Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Note: Thank you, once again, to all of my wonderful reviewers! GAH! I have more than 100 reviews now! SQUEAL! I can hear the Hallelujah Chorus…

Second Note: If you guessed, had the vague thought, registered, or otherwise knew, that Vincent took Tifa on a date at the Gold Saucer because it's the last place Cloud and the others would look for them, give yourself a big pat on the back because you're RIGHT! Good work guessing, though it may have been obvious…ah well.

Third Note: I know that some of you were worried about the ending of the last chapter…let out that anxious breath you were holding; the beginning of the chapter explains what, if anything, went on…

Chapter 15: The Search

Tifa didn't want to open her eyes.

Vincent's embrace felt too wonderful to disturb. If she opened her eyes and he was awake, he'd know she was awake and get up, and by doing so that would break the embrace,

She was also afraid of what she might find.

Even though the woman was pretty sure that she was still a virgin, that no sex had taken place during the night between her and Vincent, she wasn't completely certain.

Deciding to find out for sure, she slowly opened one eye and peeked under the covers…

…Her clothes were still on, with the exception of her shoes, and Vincent's pants were on.

A sigh of mingled relief and slight disappointment escaped Tifa's lips and she opened her wine-colored eyes all the way, glancing up at the man's face.

"Good morning, Tifa," said a deep, silken voice.

Tifa smiled and pulled herself up towards the headboard so that their eyes were level. "Hey, Vincent," she yawned.

"…Were you looking for something?"

"Oh. Um…I was just making sure that I didn't lose anything," she responded, shrugging.

The red-eyed man planted a very gentle, brief kiss on the woman's lips. "Don't worry, I took nothing from you…well…except for your freedom, but I'm sure that's not what you were checking, was it?" he asked, a hint of a smile in his voice.

Tifa shook her head.

"Ah, and before I forget…how's your shoulder doing?" Vincent wanted to know, sitting up.

The dark-haired woman blushed. She'd almost forgotten about her shoulder, but also, she'd almost forgotten that Vincent wasn't wearing a shirt. "I haven't really noticed any pain lately," she muttered, embarrassed at the heat she felt rising into her face as her gaze lingered, almost of its own accord, at her beloved's torso.

"That's a good sign. I should probably check it and see if it is at the point where it can be healed by Materia or Potions," Vincent mused, sliding out of the bed. Noticing her gaze, his eyes smiled and he leaned to her, allowing their lips to briefly brush against each other.

Tifa's blush intensified and she sighed when Vincent went to dig through his few belongings to find medicinal items. She never grew tired of his kisses, at all.

As Vincent slid back into his shirt and returned to the bed with a small Materia orb in his hand, he frowned, knowing that his time left with Tifa was limited—the others were sure to find them eventually. Though he often grew tired of most other people within the first fifteen minutes of being with them, he felt as though he'd barely been with Tifa and really didn't want to end his time with her. He never grew tired of her presence.

"Let me check the injury," he instructed, helping her to sit up (despite the fact that she was capable of sitting up on her own).

Tifa obediently removed her shirt. She wouldn't be revealing anything to him—she was, after all, a woman, and most women, after all, do wear bras.

Vincent carefully coaxed the sticky adhesive Band-Aid off of her shoulder and examined the wound. "It seems to be to the point where Materia can heal it," he observed, handling the orb so that a green light engulfed his beloved. Seconds later, the pretty light of healing power was gone, along with the wound.

"Thanks, Vincent," said Tifa, smiling, as she replaced her shirt.

"It was no problem…by the way, we will be departing soon so go ahead and get ready. I will take a shower after you do, if you decide to take a shower," Vincent said softly, handing Tifa her bag.

"Okay." Tifa slid out of bed and knelt near the middle of the furniture used for sleeping, digging through her bag. In order to get a better look at her clean clothes, she removed her skirt and set it on the edge of the bed.

Vincent decided to make the bed and pulled the sheets up—over her skirt, having not realized it was there.

When Tifa finally found the outfit in her belongings that she wanted to wear, she pulled it out and closed the bag, forgetting that her skirt was there.

"I'm gonna go shower now," she called over her shoulder, heading towards the bathroom.

"Cloud," Cid grunted, "we've looked everywhere and no damn Tifa."

"Hey, she might be at the Gold Saucer! Ya know, the place you didn't wanna look?" Yuffie suggested hopefully, really wanting to go to the park.

Cloud sighed, sliding his hand to his forehead. Though he really doubted they'd be there, he decided to give it a shot. He'd even ask people if they'd seen her. It wouldn't hurt to try, not now that she was nowhere else. "Fine, we'll look there…but this is NOT a vacation, Yuffie," he said firmly, glaring at the young ninja.

"I don't care about a vacation, I just wanna go there!" the dark-haired girl said, jumping up and down in glee.

"They are coming," Hellmasker snarled at Vincent.

"You are leaving, as soon as possible, or else the girl will die the most painful death we can possibly give her," Chaos instructed cruelly.

