Aeris strolled into the small bakery. It smelled like heaven. Warm cookies just out the oven…coffee being brewed…bread rising…chocolate candies…and so much more. She knew that she couldn't make it out of this place without buying something.

Aeris glanced around and saw who she was looking for. Aeris waved energetically to him, and he waved back. She walked toward him at the counter and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.

"Hey, Zack!" Aeris said. "Has your shift ended yet?"

"Yeah," he replied. "I was just about to get the apron off. I'll meet you outside."

"But I want some snickerdoodles first," Aeris whined.

Zack nodded playfully and went to fish out her wishes.

The two lifelong friends walked together along the street, side by side. Aeris nibbled at her cookies, savoring the flavor.

"You're doing it again," Zack teased.

"Doing what?"

"You're nibbling again. Why don't you just eat it? You know you're going to eat it again a few days. You've been doing that since we met in kindergarten."

Aeris licked a few crumbs off of her lips. "It makes me sad if it goes so quickly."

She stopped eating, deciding to save the rest for later. The small bag found a safe place in her purse.

"I have to go teach the dance class again in three and a half hours," she said quietly. "With Cloud!"

"You are so gonna get your heart broken," Zack retorted. "I'm trying to tell you, Aeris. He doesn't dig you like that."

Aeris gave Zack a dangerous glare, and he quickly shut up.

"Whatever," she said dryly. "If you stay with a person for more than a year, you have to become attached."

"But it doesn't mean that he'll like you like that! Aeris, have you been reading romance novels again?"

Aeris growled in contempt. Zack rolled his eyes and sighed.

"If you let me go with you with you to that dance class," Zack declared, "I can prove that he's not interested in you."

Aeris stopped walking and looked him straight in the eye, scowling. Then, a daring smile appeared on her face.

"I'll bet next time's lunch," she said slyly.

"I'll make sure to order lobster then."

Cloud looked down wearily at the dessert the just arrived while Tifa devoured hers without worry. He glanced at her, for a moment, and then back at the plate. Tifa finally noticed and put her fork down.

"Aren't you still hungry?" she asked. "What's the matter with you?"

"I don't like meals that ride on a lady's money," Cloud replied softly.

"Chauvinist!" Tifa cried.

"No," he replied. "Chivalry."

Tifa blew her bangs off of her face. Dealing with Cloud was not an easy task. Possible, but still not easy.

"Then why don't you be chivalrous and let me do as I wish."

She had him there. Resigned, Cloud let it go and ate. Tifa stared at him, amused and triumphant.

"I was just wondering."

"Wondering what?" he asked.

Tifa's eyes darted left and right.

"Why do you act the way you do?"

"Pardonne- moi?" Cloud asked.

"That's exactly what I meant," Tifa said. "Why do you break out in French when you're British. Why do you do things in public, like making people feed you? Why do you insist on your students using a Japanese honorific with your name? Why do you squirt sleeping people with cold water? Why?"

"Because," he answered. "I realized at a very young age that being normal just wasn't my style."

Tifa raised her eyebrows incredulously.

"I think that you may have gone overboard," Tifa stated.

"Pêut-etre…"

Tifa groaned and rubbed her head. Then, she began to laugh.

"You're so weird," she said to him. "Really weird. I can't believe I've gotten used to it."

"You have no idea," Cloud replied. "I'm just getting started."

The restaurant, being two stories up, made it perfect for people watching. Tifa completely abandoned her dessert and gazed down at the passersby below.

"Ah, look," she cooed. "That elderly woman has the cutest French bulldog."

"How can you tell it's French?" Cloud asked. He looked out the window as well.

"I'm a dog lover," Tifa said. "Need I say more?"

They kept on watching until a young man walked by a bench. The man turned his head from side to side, spit gum into his hand, and placed it on the back of the bench. Cloud and Tifa gaped at each other and whooped.

Dessert was joined with people watching until it was all gone. Cloud watched with half dread as Tifa signed the bill and sat it back in the middle of the table.

"I need to go to the bathroom," Tifa said. "I'll be right back."

Cloud waited until she was out of sight. He pulled out his wallet and added a five dollar tip into the bill card.

"She'll understand," he mumbled to himself.

A pair of heels walked up to the table. Cloud looked, thinking that it was the waitress, but saw someone else.

"Hello, Mr. Strife. You've grown up quite nicely."

Cloud stared at the woman gravely, but then smiled, amused. His eyes were filled with sly content.

"Hello…Lucy."

Tifa walked back to an empty table and became extremely puzzled. She gained the attention of a waitress and asked for an explanation.

"Oh, the guy you came with?" the waitress asked. "He said that he'd be back in a little while. He told you that he'd meet you at the car. The keys are in your purse, miss."

Tifa thanked her graciously and went towards the steps. A man, sitting close by in a booth, immediately got up.

She walked out of the door and jogged over to the car. Tifa opened the car door, set her purse down, and prepared to get in. As she ducked under, she felt a gun against her back.

"Step back," the man whispered. "And don't make a scene either."

Tifa stepped back, obediently and calmly. She glanced back and took a quick look at her enemy.

"Let's take a walk."

"I see," Cloud said. "Shinra is dead."

Lucy Skandon smiled mischieviously. "Yes, he's very much dead."

"You killed him?"

"No," Lucy replied. "He committed suicide will taking to of my companions with him. But we can take credit for everyone else in the building."

Cloud snarled angrily.

"It's Shinra's fault, you know. He was dabbling were his hands did not belong…"

"To save lives!" Cloud yelled.

"Calm down," she replied mockingly. "We're in public."

"We're in an alley. I'll yell all I want."

Lucy looked at him haughtily before chuckling. She lightly gnawed at her thumb at stared back at him sensually.

"You're nothing more than a manufactured creature," she said sharply. "How can you talk to me with such audacity?"

"The very fact that I can break your neck in twenty different places," Cloud replied.

Lucy stepped back, her eyes widening in shock. But, she was soon in a good mood again.

"Oh how vicious," she cooed. "I like that in a man. I'll see you later than."

"Is that all you came for then?" Cloud asked.

"Yes," Lucy answered. "For now."

Lucy walked away for a few steps and then looked back.

"That's a pretty girlfriend you have," Lucy said. "If you don't worry, it'll be wasted."

And she was gone.

Cloud ran out of the alley in horror and headed for the car.

This strange man was too close for Tifa's comfort. The gun was pressed at her back, on a bruise that was still healing. She looked around and noticed that they were in an alley way.

"You mind telling me what you want?" Tifa asked flippantly.

The man the man's snicker sounded like a wheeze. It sickened her.

"Ah, nothing special," the man replied lazily. "Just a man doing a paid job…"

He shoved Tifa down to the ground, and she landed on her hand and feet. He looked at his soon-to-be victim with satisfaction. The man aimed his gun with a confident smile.

Suddenly, the side of his head was grabbed by a strong hand. The man's head was pushed through one of the surrounding building's wall with a horribly violent force. With his head still stuck in the wall, the rest of the assassin's body could only slump so far with it.

Cloud moved his fingers around and cracked his knuckles. Tifa stood up, dazed at what had just happened.

"I'm sorry," Cloud finally said. "I was distracted."

Yes...it was a short chapter...