Chapter Four: Of Five Years
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Final Fantasy 7.
To SomeRandomChick: Thank you for your review, I'm sorry the chapters are so short, I'll try to make them longer . This was my first review… sooo….. hands SomeRandomChick a chocolate fudge brownie enjoy!
Five years later….. (What's up with the five year gap? I dunno…. Just go with it)
The innocent little child stared up at the looming figure above him; he extended his arms, "Daddy!" Cloud picked up the child and placed him on his lap. "Where's Mommy?" the child cried. "She'll be back soon," Cloud said, consoling the crying child. "I'm home!" The child jumped out of Cloud's arms and scampered down the stairs to his mother, "Mommy!" Yuki picked up the smiling child, "Hello Rain." "Mommy…" the child mumbled. Cloud had followed the child, and greeted his wife with a kiss. "Where's Tifa?" Yuki asked. "She went out to buy something," Cloud replied. "MOMMY! DADDY! TIFA'S HOME!" the child burst out. Yuki set him on the floor and off he sped toward the bartender. Rain clung to Tifa's leg as she set the grocery bags on the counter. "Yes Rain?" Rain smiled up at her and extended a hand, "Marshmallow!" Tifa sighed and plucked a fluffy white cylindrical object out of one of her many brown sacks and handed it to the child who immediately stuffed it in his mouth. Tifa looked up at the couple standing by the staircase and nodded.
Yuki and Cloud made their way outside the door. Grabbing a coat from the closet, Cloud helped Yuki slip into it, planting a kiss on her cheek. Their hands interlocked and out they went, the door swinging behind them. "When will Mommy and Daddy be back?" the child inquired. "By dinner," Tifa replied, "Now what would you like for dinner?" "When's dinner?" Rain asked, completely ignoring Tifa's question. "In half an hour," Tifa answered. "Where did Mommy and Daddy go?" said Rain. "They went for a walk," Tifa responded. Rain nodded. Silence filled the room before Rain spoke again. "Chicken, I want chicken for dinner."
The two of them walked at a brisk pace. They stopped at the top of the hill and sat down beside a tree. Yuki leaned her back against the tree, Cloud's head in her lap. His fingers reached up to play with her hair that flowed in the cold breeze. "It's so nice here," Yuki said, "It's beautiful." "Not as beautiful as you…" Cloud muttered. Yuki looked down at her loving husband and smiled, "I love you." "I love you too," Cloud said. Side by side they sat, hands still interlocked as they watched the sun sink below the horizon. Standing up, the pair returned to the bar to help Tifa as her customers began to flow into the pub.
Yuki headed toward her dressing room a.k.a. her bedroom, to prepare for her performances. Cloud remained by the counter with Tifa, who sat watching Rain wolf down his dinner. Rain belched as he finished his dinner, "Excuse me." Tifa chuckled. Cloud lifted the child off the high stool and set him on the ground, "Come on now, its bed time." "NO!" the child screeched, "I dun wanna go to bed, I wanna hear Mommy sing!"
Cloud sighed. Tifa shrugged, "Who can blame him? Yuki's a wonderful singer." Cloud nodded, "I'll be right back." Cloud walked up the stairs and knocked on Yuki's bedroom door. "Come in," she called. Cloud turned the knob and inside he went. "What's the matter?" Yuki asked. "Rain will not go to bed…again," Cloud stated. "Don't worry about it," Yuki smiled, "He'll fall asleep, just you wait and see." Nodding, Cloud turned and left the room, walked down the steps, and returned to his spot by the counter.
