Here's cahpter 14. You better like I put alot of work into it.
Disclaimer: No animals were harmed in the making of the Corneo's wig.
"Oh Cloud aren't they cute?", Tifa exclaimed as two black panther cubs wrestled in the man-made habitat enclosed by fences. I chuckled at the sight of the two young felines.
"Yeah….", I said, not that I cared, my mind was just elsewhere. Mainly about this place the Gold Saucer, I have a feeling something important happened here but what? And every time I thought of the important event my thoughts drifted to my companion Tifa. Did she have something to do with it? I know her and I are friends but is that all there is to it? I mean I do like Tifa more as a friend there's something about her wine-color eyes that just draw me to her. More than that she is beyond a doubt physically attractive and she has one of the greatest personalities I know of and…..
"Cloud are you ok?", I heard Tifa's voice said snapping me back to reality. "You were just staring at me are you ok?", she asked again.
I turned my head away quickly slightly embarrassed. "I didn't mean to stare at you Teef. I was just thinking."
Tifa tilted her head to the right slightly, "Thinking about what?"
"Stuff.", I said trying to avoid the questioning.
"What kind of stuff?", Tifa pressed on raising an eyebrow in suspicion.
"Just stuff.", I said turning my head away from Tifa's gaze slightly.
"You're hiding something aren't you?", Tifa asked poking my chest.
I shifted my eye's away from my friend's, "No I'm not Tifa.", I said as something caught my eye, a large red coat. It fitted itself over a large, rounded, bulbous body that was outlined by a white fur trim. Good god! Is that a damn rat on that man's head? No it's just a toupee and a god-awful one at that. I stared at the large man more closely, he seemed so familiar. Wait! "You have got to be fucking kidding me.", I said.
"What Cloud?", Tifa asked.
I pointed over towards the fat man with the blonde rat wig on his head. "Doesn't he look familiar?"
Tifa stared for a moment and clasped her hands over her mouth in shock. "That's can't be Don Corneo could it?", she asked looking at me. "And what's with that wig? It looks like he skinned it off an old chocobo."
I grabbed the hilt of my sword. "Damn it I thought we finished hat old fart off already!", I said starting after him. I felt Tifa's hand on my shoulder.
"Wait Cloud, we should follow him first. Then get him when we find out what he's doing exactly.", she said.
I nodded quickly as we followed the old lecher through the Gold Saucer zoo. He move surprisingly quick for a fat guy. We followed the man for what seemed like hours. Finally Corneo turned into an empty area of the zoo, the polar bear exhibit.
"O-o-ok.", Corneo stuttered looking around confused. "I came here like you told me too."
"Who told you to come here?", I asked stepping out the shadows hand on my sword hilt.
"You?", he shouted out in surprise as I walked closer to him and Tifa not far behind me. Corneo backed up against the corner of the guardrails overlooking the polar bear's den. "What are you two doing here?"
"We could ask the same of you.", Tifa said.
Corneo began to sweat nervously making the wig, if it was possible, uglier. "Ok you caught me. How do you think that makes a bad guy like me feel?", he asked setting up that old ploy before he either escaped or released a monster on us. What he didn't see was the soft ripple of a red cloak landing behind him silently on the guardrail….
"V-v-vincent….", Corneo stammered. "Funny seeing you here."
Vincent grabbed Corneo by the scruff of his neck and lifted him eye-level with the silent gunman. "Just like old times huh?", Vincent said with a sadistic grin. Fear ran through my spine at the sight of it. Corneo whimpered and began to sob.
"Old times! You were friends with that punk Vincent!", Tifa managed to say.
Vincent regain his cold and calm composure and looked directly at Tifa and me. "We were business partners.", he explained. "I was a Turk and needed information. Corneo was a snitch."
"A snitch! I swear on my mother's grave I would never snitch on a soul!", Corneo wailed.
"She was the first person you ever snitched on.", Vincent said coldly. "And get that damn rat off your head.", he said irritably snatching off the wig and throwing it away exposing Corneo's shiny bald head. "Now to business.", Vincent continued grabbing Corneo's ankle with his gold claw and hanging the Don over the polar bear exhibit. "Tell me what you know about the Demon Assaulter!", Vincent asked the poor man sternly.
"I don't know what you mean!", Corneo wailed flailing around above the animal, who was now getting scent of the aging man of blubber.
"I feel my grip slipping.", Vincent said coldly loosing his claw grip sending Corneo for a quick drop making the man shriek.
"I honestly don't know anything!", Corneo shouted.
"Do I have to remind you Corneo that this is my weak arm?", Vincent said moving his left claw arm holding Corneo over the polar bear pit.
"OK OK!", Corneo wailed. "I heard he was a experiment of Hojo's before he was killed!"
"Is that the truth?", Vincent asked sternly.
"Would I lie to you?", Corneo asked. Vincent glared at Corneo and pulled out his gun aiming it at Corneo's face. "Ok! I heard it was some creature Hojo made with an assistant nearly thirty years ago."
