Chapter 2: Early and Late Encounters

Location: Tifa's Bedroom

Time: Dawn Friday

Tifa's POV:

"Mmm…"

"Is it just me or do you always look this horrible when you wake up?"

I turned to face a certain blonde towering over me and flashing me his most devilish smile.

I shut my eyes once more, turned back onto my stomach and buried my face into my comfortable black pillow.

"Now Teef you gotta get up. You promised to fight me this morning at dawn. I wanna see if I can beat you." He said, as he forced me to turn onto my back, pulling on my arm firmly.

"Do we have to do it this early?" I asked, as I stared out at the orange-tipped clouds, which stood out from the thick grey ones.

Small birds chirped quietly outside my window, as they got ready for the day ahead.

"Yes we do. You promised." He replied, as he flipped the sheets off my figure.

"Geez Teef…look at you. When was the last time you worked out? You're getting…" he began.

I however cut him off as I held a hand up to his mouth and kept it there to shut him up, "Yeah yeah I'm up. No need for your criticism."

I knew he was just joking around…or at least I hoped he was.

I removed my hand from his mouth and got out of my bed on the opposite side, letting me feet slide over the edge and meet up with the carpet, which was already being illuminated by the early morning rays.

"Well seeing as I promised you something with no strings attached…" I began, slowly letting a yawn escape my mouth, covering it up quickly.

"You want me to do something for you…right?" He finished for me.

I turned to face him, letting my hair, which was sitting on my shoulders slide down over my back smoothly over my nightie.

"Not just anything…I mean…you could promise me something." I answered as I stood to my full height, turning around to face him from the other side of my bed, arms folded with a raised eyebrow.

He stared at me and he too gave me the same look and tilted his head to the side.

"What promise would you like me to keep for you?" He questioned.

I however had no idea. I could have asked for the most stupid thing then. I could have asked him to take my shift at the bar for a day.

But no…I actually thought of something that might truly have some meaning.

"Okay…how about this…no matter what, you will always promise to be with me and to not ever leave this place without taking me with you."

His face seemed thoughtful as he stared into my eyes, almost as if contemplating whether or not I was serious.

"Okay…" he answered slowly.

We stood there for a few moments, silently watching each other…until I broke the silence with a smile and said, "Okay this is getting way too sappy for me…"

I walked around from my side of the bed and towards my bathroom, only to be stopped by him grasping onto my arm and turning me to face him.

I smiled and thought that he was being playful with me, but as I saw his expression, my smile dropped and I let my eyebrows furrow into a state of concern.

He wanted to say something…he kept staring at me and then looking away as if trying to get the words out in the right way.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

His grip on me was actually quite rough as he finally said, "I mean it okay…I won't ever leave you here by yourself…I'll always stay with you."

I was really stunned by his sudden sincerity and wondered what was making him act the way he was.

"Okay…I believe you." I said calmly with concern in my voice.

It was then that he let go of my arm and forced a grin to grace his lips, "Now hurry up and get ready."

I nodded and headed into the bathroom…but as I opened it nothing but white light shone through the door and as I turned to face him…I saw that my room was empty.

Location: Tifa's Bedroom

Time: Dawn Friday

Tifa's POV:

I sat upright in my bed gasping for air…feeling like I had been deprived of oxygen for more then five minutes.

I could feel the anxious sweat trickling down over the surface of my skin rapidly as I stared around at the room I was in. It was the same one from my dream…actually it was more of a nightmare.

Well I guess it was my room…and I had been in my room in my nightmare. I stared through the window on my left. Sure enough there were orange-tipped clouds standing out from the grey ones beautifully.

The birds were chirping quietly…everything was like it was in my dream…except he wasn't here. I remembered that morning now. I had blocked it out a while ago I guess. It wasn't just a dream…it had been a real moment in my life…and it should have been one that I would have loved to remember. But now that I knew what had been the final outcome even after he made that promise to me…I just couldn't bear to think about it. He had broken a promise to me that he had said that he would keep.

Not that it mattered anymore anyway.

I allowed my now steady breathing body to fall back into the cool sheets. It was quite warm lately and I was glad that my bed wasn't that hot. I had by now changed the sheets. They were now the colour of white. I thought it seemed a lot happier then black…it made me feel better.

I didn't bother going back to sleep because I was too afraid of what I might see. I knew that the likelihood of me having that same nightmare was slim to none. But I was still nervous of what else my mind had in store for me.