Mamoru no wa kokoro no oku ni furisosogu inori no kotoba (Deep in my heart, a downpour of prayers protects me)
Tsutaeru no wa kawarazu aru kedagaki mirai (They're saying as usual that there is a bright future)
Kinou yori yasashiku nareba ikusen no tsuyosa mikata ni (If I can become more gentle than yesterday)
Ikite ikeru negai todoku sono hi wo matte (I wait for the day my wish gives strength to thousands of my friends)
Toki wo kizamu hari ni yobarete hibikidasu… (The needle engraved in time is calling and sounding…)
Are wa are wa eien no koe yosete kaesu naoto no you ni (That, that is the voice of eternity coming and going like the sound of waves)
Tsunagi tsumugu tashika na omoi keshite kienu na nokori (True feeling doesn't mean a name will be remembered)
Sunda me ni utsushitoru no wa taisetsu na mono bakari deshou (In my clear eyes, there are only copies of important things)
Asaki yume ni mayowanaide tada masugu ni (Don't get lost in the shallow dream, it's just ahead)
Yagate wa kanashimi mo nemuri ni ochiru kara (Eventually sadness will fall asleep)
Itsuka itsuka kanau no naraba mune wo tataku amata no tsukihi (Someday, someday if my wish can be granted the many painful days)
Subete sasage hohoemi kakeru nanimo osorenai to (Will be gone and I'll smile, nothing will be frightening)
Hitotsu futatsu shinjirun mono wo kasane kasane kobosanu you ni (One, two, the things I believe in piles up like they're not going to fall)
Daite ashita wo uketometa nara sukoshi wakaru hazu yo (If I can get a grasp of the future, I'm sure I'll understand a little)
Meguru meguru eien no koe yosete kaesu nami oto no you ni (The voice of eternity is repeating coming and going like the sound of waves)
Tsunagi tsumugu tashika na omoi keshite kienu na nokori (True feelings doesn't mean a name will be remembered)
Meguru negai hitotsu… (It's always the one wish)
(Song name: 'Negai no Toki')
(From: 'Licensed by Royalty)
(Vocal credits to Mikako Takahashi)
Cloud looked down at the dozing child, he smiled up at Yuki, but she had already left the stage. Yuki hurried to Cloud's side, "Is he asleep?" Cloud nodded. Yuki smiled and picked up the little child, "I'll take him upstairs, I have to change anyway." Cloud nodded. Shifting the child's weight to one side, Yuki made her way up the stairs and pushed open the door the room across from her room. She placed the sleeping child on the bed, pulled the covers over him, planted a kiss on his forehead and left the room, silently closing the door behind her. She entered her room and changed quickly from her tight black dress to a purple kimono, dotted with flowers. She headed down the steps and up to the stage.
Tifa scrambled around, quickly serving the orders of the customers. There were a lot of them, so many that Cloud had to leave his "comfort zone" and help Tifa serve the people. Tifa grimaced as she cleaned a table top layered with greasy dishes, dishes that still had food on them, smashed glasses and other glasses that still held a drinking substance. Cloud came by with two dishes balanced in each hand; he served them before making his way to the table to help Tifa. The two of them headed back toward the counter with a bucket full of dirty dishes and Cloud proceeded to wash them as Tifa served more placed orders. The orders ceased for the next few minutes as Yuki sang her song:
Awaku saita hana no kao (The seasons move on, leaving)
Nokoshi kisetsu wa sugimasu (The scent of the flowers blooming pale)
Ame mo agari sora ni kumo (The rain has stopped too, clouds in the sky)
Aoi kaze ga soyoideru (Are blown gently by the blue breeze)
Kyou ashita to futari ga (Both today and tomorrow)
Aruku toki no katawara de (Alongside the times we walk)
Kawarazu ni yureteiru (Our trembling thoughts will be there)
Omoide ga arimasu (Unchanging)
Eien wo eien wo (Forever Forever)
Saitemo karenai (It blooms but never dies)
Kono mune no tokimeki wa tsukinai (The pounding of my heart never ceases)
Dare yori mo dare yori mo (More than anyone, More than anyone)
Anata wo mitsumete (I gaze at you)
Hateshinaku kono kimochi zutto (With this feeling that never ends)
Ano hi futari de ata no wa (That day, when we met)
Sekai jyuu de ikudomeni (How many times in the world)
Okita kiseki nano desho wo (Has a miracle like this happened?)
