Chapter 3 - 4: 26 PM, Nibelheim Standard Time, Day 2

Departure

"Hello, Yuffie?"

"Tifa! I'm glad that you called. But you're early, and I was going to call you!"

Around this time, I finally got the nerve to call Yuffie. We normally talk around ten o'clock as usual but in the situation that I'm in...

"I know, but I need to ask you something."

"What is it?" she asked, curious.

"I'm going to leave Nibelheim for awhile and I was wondering if I could stay at your place."

Yuffie squealed over the phone in delight. "Really! In my house...in Wutai!"

I laughed. "Yeah, you don't mind...right?"

Yuffie sounded overjoyed to me. I wish I could be like that. "Of course I don't! When are you coming?"

"Maybe two days from now."

"Great! I'll prepare a room for you right away!"

"Thank you."

"No problem! It's the best I can do for a good friend. But what I just want to know is why do you want to come over at my place?"

"Well...I saw Cloud today..."

"And?"

"We talked."

Yuffie was even more shocked than before. "NO WAY! You guys talked, after six months?"

I laughed a little at her enthusiasm. "Yeah, he gave me my silver chained necklace back."

"You mean the one that your mom gave you?"

"Yes, I have no idea how he had it, but he said that I left in his house...I don't really remember."

"So THAT'S it." Yuffie's tone of voice suddenly changed from cheerful to suspicious. "You want to get him off your mind, that's why you want to go to Wutai. Something ROMANTIC happened and you want to go somewhere far away to think about it."

I laughed sarcastically. "Yeah! It's like you read my mind." In my mind, she nailed it perfectly, how did she know?

Yuffie giggled and her voice instantly turned cheerful again. "It's okay, I understand. I would do the exact same thing. You sound just like a romance novel."

"Really? What you said is true and I hope you will accept me in your home."

"Of course!" she replied. "So, do you have any idea on what time you're going to arrive in Wutai?"

"About noon if I keep my schedule correct."

"Okay! I'll be waiting for you. This is going to be so fun!"

"I think so too, I'll see you in two days."

"Oh, I can't wait! Bye Tifa!"

"Bye..."

Yuffie hung up the phone before I did. I bet she's doing cartwheels right now. I'm glad she's so happy. To me, this is an excellent chance to leave dull Nibelheim and see Wutai again. It will be even greater with Yuffie around, and she always knows what to do to keep things up and going. But...most importantly, it is an opportunity to think about this predicament with Cloud...what I should do, what I should say, and how to execute it. I hurried up to my room to start packing my things.

I'm thinking about traveling light. What is the best possible way of getting to Wutai? It's so far away. I guess I did mean it when I wanted to go far away. I'll use the Tiny Bronco that is docked by Nibelheim, stop on the western continent, and walk the rest of the way to Wutai. It's a great way to exercise and to renew my skills. I found a small suitcase in the closet, the perfect size for light travel. I packed only my favorite clothes, my leather gloves, my own materia, potions for the walk to Wutai, my VERY important house keys, and some beauty supplies. Even someone like me needs them, heh. I also packed my diary, which I bought four months ago. I have written all my feelings and released all my anger in it. I purchased it in Nibelheim's Item Shop for one-hundred gil. It's just a plain diary with a white border and flowers in the middle, like a meadow. The inside is just vanilla white paper with lines. About a fourth of the diary has been written in. I plan to fill it all up and continue my life in a new one; maybe one not so bland.

I finished packing all my most important items and I noticed that the suitcase wasn't even full; it was so small though. I WAS traveling light. I closed the suitcase and carried it to the front door. I noticed how light it was too.

I have it all planned out. I'll leave Nibelheim for the Tiny Bronco at dawn and probably reach the western continent in three hours. The rest is just up to me. I'll make it to Wutai in less than a day, that's if the monsters don't come after me.

A sliver of light entered my bedroom. Dawn approached and I was already wide awake, already dressed, and running down the stairs. I quickly grabbed a breakfast bar from the kitchen. I was ready to leave. I stood by the front door wearing a sweater, blue jeans, sunglasses, and leather boots. Carrying my suitcase, I took a last look at my house. The kitchen where I always ate...alone, the living room, with the neglected television, and the stairs to the upper rooms. I sighed and left the house and silently locked the door. The street lights were still flickering in a sleepy Nibelheim. I walked past the well to the town gates. I took one a final glance at my first home, my first house, and where I met my first love. Your lights are still on, I thought.

I gave one final sigh and left Nibelheim. It's amazing that I've stayed here for a full year and the only person I ever contact is Yuffie. She has visited my house once, and that was the only time that it looked colorful. But as soon as she left, it was dull and lifeless again. I was walking in the foggy outskirts of Nibelheim, seeing the vast green plains and crystal beaches. I saw the Tiny Bronco still on the same beach; it's waiting for me.

Wutai, here I come.