Chapter 5: Who We Are Inside

Location: Tifa's Room

Time: 2:15 pm Sunday

Tifa's POV:

I'm not dust…I'm not…

Let me breathe…I can't breathe…

I'll do anything…just let me breathe…

I sat up almost instantly with the last few words of my dream still floating throughout my mind.

I sat tall and stared around at where I was…feeling my chest falling up and down heavily with each breath…and once again I was perspiring like mad.

I brought a hand to my forehead and moaned in pain as I felt my head throbbing as if it had just been bashed into the hardest brick wall several simultaneous times.

I hung my face in my hands and tried to compress the headache with my fingers applying pressure on both of my temples and massaging them gently.

"Argh…what happened to me?" I asked for the second time in two mornings.

Except this time there was no one here to explain anything to me…

Hang on a sec…what happened last night?

I was downstairs and I was closing up and then…

I widened my eyes, immediately remembering the events that had occurred last night.

That SOLDIER guy was in my bar…he fought me…but I thought he was going to kill me…it seemed like he was serious about doing it at the time and then I…I passed out.

Then how…

I looked down at where I was now.

How did I get here?

Shouldn't I be lying downstairs covered in dust and aching from the hardness of the floor below me?

I instantly looked down at my attire and felt relieved when I saw that I was still in what I was wearing last night…that meant that if 'he'…(whoever he was) did bring me back here, then he didn't take any of my clothing off to change me or anything to freak me out when I woke up.

"Oh what a night." I moaned as I flopped back down onto my bed.

Every night since those SOLDIER recruits had arrived, (which had only been two so far) I had not had one normal working shift.

First Yuffie and Reno forced me out of my own bar and then that guy attacked me for who knows what…wait…

He wanted to know about Rude…what did he want with Rude?

A little voice in the back of my mind seemed to speak up and say, 'Who cares what he wanted with Rude…Rude's an idiot and you're in desperate need of a shower.'

I frowned and took a look at myself closely.

I guess I did have a point…I was grey all over from the dust that I never seemed to find the time to clean up from the floor downstairs.

I'll know for next time.

Location: Midgar 'SOLDIER base'

Time: 6:45 pm Sunday

His POV:

"I told you…I went there and she didn't tell me anything." I growled at Vincent who leant lazily up against the wall…most likely enjoying the fact that I was a little pissed at the moment.

I hardly ever showed any kind of emotion…but this job was not something I had expected at all.

I had seen her last night…although she looked a little older then when I had last seen her, I could tell just by looking into those amber eyes and seeing that chocolate brown hair that it was her…and I can't believe I almost killed her last night. Although she did put up quite a fight…she had gotten stronger since the last time I fought her.

"Boy…I understand that it's hard to see the place you once lived in and see certain things that might…" he was cut off right there from me.

I immediately spun around and pinned him to the wall by his neck; infuriated with his sudden nerve to mention the fact that I once used to have a place here.

"Don't ever say that again…I don't belong here as much as the others don't." I hissed, as I let him down cautiously; my eyes burning into his own scarlet pair.

He didn't seem to be affected by this and simply stated after rubbing his neck coolly, "It seems that the others would find a place here sooner then you could by trying to reclaim your old life here."

I looked away and folded my arms in thought. My face loosened up a little as I tried to calm myself down.

It was then that he came up behind me and rested one hand on my left shoulder.

"You have to understand that no matter what…we must find this Rude and the one he is working for. Nothing…and I mean nothing will get in the way…don't get distracted while you're here."

"I don't get distracted." I replied as I turned to leave.

"Yes…well…I know for a fact that this girl you recently attacked was once someone you knew."

I stopped in my tracks and felt my face slightly drop at the mention of her. Then that familiar feeling of anger began to envelop my mind as I spun around and pointed one dangerous finger at him; daring him to say another word.

He simply stared back at me, and shrugged before pushing off the wall to leave.

I lowered my hand and said in my usual low tone, "No more is to be said about this…and no one else will enter that bar without me."

"Afraid of something?" he asked, stopping at my side and watching me carefully from the corner of his eye.

I shook my head and let my face return to its regular cold hardness, without any feeling whatsoever.

"I'm not afraid of anything." I said in a low tone once again…but even though I had successfully acquired my emotionless traits once more…I detected a sound of sadness, etched into my tone of voice.

Location: Seventh Heaven

Time: 7:00 pm Sunday

Tifa's POV:

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!