So I lay there until I saw the sun peaking from behind the clouds and started to shine through my window. I could see little specks of glittering dust floating about in the rays and it seemed like it was a stairway to heaven itself.

I then began to sit up and hop out of bed. I let my hair fall over my shoulder and hang down at the front of me. Then slowly I made my way over to the light and let my right hand reach into it. It felt warm and I let my hand slowly move around in a circular motion as I tried to absorb the sunlight into my skin.

Then without a second thought I stepped forward and let my entire body stand in the heart of the glowing warmth.

I sighed and wished that for once I didn't have to work or worry about anything. I just wanted to stay up here in my room and relax. Just to be able to be at peace. With no one to bother me. I just wanted to be alone and do what 'I' wanted to do. I just wanted to make up my own world with no rules. I would let in the people I loved and allow myself to be happy. I wouldn't have to have a love in my life to feel whole. All I would need was to feel like I was important to everyone who was there.

That would be enough.

I wonder if Yuffie is up yet? I don't know when that 'force' is getting here. Maybe I should wake her in case she slept in.

So opening my eyes I left the window and walked over to my door. I opened it and walked down the hall quietly. Outside of my room it was a little warmer, but it wasn't excruciatingly hot.

I stopped outside her room, which was a few doors down from mine, but on the same side and listened for any signs of movement. I couldn't hear anything except for soft breathing.

She was still asleep.

Slowly I turned the doorknob and walked inside.

Location: Yuffie's Room

Time: Dawn Friday

Tifa's POV:

Yuffie was sleeping on her side with her back towards me. She had on a black shirt and maybe that was it. I couldn't see her bottom half. Maybe she had on a long nightshirt.

I walked over to her window and pushed open the black curtains letting the sunlight in. I knew that she was a light sleeper, so I wasn't surprised when she woke up complaining that the light was too bright.

"Close the curtains." She groaned from her position on the bed.

I left the window and went to sit on the end of her bed.

She sat up, stared at me with sleepy dark brown eyes and said, "Huh…what are you doing up so early?"

I was going to tell her that I had a bad dream and that I couldn't sleep…but I didn't want to answer any questions afterwards, which I knew that she would have plenty of.

"Oh I couldn't sleep. I wanted to see if you were up. I wasn't sure what time you had to leave this morning." I explained.

That was the truth as well I guess, except it was more of an afterthought that I had, after I woke up from my nightmare. It wasn't exactly the reason that I couldn't sleep…but she was buying it.

"Oh…well I don't have to go until nine." She told me, as she sat up properly, rubbing the sleep away from her eyes.

This time when she looked at me, she stared at me more closely.

"You look like you had a rough night." She stated with furrowed eyebrows.

She didn't miss a thing did she?

"Yeah…I'm just not used to getting to bed so early. Usually the bar is opened all night until morning." I explained, although I knew she already knew this.

She nodded and said with a sigh of happiness, "Well, sorry to leave you like this but I'm going back to Reno." She finished with a yawn, as she pushed her pillow up to the top of her bed and plonked her head back on it.

I turned to face her with confusion and looked to the other side of her bed as if expecting to see Reno lying there. Then I turned back to her.

"What…?" I trailed off, as I cautiously stood up from her bed, afraid of what might have been going on in here.

She looked up at me with a smile, noticing my confounded expression and pretended to be annoyed as she said, "Yeah well I was in the middle of a fantasy dream before you came along. Now I have to start all over again."

She then pushed the pillows to the top of her bed once more with a dreamy smile on her face, as she curled up into a tight ball, hugging herself with a faraway expression.

"What a shame." I said quietly to her with a small laugh.

She simply nodded and I knew then that it was my cue to leave.

So without another word I turned and left the room…only to be stopped by a soft voice.

"Tifa?"

I stopped at the door and reached up to the frame with my right hand and turned to face her over my right shoulder.

"Yeah?" I answered.

"I…I didn't mean what I said last night." She mumbled, trying to hide her discomfort.

My face fell a little at remembering what she had said again, but I immediately perked up and said, "Don't worry about it…it's a new day."

She seemed satisfied with my answer this time and went back to her dreamland. I was one to talk wasn't I? Since when had I ever used the excuse that it was a new day and to just forget everything?

Well maybe today would be that day. I'd just have to see how it went.

