And Nothing Else Matters

So close no matter how far

Couldn't be much more from the heart

Forever trusting who we are

No, nothing else matters.

-Metallica

Cloud heard them approaching. Their footfalls were soft, but he still didn't open his eyes or acknowledge them. If he had a plan, some type of hope they'd make it through this one, he would've pulled back, not let them see him and Tifa in his moment of weakness. But he didn't, not today.

If this is the day I die, I'll die with her. I'll show all my weaknesses, as long as I'm with her.

But it's not a hand that touches his blood-caked wrist. It's something cold and wet, and Cloud opens his eyes, shifting slightly.

And that's when he sees it.

Hope.

"Nanaki?" Tifa breathes, shocked.

Nanaki pads over to her quickly, dropping the ring of keys that was in his mouth. There's a large gash on his right foreleg, but other than that, he seems unscathed.

"How...?" Cloud asks as Tifa fumbles with the keys.

"How do you think you reached the beach safely?" Nanaki asked, calm.

"But you could've helped me..." Cloud said.

"You wouldn't have listened to reason. It was best for me to just watch from a far, and make sure you'd made it to Tifa...I judged by how these people have already acted. I knew you'd be going into a battle, and wouldn't think twice of sacrifice for Tifa. I also knew there was no time to find the others, so I followed you."

"Okay...I'll take your word on that."

Tifa lets out a triumphant shout as she unlocked her door. She rushed quickly up to Cloud, giving him a swift kiss on the lips before struggling with his shackles.

"Plan?" Cloud asked.

"We have to get out of here."

"Given." Tifa added, one cuff unlocked.

"You don't understand. We have to destroy this place, and everything in it. I've been exploring, and it's not pretty."

"What do you mean?" Cloud asks.

Nanaki sighs, "Remember Hojo's lab?"

Cloud grimaces, flashes of wires and needles, lots of blood, and mako stinging his eyes.

Nanaki sighs, "Worse."

Cloud manages a swallow as Tifa unhooks his other cuff. He rubs his wrists lightly, the wound has scabbed, and he watches as Tifa's fingers lightly touches his wrist. He looks up, suddenly realizing their free. He grabs her, and Tifa wraps her arms tightly around his chest, burying her face in his neck.

"Tifa..."

"As touching as this is, we need to end this." Nanaki states.

Tifa pulls away, nodding. They both stand and Cloud walks over to Zack's discarded sword.

"Zack..." He says softly, thinking of his friend.

I'll destroy them with your sword, for disgracing your memory...for hurting Tifa, and taking Denzel and Marlene. They'll pay for everything they've done, I'll make sure of it. Cloud thinks to himself, studying the rust covered sword.

"Good." A voice replies in his head, and Cloud smirks slightly.

"Come, quickly...I've had time to explore, I think I know a way we can sink this place." Nanaki says, making a dart down the hall.

Cloud and Tifa set off at a steady run behind him, Nanaki leading them to a flight of stairs.

"What exactly have you seen Nanaki?" Cloud asked as Nanaki darted towards a door.

"You don't want to know. Let's just say these hybrids have taken after Hojo." Nanaki replies.

"Do you think that's what he meant when he said they'd go check up on everyone?" Tifa asked.

"More like everything. I couldn't associate any of the creatures I saw with myself, let alone any human." Nanaki shuddered.

"So how are we going to sink this place?"

"I found the control room that raises and lowers this base. We can destroy the controls, maybe, or try and make it so that it'll submerge, but not rise...or you could just take that sword of yours Cloud and poke a hole in the wall to flood it." Nanaki says, glancing at Cloud.

"While I might do that, we need to get this thing beneath the water first."

Nanaki nodded his head in agreement as he led them through a final door. Glancing around, Cloud realized that this must be the control room, and more than just for raising and lowering the strange base. The walls were covered with TV screens, levers, buttons, computers and other mechanical sorts.

"I really wish Cid were here. He could probably make sense of all this mess." Tifa stated, looking at the TV's.

"They give no sound." Nanaki noted.

Tifa turned away, and the three gazed over the control panels.

Cloud studied the controls, piecing everything together.

"I think I can do this."

