I lay down on the soft bed, it was very kind of the woman to let us use her house. I yawned and looked at the ceiling. I was so sleepy, so much had happened since we had arrived in Junon. We had saved the life of a little girl today, it should feel good to be a hero but seeing her like that, not knowing if she was going to live or die... it had really shaken me.
I yawned again and I was finding it hard to keep my eyes open. All that walking had exhausted me and all I wanted right now was to drift into blissful sleep...
"I love you," Cloud whispered into my ear as he kissed it. "I want to be with you forever." he said as he looked into my eyes and then started to kiss my neck. I wrapped my arms around him tight as I felt his kisses become more passionate.
"Who would have thought life could be so perfect..." I whispered as I felt my top being lifted over my head. The white fabric was soft against my cheeks. When the top was of I opened my eyes only to be greeted by a pair of shining blue eyes that did not belong to Cloud. Panic filled me and I backed away. "Wh... where did Cloud go???" I asked distressed. The man with spiky black hair grinned at me as he extended a hand to me.
"Is that how you thank your hero Tifa? Come closer." He whispered, his grin was menacing.
"No! Leave me alone! I don't know you!" I shouted as I turned and ran but I felt like I was running through water and was moving very slowly, the more I struggled the more difficult it became to run. I felt a hand on my arm and I was turned roughly to be brought face to face with Sephiroth. He squeezed my arm so tight it hurt. I called out in pain and tried to get his hand of me.
"No escape from this mess you have found yourself in Lockheart!" He said and he started to laugh, his laughter got louder and louder and I felt myself sink to the ground in agony covering one of my ears with my free hand.
"Stop..." I whispered, "make it stop!"
... I sat up in bed breathing hard. I looked around the room in distress. In the bed next to me Cloud lay asleep, there was no one else in the room. I covered my face with my shaking hands as I tried to pull myself together. Was that... music? I got out of bed and looked out of the window, I saw a few Shinra soldiers run past and there was definitely music being played... 'I had better wake Cloud' I thought to myself pushing aside memories of my horrible dream. I walked over to his bed and looked at him, his face told me he was having a bad dream. I put my hand on his cheek. He stirred a little,
"Tifa..." he mumbled quietly. I pulled my hand away unsure of what to do next, was he awake?
"Cloud?" I whispered. He didn't answer and his eyes were still closed, was he having a dream about me? I frowned, the dream didn't seem to be a good one.
"Hey, wake up." I whispered shaking him gently. He didn't move. "Wake up, Cloud!" I said a little louder. He opened his eyes and looked at me with a puzzled expression on his face. He brought both of his hands up and touched my face as if to see if I was real or not. I smiled at him and he smiled back, he was so perfect...
He got out of bed and stood up, never taking his eyes of me.
"Tifa... When Sephiroth and I went to Nibelheim, where were you?" he asked looking at me hard. My heart started racing, 'you never came back to Niblehime... or am I the one that's going crazy??'
"...We saw each other, right?" I said trying to not sound as distressed as I felt.
"The other time." He said as he put a hand out as if to take mine but I stepped back.
"No..." I said quickly... the man from my dream... "it was 5 years ago. I don't remember." I said quickly as I shook my head trying to rid myself from those confusing memories. "But, something seems strange outside." I said getting back to why I had woken Cloud up in the first place. "Cloud, come quick." I said as I quickly made my way to the door. I had to pull myself together, until I figured out what was going on I couldn't keep getting so distressed every time the past was mentioned.
By the time I reached the others Cloud had caught up with me, he came up to me and put an arm around my waist.
"Tifa?" He asked, looking confused.
I looked into his eyes, it broke my heart to see him so confused...I wanted to help him but how could I when I didn't understand.
"Doesn't it seem a little strange? Everything getting so noisy all of a sudden?" I asked desperate to change the subject. Cloud tilted his head to the side and seemed to notice the noise for the first time.
"What's this loud music? It's giving me a headache!" Yuffie said annoyed. She rubbed her eyes and yawned telling I wasn't the only one who had been woken up by the music.
"Does this have something to do with the Shinra?" Red asked. I looked around me, there were certainly a few Shinra soldiers running about. I hoped non of them recognised us, we would have quiet a fight on our hands if they did. Aeris came over to Cloud and tapped his arm, she gave him a big grin and fluttered her eyelashes. I looked away in anger and noticed Yuffie was looking at me. I quickly tried to force a smile.
"I heard that girl regained consciousness." Aeris said. I looked at Cloud, he simply nodded his head and started making his way up the stairs to see the girl but before he was half way up the door opened and Priscilla came out smiling. I also smiled, she was ok, I was so glad.
"Are you all right now?" Cloud asked.
"Umm... thanks for helping..." The girl said blushing. Cloud came down the stairs and stood with me and the girl followed. She looked at us all in turn.
"I'm sorry, I mistook you for one of those Shinra, Inc...." She sad blushing again
"That's all right." Cloud said smiling. I looked at him, he was surprisingly good with kids... 'ok Tifa you have to stop thinking so far ahead!' I mentally scolded myself.
"I'll give you something SPECIAL! It's an amulet! Take good care of it, OK?" The little girl said as she handed Cloud something that looked like materia. Cloud saw me looking at it and handed it to me. I turned the little red orb over in my hand, I could feel its power, it was definitely materia of some sorts. Cloud put one hand under mind and touched the materia with the other.
"I think its a summon," he said.
"Yeah summon materia is red, although I don't know my materia all that well yet." I said. Cloud laughed and I looked up from the materia into his eyes.
