Chapter Four: How did you know that?
A/N: Well, in the last chapter we saw Namine being left in Tifa's care by her parents. On with the show!
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts.
Namine stopped crying when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"It's getting cold." The woman said quietly. "Let's go in."
Namine was a bit hesitant at first, but decided to trust her. Well if I can't trust her who else can I trust? She asked herself as she stepped through the doorway.
The house was neat and old-fashioned. Although not very big, it still had that "homey " feel to it that Namine had never felt in her own house. It was as if she had stepped out of the exit of her old world into the entrance of another. Namine shuddered involuntary, despite of the warmth. She felt as if the house itself knew more about her parents than she herself did.
Come on, Nami. Get a grip. It's just a really old house. With a really weird feel to it. Just because it has an odd feel to it doesn't mean it's alive. Namine shook her head. Man was she getting paranoid.
A voice beside her said "I'm sorry. This probably isn't what you're used to. I'm sorry if it's so small."
Namine whirled her head around to stare into the odd coppery eyes of the woman. She forced a smile.
"Oh, no, it's alright. It's really nice, actually."
The woman smiled back, apparently not noticing her discomfort. "I'm glad to hear that. By the way, my name's Tifa. What's yours?"
You talked to my dad for thirty minutes straight and you forgot to ask him my name? Namine thought. But then she realized that the woman- now named Tifa- was trying to make her feel comfortable.
"Namine. Namine Strife." She said extending her hand with a flourish. She looked up with a smile, but was surprised to see Tifa wincing as if in pain.
She immediately dropped her hand.
Silence reigned for a few moments before Tifa broke it. "Your room is upstairs." She said quietly, refusing to meet Namine's eyes. "Second door to the right. Go and unpack, then come down for dinner."
Namine opened her mouth to say something, but quickly shut it with a snap. She nodded once, and ran up the stairs. Before heading up, she glanced down at Tifa. The woman's face had a look of great pain. She was clutching the place where her heart was supposed to be. She suddenly looked up the staircase, but Namine by that time, had already disappeared up the last flight of steps.