Tifa sat of the cushioned wooden sofa. She watched Artemis and Cloud on the floor. Artemis grabbed the edge of the table and pulled himself up. His small hands slipped and he fell back to the floor. Tifa giggled as Cloud jumped as Artemis fell.
"You should have seen him last month. He tried to pull himself up and hit his head on the floor. Aerith had him in her arms before Artemis could react." Cloud said.
"Wow." Tifa said.
"He would give Aerith such a scare." Cloud said.
"Cloud." Tifa pointed at Artemis. Cloud watched as Artemis grabbed the edge of the table. He pulled himself up and stood on his legs. He looked around briefly before he fell backwards. Cloud caught him.
"You did it Artemis." Cloud said. He kissed his sons cheek.
"He is definitely your son." Tifa said.
Cloud was quiet. He held Artemis closely. He missed Aerith so much. Just looking at his son reminded him of her. A gentle hand touched his cheek. Artemis looked at Cloud with his big blue eyes. He hugged his father tightly. Cloud smiled and hugged Artemis.
"Alright Artemis, bed time." Cloud said. He picked up the green blanket on the floor and walked up the stairs. He laid Artemis into his crib and covered him.
"Good night Artem." Cloud kissed his son and walked to the door. He turned off the light and watched Artemis close his eyes.
"Please don't forget your mother." Cloud whispered. He closed the door and walked back down stairs.
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Cloud reentered the living room to find Tifa asleep on the couch. Her arm held up her head and her legs hung off the couch. Cloud couldn't help but smile at the sight. He gently shook Tifa awake.
"Tifa."
Tifa immediately woke up, "Huh? How long was I asleep?"
"Only for a few minutes. I guess I'll get some blankets for you. The guest room can be cold at times." Cloud said. He walked to the closet and pulled out several blankets.
Tifa stood and took the blankets from Cloud, "And just how long am I supposed to stay here?"
Cloud shrugged, "Until you get your bar up here opened? Just leave the blankets on the-" Cloud stopped mid sentence. Something didn't feel right. He sensed something coming. Something, evil.
"Cloud?" Tifa asked.
"Go upstairs and get Artemis out of here." Cloud said.
"What?" The front door exploded into thousands of pieces. A man stood in the doorway. Cloud felt Tifa grip his shoulder tightly. The man had long black hair. His black leather coat sagged on the floor. His eyes were black and cold. But his smile, his smile scarred Cloud the most.
"Just who the hell are you?" Cloud asked.
The man smiled wider, "Why Cloud, his it been that long? You don't even recognize me." Immediately the mans appearance changed. His hair grew longer and turned silver. The mans height grew several feet.
"Sephiroth." Cloud said. He heard Tifa curse behind him.
Sephiroth stood before the two. His sword clutched tightly in his hand.
"What do you want?" Cloud asked.
"Simple. I came for the mother of my child." Sephiroth answered.
Cloud and Tifa cursed at the same time. Cloud pushed Tifa towards the stairs. A small cry filled the house. Tifa ran up the stairs and headed for Artemis. Sephiroth sent a fire blast in front of Tifa. The room filled with smoke. Cloud couldn't see anything.
"Tifa!" Cloud yelled. Sephiroth charged from behind and threw him into the wall. Cloud hit the wall and fell to the floor.
"You can try all you want Cloud, but I will be the victor tonight." Sephiroth said.
"You wanna bet?" Cloud looked up to the banister. Tifa stood with Artemis in her arms, next to a familiar figure.
"Zack!" Cloud yelled.
Zack jumped off the second floor and attacked Sephiroth. Sephiroth raised his sword and deflected Zack's attack. Tifa jumped off the second floor and raced to Cloud.
"Cloud, are you alright?" Tifa asked.
"I'm fine. Get out of here. Go get help." Cloud ordered. He pulled out his cell phone and handed it to Tifa.
"But-"
"Now!" Cloud yelled. Tifa ran with Artemis out of the house. Cloud straightened up and shoved his fist through the floorboards. He pulled out his sword and charged Sephiroth.
"So you still insist on playing hero? Well, let me remind you you're a zero!" Sephiroth pulled out his sword and charged. The swords clashed together. Sending sparks and noise throughout the air. They broke apart immediately and tried again.
Zack joined the fight now. He pulled out his sword and charged Sephiroth. Sephiroth broke from Cloud's sword and blocked Zack. Cloud took the opportunity and attempted to strike Sephiroth. Sephiroth anticipated this, he broke from Zack and threw him towards Cloud. Zack and Cloud collided and hit the floor.
