As soon as the workmen had gone, Cloud and I made our way to the exit of the boat to find the rest of the team. Stepping outside I could feel the hot sunshine on my skin, I sighed quietly, loving the feeling.
"Damn! Sure is hot here!" Barret moaned as he wiped some sweat off his forehead. "But I sure feel better now that I can say good-bye to this sailor suit." He said with a grin. Cloud and I smiled at each other, I knew I wouldn't ever look at poor Barret the same again!
"Yo listen up!! Y'all be sure to mingle like regular folks here!" he said looking at us all.
"Oh, too bad. I liked Barret's sailor suit. He looked so cute." Aeris said winking at him. Her pass didn't really seem to amuse him.
".....What'ya mean cute " ?" Barret asked horrified.
"I know exactly how the poor guy feels!" Cloud whispered to me. I laughed then caught Aeris glaring at me.
"Right... well, uh..." I started quickly, "Barret, why don't you use that sailor suit for pyjamas?" I said with a grin. "Right, Cloud?" I said nudging him.
"Ahhh.... You look like a bear wearing a marshmallow." Cloud said laughing. We all burst into laughter. I was happy to see Cloud so relaxed, but how could you not be in a town like this?
"The hell's that supposed to mean!? This happens to be the most comfortable, so shu'up!" Barret said raising his gun, I put my hand on Cloud's shoulder and pulled him back a little trying to avoid another fight between them.
"...puff...puff...Would you kindly hurry? The heat here is drying my nose." Red interrupted.
"Yeah mine too!" Yuffie said frowning. I laughed and hugged her, she was so sweet.
"Alright. We'll take a break here and then head off." Cloud said reluctantly. "Don't wander too far off."
"I'll wander wherever I damn well want! Who made him the leader?" Barret said clearly still sore from the sailor suit comments.
"It looks like my mane got messed up." I'm going to rest somewhere cool." Red said annoyed.
"I guess the heat isn't for everyone." I said to Cloud as everyone started to walk away.
"Yeah." Cloud said with a smile as he watched them go. "It is nice here but I don't want to lose too much time.." he said as he moved to put his arm around me. Suddenly I felt someone shove me aside and I had to struggle to keep my balance. I looked to see Aeris standing where I had been. 'What am I invisible?!' I thought to myself getting more and more annoyed with this girl.
"Maybe I should get a tan for a change." She said holding onto Cloud's arm and grinning. I looked away clenching my fists. "Which do you like Cloud?" She said. I looked over at Cloud who was looking passed Aeris and right at me.
"I like fair complexions." He said smiling at me.
"Got it. I'll remember that." She said with a grin as she went of.
I folded my arms and looked at the floor, my mood had been ruined.
"Why the long face?" Cloud said as he put his arm around me.
"I'm ok," I said as I forced a smile. "Just… sleepy." I added quickly.
"aaww Tifa, a sad face doesn't suit you. Lets find an inn, I think we both need to rest." He said as he pulled me closer and we started walking together. I sighed and smiled, this suddenly felt like a holiday.
There were people walking round in swimwear and there were kids playing football in the streets, everything about this town was so relaxed and happy.
"You know there isn't a single cloud in the sky here," I said to Cloud as I looked up. "Wouldn't it be amazing to live in a place like this?" I said looking at him. He laughed,
"Such a dreamer Tifa, but you never know maybe one day you will." He said as we stopped outside a house with a 'For Sale' sign.
"Wow it's so pretty… I bet it costs a fortune." I said as I looked up at the villa.
"Yeah just a regular house in an area like this is gonna cost a lot. We don't have to worry about stuff like that being travellers." Cloud said as he started moving but I didn't move. "Tifa?" He said in a confused tone.
"Hmmm?" I answered lost in thought.
"Whats wrong?" he said looking at me then following my stare to the house.
