and was tired of guessing what Cloud would do. Instead he thought taking the reins himself. His hand glided over the handle and walked through the door easily. A few steps and he looked back at the dazed hero. Eventually Cloud walked in just as easily hesitating to close the door.

The door opened him up to a wide space that gave him the options of walking into either room on his left and right. One was a living room, and another a small kitchen. This house didn't bring any memories for he has never seen it in his life. All objects he never recalled to have owned but each scented that Tifa is here.

"Vincent?" a voice called from behind walls. Vincent walked after his name to the room in front, leaving Cloud alone to gaze at a hanging artwork.

"Vincent, did you find?!!" Tifa just came back from the dinner she owned in front of her house. She struggled untying her apron. Vincent pointed toward the doorway for her to follow his finger tips. Tifa shoved the apron to the floor and ran to the foyer. There he stood dazzled by the artwork of the simple landscape of farmland. Tifa felt a weight in her eyes that soon rolled down her porcelain cheeks. Quickly she held back a gasp with her hands, and Cloud heard her.

He turned to see Tifa as she was now. A warming smile played across her face when he looked at her. Immediately she ran into his arms squeezing the life force out of his breath. Cloud remembered hugs and embraced her back without nearly as much enthusiasm. Once she finally broke away she wiped her tears.

"I didn't think you would come back!" Cloud shrugged trying to bear sort of a smile. "Well, come in! Come in!" She took Cloud by the hand and showed him the house. Vincent drifted into the scenery as Tifa chatted away about each room and what she has been doing for the months. Soon he was out of the house and welcomed the innocent silence of the night, when all things seemed to be in balance.

"I've opened a diner and it's been doing well, just gets really busy with only me at the tables."

"I like your painting." Cloud finally spoke. Tifa took an intake of breath to calm down and shove her bangs out of the way.

"Oh, that?" She walked over to the picture. "Got that from a little shop down the ways. Pretty old she told me. But the colors draw me in all the time I look at it." Cloud stared at it trying to recall if his world ever looked like that once.

"Come on, I want you to meet someone!" Again Tifa seized his hand and lead him to a room with a closed door. "You must be quiet because I just put them in bed." Slowly she cracked open the door and Cloud peered in. Two twin beds were on opposite sides of the room carrying a boy and a girl breathing in sleep. The covered rose and fell with their breaths, unaware of this stranger watching them.

Cloud was surprised to see that Tifa was raising children. He looked at her with the same shock in his eyes.

"Oh, no their not mine!" Tifa laughed. "Orphans. Fell in love with them so much I just couldn't let them live alone." She watched Cloud again look at them. "Now I have three." She quietly added. This Cloud heard and gave a truthful smile.

"Anyway, let me show you to your room. It's been a guest room for quiet some time." Tifa pulled blankets from a pantry door on the other side of the hall. "The kids couldn't bare sleep alone so it saved me a room. The entire time Cloud was silent and took in every detail of the house and listening to Tifa dribble with anything that came to mind.

Once she was at the room she didn't go in, as a trained pet to know what not to enter. "Well, here is your room. I know it's been a long night and you need your rest." She couldn't look straight at Cloud and stared at the blankets instead. He leaned in to see the blank white walls with a dresser and mirror complete with a bed. It was then she glanced up to see his face.

"Um…Well then good night!" she smiled warmly again before handing him the blankets and going to her own rooms.

Cloud settled himself down on the bed but it felt awkward lying down. He hasn't been able to sleep at all since her death. So he went to the dresser and was curious to see if he found any thing. To his surprise he actually did.

An old photo album lay dusty in the top drawer. Cloud pulled it out to find pictures of Tifa both a child and now. Some were even captured of people he recognized. He was among them. As he turned the page a face stared back grinning. The young man was Zack and was on a couch somewhere. Cloud looked at it for a moment before flinging it to the other side of the room.

He buried his head in his hands. "I can't do this." He said to himself.

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