"I'm not open tonight!" I yelled from the top of the stairs before turning to the hallway once more.

"Tifa it's me." came a familiar voice, which caused me to stop in my tracks just outside my bedroom door.

I knew the voice, I just couldn't place it. So taking one last look at my never-ending pile of laundry lying across my bed I sighed and skipped down the stairs two at a time.

I had in one hand a black chopstick, which I was about to place in my hair before I was interrupted. So as I walked in a quickened pace towards the door, I reached back with one hand and quickly twirled my long hair around one finger so that it was in somewhat of a bun and then quickly pierced the accessory through the center.

I had by now reached my destination and cautiously I peered through the small peephole in the door.

Once I finally made out the figure through the dark, I was somewhat surprised to see him here again and especially after our last encounter.

I pulled my eye away from the small piece of magnifying glass and reached down to turn the cold doorknob; slowly opening the door.

As soon as I saw who was standing with him however I knew exactly why he was here.

His look seemed to some extent regretful and at the same time hopeful.

"Tifa?" he began, as he scratched the back of his head, almost as if afraid to meet up with my eyes.

"Don't worry…I know why you're here." I said quietly as I glanced down at the large carry case in his left hand.

His face shot up to meet with mine and a look of relief was apparent on his features even though I could hardly make out his face.

Then slowly he bent down on one knee and spoke, "Now I won't be gone for long…I'll come back for you…I promise…" he finished.

Then standing up he smiled at me with a look of so much gratefulness that I suddenly realised what was happening.

I was about to say something, but just as soon as he had handed me the case, he was gone, into the dark and without a trace.

I leant my head against the doorframe for a moment and then shut my eyes as I really began to think about what I had done.

Location: Tifa's Room

Time: 8:00am Monday

Tifa's POV:

"TIFA!"

"Huh what?" I breathed as I jolted up, being startled out of my sleep.

"Tifa there's something in my bed!" called out the ever so familiar voice of Yuffie.

I quickly shot up out of bed and flung my door open and bolted down the hallway barefoot, arriving at her room just in time to see Yuffie poking at a bunched up bundle of sheets at the end of her bed with her staff.

Her long hair was tied back into a loose braid, with pieces of silky black hair trickling over her shoulders.

Her look was of pure horror.

"Don't tell me Reno turned into a dwarf in the middle of the night." I said mocking her expression as I covered my mouth with one hand.

She lowered her staff and although she was serious when she said, "Tifa don't tease Reno." I noted a hint of laughter in her voice and a sparkle of amusement in her dark brown eyes.

"Come on help me…you're better at this stuff then me." she whined.

"Hmm…Yuffie Kisaragi admitting to the fact that someone is better then her at something." I teased, knowing that her words would come back to haunt her later, especially with someone like me around.

"Teeeeef…just take a look for me." she pleaded as she began to move aside for me to push past.

I shrugged and with a sigh I replied, "Fine…"

Then slowly I moved towards the bed…stopping for a moment as I inspected the sheets. Then carefully I reached forward and gripped the edge of the sheet. I closed my eyes and counted…one…two…

"THREE!" I yelled and jumped back as soon as I flipped back the covers.

I stood about two meters away from the bed and as I leant in to take a closer look at the entity which was still partially covered, I was greeted with a, "BOO!"

"Son of a…" Yuffie trailed off as soon as I gave her a quick glare.

I knew what was in the bed…or who rather and I wouldn't allow their innocent ears to be bombarded with foul language.

I smiled however as soon as I turned back towards the bed.

"Tifa…what is it?" Yuffie asked cautiously as I heard her shuffle forwards a little.

I picked up the little bundle in my arms and turned to face Yuffie with a smile, "Not 'what is it'…who is it." I corrected.

"I'm Marlene." The little girl spoke up with a cheeky smile and then pointed to Yuffie, "And I scared you."

Yuffie frowned and folded her arms, "I don't think so…I was merely trying to protect myself…how was I to know that a little girl was living here, let alone in my bed?" she finished, directing the last part of her sentence at me as she placed her hands on her hips, tilting her head to the side with a look of questioning.

I placed Marlene down on the ground and replied, "Look it's not forever. Barrett asked me to do him a favour…I'm just helping him out."

"So that's what that suitcase was downstairs." She said to herself as she brushed a few strands of hair out of her face.

I nodded and said, "Yeah…I was hoping you could give me a hand carrying it up the stairs.

