Here's chapter three :) I wanted to make it longer than this, but I just wanted to upload it rather than drag it on. Plus, I couldn't think of anyother way to end it. Enjoy!
The rhythmic pounding of trainers racing fast on the concrete would be enough to send anyone back to their childhood. Running so fast you think that at any moment, wings will burst and spread from your back, sweeping you into to the air and sending you somewhere far away and exciting.
It was like that for Tifa. She had to grow up so fast; she clung dearly onto any trigger that sent her back to her childhood. That's why she enjoyed her morning jogs so much, it reminded her of being a child again. The cool breeze refreshing her face and flushing her cheeks with a pink tint, her hair flying from her face and disappearing behind her, and sometimes it reminded her of playing tag or hide-and-seek with certain childhood friends.
Tifa stopped for a moment to catch her breath, placing her hands on her hips as her chest heaved up and down, inhaling and exhaling deep breaths. She glanced around at the Radiant Garden morning, her view from Bailey overlooking the old Castle, which was now undergoing restoration following the heartless invasion several months previously.
Hers, and everyone else's memories of the town had been returned, after Radiant Garden's name and history had been erased and replaced by Hollow Bastion. She recognised the settings clearer, not perfectly, but the view from the Bailey especially was vivid in her memory. She had spent so many afternoons there as a child, she could hardly believe that she was able to forget the sunset sky that cast a golden glow on the Rising Falls and glorious castle in the distance.
Every morning since Radiant Garden was restored, Tifa would detour to this exact spot by the Bailey on her morning jogs, and a small piece of her childhood would come back to her. By now, she had pieced together every meal spent with her family, every sunny afternoon spent with her friends, every grazed knee and every ice cream.
The thought of ice cream had escaped her mind for a while, and she seemed surprised at herself that it had been so long that she had indulged herself in the salty-sweet taste, another trigger that took her back to her childhood. Tifa smiled to herself, regaining her posture and heading towards the Market Place with resolute determination to fetch ice cream for herself and the others. She smiled to herself once more at the surprise she had in store for her friends. And while she walked, she reminisced about the first time she tasted Sea-Salt ice cream.
"Papa..." a tiny hand clenched at the dark denim trousers of the tall man stood in the Market Place.
"What is it, Teef?" the soft, deep voice replied, as the man turned his gaze down towards his daughter.
"Papa...what flavour ice cream is your favourite?" Bright maroon eyes gazed up at him, offering her father another one of her questions, usually provoked without a second thought from the little girl's trail of thought.
Her father chuckled in response, sweeping his arms down to gently swing the little girl up and into his arms.
"Well Teef, I would have to say...Sea-Salt!"
A light 'bleugh!' sound came from the girl in his arms, which caused her father to chuckle once again in response.
"What's wrong with that?"
"Who would want salt in their ice cream!" The little girl poked her tongue out at the thought.
"Well, you shouldn't dismiss it until you try it, you never know, it may be your favourite too." Her father placed her back on the ground, still holding onto her hand as they walked over to Scrooge McDuck's Ice Cream parlour.
After two Sea-Salt ice creams had been paid for, the little girl and her father sat down on a bench overlooking houses surrounding the market place.
"How is it, Teef?" The father smiled down at his daughter, who had just taken her first lick of the ice cream.
"Papa...it's delicious!" The little girl giggled and continued to lap at her salty-sweet treat, swinging her legs over the bench as she sat with her father and watched the crowds saunter past them. Everything in that moment was so serene; the little girl almost didn't notice the small blond boy lingering around the ice-cream parlour with wet eyes.
The more the little girl stared at him, the more her serenity was interrupted. This little boy was much smaller than her, with spiky blond hair with a small low ponytail at the back of his head. He was biting his lip as he sniffed, and the little girl noticed that he was grasping dearly at the popsicle stick in his hand, and staring down at a small blue puddle by his feet.
The little girl's father called after his daughter as she hopped down from the bench to approach the small boy, who upon noticing her presence widened his eyes and pulled an expression which resembled a deer caught in head lights.
The little girl merely smiled at him, and thrust her hand in front of him. The small boy gazed in awe at the perfect sea-salt ice cream offered before him, before turning his head back up to stare at the warm maroon eyes that were lighting gazing down at his.
The little girl silently nodded, nudging the ice cream closer towards him. The small boy's jaw dropped as he reached a shaking hand to clutch the stick of the ice cream. His eyes started to wet once more as he averted the gaze from charming face of the little girl, who smiled and nodded at him once more, before turning and skipping off towards her father, leaving the small boy awestruck and holding an ice cream that was slowly melting in his hands.
"That was a very nice thing you did, Teef." Her father said, taking her hand as they began walking back towards the Borough.
"Well, he looked so sad, Papa...and everyone else looked so happy; I thought I should make him happy, too!" The little girl beamed at her father and he smiled back, before swinging her onto his shoulders as they headed off home.
"Leon!" Tifa rapped her free hand against the door of Ansem's study, and decided to invite herself in after she heard no response.
"Leon...? I brought something for you!" She hoped, as she peered round the door, that he had calmed down after his 'episode' that same morning. As she glanced around the empty room, she questioned how she knew he would be there, but quickly reassured herself that Leon had definitely told them he was going to work with Cid in the study as he was storming out.
Tifa frowned as he eyes darted about every corner of the barren study, unsure for a moment about what it meant. Had Leon lied to them? No, he wouldn't do that. He may not be the type to say much, but he certainly wasn't dishonest. She assured herself that he must have taken a break, or maybe gone home. And with that thought, she headed home herself, reminding herself of the smiles that would greet her as she presented her friends with their Sea-Salt ice creams.
Well, thanks for reading. This was obviously Tifa's chapter =P Once again, I apologise for it being so short. I swear some more juicy bits are coming up! The last chapter was juicy enough that I wanted to introduce a bit of history to Tifa and Cloud's relationship. Thanks again for reading, and please let me know what you think. ^_^
