Dying to be with you

Thunder rolled and clashed in the sky.Sparks of lightning flashed and struck random metal poles. The sounds of swords scraping together made anyone who listened shiver. It was like scraping your nails on a blackboard in a tiled room.

"Aren't you getting tired of this little game Cloud?" Sephiroth's hair blew in the wind with the storm,blocking another obvious attack. Cloud gritted his teeth and his eyes narrowed.He lifted his buster sword above his head and used all the force he had to slam it down where Sephiroth stood. Metal fragments and smoke rose as the desired target moved out of the way. Cloud growled mentally,he could feel his stamina decreasing every moment he fought.

"Die already!" Cloud screamed,swinging his sword around trying to attack the graceful enemy.

"I grow tired of this game Cloud" Sephiroth yawned moving out of the way yet again. He wound up behind Cloud and forced him off his feet.Sephiroth smiled evilly as he disappeared yet again.

"Try as you will Cloud,you can't defeat me" Sephiroth's voice taunted Cloud as he rose to his feet.Looking around he saw no trace of his foe,and knew it was pointless to try searching for him. He sighed angrily and sheathed his sword.He walked the short distance of the ruins that used to be ShinRa,back to his fenrir.He put the spare blades he carried on his hip in the compartment on his bike.Mounting it,he fired up the engine.He reached into his pockets and pulled out his protective glasses and secured them over his eyes.Lifting his feet,the wheel spun until it got a good grip of the road and shot off.

Rain pelted Cloud as he drove down the flat and dry road.How long had it been since he was chasing Kadaj down this very path with his geostigma? It didn't matter,Sephiroth was still alive.Maybe he was even right,maybe Cloud wouldn't be able to defeat him.Cloud shook his head as if to shake the thought from his mind.The raindrops were cold on his neck and bare arm.His outfit from those battles hadn't changed.He had replaced the sleeve he had torn off,for it now his the ribbon tied around his left arm.His golden spikes defied the air,and resisted being flat on top of his head.A shower and nice warm bed was all he cared about now,for that was all he desired tonight.He'd get back to the seventh heaven bar,say hello to everyone and would be called to his bed. Hearing the roaring of an engine,Cloud looked around, alert and ready for action.But there was nothing there,the rain was making him hear things and become suspicious.

'Its just my fenrir' he thought to himself,trying to ease the worry rising in his heart.Suddenly his engine gave a loud sputtering noise,making him look down.His compartment for his swords was repeatedly opening and closing.Cloud tried to make it stop but couldn't as his fenrir started to spin out of control.Cloud stepped on his breaks,but to no avail. Looking up he saw one of the many buildings in ruins,a pile of stones and pillars and such. Cloud turned the handels to steer away from the rubble,but his fenrir wouldn't listen to him.

The front of Cloud's fenrir smashed into a pile of stones,the fenrir's only breaks. Cloud was sent slying into a pillar,and since he was going so fast he had started to summer salt in the air. His only break was now this stone pillar. He hit it horizontally,his spine coming into contact with the stone structure. No one could survive such an impact. Cloud's spine hit the stone,splitting the bones in half. The pillar undamaged.Cloud fell to the ground unmoving,his eyes fixed out in front of him. No breath came to his chest,no blinks to his eyes. He stayed very still,and any moron could tell that the great Hero Cloud Strife...oh how the mighty have fallen.

Tifa rinsed a dirty mug that smelled of alcohol in the sink,scrubbing furiously with a sponge. The usual drunkies had all been kicked out,all grumbling in slurs of language one couldn't understand.Only her ever fateful comrads and a few other friends remained. Barret was bouncing Marlyne on his lap,the little girl giggling with joy.Reno and Rude had a few days off and chose to spend it in the Seventh Heaven Bar,hoping to meet new friends. Reno did however take notice of the ninja princess,Yuffie. But Yuffie,being childish as she was,even though she was bright and useful, she couldn't see the signs of his liking.Vincent,however,wasn't there with everyone else,rather he was at the lost city. It was where he spent most of his days. Cid was singing drunkenly to Shera,she who was ruby red and her glasses fogging up from the embaressment.Cait Sith and Beast sat in the corner,purring as Denzal scratched behin their ears.The television above them was muffled as they all laughed and talked about previous on goings. Tifa glanced up at the t.v for a mere second but it was enough to make her stare back up. She stopped washing the mug and lifted the remote,pushing the volume up.

The others looked at the television as Tifa turned it up,wondering why exactly she wanted to hear it so bad. They all knew that the battles and on goings in this world were not over.A news reporter came on,speaking in a grave tone.

"It is my displeasure to say,that this world may have lost our only savior for beating the hellish nightmare. The body of Cloud Strife was found early this morning,his fenrir half smashed in with the rubble of ShinRa's buildings. Doing some small research,it seems that the fenrir had been tampered with. The hero himself, looking at his landing we're guessing that he didn't know it had been tampered with,and the fenrir lost control.Losing its control it sent him flying,turning his body in the air. It seems his spine connected with a pillar and killed him instantly. We can only guess who may have tampered with his fenrir,but it won't change the fact that millions will lose hope completely" the reporter disappeared. The look of grave shock etched on everyone's face,chasing away the smiles and laughter.Cid had suddenly become sober,while Cait Sith and Beast stopped purring and felt as though they'd be sick. Denzal and Marlyne seemed to have understood the message and they were shaking. Yuffie's eyes were the size of dinner plates with tears pouring out of them. Reno and Rude seemed to be to frozen in shock to say anything. Barret's machine arm spazed crazily. The sound of a hard thud rang through the silent bar,but everyone knew it was the sound of Tifa's body hitting the earth as she fainted.