She stifled a yawn and then waved her hand at me. "Yeah later…I'm not even supposed to be up this early…"

With that she walked over to her bed and flopped down onto it…falling asleep almost immediately.

"When you leave, take your little monster with you and close the door." She mumbled as she turned to face the other side of the room.

"Yes Miss Kisaragi." I replied in a mocking tone of salute.

I then glanced down to see Marlene staring up at me with wonder and I laughed as I questioned, "What are you staring at?"

"He was right…you are beautiful." She replied with a small smile.

It was an odd smile for a girl of her age…she seemed as if she was beyond her years just by the way she looked at me.

"Who said that?" I asked with a slight look of confusion as I knelt down to face her at eye level.

She stared at me a little while longer and replied, "The man who left here two years ago."

"Huh…the man…" I trailed off with more confusion, then with a sudden realisation I whispered, "Oh…that man…"

I hung my head to the side and felt my heart pound with shock and pain. I really didn't need to be reminded of anything about him…especially from a little girl.

"Tifa…are you sad?" she asked with a tone of regret.

"No Marlene…I'm not." I said as I stood up once more and began to lead the way out of the room.

Then a thought came to mind.

"Marlene?"

"Mmm." Came her response.

"How do you…know him?"

She looked down for a minute and whispered, "He used to visit me and Papa a lot when I was little…and he talked about you most times…and I remember one night when he came over before he went to a party…he said you looked very beautiful."

"Before a party…" I remembered the night of my nineteenth birthday.

The only night that I had ever had a party with him.

"How could he have known before the party what I looked like?" I asked.

She gave me a small smile and rocked from side to side slowly, "He didn't have to see you all dressed up to say you were beautiful…you always looked beautiful to him…that's what he told me."

I felt for the first time in a long time, a feeling of happiness…someone actually thought of me in that way…

But then reality interrupted and reminded me that it was a long time ago…he was gone and he had probably long forgotten me.

I sensed that she noticed my sudden change of mood and quickly forced a smile onto my lips.

"Come on you must be hungry." I said holding out a hand for her to take.

She accepted it and hung her head down thoughtfully, sending her short dark brown locks to fall about her face.

I shut Yuffie's door behind me and then began to lead Marlene down to the kitchen.

Location: Kalm Town

Time: 10:00 am Monday

Reno's POV:

"Look I've given you all the info I've got…I can't do this anymore." I whispered so as not to be heard.

"So the girl is still living where her father left her?" came the callous voice of a man lounging lazily on the chair, tracing the sword up and down with the tips of his fingers.

"Yeah but you didn't here it from me…" I said as I stared at him with a threatening look radiating from my eyes.

"Yes well…very good…we should be on top of things in no time…that is if she has what we need." He said in such a way, that if what I said was of no use to him, then he would have no problem killing me at the end of this anyway.

"I'm sure she has it…I mean he was never seen after he left her here two years ago…along with this other one who claimed that he knew nothing when we came to him. I think he left to get away from everything…but I can't be sure."

"No that was not the reason he left…that boy is working for SOLDIER…he left for a reason only known to himself."

I thought over this for a moment and then looked away.

"Anyway…that's it for me…no more…I can't do this anymore." I repeated once again as I turned to leave.

"It's because of that young girl isn't it?"

I stopped and frowned at the mention of the girl I never wanted anyone to know about.

"What girl?"

He was quiet for a minute and then said in a crude tone of voice, "The young ninja…I believe you have been seeing her for quite some time."

I turned slowly and gritted my teeth glaring at him with anger.

"I don't know who you're referring to." I said as I attempted to get her out of the picture.

"Oh I believe you do…I've been keeping an eye on you Reno…I know everything…and I promise you this…if there's a slip up because you haven't told me something, I'll make sure the last thing she ever sees is the blade of my sword."

My fingers curled into tight fists and I heard the leather rub together fiercely.

Then thinking of the only thing I could to keep her safe I said the next few words without any emotion at all.

"She was simply a way to get to the other one…she means nothing to me…"

"Oh really…then if she's available I would think that you might give me the honour of introducing me to her." he replied with a smirk as he stood up smugly.

I kept my cool and nodded, "Maybe."

"Where is Rude?" he asked dismissing the subject, although I knew that he would not give up on it so easily…later on he would continue on with it and I was not looking forward to it at all. But then…I wouldn't see him later…hopefully.

"I dunno…probably out." I replied carelessly, as I proceeded to leave.

