Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII.

Note: …Eh. Nothing much to say about this chapter, except that it may or may not contain little hints of attraction between a certain two characters.

Chapter 4: Failed Escape

Breakfast had passed without too much awkwardness between the two, though there was a large amount of tension. Finally, Sephiroth had satisfied his hunger through many servings of eggs and stood up.

"I'm going to go take a shower…" he said, glancing down at Tifa as she took his cleaned plate and stacked it on top of hers. He'd already bruised her enough—and even so, he'd eaten enough to make him feel slightly groggy, and he didn't quite want to beat her up again. "I trust you know the rules?"

Tifa nodded, averting Sephiroth's gaze as she gathered the silverware used for eating breakfast and set it on top of the dirty plates. "Yes. I do. Do you need anything before you get into the shower?"

"No."

"If you need clean clothes or whatnot there's some in the guest bedroom…or your bedroom…whichever you want to call it…" Tifa mumbled quietly. Her pride and confidence had been hurt more than her flesh when Sephiroth slammed her against the wall and threw her to the ground.

If there was one thing Tifa Lockheart hated, it was being beaten into submission…and yet, that was exactly what had happened.

"Good to know." This time, Sephiroth didn't use a mocking tone of voice; however, he didn't sound very interested. "By the way, I'll be washing my own clothing, Miss Lockheart."

"…Okay," Tifa mumbled, sliding the dirty dishes into a metallic silver dishwasher before turning a couple of knobs on the machine, then turning to face her captor. He's giving me a break? There has to be a catch… she thought, sighing.

The silver-haired man eyed his unwilling caretaker for a moment. Bruises from this morning's beating were already visible on her flesh, and he knew they would probably get worse as the day progressed. When a strange feeling rose in his stomach—was it regret?—he ignored it, nodded to Tifa and headed back to the bathroom.

He gently closed and locked the bathroom door, then carelessly pulled off his coat, letting the Masamune clunk to the white tiled floor with it, then sighed.

That was definitely regret he'd felt a few moments ago.

Why? Sephiroth thought. He didn't care much for the woman. True, he found her attractive—but then, why wouldn't he? Nine out of every ten men found her attractive, and as much as Sephiroth hated to admit it, ever since he'd revived himself, he was just like an ordinary man. Stronger, yes—much stronger…but his previously superior mind and emotionless personality had, for the most part, gone down the drain.

…But, though he might find Tifa attractive…he didn't care for her.

Regret…ha. I suppose I have to work harder to regain my previous self then I thought. Regret…perhaps I am weaker than I thought. He wasn't even sure he understood what he was thinking. Tired of thinking, he turned on the water, adjusted it until he was pleased with the temperature, and resumed undressing.

Tifa finished drying the dishes as the dishwasher finished much quicker than she'd expected it to. She sighed, then smiled slightly as she heard the water being turned on in the shower.

The water's pretty loud to someone in the shower, she thought. I wonder if he'd hear me if I tried to get out of here…

Heart pounding with anxiety, she finished putting the breakfast dishes away and glanced towards her front door…it was so close…she didn't need any keys to unlock it…by the time Sephiroth got out of the shower, she could be out of town. Sephiroth would have no way of tracking her…well, none she knew of, anyway.

I'm not going to settle for living like this, Tifa thought, her burgundy eyes lighting up slightly with determination. I have to at least try to get out, don't I? I have to at least TRY to prove I'm not completely weak.

So, it was settled: She was going to try to escape.

She only needed a plan…

Once I get out… she mentally started. Where will I go? Hmm…I don't have any supplies with me and I'm not going to go back and get any. She unlocked the first lock on the door. Well, the monsters in this area are weak, anyway. Besides, there aren't too many around, any more. After fumbling a little with the chain lock, she finally got that unlocked. I suppose if I hurried, I could make it to the Chocobo Farm by nightfall…spend the night there…borrow a chocobo…where will I get the money, though?

The door was completely unlocked.

Hmm…I'm sure if I explain what's going on, they'll at LEAST give me a discount. At least…I hope so… Tifa put a slightly shaking hand on the doorknob. Once I rent a chocobo, I'll go across the marshes, through the Mythril Mine, then go to Junon, ride a boat to Costa del Sol, rent another chocobo, and go to Nibelheim. Vincent might be there. Vincent might be able to help me. Cloud might be there, too…

She nodded. That was her plan, or at least, her tentative plan. All she knew at the moment: She needed to get out of this place.

And so, she opened the door and stepped out into Sector Seven.

Sephiroth finished drying off and slid into his clothes. It had been a relatively quick shower, but he wasn't all that dirty. Seeing Tifa's comb on the bathroom counter, he yanked it through his own hair. After all, combs were combs. In this case, Tifa didn't have a choice but to share.

Sephiroth didn't quite like hairdryers…he decided to let his hair air-dry.

Stepping out into the upstairs hallway, he stretched his arms slightly and walked down into the main bar room.

He was quite surprised when he didn't see Tifa…

Immediately, Sephiroth knew. He knew that Tifa had escaped.

How could I have been so…I should have seen this coming! She must have put something in those eggs…no, I watched her cook, and she didn't put any sort of drug in them. Oh, HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO STUPID? Oh that little—regret? HA! NOT ANY MORE! Now panicking, Sephiroth made sure that the Masamune was securely in its sheath before bolting out the door.

Freedom…it felt so nice…

Tifa, wishing she had a little leisure time to walk around and talk to people, walked as quickly as she could towards the city's entrance. The slums looked a lot cleaner now, she noticed—or maybe she just imagined everything a little more cynically since Sephiroth took over her bar.

That didn't matter now. She was free—almost.

Reaching the little playground, Tifa couldn't help but pause and look at the beaten-up equipment. As beaten up as it was, she was surprised—it was still there…

Now, if there were a couple of kids here, this scene would be complete, she thought, frowning slightly at the absence of people.

She remembered that she wasn't on a leisure trip when there was a loud sound from behind her.

She turned around…

And, standing there, breathing heavily from anger, was none other than Sephiroth.

Tifa's eyes went slightly wide at the sight of the man. Somehow, the way he looked now, he was even scarier than when he'd been standing amid the flames, watching her hometown burn down before turning to go fetch his "mother".

"Lockheart…" Sephiroth growled, the Masamune trembling slightly in his hands.

"…Ho-How many people saw you on the way here?" Tifa asked tentatively…perhaps that would have something to do with how bad her punishment was.

"Plenty," the man snarled. "And if the Shinra people find out, do you know who's fault it will be? YOURS."

"…But, you could easily kill the Shinra people couldn't you? So don't worry about it…"

"I could easily kill them! Yes I could! Do you know who else I could easily kill, Lockheart?" the man asked, lifting the Masamune slightly to point it at her. "I could easily dispose of you right now, without blinking, without a God damned second thought."

Tifa stood rooted to the spot. "So you're going to k-kill me…" she mumbled.

"No. I am not. But I will not make you a happy woman once we get back to your home. And for every person that may come looking for me, Lockheart, YOU will be the one to suffer. Now come with me." He stood there expectantly.

Tifa swallowed. Not having much of a choice, she followed Sephiroth.

Yumesuta: Well, there's that chapter after like, forever of waiting. Sorry about that. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter, and please review! Also feel free to point out any errors I may have missed while proofreading. By doing that…you'd have to REVIEW! It's easy! Just click that little button down there!