Chapter Five – Time

Cloud… Cloud… Why did that name sound so familiar? Her heart was racing at the very name, and a feeling rushed over her entire body. She wanted to get away from here. Correction, she needed to get out of here, as far away from this mysterious blonde as quickly as possible. Tifa sensed awkwardness, and she didn't want to get involved into any more complications, not now when her life had just started to get back on track, not when she had adjusted to this new lifestyle.

Her eyes darted away from the blonde man's startled gaze. He wasn't just startled, but he also appeared to be examining her. Feeling even more discomfited, Tifa grabbed the bottle from his still outstretched hand. All these familiarities and these unexpected emotions returning to her all at once were too much to handle.

Breaking away from the man's hand she hastily shoved the bottle back into a box and stacked the boxes, lifting them. Getting to her feet she started pacing away from the immobile, crouching, blonde figure.

Before she left him she managed a muffled, "I better go." She didn't understand any of the events that occurred; but a deep urge to get away from the blonde was the solution.

Tifa hiked up the pathway and entered the recycling store. She placed the two boxes down onto the counter, and turned back to the store entrance just to be sure that the blonde man didn't follow her. Many questions filled her head. How does he know my name? Who is he? Why do I feel like I know him? Why is he so familiar? And why do I keep on hearing his voice during my flashbacks? Why! She asked herself in her mind getting a little frustrated. There were so many questions, but nobody to answer them. When the store owner took the boxes away, Tifa smiled and thanked the man, and then departed, making her way back to the bar.

Journeying down the same path she had used moments ago, her eyes averted to her feet. As she watched herself walking, each foot stepping after one another, she fell into a reverie. Maybe that man was a part of my life in the past… Maybe that's why I feel like I know him. She thought. It was too late to ask questions, the man was no longer in sight, and she was sure she'd never see him again. If only she knew what was coming…

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The blonde haired man shifted away from the antique store owner. He had been doing some questioning ever since Tifa rushed off after their encounter. He didn't understand why she would just runaway from him without so much as a friendly greeting. It'd been almost two entire years since he last saw her, and he missed her so much. After that night in Kalm when they had a heated argument, Cloud didn't go after her. He had spent the next day drowned in his own miserable presence, waiting for her to return home. He waited for barely twenty four hours before he felt a sudden jolt of disbelief.

It dawned on him that Tifa wasn't going to return to him. When he realized he had nothing left, he simply stayed in the small house for a month. During that awful month alone, spending everyday in his own presence, Cloud could think of nothing but Tifa's and his final words exchanged. He recalled his last sentence and eventually he realized he had been wrong.

From that day when he knew he was at fault, he began searching for Tifa. Every little house, every small building in the serene town of Kalm he had searched. He spent days, months and now years traveling to find her, hoping to apologize for everything he'd said to her. But after their encounter just mere minutes before, Cloud couldn't help but lose some hope himself. It appeared Tifa didn't want to speak to him anymore, that was why she had pretended not to know him and it hurt. He'd seen the way she looked at him, a look of recognition, but she had said: Do I know you? Those four words had been enough for Cloud to understand her intentions. She had already moved on, and erased him from her life.

Now as he exited the antique store in Midgar, he commenced walking blindly, only able to think of Tifa. He'd been away from Kalm for so long; he'd been searching and traveling for what seemed to feel like forever… He journeyed everywhere just to find her. Until now, he finally located her but what was he to do? Now that she had moved on, what was he going to do now?

Cloud shook his head, clearing those unsettling thoughts. He had worked so had, traveled so far and wide, fought countless fiends. And all for what? For Tifa Lockheart. So now, he wasn't going to give up until he gave it one last damn try. He only needed one last time, just to say sorry for all the pain he caused her, even if she wasn't willing to accept his apology, at least he could leave with the satisfaction of knowing that he'd tried.

His eyes scanned across the buildings of the well developed town of Midgar. It was a nice place to stay, and he understood why Tifa would want to stay in such a populated area, to never be alone. As Cloud's eyes ran across a building, studying it, he walked into another person.

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Tifa Lockheart gazed up at who she had bumped into. It was just her luck today, knocking into two people within an hour. She lifted her head to spot the blonde man staring at her and immediately she broke the eye contact. It was funny, she got lost in those magnificent blue eyes of his so easily, and the blonde hair just made him appear to be an angel. It was a funny thought, as her heart started racing again. It appeared that this man had this effect on her, and she was new to this feeling.

As her eyes reached his again, it was no surprise that he was staring back at her with that intense gaze he possessed. He studied her, both figures standing motionless as silence engulfed the two, both feeling a little tense. Cloud observed her; she had changed a little but appeared to be so much healthier. Her face had a glow to it, her lips red and glossy, her eyes shining as if a fire was burning inside, as if she had a passion for life again.

Tifa stood under his gaze, and after a moment's hesitation, she managed to speak. "Sorry," she said apologetically. It was lagged, making the blonde figure believe she was apologizing for something else.

After making peace, Tifa began to walk and attempt to slip pass him but she came to a halt at his grip on her arm. Stopping, she stood stationary. With her heart pacing very fast, she knew she should have felt scared. But his touch and this aura he surrounded her with made her feel a sense of security. It was like the security and comfort she felt when she was with Nicholas, only it was stronger.

"What happened?" Cloud asked.

He had misinterpreted her word of apology for pretending to not recognize him and running off. Cloud didn't want things to be this way. It seemed too cold of an act for Tifa to erase him from her life. She'd been gone for two years, and he'd missed her, the least she could do was offer one of her infectious grins and greet him instead of acting like they were strangers.

When she didn't reply, Cloud sighed softly. "Tifa, you've been gone for two years." He stated as a reminder of how long they'd been a part.

A/N: Updating... Updating... Updating... Yes, that's what I've been doing. I'm trying to update as much as I can for school is about to commence and I'm afraid I may not have enough time! So if I don't update for a while, please understand that study comes first! Therefore, readers and reviewers out there, enjoy this chapter, and I'll try to come back with yet another! I promise to finish this story, no matter how long it takes, I will! I'm a determined girl :D So enjoy, and review! Keep safe!