Storm Clouds
Chapter 9: Things Fall Apart
Cloud slammed the door on his way in the apartment. After flinging his sunglasses into a careless abyss he bashed the back of his head against the wall and sighed out his frustration; but it only made him sink himself down to his knees. All of the sudden his head gained an incredible amount of weight. Holding it up was like holding a block of lead upon his thin neck until it fell into his hands.
"Just stop it." He whispered to himself. "Please understand and just stop doing it! Why am I always chained to the things I break?"
He was to be returned with no answer. Only the sobs of his tears accompanied him in the dark hallway, only to stop to remind himself and the world the truth.
"Cloud is dead! Why won't you bury him?"
Tifa was in the practice of washing the dishes until she heard the bell of a customer ring.
"I'll be right there to help you!" She called from the kitchen. The young lady snatched a rag from the top shelf and dried her hands. Wise brown eyes scanned the array of pictures which hung on the wall.
Most of them were full of the kids she took in from the orphanage; Denzel and sweet Marlene. However; some remained her of the past. Like one of her father and mother back in a little mountain town. Another of Yuffie whom she finally got use to after so many years of girl fights. She smiled when she saw Zack's laughing face. And finally she stopped when her vision lay upon Cloud's picture.
It was only him alone and not a close up. The city scenery took up most of the frame but it seemed that his presence was larger then the background itself, causing him to take up the entire picture. Tifa straightened it out only the make it crooked. She has a horrible eye of interior design.
Oh shit! I forgot!
She ran out of the kitchen when she remembered someone was waiting for her help.
"I'm sorry abou—" He turned around after taking in the entire cozy diner. A smile didn't come out of him until she chuckled first.
"You better come here and give me a hug!" Vincent gave a loathed expression of the demand but he was only teasing. "Oh hell!" Tifa wiped her melting eyes. "I was just thinking about you yesterday!"
"Is that so?" He finally said.
"Yah! Here, come behind the counter. There's a small table and I can fix you a drink."
"That would be nice." Vincent followed. He soon found himself in a room full of metal instruments of pots and stoves where, in the back, stood a small table with two seats. Probably it was there for Tifa to keep an eye on the kids when she worked.
"What would you like? I got all kinds of stuff." Tifa rummage around for something.
"Water would be nice." Vincent sat himself down and watched Tifa hand him a glass of water.
"So what brings you here? Almost two years of nothing and now!" She smiled.
"It's been getting lonely where I was." Vincent answered. His fingers glided along the crystal glass.
"Where were you all this time?" She took a sip of her coffee.
"Around, never been in one place too long."
"Oh." Tifa answered, having nothing else to say in that matter. Now their conversation died and an uncomfortable silence closed in around them. Vincent thought it was a good time to really tell why he was here.
"I've really wanted to get some answers from you." He said softly.
"Really! What's your question?" Tifa brushed her bangs out of her face.
"It's about Cloud," Suddenly the young lady's bright eyes dimmed. "What happened to him?" Tifa didn't answer for a long time. Instead her coffee mug seemed more interesting then the conversation.
"He's dead. What else is there to know?"
"Where did you bury him?" Vincent asked. "How did he die?" She rubbed her eyes as if having a migraine of terrible memories.
"A building collapsed and he was in it. Cloud didn't come out of the rubble, so it's true that he's dead."
"But what did you do with the body?" Vincent asked with more force. His true question wasn't answered yet. Why did he get this feeling that he was wanted somewhere? Where does this doubt of Cloud's death come from and why? There were so many holes in the story that it sounded false yet how can it be a lie?
"We didn't find the body." Tifa finally gave out. "We had a memorial and a coffin, but a body didn't fill it?"
"Mr. Peeress?"
Cloud turned to face the man behind the desk.
"What?" He answered bluntly. The landlord scuffled for some papers until he finally found the one he wanted.
"According to this you're next payment is coming a little late. Usually you have the money 3-4 days before the due date." He looked at the boy who didn't seem moved by his identifications.
"Yah, so what of it!" Cloud snapped.
"Make sure that money is in here no later then the due date." The landlord sneered coldly.
"I always do." The blonde walked away. The old homeless man was still here sitting on the couch.
It this doesn't pan out, I'm going to be there next to him. I have to think of something fast!
Please REVIEW! Cloud won't be alone for long in the next chapter, you can look forward to that!