Chapter 8 - 10:47 AM, Wutai Standard Time, Day 6

Releasing the Pain

"Oh my God." whispered Yuffie. "He knows that you're here Tifa..."

I would have imagined so. He saw me walk towards her house last night. But still...what does he want?

"Of course he knows," I replied. "Tell him to leave."

I didn't want to see him again...for now at least. I still needed a little more time to think.

"What do you want me to do?" Yuffie asked.

"Here's the plan," I said. "I'll go in the hallway so he won't be able to see me, but I'll be able to listen. Just tell him to leave. He'll probably be a little persistent...I trust you will know what to do."

She nodded and there were three more brash knocks on the door. They were even louder than before...my heart was beginning to pound in my chest like a hammer. I closed my eyes and signed.

"Well, here we go."

I tip-toed to the hallway and turned my head to see Yuffie.

"Go ahead."

She slowly opened the doors and I saw her looking at Cloud. He had a cold stare in his eyes...what was his problem? I quickly turned my head so I can only listen. The only thing I could see was hardwood floor and Yuffie's legs. I noticed they were shaking slightly...she was nervous.

"Well, well, what brings you here Cloud?"

"I was in the neighborhood."

"Is that so? How are you doing?"

"Fine."

Yuffie's voice sure sounded convincing. She could do some acting...maybe. But why is she asking questions? Just get it over with...

"That's good," she said. "How's life in Nibelheim?"

"Look, I didn't come here to be interrogated."

"My bad...don't be so stingy. What are you doing here anyway?"

"I'm looking for Tifa. I think she is staying here."

"Tifa? Why the heck would you think she's here?"

"I saw her walk towards this house last night."

So I was right. He is so predictable...

"Huh, that's funny," replied Yuffie, with a chortle. "I didn't see her. You must have had her confused with someone else."

"I'm positive that she came here."

Persistent as always, I thought. Suddenly, I heard Godo's voice from the kitchen.

"Is someone at the door, Yuffie?"

"Yeah, it's some guy," she replied. "Could you check the hallway for me? I think you left your oven mitt there."

"Okay. How did it end up there though?"

"I don't know!"

I slightly titled my head to see an oven mitt in Yuffie's hand. I quickly caught on to her scheme. She is even more clever than I thought. She threw the oven mitt in my direction and it landed next to my feet. I heard Godo's footsteps as they left the kitchen. I quietly crawled on all fours deeper into the hallway. A couple of seconds later, Godo saw me sitting by the wall with his oven mitt in my hands.

I smiled and said, "Forget something?"

"What are doing sitting in the hallway Tifa?"

Perfect! I was deep enough in the hallway so Cloud couldn't hear my voice or Godo's from outside.

I laughed and said, "It's a long story, but I need a favor from you."

"What?"

"Could you come closer? I want to whisper it into your ear."

"Why?"

"It's top secret!" I chortled.

I told him what to do. I said that Yuffie and I were doing a little prank on 'that guy' and I wanted him to play along.

"I see..." he said. "I'm just a little surprised that you're doing pranks along with Yuffie. I didn't think you were up to it."

"So will you do it?"

"Ah hell, why not?"

"Great! Here's your cue: Take your oven mitt and go back into the kitchen. Yuffie will ask you if I'm staying here and you say 'no, of course not'. Got it?"

He nodded his head and I gave him back his oven mitt. He resumed cooking breakfast in the kitchen while Yuffie was saying nonsense to Cloud. It was pretty funny actually, what we were doing to him.

"Are you sure that Tifa is not here?" Cloud asked.

"Of course! I'll even ask my dad."

"Okay..."

"Hey Dad!"

"What is it?" said Godo's voice.

"Have you seen Tifa around here?"

"No, of course not."

"Well, there you go. Tifa isn't here."

I carefully peered through the corner and I saw Cloud's dark brown boots at the foot of the door. He still hasn't left yet...

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes," replied Yuffie. "I'm sorry but, we're really busy so...good-bye!"

