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"What the fuck were you trying to achieve by killing the boy Strife?!" The old man was furious, the dim lighting strangely accentuating how flushed he was.

"So what? One less for you to worry about in your 'war'."

"Strife-"

"Listen, I did my job, just give me the money."

Running a hand frustratingly through his hair, the old man closed his eyes and calmed his irregular breathing pattern. "Fine. It will be wired to yours and Zack's account."

"Good." With that, Cloud turned, making his way back to the door. Pushing it open, light drenched in, his figure a disappearing silhouette until,

"Cloud…"

He paused, twisting his head he inclined he was still listening.

"Don't ever, talk back at me again."

The door slammed shut.

The brunette made her way out of the cheesecake shop, an obvious spring evident in her step.

She had just been fired today.

And by-god she was grateful. She had hated that match-making service Yuffie had so kindly forced her into, saying; she may as well get a job as customers were sparse during the day. She even said the pay was good! The pay was SHIT. Anyway, that's besides the point; Tifa Lockhart a consultant on LOVE?! She shook her head, an incredulous look plastered on her face as she walked down the street, earning her a few odd glances from passers-by. What were "The Great Ninja's" words exactly? Oh yeah…

"If you can't do, COACH!"

Bitch.

Tifa came to a stop by her car. Clutching her "Bag of Heaven" in one hand, she fumbled around with the other, trying to find her keys. She was halfway through rummaging in her large handbag when…Poke! She froze. Eyes widening she contemplated whether she should turn slowly or quickly, throwing a well powered punch her harasser's way. Ah, what the hell, they'd meet their doom either way…so slowly she twisted her head round, the rest of her body still, yet poised, her right arm muscles invisibly tensed (cheesecake in the left). However, as she turned, she spotted the ends of dark, ridiculously angled hair. That hair…So familiar…It's not everyday you find hair like that…Hit with a sense of déjà vu and intense curiosity she dropped her defenses, (and her cheesecake bag) spun fully around, and studied the man - an incredibly gorgeous man at that - more closely. Luckily for her the familiar man didn't move to attack her in the slightest as she grazed her eyes over him, in fact, he openly started laughing at her. Right in the face! What the…Frowning, she looked up to stare at him, trying to impose herself, gathering as much height she could, but just as she began to open her mouth to form some sort of verbal attack he focused his eyes directly on hers. She was mesmerized. The swirling depths of beautiful dark blue, tinged with gray, took her breath away. Oh…

He smiled. He recognised her immediately from the way she was literally skipping down the street, brown paper bag in hand. She always loved cheesecake. And it wasn't his fault he burst out laughing! That look on her still pretty-as-ever face was priceless. Aww, my little deer caught in the headlights.

"Tifa Lockhart. My, hasn't it been long?"

"I'm sorry, but how the hell do you kn-"

He could tell that typical quick-fire anger of hers was building rapidly and decided to quench it, "Zack. Zack Fair."

With that he heard her suck in a breath and study him yet again. In a flash, she threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "Zack…is it really you?! Oh whoa, it's been what…3 years?!"

She parted from him, allowing him to breathe. "The one and only, why, how could you forget this face? Plus, I'd hope you wouldn't hug any random person who announced they were me…"

"Still an egotistical jerk…shame. Those looks could've really been used for something worthwhile if you had half a brain." The both laughed.

"And you still use that witty mouth of yours, shame that couldn't have been put to better use."

Tifa sent him a glare and lightly swatted him round the head. Laughing again, Zack grabbed her dropped bag and her arm, linking it through his. They both needed to catch up!

"Do you remember our first date? WHAT a tragedy!"

"Oh god, I can still remember the pie flying in from the corner of my eye and slapping you right on the face! Timeless Zack, timeless." Tifa erupted in fits of laughter, after trying so desperately to keep a poker face.

They both sat, side by side on a park bench. His arm was slung to rest on the back, behind her body. He could feel her emanate a comforting warmth. Gazing at her, he noticed how her hair was cut from the waist-length style she donned before, to a shorter, shoulder blade, choppier version. It suits her, he thought. They both fell into a comfortable silence, just enjoying the company of each other. He liked the fact that she didn't plaster her face in make-up then, as so many teenage girls at their school did at the time, and he was happy to see that she didn't now. Simple yet effective eye stuff…His gaze trailed over the rest of her body, she was oblivious to it all. Tifa, at sixteen was definitely a sight to behold. She had matured a lot earlier compared to most of her friends (she seemed to be friends with everyone) and had obviously caught the sights of the whole young male population at their school, actually…all of the men…Zack winced. He swore there were a few too many lingering gazes on her by the teachers too. And as usual in high schools, by some clichéd fate, he, - being the popular, gorgeous…ahem - well being him, and her being her, were cruelly pushed together. Why cruelly? Well, being a couple just didn't suit them. If anything, it brought more heartache than what's healthy. They were too different, perhaps he being two years older affected that, but anyway, friendship definitely suited them more. And so, after a lot of hard work, they were able to repair the damage caused by breaking up, and from those mended bridges a beautiful friendship was resurrected. However, fate, as unpredictable as ever was malicious yet again. Tifa's father died, and she could no longer afford to attend the college of her dreams, and so, just like that, she up and left. She was a bright spark… Zack sighed, and Tifa shifted her gaze on him, a small unsure smile on her face.

"I'm so glad we met Zack." She lifted her hand, and placed it on his which was resting on his lap.

"What happened Tifa?"

The question…she knew it was coming, yet it still unnerved her. She never forgot the day she left her past. Her school. Her friends. Him. Mustering all her inner strength she answered, "After Dad died…I just didn't know what to do. Do you know what that feels like?" He shook his head. "Well…it's crippling Zack. It was as if I lost my future…my destiny. I don't know quite how to put it into words, but God forbid you ever have to go through that. If anyone, you don't deserve that. Anyway…I was lost. So I had to just go and find myself. That meant I had to leave. Why didn't I say goodbye?"

"Tifa you don't have to explain…I understand…" He could see the tears she was straining not to shed. He couldn't let her cry…not again.

"No Zack." She squeezed his hand. "I have to."

He took his arm from behind her and wrapped it around her shoulders, he now radiating his warmth to her.

"Well…I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye, because I was scared. Scared that if I saw you again…I wouldn't have the guts to go. And anyway…the last thing I wanted was pity. I'm so sorry Zack. I'm so sorry…"

He took her face, and dried the tears she shed with his thumbs.

"Don't be."

A beautiful, true smile blossomed on her face.

After consoling her, and once again re-bridging the gap between them he took her to one of his favourite cafés for coffee. Thankfully she had calmed. Seeing her cry had hurt him. Tifa Lockhart was never one to cry, and knowing he had caused her pain countless times before had only come back and shoved a grenade up his arse now. Let's say, Tifa was too innocent for him back then. And he, well he was too thick in the head to realize how lucky he was. He had a "playboy" status for a reason. It must have been about 13 girls he had cheated on her with…wow, I think that grenade shoved itself even higher…ow.

"So tell me, Zack." His name rolled off her tongue with a hint of playfulness. She bit her lip and twiddled a bit of her hair round her finger, "At University now right?"

He laughed. Trust Tifa to put up a bold front, although he wished she didn't, especially in front of him. "Are you flirting with me Tifa?" he smirked.

She beamed. "Nooo Zack, we've already gone down that road remember…and if I recall correctly, it didn't all end in rainbows and butterflies. Am I right?"

His smile dropped immediately. He knew before they had agreed to take what happened with a pinch of salt and move on, yet he couldn't help but feel undeniably guilty. Who wouldn't? I really was a piece of shit…doubtlessly still am.

"Zack, listen don't worry about that. There is not enough time in the world to dwell on the past. Anyway so tell me, what are you up to now?!"

"Ok, well…actually…I didn't quite make it at University…"

"What?! How come?"

"Well its not like I failed the exams, just a job prospect popped up beforehand, and well…you could say I would've been an idiot if I refused to take it."

"Oh…so milking it in now are you? Lucky bastard! You'd probably have the high life before you reach 30!" She grinned.

He loved her smile. It wasn't fake and tainted.

"Actually Miss Lockhart, I'm doing quite well right now."

"WHAT! At 21? Are you serious?! You really are a lucky bastard!"

"Excuse me; I don't think this face," he used his hand to indicate, "…deserves your verbal abuse."

"Ok, joking aside Zack…tell where the hell is the justice in world? You've got it all, and me, obviously being the smarter in school," he frowned at this then quirked a brow, she just laughed, "is out of a day job! Tell me, just where is the justice?!"

"Day job?"

"Oh, I work at a bar during the nights."

"A bar? Tifa are you sure that's appropriate? I hope you wear suitable clothes…"

"Zack, I do not need you to lecture me, I am old enough to take care of myself!"

"19 is hardly 'grown up' Tifa, but ok fine. Motherly tendencies aside, where is this bar? What's its name? Who's the manager? It's not in a rough area right? You better not get molested-"

"Zack! It's harassed for a woman my age."

"Woman…sweetheart you're only 19 as I said before, still in those infamous teen years…hardly a woman!"

"OI!" She stood up, a determined look on her face and waved a hand across her body, "You call this not womanly, hmm?"

A plate dropped, and room became silent. A lone man from across the room wolf whistled and shouted, "Mate, if she's not yours I'll be more than willing to-"

"Fuck off!" yelled Zack. He too got up and dragged Tifa back to her seat, his anger subsiding after seeing her satisfied smile.

"Bitch. You know how protective I am of you."

"Just like the old days." She smile widening, showing her white teeth cheekily.

Tifa at nineteen…Jesus Christ.

AN: Well guys I'm sorry yet again for the long wait, but GCSEs are STRESSING ME OUT! Eugh...should really be revising. ALSO this trouble with Ronaldo at ManU (I support them :D) and Real is only adding to that stress! One could say, Ele is not a happy bunny. Nuh-uh. ANYWAY back to the fic, thank you all for reviewing the previous chapter! Reviews mean everything :) and I thoroughly appreciate them! (Hint.hint) Anyway...I'm confused as ever with this fic...I know where it's going...and trust me, there is a LOT of drama ahead, but I don't know whether readers would mind it going very deep, touching on sensitive issues and the like. Which in turn means it's going to be quite long...so feedback would be grateful!

ALSO, this is NOT a ZackxTifa fic...(for all those who were put off by their interaction in this chap) it's just that I wanted to show that they have had a past (not the typical Cloud-Tifa past). This somewhat solidifies their friendship in the upcoming chaps. ALSO I PROMISE there will be Cloud Tifa interaction in the next chap...I'm sorry this has taken so long...I wanted the scene set perfectly. I hope you can bare with me :)

Take care guys! xXx