"I was just thinking how perfect it would be to buy it and live here. I could open another bar but the area would be nice this time, I love the heat and everyone here seems so happy and nice. With all the tourists I would get to meet lots of new people and it's a great place to bring up ki…" I suddenly realised what I was saying and stopped myself. "b..but we should go now." I said smiling at Cloud then I quickly started walking but this time it was Cloud who stalled looking at the house before joining me.
I continued to observe the small town, the villa was definitely the nicest and biggest house there but there was no sign of the inn. Finally we stumbled across the beach, I was so tempted to take my boots of and walk on the warm sand. I looked up at cloud,
"I think we are over dressed." I whispered.
"Tell me about it, I'm so hot!" Cloud said as he wiped some sweat of his forehead.
"Shall we go for a swim?" I said with a laugh, the sea looked so blue and cool and inviting.
"mmm maybe if we come back here when everything is over, I promise we will swim then." Cloud said looking towards the sea.
"Oh! Cloud!!" Squeaked a voice louder than all the people on the beach put together. I turned around to see Aeris stood there with all of her buttons undone, 'uh yuck! Look away look away! Is she trying to get a tan like that?!' I thought to myself in disgust. I turned to look at the other side of the beach when suddenly a familiar face caught my eye... I couldn't believe it!
"Look, look at that!" I said pointing at what looked like that bastard Hojo surrounded by a load of pretty girls!
"Hm...?" Was Clouds response as he put a hand on my shoulder and looked where I was pointing. "Is that man over there, Hojo?" He asked. I blinked but sure enough he was still there looking exactly like the last time I had seen him complete with white lab coat. I looked at Cloud,
"Go over and talk to him." I said, 'maybe we can get answers from him... not just about Sephiroth but about Aeris too.' I thought to myself. All three of us walked over to him, he didn't seem to notice us but the girls sat around him did. 'Has he invented some sort of love potion or something?! Oh God what if he has and it's like in the air around him!' I thought and suddenly moved a little behind Cloud not wanting to take any risks. One of the girls turned to look at us, she had a perfect tan, long dark hair and not much of a bikini on.
"God!! What do you want?" She said in an annoyed tone. I raised an eyebrow, she really needed a good slapping and if she pushed me I so would. Cloud didn't seem amused either.
"I want to talk with that man " he said in a tone which told me he would also lose his temper if pushed.
"Hey, who do you think you are?" One of the girls muttered. The girl who had first spoken to us put her hand on Hojo's arm,
"Professor Hojo. That scary man says he wants to talk with you." She said fluttering her eyelashes at him. '...definitely a love spell...' I thought to myself. Hojo shook his head.
"I'm busy right now." he said in an annoyed tone, he then looked up at us, ".....But. Too bad. Oh, I remember you all now." he looked us over again then took his glasses of, polished them on his lab coat and put them back on. "Yes, yes. I remember now." he said as he sat up and stared directly at Cloud. I kept one hand on Cloud's back...I really didn't like the way he was looking at him.
"It's been a long time, Cloud." He said in a solemn tone.
"Hojo....." Cloud said the name with contempt. I turned my gaze to Cloud's face, I didn't realise they knew each other. Suddenly Hojo laughed.
"Sometimes you just gotta do something like this." He said as he lay back and grinned at us all.
"....What are you doing?" Cloud muttered, still not sounding happy.
"It should be obvious. I'm getting a tan." Hojo said as he laughed again then took a Champaign glass from one of the girls and sipped on it. I glared at Hojo but suddenly felt afraid as I could feel Cloud shaking a little.
"Answer me!" He said in a much more threatening tone. 'Please don't lose your temper' I begged silently.
"Hmm! I believe we're both after the same goal." Hojo said with a smile as he took another sip.
"You mean Sephiroth?" Cloud asked, I felt his body relax a little and I sighed in relief, the last thing we needed was a fight.
"Did you see him?" Hojo asked raising an eyebrow. "I see..... Ha! Ha!" he gave the glass back to the girl and stood up never taking his eyes of Cloud.
"What is it?" Cloud asked.
