What Lies Beneath

Chapter 12

Something Right

The smell of something insanely appetizing filled his nose. Something mouth watering, something that was cooking. Cloud opened his eyes and found himself in his room. Upon realizing he was here, he rushed out of his room and into the kitchen. Something was not right. Who was cooking in his kitchen?

Aerith?

He turned the corner and stopped abruptly to see a raven haired girl making breakfast. She stood in front of the oven, frying some eggs and bacon together. Feeling eyes on her, she turned her head and smiled.

"Good morning sleepy head," she joked. "Breakfast is almost ready."

No, not Aerith.

"How did I get home?" he asked. Cloud could not remember anything that happened after the battle. The one he lost. He did not remember coming home. He did not remember letting her in here. Yet, there was making him breakfast.

"It took me a long time to get you home. You wouldn't tell me where but you managed to stumble your way here. Then you walked into your room and fell asleep. You slept the rest of yesterday away and it's almost ten now."

Cloud stared at her and then looked away. He slept a day away. He had done that before and when he did last time, Aerith was there watching over him. She was not here now.

The raven-haired girl scooped up the eggs and bacon and placed them on two plates next to slices of toast. She then took both plates and looked at Cloud. He looked up at her and she was nodding to the small table. Cloud walked toward there and sat down at on a chair. She sat down opposite of him. His plate rested before him, the eggs and bacon still softly sizzling.

"Eat up before it gets cold," her voice was different. It was not that sing-song playful tone that he was use to hearing from Aerith. It was strong, reserved, and it was her voice.

He stared at his plate.

"Is something wrong?"

Cloud looked up at her.

"Cloud, do you not like eggs anymore? I use to make it for you all the time."

"How come your here." he said suddenly. "You left me... for no reason you left me."

He stared at her, his eyes glaring at her. She looked away.

"I didn't mean to..."

"Didn't mean to... you... you promised me you would stay with me!"

"What does it matter now?" she snapped. "I'm here now because you wanted me here. Because I wanted to be with you too. Aerith made it possible for us to be together again."

Aerith... she did this? But why?

She sighed. "Cloud if I could apologize enough to make you understand I never meant to hurt you then I would but... after what I did I can see why you are mad at me. All I can say is... I'm sorry."

Cloud's eyes softened. He had been heartbroken because of her. He had been alone for so long because of her. Now she was here, right now, and he was angry and yet the pain in his heart ached with such force that he wanted to gather her up in his arms and never let her go again. Losing her, when she meant the world to him, was more painful than any fight he ever had to defend Aerith.

Aerith, she did this. She went out of her way to make this happen. Yet, he was supposed to protect her. She made it so that he was happy again. He no longer had to fight for her. He no longer had to keep his promise. He could be happy. He could be happy with...

"Tifa..." he breathed.

This was right. This was what he needed.

Tifa looked up. The two stared at one another for a moment before Cloud averted his eyes.

"I... this is all just so sudden." he explained. "I never thought... I thought you left me for good. Seeing you here now it's like seeing a ghost. I don't know how to feel. I want to be angry but not at you really. I'm guessing I'm angry at myself for letting you go."

Cloud felt stupid for spilling out his feelings. After all, it had been a long time since he talked to her. Cloud sighed when suddenly he felt Tifa's hand on his cheek. He looked up.

"We're together now. That's all that matters. Let's forget about the past and look forward to the future. Just you and me."

She smiled and Cloud felt his heart flip with those words. He found himself nodding.

As if there time together had never ended, Cloud and Tifa picked up where they had left off. Together that morning the two exited the apartment and walked the streets together.

"Let's go shopping!" she suggested, tugging at his hand.

Hand in hand they entered a marketplace, where shops and stalls were busy selling goods to eager customers. Cloud followed Tifa and together they picked out food and supplies that Cloud neglected to purchase since his arrival to the city. He forgot to fill up his refrigerator with food. He forgot to purchase medicine and a first aid kit in case of emergencies. What else did he forget, oh yes, some extra toiletries that Tifa picked out for them.

"Oh look at how nice the produce looks!" Tifa said as they came to a fruits and vegetable stall. She picked out the brightest and freshest fruit, explaining to Cloud she would make him a delicious dinner tonight.

Clothing, they passed by store that sold informal clothing. Tifa purchased a new shirt, pants, sweatshirts, and such for Cloud stating his old clothes were torn up and very dirty. She questioned when the last time he did laundry. Cloud shrugged. He forgot. She picked up detergent so she could do laundry later as well as some cleaning supplies.