"Hmm…" he mumbled to himself as he walked back to the lounge and brushed back his shoulder length silver hair quickly.

"Tell him that he is to leave that girl alone for a while…I know that boy is back in town…"

"What boy?" I asked, as I was once again distracted from my way out of the room.

"That Strife…he used to live in Midgar." He answered with boredom and began to tap the wall with the tip of his blade.

"Is he a threat?" I questioned, afraid that if this Strife did get in the way then Yuffie could get hurt.

"Not unless he finds out about you…or Rude…he already knows that there is someone after that Lockheart…so make yourself as unnoticeable as you can…I still need that little box her father left with her." he warned as he sat up once more and pointed the tip of his sword to the floor and began to spin it with interest.

"How do you know it's in a box?" I asked, wondering at the same time whether she may have discarded the valuable entity…and hoping that she didn't because if she did, it could mean both her and Yuffie's lives.

I knew that Kadaj had no doubt about the fact that she did have it, so I wanted to keep it that way for both their sakes.

He stopped his little sword game and lifted his head to face me and smirked once more.

"Because I was the one who gave it to him…"

"What you?" I said becoming more interested…this was the most he had ever told me about anything.

"Yes me…" he replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"But…why?" I asked in disbelief…if he wanted this thing so badly then why did he give it up in the first place?

"I was well known back then for…many things…I couldn't risk being found with something like that…so I gave it to Lockheart…who knows what he did with it…but I do know that I trusted him and I believe he left it in Midgar with that child…"

"Tifa…" I whispered, thinking of how everything was somehow linked to her and how much it was going to affect her.

Rude and I had been watching her for just over a year now…and now this SOLDIER guy was on her tail. But the one thing I really didn't want her to find out was the fact that her father was not what he had made himself out to be in her eyes…he had helped us…the ones who were after the one thing that would make us who we were…the 'experimenters'…the ones who had hurt many people in our past and now with the ability to do so once more in our grasp, it made me feel sick.

"Yes that's the one…last time I saw her she was only nineteen…that was at the celebration her father held for her…although he wasn't there…" he replied at my mentioning of her name, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"She hasn't done anything wrong…you won't hurt her will you?" I asked, not realising that I sounded a little too protective of her…which wasn't good when you had the most conniving man alive sitting just metres away.

"Not if she's a good little girl and does as she's told." He answered as he slipped his sword into its sheath and began to strap it onto his back.

He then stood and so did I.

"Don't take your anger for her father out on her…she's not like him." I said in a desperate attempt to make her less likely to be harmed in any way from him or Rude.

"I wouldn't dream of doing anything like it…I'm simply going to ask her a few questions…and well…we'll see how things go from there."

I stood tall and folded my arms, trying to figure out what he was thinking. But with that man, there was no guessing what his evil mind might be plotting.

A/N: Finally the fifth chapter is up…how is it? Not too predictable or confusing is it? Was it too short? Either way tell me in a review…I like reviews a lot. Hehehe!

Thanks to the following people for the encouraging reviews:

General Cloud: I'm glad you like how I switch between POV's...I find that it's easier for me to get inside the characters head and write from their POV rather then type in third person. And yes I agree...Cloud does need to stop acting like an ass for a few seconds...Hehehe! Thanks for the review!

Aurum Potestas Est: No I don't think that these two are going to get too intimate any time soon...although it will be good when they finally do get into it...I'm not suggesting anything...Hehehe! Thanks for the review!

Initial Dreamer: LOL! I'm glad you liked the action. The first action I've ever done really...which is kinda strange considering I'm into action movies with kick-ass chicks and bad-ass guys. Yes Cloud is different and you'll find out why in no time. I hope that this chapter is to your liking. Thanks for the review!

demonslayer206: I'm glad you liked this story enough to encourage me to keep going. Thanks for the review!

Cloud's-Tifa-Strife: I'm glad you enjoy my story. I didn't want to make Tifa a sissy girl...in my eyes she's a kick-ass chick who can take care of herself...but she still needs a little love in the end. I would never make her submit to Cloud after the way he's been acting...even if I do love him...Hehehe! Yes Cloud is a sexy biatch. I like your pen name by the way. Thanks for the review!

vickitori: I'm glad you think that my story seems promising. Thanks for being one of the reviewers who prompts me to type another chapter each time. Although, I probably would do it anyway, just to satisfy my own mind...Hehehe! Thanks for the review!

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

Yunie Tidus