"Nothing. I just remembered a certain hypothesis......." Hojo said with a menacing grin. "Haven't you ever had the feeling something is calling you? Or that you had to visit some place?......" he asked. I gripped the back of Cloud's shirt a little, I didn't like this. It was like Hojo knew something about Cloud... something Cloud didn't even know himself.
"I'll go anywhere Sephiroth is at! To beat him and put an end to all this!" Cloud said almost immediately. Hojo looked down as if thinking.
"I see...... This could be interesting." he muttered more than himself to us, he then looked up again. "Were you in SOLDIER? ....Heh heh heh! Would you like to be my guinea pig?" He asked followed by even more laughter, Cloud suddenly put his hand on his sword.
"Oh, now what? Are you going to draw your sword?" Hojo asked his tone and grin mocking. A look of rage crossed Cloud's face and he drew his sword, I knew he would hack this man to pieces and we would lose any chance of getting answers out of him. I quickly moved in front of Cloud and put my hands on his arms.
"Stop, Cloud! I know how you feel, but you mustn't." I said looking into his eyes. His expression softened and he put his sword back. I smiled at him and he smiled back at me... he listened to me...
"Ha! Ha! Ha!...." Hojo cackled causing me to turn around. He walked over to Aeris who had been stood in silence the whole time and looked her up and down.
"Say, aren't you the 'Ancient?" He said grinning.
"I'm Aeris. The least you can do is remember my name." She said looking annoyed. "I want you to tell me something, Professor Hojo..... I know I'm an Ancient. My mother told me."She started.
"Your mother? Oh, you mean Ifalna. How is she?" Hojo said with a smile.
"You didn't know? She died." Aeris said quietly. I suddenly saw a change come over Hojo, he looked away and he actually seemed upset.
"......I see." He said quietly. It looked like even the seemingly insane professor Hojo had a weak spot.
"Professor Hojo.... Is Jenova an Ancient? Is Sephiroth an Ancient? Do we all have the same blood?" Aeris asked, there was desperation in her voice. I didn't blame her...the last person I would want to be related to would be Sephiroth.
"......mumble....mumble..... head west...." Hojo muttered under his breath.
"He's mumbling slowly.... That must mean he's hiding something!" Aeris said annoyed. Hojo sat back down silent and visibly shaken.
"................."
"Hey! Answer us!!" I said also feeling annoyed. 'This man has the answers to all our questions and more... why wont he talk?!' I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Cloud.
".......It's no use. It's no go." He whispered as he took my hand and lead me of. Aeris followed us quickly.
"I can't believe him! He is so weird!" Aeris said as she sat down in the sand. "Well I'm not going to let him ruin this I'm gonna carry on enjoying the beach, I'm sure those boys over there like me, hehe I think you have some competition Cloud!" Aeris said winking at him. I glared at her and turned around annoyed.
"What?" Cloud said sounding as annoyed as I felt. 'It's like all she cares about is getting between Cloud and I!' I thought to myself.
"Tifa Lockheart?" I turned to see the girl with the long dark hair stood beside me.
"Yes?" I said confused. Cloud noticed her speaking to me and came over.
"What do you want?!" He said "If Hojo sent you over to play with her mind you had better go back to him before I slice you in half!" He said glaring at her. I was shocked at how aggressive Cloud had become... what was he afraid of.
"I only want a word with your precious Tifa alone for a second!" The girl said as she took me by the arm and lead me away form Cloud.
"Whats this about?" I asked her.
"Hojo wanted me to pass on a message... 'beware Tifa Lockheart, your Cloud is not the man he would have you believe he is.' Thats all he said," She said and with that she turned and walked of. I stayed were I was reflecting on her words... I knew there were gaps in the story... Cloud himself admitted that... I knew Cloud's memory didn't fit with mine exactly... but he had always been my Cloud.
"Tifa?" Don't let them fill your head with rubbish and split us apart.. because thats all they want to do. 'He has to be right... he is still the man I love... he always has been.' I turned around and smiled at him.