"When we get home," Tifa began, "We'll have to start putting away your things, how long have you been here anyway?"

They did just that. Together they finished unpacking Cloud's things. Afterward they made dinner together, nothing at all fancy but a decent and filling meal none the less.

"I remember a long time ago you use to make me dinner all the time," Cloud said as he carried his dishes to the sink.

"I loved cooking for you Cloud." she said.

"I aways thought you hated it," he admitted. "I could not cook at all so you made dinner for me a lot."

Tifa laughed and playfully pushed Cloud. Cloud smiled weakly. "I love you Cloud, why would I mind cooking you dinner?"

Cloud shrugged.

"I"ll wash the dishes, why don't you relax on the couch and we can watch movies afterwards?"

Cloud nodded leaving Tifa who began to wash dishes. She began to hum slightly. Cloud turned his head to look back for a second. He opened his mouth to say something but instead he went to watch TV. What he wanted to say was nothing, just a comment about her humming. He never heard her hum before when doing work. Well after so long people change, Tifa was no different.

This was right.

When Tifa finished the dishes she joined Cloud on the couch. The two watch several movies before Tifa took the remote in her hand.

"Cloud," Tifa said as she turned the tv off.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Remember when we said we would work together and open up our own business?" she asked.

Cloud nodded.

"I was thinking what if we open up a bar here in this city?"

"But what about Nibelheim?" he asked.

"What about it?" she questioned, slightly wide eyed.

"It was our home..."

"Oh..." Tifa blinked and leaned over and was inches from Cloud's face. "That is in our past. We can live here and start again, okay?"

Before he could answer, Tifa leaned over and kissed him. Cloud felt his heart skip a beat. She pulled away for a second but Cloud brought her back and kissed her again and again. He had missed this, he had missed her. She had been gone for so long and all his thoughts since they parted had been about her.

"I want to," he breathed softly between a kiss. "I want to be with you forever, make this our home."

Tifa's smile widened as she laced her fingers with Cloud. They continued to kiss, pressing their bodies together, and holding one another as if it would be their last moment.

Hours later Cloud awoke to find Tifa curled up next to him on the couch. A blanket was draped over them. Carefully, he carried her to his bed. He laid down next to her and covered the two to up beore resting his head on his pillow. He smiled, relaxing himself.

Today was the best day of his life. He and Tifa were together and everything was going perfect. He could not wait to wake up with her and have every day be like this. He closed his eyes, a smile on his face as he drifted off to sleep.

This was right.

Cloud opened his eyes to white flowers with streaks of red all along them. He stared around the flowery field wondering where exactly he was. However, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone weeping. He walked through the fields finish then white flowers becoming redder and redder, petals blowing everywhere to point it was almost blinding. The crying was getting louder. The person was sounding as if they were hysterical.

Suddenly a burst of wind and petals hit Cloud, which caused him to shield his eyes. When the wind died he opened his eyes and saw the red beast in front of him. The beast with the flaming red tail and one eyes missing. In the background he could still hear the crying.

"Who are you?" Cloud asked.

The beast let out a low growl, his tail flickering behind him.

"What do you want from me?"

The beast opened its mouth, "To remember." Then it turned and ran off into the field of flowers.

"Remember what?" Cloud shouted. Without thinking he ran after the beast, the crying becoming louder.

Cloud could see the beast disappearing in petals but there was another figure in the distance, dressed in blue. The figure began hyperventalating, grabbing onto its hair as if trying to get a grip. Cloud approached the figure and noticed all around the flowers were now crimson.

"Hello?" Cloud said. "Why are you crying."

The figure continued to cry. Cloud wondered if the person could even hear him.

"Hello?" he called again.

When the person ignored him again, Cloud reached out and touched his shoulder. The person was startled. He jumped as he turned around in his crouched position to look at Cloud. Cloud's eyes widened in horror as he looked down at a blonde man, with eyes like the skies, his hands covered in blood clutching a pink ribbon in one and the other threatening to rip out his own hair.

It was him.

Cloud awoke with a start, sweat dripping down his face, chest and back, He breathed in several large gasps and looked down to see Tifa sleeping peacefully next to him. It was a dream. It was just a dream. It was not real. He rushed to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. After finally regaining himself he turned off te water and dabbed his face dry with a towel.

"It was just a bad dream," he told himself again and again. "Everything is all right now."

Everything was all right. He had Tifa with him. He no longer had to fight in Aerith's games. Zack was back to protect her. He could live a normal life. He could build a life for himself and Tifa, just like he planned.

This was right... right?

X, X, X,

Author Note- Unedited version. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy.