Well, here's chapter 4! It's a bit short, but hopefully you'll enjoy it!
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
After Sephiroth's livid and rather scary speech last night, I decided it was time to tell someone what was going on. This morning, I packed my backpack with a water bottle, a hat, and plenty of materia, including the Knights of the Round summon, just in case. As I was on my way out the door, Sephiroth appeared out of the kitchen and grabbed my wrist. I flinched slightly, but luckily for me he didn't take notice.
"I'll be searching the forest looking for any signs of the cells or Hojo. If you need me, here's a PHS. Call me, and I'll be there." He said, handing me a two-way radio.
My eyes narrowed as I took it from him. "…Thanks." I said and closed the door behind me. I felt very aggravated that he would think I actually needed help. Not to be smug, but I've been fighting since I was very young, and knew perfectly well how to take care of myself.
I walked through the forest and absently passed the two way radio between my hands.
Imagine him, being concerned about me.
It's nice to know someone's thinking about my safety, though.
Oh please, it's not like I'm a helpless little girl who can't defend herself.
But if there was a moment that I needed assistance, it is nice to know that there's a strong man there, willing to help me when I'm in trouble.
I don't need a rescuer. I'm fine on my own. I especially don't need the help of a man who burned down my village six years ago.
He's not the same person he was six years ago. Look into his eyes.
"Tifa, why do you constantly talk to yourself?" I asked myself aloud. I had a habit of doing that; it got annoying after awhile, but occasionally the little voice in my head had a point. I thought of Sephiroth as I exited the town and ran out into the wilderness.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
I left Nibelheim behind me and traveled towards the arid region to the west. The journey wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I ran into very few enemies on my way, and those enemies I did run into had no chance of beating me. I felt very comfortable walking until I entered the desert surrounding Cosmo Canyon. It was always hot here, but I didn't think it'd be this hot. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the sun's rays surged straight though my body. I took of my light grey button down shirt, which I was wearing over my white tank top, and tied it along my waist. A bead of sweat trickled down my head, evaporating before it could even hit the ground. I felt my stomach growing darker by the second, along with my arms and legs, all of which were already tan from spending most of my time outside. Upon entering Cosmo Canyon, the heat didn't seem to bother me as much. I was extremely excited to see Nanaki, and share my secret of Sephiroth with him. I made my way to the stony steps that lead up to Nanaki's house. I hadn't been here since Nanaki's grandfather went on his journey, and from what I hear from Nanaki, he has entered the Lifestream, but visits Nanaki as a spirit through a crystal bowl containing a blue, shimmering liquid that he left in Nanaki's bedroom. He left it for Nanaki, hoping he would one day find it. Nanaki did, and Bugenhagen visits him often.
As I entered Nanaki's house, I walked towards the back room, where I expected him to be. I peered through the part-open door, and sure enough, there he was. He was lounging on a floor cushion, his paws crossed over each other. I gave a small knock on the door and he looked up, and smiled.
"Tifa!" shouted Nanaki as he leapt off of his pillow and propelled his giant paws onto my shoulders. He knocked me straight off my feet and we both fell to the floor.
"Nanaki, it's so good to see you again," I said giggling, petting his head and pushing myself up to a crouching position. "There are so many things I want to tell you, and I don't even know where to start," I exclaimed.
"Please, have a seat," said Nanaki, showing me to the corner of the room with two floor pillows. It appeared that the room's theme color was red. There was a large red lamp sitting between the two pillows, and underneath the pillows was a beautifully decorated rug, with every shade of red you could think of. I took a seat on the fluffy maroon pillow, continuing to admire the rug beneath it. Nanaki eased himself onto the other large pillow, his being crimson in color.
"Tifa, you seem rather troubled, I could tell just by looking at you," Nanaki raised an eyebrow and continued. "What's wrong?"
"Nanaki, you won't even believe what I'm about to tell you…"
I told my crazy story, starting from when I heard the rustling noise up until I arrived in Cosmo Canyon. Nanaki's ears were cocked with attention the entire time. When I finished my tale, he took a deep breath, and sighed.
"So, Sephiroth is alive," Nanaki said with no surprise whatsoever.
I looked at Nanaki with pure shock. "Nanaki, did you hear what I said?" I asked him roughly. "We never killed Sephiroth, he's still alive, and he's sitting in my kitchen as we speak!" I started panicking, wondering why Nanaki seemed so calm.
"Tifa, calm down, please." Nanaki said as if I were a child being chased by a bee. "First of all…I hate to say this, but I had a feeling Sephiroth did not perish as the rest of you thought he did." He paused.
"Why didn't you say anything?" I asked him, my voice quivering. "How could you keep your mouth shut about something like that?"
"I stayed quiet for the same reason you did, Tifa. You didn't know who that stranger was until days later. I didn't officially know Sephiroth was alive until you told me just a moment ago. That's a whole year of wondering if he was alive or not," he said with his head down.
"Nanaki, I'm…I'm sorry." I leaned toward Nanaki and put my hand gently on his head. "I didn't mean to yell, it's just that, I'm scared, that's all." I stood up from my cushion and sat down on Nanaki's pillow with him. "Tell me, why did you have a feeling that Sephiroth was still alive?"