"It's ok Cloud, They can try all they want... they won't pull us apart." I said. Cloud smiled and took my hand.
"I'm glad you agree, now lets get to the inn...I need to rest." He said as he took me away from the beach.
After some wandering we still couldn't find the inn.
"Should we ask someone for directions?" I said to Cloud.
"Uh sure but I'm not asking... I don't like... people." Cloud said looking down and scratching the back of his head. I smiled at him then looked around for someone, four guys were passing us carrying surf boards.
"Um excuse me?" I said quietly. They all turned around to look at me. They were all wearing sun glasses and had tans and very toned bodies. 'One of the benefits of living in a town like this must be that you get to look like an underwear model 24/7!' I thought to myself.
"Can you guys direct us to an inn please?" I asked smiling. They all looked a each other and grinned... suddenly I didn't feel so confidant.
"ooohhh you want to go to the inn eh?" One of them asked as he stepped towards me. "You know I could maybe book a room for you and I" he said as he lifted his sunglasses to reveal his dark eyes and then winked at me. I felt my face flush a little but thankfully I was saved by a hand grabbing my wrist and pulling me away from them. I looked up to see Cloud who had now put his arm around me and was glaring at the guys.
"On second thoughts... I'll ask!" He said looking down at me. I smiled and shook my head, I was so tempted to tell him how cute it was that he was all protective but I didn't want to embarrass him. "Look Tifa the door of that house is open, lets go in and ask the owner... I want to get out of this heat for a bit anyway." he said as he took me to the house. I looked around it as we entered, it was a small house and seemed to only consist of a living room, bed room and bathroom. We were greeted by a well built man with bright red hair.
"What's with YOU!!" He asked. I suddenly felt like coming in here wasn't such a good idea. I tried to pull Cloud back a little but he stood his ground and the expression on the mans face suddenly changed to one of disbelief. "Hey, is it........ you?" He asked in a much softer tone looking Cloud up and down his eyes wide. "We were in SOLDIER, and childhood friends before that. You were such a playboy. And a $#&^ murderer!!" he said the last bit with the same aggression as before. Now it was my turn to be shocked as a thousand thoughts hit me at once... 'Childhood friends? I don't know this man...how could he have been friends with Cloud when we were kids... and if this man recognised Cloud did that mean Cloud really was in soldier... he really came with Sephiroth all those years ago... but...'
"Why can't I remember your name?" The man whispered putting his hands over his face. I looked up at Cloud in desperation. Were these things he was accusing him of true? Who the hell was this guy? Cloud looked down at me then quickly looked back to the man. He shook his head slowly.
"Who are YOU?" Cloud asked.
"That's right. Long time no see. Do you remember me?" The man said with a small smile. I watched Cloud very carefully, he looked genuinely confused as he shook his head. "That's okay. We'll just keep on like we don't know each other." The man said as if there was some secret understanding between them... an understanding I needed in on! "I'm starting a new life in this town." he continued "A lot of things happened to us. Heh, I better stop my mumbling!" He then turned his gaze to me and smiled. "I sure envy you all just living outside with the sky as your ceiling." He said. I forced a small smile and nodded then quickly turned away from them both. I needed to get out of this house... what the hell was going on... I jumped a little when my thoughts were interrupted by a hand on my arm. I turned to see a girl about my age, slightly shorter than me with soft brown hair and eyes.
"I'm sorry about that. He's had some big shocks lately and is pretty depressed." She said quietly.
"I...it's ok... I'm sorry we shouldn't have just come in like that." I said trying hard to focus on what was going on and not all the thoughts in my head. I turned my attention to the man and Cloud.
"Hurry up and get out of here!" I heard him say to Cloud. "I'm happy like this. So keep out of my life." He said before turning away. Cloud stood there looking so confused. I quickly took hold of his hand and pulled him away.