Dare ni kansha tsureba ii (Whom shall I thank?)
Aa anata no mirai ga (Ah, I know your future)
Kitto watashi ni wa ni aito (Will be perfect for me)
Sou ienai yoru mo aru (There will be nights when I can't say it)
Nakisou ni naru kedo (Although I may cry)
Eien wo eien wo (Forever Forever)
Subite mo asenai (It may pass, but it will not fade)
Kaze no naka sora no shita natsu no (In the wind, under the sky, I wait)
Shinjitara shinjitara (If I believe If I believe)
Anata no e ga ora (Then your smile)
Watashi no hanani naru kara kitto (Will surely become my flower)
Eien wo eien wo (Forever Forever)
Saitemo karenai (It blooms but never dies)
Kono mune no tokimeki wa tsukinai (The pounding of my heart never ceases)
Dare yori mo dare yori mo (More than anyone, More than anyone)
Anata wo mitsumete (I gaze at you)
Hateshinaku kono kimochi zutto (With this never ending feeling)
(Song name: 'Towa no Hana')
(From: 'Ai Yori Aoshi')
(Vocal credits: Youko Ishida)
As the sound of clapping increased, so did the number of orders as the customers began ordering again so that they could stay longer. Yuki headed toward the counter after exiting the stage. Tifa smiled at her, "Nice work, we've got a big crowd today." "Too big, I'd say," Yuki commented. Cloud wrapped his arms around Yuki, 'Hey…" "All right you two, now's no time for love, we've got some orders to fill!" Tifa said. Cloud released Yuki and the three of them headed to the kitchen. Yuki grabbed a few plates that were already heaped with food, and began to head toward the table when Tifa stopped her. "You know you cook better than I do, I'm serving," she said, grabbing the plates from Yuki. Nodding, Yuki turned back and began to do the cooking listed on order forms. As the dishes came and went, so did the customers. Two hours later, the exhausted trio served the last of their customers. As the two men walked out, another man walked in. Tifa groaned, "Go away! The bar is closed!" Cloud nodded in agreement, yawning. "Vincent!" Yuki yelped, jumping up and running toward the red cloaked man. Cloud's head snapped up, and Tifa turned to look. Vincent stood there while Yuki clung to his arm, speaking so fast that Vincent, Cloud and Tifa couldn't understand what she was saying. Soon enough, she slowed down, "Would you like something to eat?" Vincent nodded. Yuki bounded off toward the kitchen to prepare a meal.
'What brings you here?" Tifa asked, as Vincent was served his meal. "Rain," Vincent replied. Tifa looked confused. Vincent spotted her expression and explained in as short of a manner as possible, "Cloud's son." "What about him?" Tifa inquired, "He's asleep." Yuki stood by watching the Vincent and Tifa converse. Cloud once again, wrapped his arms around Yuki. "Let's go to bed," he whispered. Tugging on her arm, Cloud led his wife up the stairs to their bedroom. He plopped her down on the bed and began to discard his articles of clothing. Slipping into bed, he began discarding Yuki's clothing as she tried to stop him. Just then, the door opened, "Mommy? Daddy?" Yuki sat up, as did Cloud. Rain ran over to Yuki who lifted him off the ground and placed him the bed, "What's the matter sweetheart?" "I'm scared," Rain replied. "Did you have nightmares again?" Yuki wondered aloud. Rain nodded anxiously. Cloud, a bit annoyed at being interrupted, tried to comfort Rain quickly.
Rain lay sleeping peacefully in his bed. Yuki pulled the covers over Rain before returning the previous room she was in. Cloud pulled his wife down and kissed her. She pushed him away, sighing softly. Cloud chuckled, "Not tonight I guess?" Yuki nodded. Cloud respected his wife's decision, pulling the blanket over the both of them, he snuggled against her. He slipped his arm across her waist, pulling her closer to him. Yuki kissed Cloud on the cheek, "Good night." "Good night sweetheart," Cloud replied.