He looked up at me, sighed, and said, "You remember how I had the number thirteen tattooed on me, right?"
I nodded, and he continued, blankly staring at the spot where the tattoo was. My eyes also drifted to the area on his leg.
"Well, while Sephiroth was still on the loose a year ago, the tattoo used to be black. Once we "defeated" Sephiroth, The tattoo gradually began to fade away. I couldn't understand why it would do that, but I just assumed that the reason was because Sephiroth was no longer alive. However, a few months after the crater, the area where that tattoo used to be began to bother me. It didn't really hurt, but I kept feeling like something was there. Gradually, the outline of the number 13 started to darken again. It's barely noticeable, but it's still there. This is when I began to question whether or not we really did defeat Sephiroth, or if he managed to live. And now you've come to me, telling me that Sephiroth is indeed alive."
"I guess I could see why you weren't surprised at what I told you earlier then," I said dully.
Nanaki stood up and walked towards the door. "Well, come on," he said.
"Wait, where are you going?" I stood up and started walking swiftly after him.
"We have to go tell Cloud about this. I don't know much about how Sephiroth is now, but it seems that he has no intention of killing you, or anyone else, considering he gave you that shell-shaped stone," he said, trotting towards the stone steps that lead out of Cosmo Canyon.
"You mean you're going to come with me?" I asked him, practically running to keep up with him.
"I sure am. Grandfather wanted me to save the planet, right? Well, here's a second chance, and this time, the real bad guy is out to destroy it. We have to stop Hojo, and if that means joining forces with Sephiroth, then so be it!" He cried as we both ran out of the desert and back towards Nibelheim.
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Nanaki and I made it back to Nibelheim even faster than I got to Cosmo Canyon in the first place. Making it back was a breeze, besides the monsters we ran into. Most of them we didn't even need to use materia on, considering how strong both Nanaki and I had become. We ran into Nibelheim, and as we ran past the forest, I thought of Sephiroth, mostly his dazzling eyes.
It's funny; I don't remember him being handsome the last time I saw him.
Tifa, stop it! You shouldn't be thinking of him that way!
I know, but he did give me the protective shell; how bad can he be?
He tried to kill me last year! He burned down my town, and murdered my father!
He isn't the same person as he was then; I can't see the insanity I saw in him last year…
Tifa…"Tifa?" Nanaki said while waving a paw in front of my face.
"Err, sorry Nanaki, I was just thinking…well, off to the bar! I'm sure that's where Cloud will be." I turned on my heels and took off, Nanaki only seconds behind me.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
As we spotted 7th Heaven, I peered in the window and saw a spiky blonde head bobbing up and down. It was Cloud, and he was once again on the arcade machines. Nanaki and I moved closer to the bar, and saw Cloud more clearly; he had a huge smile on his face, and he appeared to be shouting at the little monsters on the screen in front of him. Chances are, once I tell him about Sephiroth being alive and needing his help, he won't have that smile on his face.
Nanaki walked into the bar, with me walking timidly behind him. I was concerned about Cloud's reaction to what I had to tell him. I decided I wouldn't converse in the bar, but take him away from the crowd, to avoid a scene.
"How are you, Nanaki?" said Cloud as he saw us enter the bar. "Cid put on an awesome show with that Tiny Bronco, huh? It's hard to believe that just a year ago it was only a little plane that couldn't even fly, only ride around in shallow water. Wasn't it something, Nanaki?"
Nanaki gave him a weak smile and nodded.
Cloud's attention went from Nanaki to me, and his eyes lit up. "Nice of you to show up to work, Tif," Cloud said and walked over to me. He put his arm around my shoulders and winked. "So how's everything?" He asked.
"Well…" I started to talk but he interrupted me. By the look in his eyes I could tell he knew that something was bothering me. "You ok, Tifa?" He said with a concerned look, his eyes never leaving mine.
"We need to talk, but not here," I said, and took his hand and walked to the exit. I gave Nanaki a look that said, "I'll talk to him, you wait here." He gave me a nod of consent and walked over to the bar and began talking to Brooke while she poured drinks.
I started walking towards the park that is right across the street from 7th Heaven, but Cloud had started towards my house…and the forest.
"Wait, Cloud!" I yelled to him as he started jogging.
Cloud stopped and gave me a puzzled look. "Why don't we talk at your house, it's secluded, and we won't be bothered or anything," he said.
"I actually was thinking about going to the park. There aren't many people out now, and it's getting late. How about it?" I said, trying to sound nonchalant. He wasn't buying it, though.
"I think I'd rather go to your house, if you don't mind. I'm dying to try out your new barbells anyway," he said, and strolled down the path and into the woods.
"Well, alright," I said.
Uh oh. The thought of Cloud walking into my house and finding himself face to face with Sephiroth frightened me terribly. My hands wouldn't stop shaking as we got closer and closer to my house.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
I know that some people don't like cliffhangers, but hey, it keeps you in suspense, right? I hope you enjoyed this chapter, although once again, it was rather short, heheh. Chapter 5 might not be up until the middle to the end of the week, because homework is starting to pile...Ahh, the month of April! How does everyone like the story so far? I hope you all continue to read until it's complete! Please, PLEASE R&R, I read and appreciate every single review I get, so keep on posting :) Thanks everyone!