"Just like old times huh?" Zack said.
"A little too much." Cloud replied. They stood and faced Sephiroth.
Sephiroth was ready for them, "Try as you might, you will fail." Sephiroth shoved his sword into the ground. The house began collapsing on itself. Cloud and Zack dodged falling walls and ceiling pieces, while trying to survive against Sephiroth. Zack and Cloud charged simultaneously at Sephiroth, but no matter how they tried, they could not get one hit. Sephiroth threw them back into the wall. They quickly move, avoiding the roof collapsing on top of them.
"Any ideas?" Zack asked.
"None. " Cloud replied. He brought his sword up, blocking Sephiroth's attack. Sephiroth overpowered Cloud and knocked him off balance. He struck Cloud several time, cutting his sides. Cloud fell to the ground, blood pooling around him.
"Cloud!" Zack attacked Sephiroth head on. Sephiroth blocked every attack. He knocked Zack's sword out of his hands and struck him across the chest. Sephiroth threw Zack back towards Cloud. He slowly walked towards Cloud, ready to kill him.
"Get away from him!" Tifa flew into the room and kicked Sephiroth. He backed away from Cloud and turned to her.
"Don't think that just because you're carrying my child, that i won't harm you." Sephiroth said.
"You can try, but you won't get me." Tifa replied.
Sephiroth raised his sword and charged Tifa. Tifa ducked his first strike and landed a few punches to his stomach. Sephiroth back up and swung again. Tifa jumped out of the way and avoided the ruble. Sephiroth knocked a piece of broken furniture towards Tifa. Tifa simply knocked it away from her, but Sephiroth was gone. She turned around to see him behind her. Sephiroth smirked at her.
"Tifa, get away!" Cloud yelled. But before Tifa could move, Sephiroth's hand struck Tifa hard. Tifa's body flew off the ground within seconds. Cloud shot from his spot and caught her. Zack grabbed his sword and charged Sephiroth again.
"Tifa? Tifa?!" Cloud cried. Tifa lay in his arm, unconscious. Her face held two large scratches on her cheek.
Zack flew past him and collided with the wall. He fell to the ground and ceased to move. Cloud turned and watched Sephiroth approached him again. Cloud slowly moved back towards Zack. He laid Tifa next to Zack and grabbed his sword. Sephiroth's sword struck his hard enough to throw Cloud out of his way. Sephiroth moved closer to Tifa. Cloud picked up his sword and charged again. The two became engulfed in a war. Their swords clashed together countless times. Their movements soon became a blur. Sephiroth swung at Cloud with enough force, to throw him to the ground and make him roll back into the wall. As Cloud struck the ground, his knee struck first, sending a tremens amount of pain through his body. He hit the wall harder than the ground. His head collided, blurring his vision for at least two minutes. Cloud attempted to stand, but his knee gave way. Cloud kneeled on the ground as Sephiroth charged. He struck Cloud countless times, and Cloud merely defending himself.
Sephiroth struck Cloud once more, sending Cloud backwards. Cloud hit the wall above Tifa and Zack. He felt something stab him in the back as he fell next to Tifa. Cloud was in pain. A lot of pain. Sephiroth took his time approaching Cloud. He kicked Cloud, rolling him onto his back. Sephiroth smirked at the pain Cloud was in. Cloud was covered in blood, his eye sight blurred every few seconds.
"Tell me Cloud, what is going through your mind right now, knowing that you and your friend will die, and that I will take the girl away?" Sephiroth asked.
Cloud struggled to breath, "One day Sephiroth, I will enjoy watching you die. I swear you will." Sephiroth stomped on Cloud's chest hard. Cloud coughed up blood violently. He rolled onto his side still coughing. He looked at Tifa, still unconscious. Then something caught his attention, Artemis! Now his cries were heard, piercing the deadly silence. Sephiroth's attention shifted from Cloud. His smirked widened.
"Ah yes, and your son. Don't worry Cloud, he'll soon join you and your pathetic wife," Sephiroth said. He shoved his sword into Cloud's back. Cloud gasped as the pain shot through his body quickly. With all his might, he tried to stay conscious, but everything was fading. Slowly, he slipped his hand into Tifa's.
TBC
dun dun da!!!!! yeah that was a lame fight scene. It's really hard to type what you want for one though.