"Cloud?"

"You two get out of here, I'll follow soon." Cloud stated, his eyes still on the panel.

"Cloud!" Tifa yelled. "I'm not leaving you!"

"We have a better chance of getting out if we split up. There's no reason for all three of us to be down here when the base starts sinking." He looked up, meeting her eyes. "Don't worry, I'll get out. I'll cut my way out if I have to."

She just shook her head no, but Nanaki nudged her hand.

"He's right."

Tifa knew they were right, but she wasn't about to admit it.

"We can't just leave you! Not after everything that's happened!"

"Tifa..."

"No! No, I'm not leaving you!"

"You have to, Tifa! I don't want you to get hurt!" Cloud yelled.

She froze, and Cloud mentally scolded himself for yelling, but now was not the time. He opened his mouth to convince her, but was interrupted.

"Okay...Nanaki...just a minute." Tifa said softly, her eyes downcast.

Nanaki looked up, shocked. He was surprised to see Tifa relinquish so easily. It wasn't like her at all, especially since it pertained to Cloud. He nodded his head once, and then stepped outside. He didn't know what to make of Tifa's sudden acceptance, but he did know this much: She was planning something.

As Nanaki waited outside, Tifa walked over to Cloud, placing a hand on his arm.

"Here." She held out her other hand slowly.

In it was a small switchblade Cloud had given her a few months ago.

"I can't take that, Tifa."

"You have to, I'm giving it to you." She said, her voice restrained.

"Tifa, I can't...I gave it to you to protect you."

"Then you have to take it!" She yelled.

She gripped the small blade in her hand tightly, her knuckles turning white from the effort. Cloud studied her as she fought tears, and fought to regain control of her voice.

"You have to take it." She began softly, eyes averted. "You have to...you gave it to me to protect me, well, then protect me...take it, just take it. This is how it'll protect me...knowing that you have it."

"Tifa..."

"You told me when you gave it to me, to use it during a jam...well, is this not a jam? They have the upper hand Cloud, and if we do run into anyone on the way out of here, I won't be able to use this. If I did, I'd only end up getting myself killed."

"Tifa!"

"It's true...you know it. I can't fight with a blade. You tried to teach me once, remember? I'm blade challenged."

"You could still figure out a way..."

"I don't care...that's not the point...you take it...you'll need it more than I when they figure out what we're doing."

"But Tifa...I don't need it, I have a sword."

"You do need it...so just take it and shut up."

Cloud smirked and closed his hand over hers, and she slipped the blade into his hand.

"If it'll make you feel better..."

"It will..."

"Tifa..." Nanaki's voice was muffled through the door.

"Right..." she replied softly, before looking up into Cloud's eyes.

"Hey, you come back, okay?"

Cloud nodded once, and Tifa threw her arms around his neck. She buried her face in his shoulder, before leaning over and kissing his neck.

"Please...I love you, and I don't want to lose you again." She said softly, blinking back tears.

Cloud's arms squeezed her closer to him at her words. She pulled back and kissed him softly on the lips. Bringing his hands up, Cloud smoothed her tears off her cheeks with his thumbs.

"I will...I need to see this face again...so I'll come back, I promise." He said softly.

As Cloud gazed into Tifa's eyes, he realized how much was sitting on his shoulders in that moment. There was a look of fear in Tifa's eyes he didn't see often. It was a raw, blatant fear that seared her cheeks with tears. He knew he had to come back, to see her again, even if it was just so he could see a smile on her face. She tried to force a smile, but failed miserably. Cloud barely kept from frowning, they had to go back, after everything that happened, after now knowing Denzel and Marlene were okay...they had to go back, and together.

Tifa reluctantly released him, and moved slowly towards the door.

"I'll give you a few minutes." Cloud said softly, and she nodded her head once.

As she was halfway out the door, she heard him whisper, "Don't worry...it'll be okay, because I love you too, Teef...and that's all that matters."

A/N: the action is about to start...dun dun dunnnnnnn! Oh! and Iskra revoir, feel free to translate this story or any of my others into Spanish...I'm honored, really...thanks so much for your kind words...and thank you to everyone else! Loves ya!