"Fine," Vincent sighed to his demons, but only because he really didn't want Tifa to die a painful death—really, he didn't want her to die at all, but if she did die he'd rather it be a quick, easy, painless death. She didn't deserve to suffer.

A couple of minutes later, Tifa emerged from the bathroom, her hair still sopping wet. "Okay, you can get in now," she said cheerfully.

Vincent nodded and took a very hasty shower. The longer he took, the worse the headache Chaos gave him became.

Managing to very quickly blow dry his hair, he replaced his clothing (including his cape and headband) before exiting the bathroom.

"We should be leaving now…" he muttered worriedly, grabbing his belongings as Tifa grabbed hers.

"Okay," she said, obediently following him out of the room, out of the hotel, and out of the Gold Saucer. "Where are we going?" she asked when they stood outside of Coral.

"Nibelheim…it's a bit far away, but I very much wish to be far away from this place," the man said through clenched teeth as his worst demons gave him a terrible headache whenever he tried to stop.

"Oh…well…fine with me," the wine-eyed woman said, frowning slightly at the man's vagueness.

They didn't know for sure that they had been there, but by the time the remaining group entered the Gold Saucer, Vincent and Tifa were long gone.

Cloud sometimes carried a picture of Tifa with him in his pocket. He'd found a pretty recent picture of her, and had it with him to use when he asked people if they'd seen her.

Displaying his lifetime pass to the employee at the entrance, he also showed her the picture and asked, "Have you seen this woman before…?"

The employee accepted his pass, then nodded at the picture. "Yeah, she came in here yesterday."

"Was she with anyone and have you seen her today?" Cloud asked anxiously, motioning to the rest of the group.

"I just got on duty a few minutes ago so she might have left…so no I haven't seen her today. But yeah, she was with someone," the employee shrugged.

"Who? What did they look like?"

"I don't know the person's name, but he was a man. He was tall and had dark hair, I think…and a totally weird-looking arm," the woman said in a bored tone. "Look, you can go ask other people. I don't know everything."

"I will. Thanks a lot," Cloud breathed, entering the main station of the park.

"I TOLD YOU SHE MIGHT BE HERE!" Yuffie shrieked, jumping up and down in triumph.

"Yes. And you were right. That doesn't mean much," Red snorted.

"So…Red and Yuffie, you come with me," Cloud said, interrupting the two. "The rest of you, I want you to check the Event Square, Battle Square, and Chocobo Square. We'll check the rest of the place."

Everyone nodded and split up into their appropriate groups.

"So, Cloud, where are we checking first?" Red asked.

"First, we check the hotel," he instructed. Yuffie and Red nodded.

Once there, the spiky-haired leader approached the front desk and the man who managed the hotel (dressed as a dead person, of course) appeared.

"May I help you?" he asked in a creepy voice.

"Have you seen this woman?" Cloud asked, a bit nervous as he slid the photo onto the desk. "Please. It's very important."

"Ah…" the owner said, getting rid of the whole I-am-scary-and-dead act. "Why, yes. She checked in just yesterday."

"Was she with a man with a metal arm?" Cloud asked, certain his heart stopped.

"…Now that you mention it, yes, the man's arm was metal. His eyes were also red, he wore a tattered red cape, a red headband, a black dress shirt and pants, and I think he was carrying a gun. He checked in under the name 'Vincent Valentine' I believe," the owner, Mr. Hangman, said, digging through his memory to try and remember. "Ah, and they checked out just this morning, about one hour before you got here."

The trio's hearts jumped in unison.

"What room were they in?" Cloud demanded. "And can I have a key to that room?"

Mr. Hangman nodded, handing them a small brass key. "Room 18," he muttered.

Once they reached the room, Yuffie and Red looked at Cloud, expecting orders.

"…Yuffie, look in the closet. Red, look in the bathroom, and I guess I'll look at the bed," the young blonde man said, heart pounding as the two nodded again and took off to their assigned locations.

The bed appeared to be neatly made. Starting with the pillows, he examined both of them carefully. On the left pillow, there were a few long, dark strands of hair, identical to the hairs on Tifa's head. On the right side, there were a couple long, black strands of hair.

"There are two beds…and yet they shared one," the man growled, feeling his temperature rise. Seeing a maid in the hallway, he stopped her. "Hey, do you have a plastic baggie I could have? Or two?"

The maid nodded and reached into the bag she was carrying then handed him two plastic bags. Cloud thanked her and rushed back into the room. He put Vincent's hairs into one bag and Tifa's hair into the other bag, sealing them tight. Why? He wasn't sure why, exactly, but it could be helpful.

Sliding those into his pockets, he ripped the blankets off of the bed…

…And, on the same side of the bed he found her hairs on, he found Tifa's skirt.

Yumesuta: Wow, fast update for me. So, what do you think of that chapter? Can ya guess what's going through Cloud's head right about now? Hee, hee…well, PLEASE review!