Aw thanks for those reviews. :) Thanks for all those hits too. Hope you'll enjoy this chapter too! I'm most glad to hear this story has to impact on the readers I wanted to create.

-----

Arguments

Chapter 7

She didn't for how long she had cried, but taking a look at her watch she realized it was close to lunchtime. 'I need to prepare dinner for them.' Sighing once more she got to her feet and strode into the bar. Passing by a mirror she checked her face. 'Looks tear stained.' she sighed. Wiping the last few tears off her face Tifa opened a drawer and pulled a kinfe out.

"Tifa." Denzel exclaimed hopping inside. Tifa turned her head away pretending to be thinking what to cook. "Hungry already?"

"Yes we are." retorted the boy. Taking a seat at the bar his cheerfull eyes tried to meet the elder's. Tifa faced the threshold and started chopping vegetables for the soup. Bangs hid her face.

"Can me and Marlene-"

"Marlene and me." interjected Tifa softly.

"Can Marlene and me play some games again today?" asked the boy in his innocent voice. Tifa raised her head and smiled at him. "Of course." She smiled again, a fake smile. She was not happy, no she was sad, but she would smile, smile for the sake of the kids.

(Tifa POV)

This is adult stuff, no need to worry you two. I would fake my smile any time if it makes you happy. "Were you crying?" Denzel eyed me closely, leaning over the threshold a little.

"It's just the onions." I retorted. Where are you Cloud? I know my reaction yesterday was harsh, I shouldn't have forgotten you are still in the process of regaining your memory. But you have to understand my pain too Cloud. But right now all you see is your world and you ignore the others around you.

(Tifa POV End)

Tifa stopped chopping and gazed out of the window. Where might he be right now? She was happy with his friendship, more than happy. But she knew, her feelings would never allow her to let it stay just friendship forever. Her stomach cramped once again. The same dull feeling.

"We tried to make him stay." interjected Denzel. "But today, he left the house again." His eyes showed some sorrow. "He used to leave so often and now he was back and we were all happy, but he left again today. He seemed upset."

Tifa bit her lower lip. Yes he had indeed been upset. 'I upset him.'

"Hey Denzel." Tifa put her knife away. "You know how I always prepare dinner don't you?" Denzel nodded. "Want to prepare dinner today?" she winked at him.

A smile formed on Denzel's face and soon he was beaming. "Of course!" he exclaimed. Was it real happiness just now? Had she really smiled without wearing her mask? "I will be back soon." she told him, patted his shoulder and rushed out of the room.

---

It was raining heavily. There was only one place where he would have went. The church.

"Cloud?" she exclaimed pushing the main doors open. Her eyes fell onto a man sitting in the flowers. It was him.

"Cloud." she said softer waiting for the man's reaction. But he did not move. Like frozen he still sat there.

"What do you want?" grunted the male's voice finally.

"I want to tell you the truth. The truth about this woman you saw." her voice was neither soft nor angry, it was determined. She was ready, ready to see the expression on his face again – the pain.

"So you really lied to me?"

"Not really. I tried to protect you." she strode closer to him.

"Protect me?" he gibed. "Do you think witholding that I was in love and was loved back Is protecting me?"

Tifa winced. "Listen."

"Listen? You always tell me to listen. I trusted you, thought you were my only connection to my past and you lied to me!" Cloud had rushed to his feet and yelled at her.

Tifa was taken aback.

(Tifa POV)

Your words, they hurt. You never yelled at me, not in all these years I've known you. At least never out of anger. Yelling at me because you cared, yes, but anger, never. It hurts, you hear? It hurts.

"So you believe you still love her, Aerith that is?" I asked carefully, though I knew the answer.

"Yes. And she loves me too. Why did you try to pull us apart?" he asked me again. His voice had calmed. He was confused, his head lowered, his eyes avoiding mine. I could not clearly see his face. Might I get to see the steel Cloud shed some tears for once?

"Cloud you used to love her-" I began but her interjected.

"She still does and so do I!" he yelled at me again. I felt something snap inside me. As though my brain, my feelings were washed away. I was angry at him, angry he yelled at the only woman that was at his side for so many years. Angry he would not listen, angry at the man that shot him. Angry at myself. I could not hold it anymore. No Cloud, this time I will not let you walka way and leave me alone with my pain.

"She is dead Cloud, yes dead!" I rushed to his side and slapped him. The sound it made echoed from the walls. Staring into his eyes I saw surprise, pain, confusion. He was shocked. Yes Cloud, be as shocked as me. You always needed a kick into your butt to move on. This time I will slap you to get back to your old self. Wake up Cloud, wake up!

(Tifa POV End)

"You- You." Cloud stammered. "You are a liar." He took a few steps backwards.

"Cloud, trust me, she is dead." Tifa's voice had softened again. She sounded desperate.

"You are just trying to pull me and her apart. Maybe you have feelings for me and can't stand me being happy." his voice rose again. 'Yes I have feelings for you. But that's not the reason!' Tifa yelled inside her head. She could not let him know, not now. She would just risk losing him forever.

Cloud rushed past her. "I want you to never ever interfere anymore. I can not trust you. You lied to me. You aren't a friend." he hissed.

It stung her like a sword again, right into her chest, her already shattered heart.

"You keep hurting me over and over again." she sobbed. "So often. You always did, but you never realized."

"It's your fault, you hurt yourself." he spun around. Piercing her with his eyes she turned her head away.

"Running away is no solution!" Tifa yelled at him. "You have always run away from all your problems."

"Let me run away then. It's the easiest." his voice lowered. Did he remember he had always been running away?

"If I wanted to choose the easiest way, I would have stopped-" she cut herself short. Her voice trembeled. 'I would have stopped my feelings from growing, would have stopped myself from loving you.'

Tifa swallowed and collapsed to the floor. Cloud gave her one last disgusted look and said "Never ever interfere between me and Aeris anymore, you hear? Stop forcing yourself between us."

Tifa did not dare to raise her head, she could not bear seeing his angry face. Her world had shattered once again. 'Are you really worth the pain you cause me?'

Lying in the flowers of her rival Aerith she cried. Each tear was just another memory that shattered, another moment she had shared with him, another feeling he would not return. Though Aerith was not really all that much of a rival she wondered. 'Why wont you let him love me? Why wont you tell him you are dead? What did I do to you to make me suffer like this?'

(Cloud POV)

I was burning inside. My friend, someone who I thought I could rely on, lied to me. I felt like this world was betraying me. Aerith, when will you come and stay by my side? When will you let me see your angelic face again and make me feel like I am whole? Come and let me hug you, let me feel it – love.

Maybe I should move away. Why stay in a house with a woman that tries to pull me away from my luck. Maybe these dreams I had, dreams about Tifa and me enjoying life, were just fake. Is there a way one could implant your memory? Maybe she did. How cruel you are.

Aerith I am coming. Tell me where are you? I will come and see, come and hold you tight until death shall part us.

(Cloud POV End)

"I am already dead, Cloud."

-----

I wanted to update but had somewhat trouble to really come up with a good idea. It's like I know what I want to write about, but the ideas wont really form into words. I hope you will like it anyways. :) Anyways, enjoy! I'm looking forward to reviews.