Hello All, I am back again to write another chapter in this story. I hope you all are enjoying this. I really like writing in this world. It's really fun. I have so many ideas and twists. I only hope that as the story progresses people still read it. Well, tell me how I am doing.

I do NOT OWN the world of Final Fantasy VII or any of its characters.

The Truth Will Set You Free

After dinner, Cloud walked back to his friend's room. He needed to think for a while. So many feelings had come back in the past few hours. It was hard for him, because he had always been a loner. Now that he was with his childhood friend again, his heart had decided to open up to her. Cloud wasn't used to feeling like this. He felt it when he was younger, but he had pushed that feeling deep down. Only now, was it beginning to resurface. He shook his head as he moved to sit down at the desk. The lone ex-SOLDIER looked at her desk once again. This time, those mako-blue eyes would look at the notebook on the desk. He raised an eyebrow as he was tempted to read what was in there. But that wasn't right. That would break her trust.

Cloud sat there and tapped his hand on the desk. His eyes kept looking at her notebook. 'No, I can't.' he thought as he looked away from the book. It was something that he just couldn't do. That would be wrong, and he could just imagine the world of pain he would be in if she caught him. A chill went through his body as visions flashed through his head, so he was back to square one again. He couldn't think right now. To many pent up emotions were flying around. A sigh escaped him.

Time went by, and soon in his hands was the notebook. Temptation had finally got the best of him, and he was now reading her most private thoughts. These things, she wouldn't tell anyone. He continued to read until he came to a page that had his name on it. His brow was scrunched as he flipped the page to see more of her handwriting. Again, an eyebrow would raise as he decided to read this as well.

"She is going to kill me." he said softly to himself, but he still pressed on as he wanted to know what she had to say about him.

His mako-infused eyes read the words of feelings that she wouldn't dare tell him. Cloud found himself enthralled at this piece of herself. He was rather shocked that she could have felt this way. The words that she spoke of, and how they were worded made his heart jump. It was as if she was writing what she couldn't say to him. But that couldn't be, could it? Did she really think of him as more then a friend? His heart would begin to race as he continued to read. His fingers turned the pages until there was no more writing. When he read the last sentence, his heart sank. He wanted to read more. Cloud wanted to run to Tifa, and tell her that her words had touched him. Only one thing stopped him, the last thing written. 'But I can't say these things to him, for his heart lies with someone else.'

His eyes read that over and over. Why did he feel a sting of pain when he read that? Guilt perhaps? Or maybe the sadness that he couldn't muster up enough courage to speak his mind. Cloud had overcome a psycho path villain, the death of a beloved friend, and even saved the world. So, why couldn't he march up to his childhood friend and tell her that she was the one he liked? A sigh escaped the blonde haired man.

But that was the least of his troubles. For Tifa had walked in and had seen him reading something that she kept private. A pink hue was on her cheeks as she saw his reactions to her words. And then that's when anger fell upon her. How dare he read something that he was meant to know yet! Her brown eyes held hurt as she stood up straight. After she had seen enough, she cleared her throat. Seeing his look of being busted almost made her want to laugh.

"I see you found something to entertain yourself with while I was working." she said, keeping her voice an eerie calm.

"Tifa!" he said, his eyes holding the look of one being caught in something that they knew was wrong.

She crossed her arms over her chest and just waited for an explanation. Her face held anger, pain, and question. He had never been nosy before. So why start now? Tifa debated on whether or not to march up to him and punch him. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her closest childhood friend was reading something that was never for meant for his eyes. A few moments later, she took a few steps closer to him.

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" she asked, her voice holding demand.

"...I...I know I shouldn't have-"

"Then why did you?"

"Well, it was just laying there and-"

"Shall I give you some time to think up some elaborate excuse?" she questioned him as she approached him. Stopping only two feet from him, her eyes looked at the book that his hands held. An arm stretched out, "Well, give it here." she stated, a bit impatiently.

"Right..." he said, handing it over slowly.

She quickly took it and sighed as she moved to her chest of drawers. Opening the top left drawer, she placed it gently in there. After closing it, she sighed. "How far did you read?" she asked, hoping that he didn't read about how she felt. Tifa prayed, as she stood with her back to him, that he hadn't read it. Her hopes and fears were on those sheets. Ones which she didn't want him to know of just yet. She looked at the top of the furniture. Her eyes spotting another picture of them together. Closing her eyes, she tried to push away the thought of forgiving him at the moment.

"...Not far enough." he admitted, for he wanted to read more of her writing. He had no idea of what she felt and yearned to know more.

"I see." she said, before turning around looking very serious. "Don't read anymore. Got it?" she asked, waiting for his response.

A nod came from him. The blonde haired man felt terrible for reading her journal. He knew it was wrong, and yet he still did it. His blue eyes looked at her as he saw the hurt on her face. A sigh came from him as he looked away. Of course, he felt like he would never gain her trust again. Thoughts of leaving filled his head as he looked at her. But if he did, wouldn't she be even more upset? Cloud closed his eyes and tried not to think of hurting her anymore then he had. Hearing drawers being opened broke his train of thought. Those blue eyes opened to see that Tifa had moved to the door.

"Now, I hope that I can trust you while I take a shower." she said, looking back at him.

Once more, another nod came from him. "...Yeah." he said, standing up.

She smiled some and then began to turn. But as she walked through the door, she heard him call her name. As much as she wanted to stay mad, she was failing. True, he had read something that she didn't want him to, but she couldn't stay made at him forever. Again, she heard him say her name. This time she stopped, but she didn't face him. Wanting to make him think about what he had done, so hopefully he wouldn't do it again.

"Tifa...sleep well." he said, before standing and moving to the couch in her room.

"I will." she said, before she left the room for good. Making her way to the bathroom to take hot shower and hopefully relax some, she opened the door and walked in. A soft sigh escaped her as she turned the knob to let the water pour out. Turning around and locking the door, she looked at her hand for a brief moment. She shook her head, and then began to undress and take her shower, trying to forget the event that just happened. Fifteen minutes later, she stepped out and dried off. Putting on the clean clothes she brought with her, she began to hum a bit. After that, she grabbed her brush and began to untangle the knots.

Finally, she returned to her quiet room. Her dark eyes caught sight of her childhood friend sleeping peacefully. A warm smile came to her face as she watched him. 'Only when you are here, do you look this way. At peace, without worry or fear.' she thought as she stood there. She blinked a few times and then pulled the blanket by his feet up some. Biting her lower lip, she stood there.

"I forgive you, Cloud. I guess I couldn't keep it from you forever." she said, stroking his cheek briefly before she found herself blushing. Quickly, she pulled her hand away. What was she thinking? Doing stuff like this, he might wake up. So, she played it safe like she always did and when back to her bed and climbed in it.

However, Cloud had awoken when she had come back in the room. Being out on the road and having to keep his guard up had heightened his sense of awareness. He heard her soft words as he laid there. A smile was trying to break through, but he held it back. He couldn't let her know that he was awake. Her soft touch found its way to his cheek. It seemed that all of his pain melted away as he felt her touch. It was soothing. Of course, it made his heart begin to beat faster and after a while, he was sure that she could hear it. He felt her pull away quickly and felt sad. Cloud didn't want her to stop. It was something he wished she would do when he was 'awake'.

As he finally began to fall back asleep he thought about the words he had read earlier. One day he would gather up his courage and tell her. Hopefully that day would soon for both their sakes.

End Chapter...

Well, that was a night chapter to have. I really liked writing it. It could have been a bit longer but I like it. Please review. See ya later!