Don't Look Now

Tifa raced behind Nanaki from the control room. She kept her breathing steady, throwing her thoughts of Cloud in danger away, and focused on trying to get out this forsaken hell hole.

It'll be okay... she told her self. Cloud will do something, and this thing will start sinking, and we'll all get out of here...and those bastards will disappear beneath the waves with this place.

As they turned a corner, Tifa realized that Nanaki was leading her towards the lift, and he quickened his pace. They were about ten feet off when the lift slid open, and that's when everything went wrong. Tifa skidded to a halt, her shoes squealing in protest, and Nanaki dug his claws into the metal floor. The shrieking nose made the heads of the hybrids jerk up, and while one narrowed his eyes, the other gave a full grin.

"Oh no." Tifa breathed as their eyes locked.

"Run!" Nanaki yelled, catching her pants in his teeth and pulling her around.

"Don't look back." He said as he released her.

Tifa didn't complain, she ran as fast as she could, one hand buried in Nanaki's thick fur. Tifa didn't have to look back to know they were following. She could hear the hollow pounding of their feet and she swallowed. Nanaki skidded to the left at the end of the hallway, and Tifa realized he was trying to lead them away from the control room. However, as Tifa glanced back, she realized only one hybrid was following them now. The other had taken a right, thinking of the control room no doubt. Unfortunately, the one following Nanaki and Tifa was Zac.

Cloud was thrown against the wall when the hybrid burst in. He felt a lever dig into his side before he pushed himself off the wall, glaring at the hybrid. The hybrid's eyes were wild with anger, and Cloud swallowed. He allowed one moment to scan the monitors on the wall. Long enough to see Tifa and Nanaki running, and running from Zac.

It was this moment the hybrid charged at Cloud, sword raised. Cloud blocked it easily, and moved himself into a more 'helpful' position. Standing by the front wall, Cloud glared at the hybrid.

"Careful," he said softly, "You might mess something up."

The hybrid narrowed his eyes and made another charge at Cloud. Not before, however, Cloud pulled down a lever he prayed was the right one and then dodged the hybrid. There was a high pitched squeal as the base began it's descent back into the water. However, when the hybrid's sword sank into the controls, there was a violent shudder, and a loud pop as the base descended even more.

That was when all the lights went out.

Tifa stumbled against Nanaki's side as the base squealed and then shuddered in protest to whatever Cloud had done. She could still hear Zac's pounding footsteps behind her, but they had faltered during the first squeal. All of a sudden, everything went black. Tifa reached out her other hand, and clung to Nanaki's shoulders. He was still running. She was frightened, but trusted Nanaki. It also did her well when she heard a loud bang that echoed up the hall and Zac's footsteps ceased. They had turned left just before the back up lights came on. They ran along the floor, casting an eery, green glow across everything. It made Tifa sick for a moment. Nanaki shrugged Tifa off outside a door way and she opened it, the two slipping in quietly.

Tifa fell back against the door, catching her breath as Nanaki paced restlessly.

"What're we going to do?" She asked.

Nanaki didn't respond, but paced further through the room. Tifa looked up. The room was laced with pipes, some were hissing steam in areas, while others looked frozen. Tifa followed a silent Nanaki as he walked through the sea of pipes. She ducked beneath one and almost ran into Nanaki.

"Up there." He said softly.

There was a grate in the ceiling above. It cast the orange light of sunset through the hole, and Nanaki grinned. He maneuvered between some pipes and flicked his claws out. Tifa watched as he sank his claws into the wall, and pulled himself up, balancing precariously on a pipe.

"I can't climb that Nanaki." Tifa stated.

He glared at her over his shoulder.

"Tifa."

"I can't even get past the pipe! I can feel the heat from here."

"If Cloud knew..."

"You leave...find the others and get help!"

"...He would never..."

"I'll only slow you down!"

"...Forgive me."

"And I won't forgive you!" Tifa shouted.

Nanaki stared, and she glared back.

"I won't leave him...I can't...and you can't make me...So you go Nanaki. You go and get help...just...just find the others. I'll get Cloud and we'll get out and we'll meet up with you. We'll wait for you to get us."

"Tifa."

"You have too, Nanaki. For me."

Nanaki sighed, and dropped his head.

"If you feel the need."

"I do..."

Nanaki nodded his head once, turning his attention back to the wall. He listened as Tifa's steps receded.

"Don't worry...just don't look back. I'll get Cloud."

Cloud dodged another slash from the hybrid's sword. He ducked low, and rolled backwards as the sword sank into the ground before him. Pushing himself up, Cloud raised his sword up, bringing it down at the hybrid, who blocked him yet again. Cloud growled, he was losing patience. He needed to get out of the base. It'd been a few minutes since he'd started the base sinking, and he didn't know how much time he had. He wasn't completely paying attention to the fight, and that was starting to show. His mind was distracted by Tifa. He just wanted her to get out.

Dodging another blow, the hybrid smiled wickedly as the base shuddered yet again. Cloud stumbled slightly, going down to one knee.

"Looks like you're going down with us." The hybrid hissed.

Cloud stole this chance to glance back up at the monitors. Apparently when the backup lights came on, so did the monitors. His eyes scanned quickly, but before he could see Tifa, the hybrid was attacking again. He felt the blade skim his shoulder across his right arm lightly, and he winced, knocking the sword away from him.

The hybrid laughed. "Don't look away, you can't afford to. Pay attention."

Tifa moved as quick as she could through the corridors. She was trying to head back towards Cloud, and trying to avoid the hallways that had brought her and Nanaki to the room of pipes. She didn't want to run into Zac.

But it seemed as if luck wasn't with her today.

As she skidded around a corner, she saw Zac facing her. He grinned maniacally, and began to walk quickly towards her. Tifa took a step backwards, preparing to run. She twisted away from him, and in mid-step, stopped as he spoke.

"The only way to lover boy is through me." Zac said calmly.

Tifa glanced back at him. His eyes were wild, and he was still smiling. Her mind fought with her. On one hand, she could probably outrun him and maybe, just maybe find a way back to Cloud. Course, if she did that, she may end up getting so lost she'd end up getting drowned in the sinking base and never seeing Cloud again. Or, she could take this hallway towards Cloud, find him, and escape. Course, she'd have to go through Zac, and while she may be able to take him down, or just get past him, there was just as much of a chance of him taking her down. She didn't want to think of what would happen if she was defeated by him. Tifa narrowed her eyes and swallowed, Cloud coming back to her mind immediately.

Turning to face him, she knew she never should've looked back.

A/N: I like making you guys wait! heh...so SORRY for late updates...expect it from now on...Anyways...I thought the action would start this chapter...it kinda did with Cloud...I'm not much for writing action sequences, but I'll do my best! Anyways...thanks for all the reviews, and Meili...feel free to translate any of my stories and put them in your blog...really, it's quite flattering...Thanks for everything! Love ya!