Swish Swash out of ideas on what to blab about XD hmm let me see! This chapter involves Clouds side and point of view in the love triangle emerging.

Disclaimer: None of the characters or anything that revolves around Final Fantasy 7 has ever belonged to me but will always be credited by Square-Enix.

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Chapter Sixteen – The Opposing Comrade

Dazed he was, determined he wasn't. Dropping his fingers halfway through the water, he watched after pulling his fingers out once more the ripples formed. They were like a music instrument, each movement brought out a sound to his ears. Finally he cupped his hands together and lowered them till the liquid ascending onto his palm. Lifting the handful of water he splashed it against his face before getting up and looking around the lonely horizon.

His blue eyes traced around the shape of the flowers that was once disgust to a silver haired remnant. Many pillars have lost their job as they lay broken on the pebble floor. Benches all stacked up on top of another or placed quite neatly in the distressed location. When his foot collided upon the creaking wooden floor, he could tell a wrong move would deal him to breaking it.

Why did he come back? He thought he was past that stage and finally was able to live once more but no; here he was once more mourning over his deadly sins and the victims to it in the comfortable place he had called home once more for the past days. A picture lay upon the bundles of cloth that he used as comfort in the night, picking up the picture he traced his fingers around each figure aside from his before resting it back on the floor once more.

He was a mess he believed after conducting that to himself, he was in a gripping losing-lose situation. There was no way to withdraw or forfeit, he had to face the consequences of one side he gave up. He had first liven to sacrifice his life with Tifa to mourn over Aeris as he had permanently moved in the broken down church and lost contact of all his acquaintance, but as time went by and history was made; he came to the time when he chose to sacrifice mourning over Aeris to be with Tifa and the kids. It was quite unusual how he bounced back to live his life trying to have his sins once more forgiven.

It was something he himself didn't understand, he wanted to leave and stay with Tifa. That visit made him miss her more, but it was Aeris he needed to keep his attention upon the most. She had died a few weeks ago in a few years back as he stated before, that was the strongest reason why he had returned to the building to live alone in solitude. The thought of the day his fault led to her death ruined him.

But he could easily hear the pain in Tifa's voice when she previously spoke to him, she felt confused also. Why was he losing her again after he promised to stay? He wondered the answer himself. She felt useless, betrayed, and was close to losing any more hope to him, but he stayed as stubborn as a rock and returned back to the location. A dear yet naïve fool he was.

He didn't know what to do, he needed guidance but also needed to help him get up, what he really needed was a small hint of help that would lead him to picking himself up from the situation that was all. He worried on leaving Tifa all by herself, but no wait; Vincent was there he was waiting outside when they had the conversation. He prayed Vincent helped make sure she didn't hurt herself with worries that much.

His thoughts were of course popped away when he heard another creak that didn't come from the wooden planks connected weakly to the ground; it was the door opening ever so gently. Turning around he held a tight grip upon the handle of his sword that was still strung behind him while he waited for someone to come in, after all those years of experience he learned always to expect the worst to come out.

Relief was bought to him as he let go of the handle and let out a satisfied smile while watching the new person walk in calmly then stand next to the door while the wind breezed against his cloth from the fact that the door was closed quite sharply behind him.

Cloud himself didn't say anything as he looked straight at the person wondering what to say, he yearned to ask if Tifa was alright. But he didn't as he parted his lips apart but was soon interrupted by the figure standing a few feet away from him.

"Tifa's alright, Denzel is with her last I checked" the person informed Cloud in his hoarse voice as he still kept standing in the position he held.

Cloud kept his head down not being able to look Vincent in the eye, he felt like he failed something. But why was Vincent making him feeling ashamed of himself? His eye sight would catch every dust particle then look the pale faced figure in the eye.

Vincent of course getting the message allowed his right hand to grasp around the red cloak and pushed it behind him as he made his way outside allowing the fire cloak dancing behind him like flames crackling with laughter. He of course never gets to a step outside as Cloud's voice finally escaped the scene.

"Thanks, Vincent" he stated unsure what else to say as he finally looked up.

"I don't need your charity" he stated not angrily though his hoarse voice made it sound likewise.

"Very well" Cloud mentioned calmly as his finger crunched up trying to allow the stress to escape him as it was visible to Vincent what he was doing.

"She won't be able to wait forever" Vincent answered Cloud's hidden answer before turning around to look at Cloud in the eye.

"I need her to wait"

"And she needs you to be there for her" Vincent kept going darkly as he still kept his eyes on the opposing figure.

"Then…" He stood there for a moment avoiding the pale figures glare as he spoke once more, "You'd best take care of her" he said and with that made his way back to the blooming daisies.

He stood there unsure what Cloud said, no it wouldn't be possible that he knew; could it? But what was there to know from the start?

"Be the friend she needs, will you do that Vincent?" Cloud asked looking a second from the flowers to Vincent.

So he didn't know, shaking his head he turned the knob and spoke, "I can't keep any promises" and with that he left leaving the door to collide against the loose doorframe.

The pale figure of the two upon leaving shook his head calmly, "I can't promise I'll just be a friend from afar"

The blonde of the two upon seeing the other leave broke down as he plucked a flower and stared at it. "Why am I not fighting for her anymore?" He asked softly under his breath.

Because you keep lying to yourself that she can do better.

"Cloud?"

Looking up he gave a nod to the figure hiding against the other doorway and made his way towards the person.

"Yeah, it's done; I'm ready" he stated calmly and followed.

-ToBeContinued-

Authors note; Reno finds his most wanted mission to be the worst he's ever experienced in the next chapter, see you there!

ichi-nana-hachi- Glad you liked the twist in that chapter! D I really enjoyed writing that one I found it sweet myself when the idea came to me, I work fast? Hehe you might have jinxed it I've been getting the worst case of writer blocks –pouts- As for my favorite pairing? Yes, I'll keep it in the shadows till the last chapter buuuut! You're welcomed to have one free guess! D