"You always did prefer to fight with your fists." He said as he brought a hand up and caressed my cheek. It was my turn to blush.
"What's that music? It sure sounds lively." Barret asked Priscilla.
"I heard they're rehearsing the reception for the new Shinra president." She answered.
"Rufus!?" Barret said. He turned to me and grinned. "I gotta pay my respects." He said. I laughed at the thought of poor Rufus when Barret got hold of him.
"Grandpa and Grandma told me this beach was beautiful when they were small. But after the Shinra built that city above, the sun stopped shining here, and the water got polluted... I was raised on that story and hate Shinra so much, I could die!" She said quietly. I bit my lip... I understood.
"You think Rufus is thinking about crossing the ocean from here, too? What? Does that mean Sephiroth already crossed the ocean?" Aeris asked.
"Cloud, didn't you finish Rufus off?" Red asked, all eyes were on Cloud. He looked down ashamed. I glared at the others and squeezed Cloud's hand gently. It wasn't his fault Rufus ran away!
"We gotta get to the town up there... Mebbe we could climb the tower?" Barret said quickly changing the subject. I gave him a grateful look on Cloud's behalf.
"No! No! There's a high voltage current running underneath the tower. Don't wander near it, it's dangerous!" Priscilla said quickly, she was silent for a moment, "But... you might be able to if Mr. Dolphin helps you. Follow me!" She said as she ran towards the beach.
"High voltage tower... I guess this means Cloud'll have to do it." I said giving Cloud my sweetest smile.
"Yeah, better leave it to Cloud!" Aeris added.
"We're counting on you, Cloud." Red said with a grin.
"Hey!!" Cloud said a look for horror on his face. We all laughed and quickly walked away form Cloud leaving him standing there looking rather bemused. "Wait a second!" Cloud shouted.
Aeris suddenly pulled me to one side.
"Do you think Cloud will be ok??" She asked. I laughed a little,
"Yeah he is a survivor, he will find a way." I said as I smiled at him. "I'm only sorry it has to be done, sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a nice normal life. Don't you just hate this?" I asked.
"You're probably right." She said completely ignoring my question. 'Hmmm thats the last time I try to make conversation with you.' I thought to myself.
I felt two arms around my waist and turned my head to see it was Cloud who had hold of me.
"Trying to get rid of me or something?" He asked raising an eyebrow. I smiled, turned and hugged him tight. He seemed stunned for a second then wrapped his arms around me.
"I know you can do it." I whispered into his ear. I let go of him and smiled, he smiled back at me.
"Thanks." He said as he scratched the back of his head and grinned. He then made his way to the beach. I watched him go and sighed, 'god I love him' I thought to myself. I suddenly became aware that all of the group were looking at me, I had completely forgotten about them! I could feel my face turn red as I looked at the floor.
"I'm gonna go after him and see how he gets up there." Barret said quickly. I sighed in relief, thankful that the attention had been taken of me.
"You know Tifa you really shouldn't do things like that, people will talk and you wouldn't want to get yourself a reputation now would you?" Aeris said and with that she turned and walked of, her nose in the air.
"Bitch." Said a voice next to me. I turned to see Yuffie stood beside me. "You ok Tifa? Don't listen to her she is just annoyed that Cloud won't give her the time of day!" She said with a grin. I smiled at her,
"Thanks Yuffie." I said as I sat down on the steps leading to Pricilla's house. Yuffie came and sat down beside me.
"You know the whole way all she talked about was Cloud this and Cloud that she drove me and Red crazy! Your so lucky you didn't have to travel with her!" Yuffie said.
"But she only just met Cloud..." I said quietly.
"Yeah well it doesn't seem to matter how long shes known the guy she wants to add him to her list of conquests." Yuffie said as she ran a finger along the edge of her shurikan. I bit my lip and looked down... what if she took Cloud away from me, the thought scared me so much.
"Hey don't look so worried." Yuffie said as she put a hand on mine. "I'm not into women or anything but if I was Cloud I know I would rather you than miss pink and red dress. I mean EW!" Yuffie said as she pulled a face. I laughed.
"Thanks." I said smiling at her.
"Are you ok Tifa, you seemed troubled when you joined us earlier." Red said as he approached us.
"Oh... it's nothing... just bad dreams." I said smiling at him, I didn't want to think about my horrible dream or about Cloud's question when I had woken him up.
"Hmmmm when we get to my home I will see if there is anything I can give you for that. My grandfather will know of something." He said. I smiled at him, so this is what it felt like to have friends... I hadn't felt like this for so long. I had gone from being the most popular in the village to being alone... it was horrible, I had missed this feeling.. the feeling that you had other people to hold you up and look out for you... it's definitely something we all need.
"C'mon guys Cloud got to the top fine we can do it too!" Barret said with a grin. We all got up and made our way to the beach. On the way Barret nudged me, "hehe I didn't see you as the forward type Tifa." he said causing me to blush.
"I'm.. um... not normally..." I said and I could feel myself getting redder by the second, so much for keeping my feelings a secret!
"You really like him huh?" Barret said as he looked at me, I really didn't want to answer that so I just looked at the floor, why was everyone so interested in Cloud and I all of a sudden anyway?! He laughed and put an arm around me. "Well as soon as I've figured out if he is good enough for ya Tif I will let you know." he said in a cheerful tone and embarrassed as I was I couldn't stop the smile that crossed my face and the words "Thanks Barret." coming out.