WHEN SECRETS ARE NO LONGER SECRET

CHAPTER ONE

Departure

The sunset lit the sky with shades of red before casting everything into grays and purples. The wind blew through the trees and grass, a silent rustle. Nocturnal creatures awoke from their daytime oblivion and set about their tasks of finding food and avoiding becoming someone else's. The night was disturbed by the passing of the dark chocobo and it's silent rider. This was the dangerous terrain of the Western Continent in the area known as Neiblem. An area filled with monsters both weak and strong.

The mansion loomed in the distance silent and full of evil secrets, the gate creaking on its neglected hinges as the wind blew through. Silently the rider dismounted and led the chocobo through the gate. After removing the tired birds tack the tall man then gave the chocobo a pat on the beak before he went inside the forbidding building. Giving a muffled wark the bird began to graze. This place, it was both the end and the beginning of his life. His home, his fortress of solitude where not even the people in town dared to go.

Tifa and Cloud sat silently together in the new 7TH Heaven; their thoughts were both on the events of the past two years. Had they really saved the planet one years ago, was it really over, what now? Neo-Midgard was nearly complete; Reeves had taken control after the fall of ShinRa. Keeping in mind his time as Cait Saith, Neo-Midgard was environmentally friendly. Lots of grass, one level, no plate. This place would be a beginning.

"Tifa…"

"What is it?"

"…I think that I…"

"It's Aries isn't it?"

"…Yes, I didn't realize how much I came to love her until…you know"

" Cloud, the best advice I can give you is to follow your heart. You're my friend and I've seen how this is effecting you…you need to do what you can to be happy again."

Just like Tifa, always understanding. "Thank you Tifa"

Cloud got up and went into the back to start packing for the next day's journey while Tifa sat there deep in though. 'Follow your heart…should I follow mine or will I only get hurt? If I don't try, I'll never know…' Tifa stood so suddenly that the table almost fell over, moving quickly Tifa managed to catch it before it hit the ground. "Tifa, you o.k?" came Clouds voice from the back. "Yep, I just got up to fast, I think that I'll take my own advice." Cloud poked his head out the door. "What?" " I said" Tifa said as she pushed the chairs in close to the table. "That I am going to follow my own advice, I am going on a trip and seeing where I end up." Tifa walked over to the phone and began dialing Sables number. "Hello? May I speak to Sable? Thanks…Hi Sable, It's Tifa…Fine and you? That's good. Listen Sable, I am planning on going on a trip soon, in about three day's, do you feel confident in running the bar while I am gone?………Great, o.k. See you later bye." Turning from the phone Tifa caught the questioning look in Cloud's eyes. "Your not the only one who's felt that something was missing." Tifa stated matter of factly. "Anyway, you have to pack and I need sleep, see you tomorrow morning." "Good night Tifa." Came Clouds voice as Tifa headed up the stairs.

The next morning Cloud saddled up his green chocobo "Bree" Turning he gave Tifa a quick kiss on the cheek and a good bye before mounting Bree and heading of in the direction of the Southern Continent. Tifa waved goodbye before turning and entering her bar. Time to open to business.

The next few days seemed to go by so quickly as Tifa got here provisions ready and gave Sable a crash course on how to fully run a bar, she also gave Sable Barrets number in case she needed help, Marlene knew how to mix drinks and Barret was great at getting rid of stubborn drunks. Finally it was the morning of the third day, the day of her trip. After getting dressed, Tifa headed out to the backyard stables where Hindi was waiting patiently to be saddled for their trip. Tifa had to laugh; the blue chocobo loved to travel long distances and always seemed to know when she was going on one. Tifa gave Hindi a scratch under her beak. "Good morning! Lets get this trip started." Once the eager bird was saddled (which took a while since Hindi got so excited she wouldn't stand still) they were off. Tifa set a course heading west.

She had known her destination that night when she had told Cloud to follow his heart, but she had been reluctant to tell him where she was headed. Would he have understood? The weather stayed nice for the first week but the further west she went the worst the weather got. Finally on one really rainy day she had had enough. When next she saw a town she decided to stay there for the night. Finding the Inn, Tifa brought Hindi to the stables and gave her to the stable girl there before heading inside. The warmth hit her full force as soon as she walked through the door and for a moment she just stood there savoring the heat. She walked over to the desk clerk, "One room please." Tifa said. The desk clerk, an older man looked at her up and down, " How many nights?" He asked her after a moment.

"Um... two please."

"Sure thing miss, that will be 150 gil" The clerk said as he handed the key to Tifa, "Room 115."

"Here you go" Tifa said as she handed the gil over "Do you have a phone I can use?"

"A phone, sure there's one over by the stairs, help yourself."

Tifa thanked the clerk and walked over to the phone. Dialing Reeves' number, Tifa wondered if she was doing the right thing. Was she prying where she wasn't wanted? Thoughts of doubt filled her head as the phone continued to ring.

"Hello?" Tifa was pulled back to reality by the familiar voice of Reeves.

"Reeves, hi it's Tifa. How are you?"

"Tifa? I am doing great, there's so much stuff that I need to fix, the ShinRa sure were a screwed up bunch. So why the call?"

"..."

"Tifa?"

"Um...Can I ask you a favor?"

"Depends on what it is."

"I was wondering if you could sent me some files..."