Location: Seventh Heaven

Time: Midafternoon Friday

Tifa's POV:

"Hey you…get me one of those…ah…sparkly drink things." Came the drunken voice of a man by the name of Cid Highwind.

I sighed knowing that he was either going to barf all over the counter or start breaking bottles and threatening the other patrons.

"Now I think you've had enough." I said as put away a glass that I had been drying.

"NO…when I say I've had enough…I'll tell you when I have. Now get me that pretty drink in the corner." He slurred out, as he pointed one finger towards a bottle of rum behind the counter.

I raised an eyebrow at him as I stretched my arms along the length of the counter and leant forward so that I was just able to smell his liquored up breath.

"You sure now…I don't think you'd want to drink that straight. But hey I'll tell you what…I'll give you this drink." I began, as I leant below the counter and picked up a bottle of coke out of the small refrigerator.

I knew that I would have to ease out his want for more alcohol discreetly. Hopefully pretty soon he'd forget about wanting the liquor and just drink the coke.

When I came back up to face the well-built blonde, (who currently had a smoke positioned between his lips lazily), he was leaning over the counter to see what I was getting for him exactly.

I had dealt with him countless times before…and each time I used the same tactic. I now kept a coke bottle especially for him under the counter for whenever he started to go out of it…which was all the time.

However each time he saw the 'new special drink', he still stared at it in wonder and he was yet to reject the black liquid.

I poured him a fresh glass and then turned to get the rum. However as soon as I turned back to him, I saw that the glass was empty and was now rolling around the counter where he had fallen asleep next to it. I noticed that his mouth was open as well and I swear I saw drool seeping out.

I turned away disgusted and replaced the bottle of rum on the shelf behind me again.

The place was packed out yet again, mostly with the town's male population. But then there was the odd girl hanging over some guy, who's only intention was to get her drunk enough so that she wouldn't even have the will to tell him to stop when he eventually had his way with her.

It horrified me that they could be so stupid. But then it was their choice.

"Well well well, if it isn't miss Tifa?" Came a sly voice from the side.

I turned to see a man by the name of 'Rude'. His name as far as I was concerned suited him perfectly. Turning to face him I forced my face to remain expressionless and simply blinked at him.

"What'll ya have?" I asked bluntly, as I lifted the white cloth off my left shoulder and began to wipe the bench down, dropping my face to watch the counter below.

I could feel his gaze upon me, even through the sunnies he was wearing.

"Nothing." He said, and I could note the tinge of anger lurking about within his voice.

I knew that he was annoyed that I wasn't giving him the attention that he thought he deserved.

"Okay." I shrugged and turned my back to him as I began to wipe down the rest of the bench on the other side of the sleeping Cid.

He however followed me and said, "Hey…look at me when I'm talking to you."

I didn't follow his wishes. I just kept wiping away at the counter, not even having to pretend that it was far more interesting then him.

"Oh I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that we were having a conversation." I replied smugly.

This time he grabbed my wrist that was currently working away and pulled on it hard towards him so that I had to face him. I felt fear envelop my body. I just hoped that it didn't show.

He smiled stealthily and was about to say something when a large hand from my left, reached up and grabbed onto his lower arm. He turned to his right in what seemed to be shock, and so did I.

I saw that it was Cid staring up at him, still quite drunk, but he was with it enough to know that I was in a sticky situation.

He glared at Rude and seemed to silently dare him to take him on. After a few moments I felt my wrist being released and the buff bouncer look-a-like strolled out of the bar like nothing had happened.

I watched the door shut behind him, making sure he didn't come back in.

"I should really get a restraining order against him." I said quietly to myself.

Then I remembered Cid.

"Oh, thanks Cid." I said, as I turned to face him with a grateful smile.

He however waved one hand in the air languidly and mumbled, "Ah he's a pansy…nothing to it. Now get me one of those sparkly drinks." He instructed with his finger pointed towards the rum bottle once more.

I smiled and said, "For you Cid…anything."

A/N: Well my second chapter is up. What did you all think? I hope it's going good, because I have been dying to write this story for ages.

I'm not sure what Rude is really like…but he's an asshole in this story.

Till next time…Byes.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters and everything associated with this story all belong to Square Enix.

Except for the coke. That belongs to the coke company or whatever you call it. Well I know that it doesn't belong to me anyway.

Yunie Tidus