"That's everything?", Vincent asked sternly.
"Yes honest!", Corneo pleaded. "You'll let me go now right Vincent old friend?"
"Sure thing 'Friend'.", Vincent said letting go of Corneo's ankle plummeting the fat man into the polar bear habitat.
Tifa and I ran to the guardrail just to see Corneo stand up unharmed. "HA! You failed again Valentine. I cheat death once more!"
"Look behind you.", Vincent said calmly. Corneo turned around in horror to see the polar bear on it's hind legs claws extended.
"Mommy.", he mutter before the bear swiped at him mauling him to death. Tifa and I wince when the first blow landed.
I heard Tifa's footsteps behind me. "When were you going to tell use you were here Vincent?", she asked, by the tone of her voice I could tell she was scolding him. For some reason I was transfixed by the polar bear making a meal of what was left of Corneo.
"Poor soul.", I said after a while.
"Cloud don't tell me you feel sorry for that pervert! He got what he deserved.", Tifa said.
"I was talking about the bear. God knows how many STDs and shit he got from Corneo.", I said turning around to see Vincent gone. Not that much of a surprise. "So where did Vincent go?"
"He went back to the ghost hotel where he found Marlene and Denzel.", Tifa said then chuckled slightly. "Denzel bumped into him, literally. Vincent thought he scared the poor boy to death. Until he found out Denzel was mute.", she sighed. "A lot has happened in the pass week huh Cloud?"
"Yeah.", I said sighing. "Maybe we should head to the hotel. Check up on Marlene and Denzel."
Tifa smiled. "Alright Cloud.", she said leading me to the ghost hotel. The place seemed to have been built to scare patrons. Seemed more like a joke to me. As soon as we entered I saw Vincent sitting at a table playing chess. Alone. Interactive animatronics by the looks of it. Tifa walked up to the front desk and ranged the bell. A pale-corpse looking body fell from the roof by a noose around his neck. Ok that made me jump a little.
"Are you checking in?", he asked.
"We're with the Strife party.", Tifa said.
"Ah, Strife party, rooms A-101 through A-103.", the hanged man said.
"Thank you.", Tifa said picking up the key from the desk. She motioned for me to follow her. We went up a flight of steps and found the rooms. We opened A-101 to find one of the beds already occupied. There sprawled across the bed in pure exhaustion was Denzel and Marlene. Denzel's pen and paper pad where on the night stand while he was stretched all across the bed in whatever direction snoring slightly. Marlene wasn't laying very far from Denzel, she was slightly curled up on her side barely inches from the young boy. Tifa looked over them with an expression that just screamed, Awwwwwwwww aren't they cute?
"Looks like they'll be just fine.", I said. "Should we move them to separate beds?"
"No.", Tifa said draping a blanket over the children. "It would be a shame to wake them now."
"True, at least we know they get along well together.", I chuckled. Tifa sighed slightly. "What's wrong Teef?"
"Your father is at the concert with Yuffie who dragged him there. Vincent probably doesn't want to be bothered and the kids are out cold.", Tifa said brushing her very long hair back. It went past her waist and tied off at the end with a large dark red hair band. The spilt at the end made her hair look like a dolphin's tail. The texture of her hair was a shiny soft texture, like silk. It only added to her beauty. Her wine-color eyes had a light shine to them like mine. Again I found myself staring at her affectionately. I shook myself from the day dream.
"So it looks like it's just you and me again huh?", I said.
"So what do you suggest we do Cloud?", Tifa asked sitting on an empty bed.
"We could just hang out together around the Gold Saucer. Maybe check out the gondola together?", I tried to asked casually.
"Cloud,", Tifa began raising an eyebrow mischievously. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
I scratched the back of my head nervously. "Well more like two friends just spending the evening together."
"A date.", Tifa said laughing slightly. "And I'd love too Cloud.", she finished laughing a little more.
"Lets go then.", I said heading towards the door leaving the room. Tifa's footsteps let me knew she was following. We left the hotel without much confrontation with anyone, Vincent just gave us a little nod as we left. He was still playing chess alone, or a computer, who knows. Must have been addictive though.
As soon as we left the mansion Tifa grabbed by the wrist saying, "Lets head to the wonder square first!" Yanking me away similar to Marlene did to Denzel earlier that day. The wonder square was quite high-tech looking. The first thing that caught my eye was a table with a hoop and net on the back of the table lifted up off the table. The basketball shoot-out game. I remembered it and something else still a lil fuzzy. "So Cloud think you could win me something on this?", Tifa asked with a chuckle.
"Sure thing.", I said starting the game. Seemed simple enough, grab the basket ball aim, shoot and….
Miss….. Lets try that again. Aim, shoot, and…….missed. Damn it. Ok another try. Another miss, and Tifa's laughter isn't helping.