"Cloud honey... let's go get some rest." I said as I gently lead him out of the house. As we walked in silence I kept hold of Cloud's hand but felt like I was in some sort of daze... 'what had just happened? A murderer? A playboy? That isn't my Cloud... how could that man know us when we were kids anyway... if he was a childhood friend I would recognise him, especially with that fiery red hair... but he knew Cloud was in soldier... but I never saw him in the newspapers... I didn't see him five years ago... I mean I did I saw him save me but he wasn't there all the time...uh I should just ask!'
"...Cloud?" I whispered, afraid to ask because I was afraid of what he might say.
"Tifa... I really don't know who that man was...Maybe he recognised me from soldier but thought I was someone else... I'm not those things he said." I felt Cloud take tight hold of both of my hands, "Tifa look at me.." I looked up into his shining blue eyes, they were pleading with me. "You believe me... right?" He said squeezing my hands a little. I closed my eyes for a second trying to pull my thoughts together. 'He seems so genuine... how can I not believe him? I love this man.. I have to trust him.' I opened my eyes and smiled at him.
"Of course I believe you Cloud.. his wife told me he had been shaken and depressed lately. It was probably due to that he confused you with another soldier." I said as I moved one of his spikes away from his face. "Don't worry." I said gently. Cloud gave a sigh of relief.
"I wouldn't normally care what people thought of me.. but it's you so it's...different." He said as he blushed a little and looked down. I felt my heart rate speed up a little and I also blushed.
"How am I um...different?" I asked quietly. Cloud was silent for a moment looking at his shoes all the time but still holding my hands. 'I bet we look so silly stood here like this...but I don't care because I'm different... does that mean he... no I shouldn't even get my hopes up...'
"Well... um Tifa... I... well... I..." he started mumbling quietly.
"Heyyyyy are you guys STILL looking for the inn?" I turned around very very annoyed to see the guys from before stood behind me. One of them laughed a little and pointed behind Cloud. "It's just over there. Now go get a room love birds so we don't have to watch!" He said with a laugh. I glared at him a little and watched them walk passed me, the one who had so rudely invited me to share a room with him put a hand on Cloud's shoulder.
"I'm sorry about before man I didn't know she was your girl." He said. Cloud just gave a small nod then keeping hold of one of my hands lead me to the inn. I knew I was smiling, I was very much enjoying the fact that people thought Cloud and I were a couple... but are we? I looked up at him then down at my hand which he was still holding. 'I can see why people would think it...and I know I love him...but I don't know how he feels and he doesn't know how I feel. Damn it I'm a confidant person, I should just tell him but noooo I have to be afraid of rejection!' I thought to myself as I watched Cloud pay for the room. He smiled at me and put an arm around me as he took me into the room and closed the door.
"Oh thank god it's air conditioned in here!" Cloud said as he took his armour of and leaned his sword against the wall. It only just clicked with me how hot it must have been for him. I lay down on one of the beds and sighed, the change of temperature was very much welcome. I took my gloves and boots of then got under the white sheet. It was so cool and soft.
Cloud sat down on the edge of the bed and took his boots of then his shirt. I bit my bottom lip secretly loving the sight.
"Oh you um don't mind do you?" He asked as he got under the white sheet with me. I smiled at him and shook my head.
"Trust me Cloud I don't mind at all." I said with a giggle. Cloud laughed a little then yawned, he seemed so exhausted.
"I'm sorry Tifa I'm gonna sleep... I can barely keep my eyes open." He said as he moved a hand over and put it on my tummy. I smiled and twisted one of his spikes around my finger absentmindedly.
"Thats fine Cloud, the leader needs to rest." I said quietly as I closed my eyes too.
"mmm you keep the team together Tifa and you keep me sane... I don't know what I would do without you..." Cloud whispered as he wrapped both of his arms around me tight. I opened my eyes and looked at him shocked, but he was sound asleep. I sighed a little and kissed his forehead.
"I love you Cloud Strife..." I whispered as I also closed my eyes and fell asleep.