Everyone dressed in black,Denzal and Marylne were left back at Barret's place with Beast and Cait Sith to watch them. One so young shouldn't have to something like this,and they're furry friends wouldn't be able to handle something so devastating.Vicent had heard the news and stood very quietly next to Tifa,he sensed the girl's sadness and offered her a hug to comfort her. But didn't anyone get it? Nothing could comfort Tifa now,unless Cloud suddenly got up shook himself off and say "wow,that was close" with that same silly smile he always gave. They had gathered at the life stream,giving him a proper farewell.Each friend held Cloud on the surface of the water,each saying silent things to him.

'Spikey ass...take care yourself,ok?' Barret's brow furrowed.

'No wild parties in the next world Cloud' Yuffie chewed her lower lip.

'Sorry about all our rivalries buddy' Reno closed his eyes.

'Its been fun' Rude wiped his eyes.

'Yer gonna be...We'll...can't tink of anyting to say.Miss ya Cid sniffed.Shera chose not to help,in fear of bawling over everyone.

'Tell Zack and Aerith we all say hi' Vincent bowed his head.

'Cloud...I...I love you...I'll miss you...alot...why did you...have to...leave?' Tifa bit her lips to keep it from trembling. They all released his body,and he sank into the life stream,just as Aerith had. Tifa stayed rooted to the spot as the others began to file out,staying in the water for a certain amount of time was dangerous.Barret turned around and walked back to her.

"Do you think he'd be mad if I followed him?"Tifa asked quietly.She was talking about letting the Life Stream suck away her life force.Barret placed his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sure he'd want you to live a long and fufilling life,Tifa".

The storm taking place outside fitted Tifa's mood. She sat on Cloud's bed,the one he slept in when he actually stayed at her home. The bed still smelled of his scent,it brought back childhood memories.

'Why didn't I tell him...how I felt...why!' Tifa slammed her fist down on the mattress.It bounced back up and she ended up hitting herself hard in the shoulder.Laying backwards she rested her head on his pillows,a few strands of golden hair tickled her ears.Turning on her side she saw his drawers were a bit askew as they usually were.She sighed sadly and closed her eyes,tears brimming her eyelashes.

"I'd give anything for him to come back...I'd even sell my soul if it meant him coming back"she could feel sleep tuggin at her insides.A nasty dark little voice filled her mind.

"'You would sell your soul?I will bring him back if you give me your soul young one"'. Tifa picked up her head and looked around the room.A small sprite stood on the foot of the bed,smiling at her,showing rows of razor sharp teeth.She had heard of these things as a child.They were said to appear when the one who wished,really meant for that wish to happen.

"You would bring him back?"

"'Yes,M'dear.But at a price.You said you would give me your soul if I brought him back"'.

"But my soul is very valuable".

"'So is your heart"'.Tifa shook her head.

"'Then what if I made a deal?"'

"Listening".

"'I will bring him back,and you have thirty days until I collect your soul. Within those thirty days,you must tell him how you feel,and he must feel the same way.But it may not be easy talking to him"'.Tifa bit her lower lip and gave the 'I'm thinking' face.

"I have thirty days?" the sprite nodded.

Cloud walked along a solid white pathway,everything around him was blue and gold.Why he kept walking down this path,he did not know.

"CLOUD!" turning around he saw Aerith running up to him.She gave him a big hug.Zack seemed to have appeared out of no where and gave his friend a noogey for a hello.

"Long time no see friend"Zack said cooliy.Aerith released Cloud as he turned and hugged his best friend,beside Tifa.

"Zack...how have you been?Where are we?"

"We're in the great beyond.Silly"Aerith smiled.

"Great...Be...I died?"

"Unfortunately yes"Zack shrugged.

"H...how?"

"Nasty crash on teh fenrir...don't you remember?Broke your spine"Aerith informed.

"I don't belong here...I need to be fighting with the others,they need me!" Zack and Aerith stopped him from turning around.

"Your time has come to rest Cloud.Our friends own the battlefield now"Aerith spoke quietly.

"And no,your friends can't use phenoix down on you,your soul is already here.Had your death happened while they were near you,you would be alive.But it took an entire day for someone to find you,so your soul is already here for good.But hey think of it this way,its a kick ass view of the world"Zack shrugged.

"Zack...Aerith...not that I don't miss you or anything but...I don't belong here...I belong back in Midgar with the others".

"I was denying it when I first got here to.You'll get used to it,I promise"Aerith smiled.She made an attempt to grab his hand and lead him to the gates of the next world,but her hand fell through his.

"Huh?" she tried again and got the same result.Zack had been leaning on his shoulder,now fell through it.

"This isn't possible"he breathed.Cloud looked as he was disappearing before his very eyes.Soon he was no longer standing there,instead when he opened his eyes all he saw was water. A burning feeling ruptured in his lungs and he kicked and pushed himself through the water.He met the surface and gasped for air.He swam to the shore,the moonlight greeting him. He had been given the sudden burst of energy to help him escape a watery grave.Being dead for 48 hours had immbolized him.His heart began to work its system again and his organs switched on.His mind however shut off except for a tiny dark voice that continued to chant.

"Kill Tifa Lockhart...kill Tifa Lockhart...kill Tifa Lockhart...do as I say".Cloud's eyes glazed over as he repeated the words himself.

"Kill Tifa Lockhart" he had no mind or will to object.

A/N: I thought of the idea in class and thought it'd make an excellent story.No,I'm not a Cloud basher,nor am I antiCloud. I just thought this would be a type of spice that everyone would want to see what happens next.Tell me what you think,but no flames though,for I do not own FFVII nor any of its characters.