About ten missed shots later I finally remembered the other part of the game I forgot. I sucked at it.
"Let me give it a try Cloud.", Tifa said taking a basket ball. She shot it perfectly. My jaw dropped.
"You knew I was going to do bad on purpose didn't you?", I asked glaring at Tifa. She broke and began to laugh. "You were using my amnesia for fun weren't you?"
"Sorry Cloud.", Tifa said stifling a laugh.
Several games, a walk in the park, and a stuff moogle plush toy later. I found myself with Tifa in front of the gondola. "Ladies first.", I said offering Tifa to enter the ride first.
"Aren't you the gentleman.", Tifa said with a chuckle stepping into the gondola's cabin. I climb in after her a took the seat opposite of my friend. The ride started with a jerk swinging me forward slightly. I stared out of the window at the attractions of the Gold Saucer. My thoughts again found themselves at my friend Tifa. Yeah, just a 'friend' as she said. Maybe to her but there's something more to Tifa to me. She's graceful, strong, beautiful, bright, optimistic, smart, and funny. Just about everything about Tifa made me find her attractive. Have I always felt this way for her? I remember when were here last time in this gondola together. She wanted to tell me something, but what? Could it possibly be that she……
"…….aren't they Cloud?", Tifa finished banishing all thoughts from my head.
"Huh?", I asked slightly confused.
"The stars, aren't they beautiful Cloud?", Tifa asked. I looked up past the gold walls into the night sky, the moon was at it's fullest and glowed a very pale blue. The stars just littered the sky like glitter and seemed close enough to touch and hold as your own.
"It's stunning.", I said amazed. After a few seconds I broke the comfortable silence between us. "Tifa, this isn't our first time riding this together is it?", I asked.
"No it's not.", Tifa said slowly shaking her head. "So some of your memory is returning again Cloud?"
I nodded slowly. "Tifa I was wondering something.", she looked at me silently asking what it was. "Last time we were here. What was it you were trying to tell me?"
At this Tifa blushed slightly and turned her head to stare out the window. "It was nothing Cloud."
"I want to know.", I said.
Tifa smiled at me, "Well maybe I'll tell you once you get your memory back.", she teased.
I smiled. "Then I better start remembering quicker."
Tifa frown slightly, "No Cloud you should take it slow. We've been through a lot.", she said putting her hand on mine.
I put my other hand on tops of Tifa's, "We got through it together right?", I said.
Tifa slightly blushed with surprise. "You're right Cloud, we've been there to help each other for a long time.", she said softly looking at her feet. She seemed reluctant about this but she wasn't pulling her hand away from mine.
"Then as long as we're here to help each other we'll overcome anything we face against.", I said squeezing her hand gently. I felt myself draw closer to Tifa as she stared at me after that statement.
She blushed slightly, "You're right Cloud, we can do it, together.", she said softly. Before I knew what I was doing, my lips were pressed against Tifa's in a kiss. For what seemed like forever we sat there in the kiss.
I hesitantly broke off the kiss as the gondola jerked to a stop as the door swung open. "Tifa, I…", I began.
Tifa got up her face hidden from my view. "I'm sorry Cloud we can't do this, I mean what about Serina?", she said running off with the moogle plush.
I reached out with a single hand to stop her, "Tifa…", I began. But she was too far away. What did I do wrong? Was I just acting on a fantasy or am I missing something from my past to understand? No matter, I thought getting out of the gondola finally. I just hope she doesn't hate me. I left for the main station of the Gold Saucer since that's the only place the gondola tube lead to. Once there I felt my phone vibrate and it was a text message from Serina. It read:
I've been thinking for the past few days Cloud. I think we should end our relationship together. It's not, because you're a bad guy. You're just gone all the time and honestly, you're kinda weird. (And this is coming from someone who threaten to give me a vasectomy and commit suicide if I tried to leave her.)
No hard feelings, Serina Scarlet.
Well at least I don't have to worry about being mutilated by her at some later date.
"Hey hey.", an annoying voice said at my side. "Why the long face buddy?", an over-weight man in a chocobo outfit said.
"Aren't you that heckler from the park?", I asked irritated.
"Didn't you have a lady friend with you?", he said in a sickly cheerful voice. "What happened to her?"
"That's none of your business.", I said walking away.
The chocobo suit man stepped in front of me. "She left you didn't she?", he asked cheerfully, Honestly who applies for a job like this?
"None of your damn business.", I growled.
"Hey hey, not my fault you're an asshole.", he said calmly. That also set my fuse off as my fist crunches against he fake beak in a nice 'fwap!' sound. Sending the man down to the ground, hopefully unconscious. Then as if from no where I spotted Yuffie running over to the body standing over it saying.
"You just got knocked the fuck out!", she said laughing. She stood up and faced me. "Yo Spikes. What are you doing out this late?"
Please review! Also, I'm trying to make a new title for 'The Locket' so if you get any ideas please add it in the reviews or E-mail me.