Chapter 4

A Surprise Twist and a Sick Tifa

Tifa had finished going over the instructions to her neighbor for taking care of Denzel and the bar while they were going to Cosmo Canyon. Cloud, Tifa, and Zeke were going to Cosmo Canyon to stop Sephiroth from what he wanted to do before.

"Ok that's everything… you sure you can handle it Sandra?"

"Of course I have children of my own. And I use to be a waitress so I can definitely do this, relax about that Ms. Lockhart."

"Thanks again." Tifa looked around for Denzel. He's in his room.

"Come on Tifa!"

"Hold on I got to say good-bye to Denzel." Cloud and Zeke were outsideready to go waiting for Tifa.

Tifa had just arrived to Denzel's room who was sobbing in front of his window. "Denzel… Denzel what's wrong." Tifa's mother like instinct told her to run to him to see why he was crying.

"You…you and Cloud are leaving me like my birth parents did… to me." Tifa was shocked at his words and only hugged the child reassuring him that she would never leave him.

"Oh Denzel. I would never leave you; I care too much about you and your safety. Me… Cloud and I have to go to see our friends for a while… and."

"No! You and Cloud are going into battle I over heard ya'll last night! You guys are going to kill Sephiroth and you might not come back! You're just like my birth parents your going to leave me to be with another family! And I don't care if you don't!"

"Denzel!" Denzel pushed Tifa away from him and ran to the bathroom locking the door. Tifa ran after him and knocked on the door.

"Denzel… Denzel open the door! Now! Sigh Denzel I would never leave you. Neither would Cloud. Can you at least come back out to say good bye to me and Cloud?" he didn't answer.

Tifa sighed once more and slipped something under the door. He heard her footsteps walk down the stairs. He looked down to see a locket with a note. He opened it to see Tifa and Cloud's pic on it. He quickly opened the letter and ran out the bathroom door to his window to see Tifa, Cloud, and Zeke starting off and leaving.

Denzel felt bad for what he said to Tifa. He glanced at the note again. It had said

Denzel,

You don't know how much joy you gave me and Cloud once you walked into our lives. You're the best thing that ever happened to us. And that's why we wanted to give you this locket to show how much we care. We wanted to adopt you one day. You are apart of our family now. You are and will always have a home with us.

Love Tifa

Denzel started to cry again wishing he could at least said goodbye the right way.

Tifa was holding on to Cloud as he drove his motorcycle. Zeke was beside them not to far behind but he was following Cloud and was looking after Tifa. Tifa was worried about Denzel and thinking that she would be able to come back to see him. She never said I love you, or called him her son. She actually never thought about it.

"Tifa?"

"Huh?"

"Were almost there. You ok?"

"Oh yea…" Cloud didn't like that she was sad. If he wasn't driving he knew a way to cheer her up. If only. But yet that wasn't the only priority on his mind. The fact that Sephiroth was back was another. Cloud remembered the day he killed him twice. There must be a way that he's coming back. Cloud stopped day dreaming and concentrated on his route to Cosmo Canyon. They could figure out a way there.

They had finally arrived to Cosmo Canyon and to Red XIII's house. Vincent was standing out side along with Yuffie and Barret. Tifa hopped off first and hugged Yuffie.

"It's about time that you made it. I guess Cloud's driving hasn't changed since he drives so slowly." Cloud gave Yuffie a scowl that said 'don't start Yuffie we have more issues.' Tifa could see it was a lot like old times already. She hugged her father figure and best friend Barret

"It's been awhile."

"Yes it has and you haven't changed a bit." Barret chuckled. All eyes were on Zeke. Tifa informed everyone that they had extra help and told them he was coming.

"Everyone well half of everyone this is Zeke. Zeke this is Yuffie, Vincent, and Barret."

"Nice to meet some new faces." He smiled.

Everyone had gone inside and met up with Red XIII, Cait Sith, and Cid, along with his wife Shera and his son Rie. Everyone had their short reunion and listened to be informed by Red. "So what's the deal?" asked Cloud becoming more serious.

"Well Vincent claims he saw some traces of Sephiroth on the near by cliffs towards the Ancients Temple along with two other masked figures that we can't identify. One actually showed up wanting to fight Vincent in one recent encounter…and left this behind."

Red grabbed a necklace that had a white stone in the middle in side a moon crescent. He held it in his jaw. Tifa looked upon that stone she was in utter shock it was familiar no too familiar!

"Red…can I see that necklace?"

"Sure." Red gave it to Tifa. But once it was in Tifa's grasp she felt weak. She started to see flashes and she fainted.

"TIFA!" everyone screamed. Cloud had caught her before she could even hit the floor.

"Tifa wake up" but she didn't she had the necklace in her hand and she was motion less. Vincent touched the side of her neck.

"She barely has a pulse." Said Vincent.

"It's like she's in a coma." Said Cid. Just as worried.

"Here there's a room where she can stay in." Red XIII showed them to a room where Cloud had sat Tifa in. She laid there on the bed with her eyes close still grasping the neck lace.

"What caused this to happen?"

"I dunno but that neck lace has something to do with it."

Cloud was in his own little world not moving from Tifa's side. He only wondered what? How? Why? He didn't know what to do. He didn't want to loose the one he loved. He lost Aeris he wasn't going to loose Tifa. Not this time. Not now.