She quickly closed the double doors and I faintly heard Cloud say "Wait!" before they slammed together. I gave a sigh of relief.

"Whew," said Yuffie. "That was a close one. He just won't give up."

Something was wrong...I didn't hear the sound of footsteps walking away. He definitely knows that I'm here.

"Tifa, it's okay to come out now!" hollered Yuffie.

Suddenly, there we even more knocks on the doors and they were getting louder and louder, and they began to shake violently with each knock. He knew I was here and Yuffie just proved it to him. Yuffie froze in horror as the doors were shaking in front of her.

"Tifa!" Cloud shouted. "I know you're in there! Come out now!"

I was furious...Yuffie and her big mouth. It couldn't be helped I guess.

"Yuffie, you moron! Look what you did!"

"I-I'm sorry! I thought he was leaving for sure."

"Well you're obviously wrong. Let me handle this."

I walked up to the doors; they were still shaking and rattling.

"Stop it Cloud!"

Instantly, at that moment, the knocking stopped and everything was calm. Now it's time to give him a piece of my mind. The bastard deserves it.

"Open the doors, Tifa! Please."

He sounded desperate, but I didn't want to talk to him. I was still angry and he knew that. I didn't want to see his face either.

"No," I said firmly.

"Tifa, please," he said, almost as if he was pleading.

"I said no, Cloud. We can talk perfectly fine this way."

"Fine."

"Okay then. What do you want Cloud?"

"I came here to talk to you," he replied.

"Why is that?"

"You know why."

"Is that so? Why don't you fill me in on the details?"

"Stop being a smartass, Tifa."

"No Cloud, after all the torment you put me through, I'm going to be a smartass. So deal with it."

"You're being childish, Tifa. Stop fooling around."

"I don't care what you think! Do you think you can walk all over me? Do you even remember what you did six months ago...on that night? Five people were killed because of you."

There was a long pause and nothing but silence, I guess he was recalling what happened. The memories are flooding back...I hope.

"Well?" I asked.

"...I told you I was sorry, didn't I?"

Yes, you told me last night. I hesitated for a moment. I couldn't begin to relinquish all the emotions I was keeping inside. There was just so much that I wanted to let out...but now wasn't the perfect time. Yuffie was listening and so was her dad. They were both staring at me, with their eyes full of curiosity. I didn't want them to know...it was a personal matter. This was between Cloud and I, and I wanted to end it.

"I know you did...but that doesn't cut it."

"What are you talking about?"

He sounded stunned. I can't believe this. He's acting like this is news to him. I sighed in despair.

"Six months ago...at the Golden Saucer...I saw everything."

He was silent.

"I saw four people...dead, and another died right in front of me. You probably remember her, don't you?"

He was still silent.

"She was a little girl...I still remember her name. It was Anna. Do you remember her, Cloud? I hope you do. I remember the sound of her screaming before you put a hole in her head."

Even more silence. What is going through his head right now? Actually, I didn't want to know. At that moment, I heard the sound of footsteps walking away, and they were becoming faint until they were completely gone. He was finally gone. Did what I really say drive him away? It looked liked it worked...and I was glad.

"...Was what you said really true, Tifa?" Yuffie asked.

"Every word," I replied.

"I see...so you weren't lying."

"Why would I lie? Cloud knows what he did; he just doesn't want to confess it. His heart is so filled with shame and regret that he wants to deny that it ever happened. But there is one problem that is confronting him."

"What's that?"

"Me."

I thought about for a while and it would be best if I went back to Nibelheim. Yuffie insisted that I stayed for a little while longer. After all, I was only here for a couple days. I soon realized what I had to do. It's not going to be easy, but I have to do it. I have to talk with Cloud again...but this time we have to be alone.

I packed my things and said farewell to Yuffie. She still wanted me to stay but I declined. As I left Wutai I turned around for one last look. I saw Yuffie in distance and she looked sad. I'm sorry...I wish I could stay longer, but I have unfinished business in Nibelheim.

He's waiting for me.