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Chapter 10: Arrival
The plane landed in a private airport owned by the Shinras. From there, Aerith and Tifa parted ways, Aerith with Rufus on a silver limousine while Reno guided Tifa to a black Benz. She could feel her heart sinking, from now onwards, it's her alone.
"If' ya're wonderin', ya won't be stayin' with sir and miss." Reno spoke as he opened the door for Tifa to step in. "But' they'll come visit if ya're important ta' em."
"I figured as much." Tifa sighed as she slipped into the leather seat. The car had a faint smell of lavender, the driver shot her a look that she could not decipher, almost as if he was scrutinising an alien before greeting with a mumble. Tifa smiled awkwardly in return. Tifa waited for Reno to get in beside her, and signaled the driver to start driving. "Reno…"
"Hmm?"
"Can you tell me more?" Tifa stumbled, not knowing what exactly she wanted to know. "Like… About my parents."
"Dey're doin' well. No worries." Reno turned to his side and stared at the scenery through the shaded glass. "Ya'll meet them soon, not goin' ta be a pleasant thing though."
"Then, explain my memories of them being dead."
He heaved a deep sigh. "Chill out, yo. I'll come by tomorrow, if ya got any questions, ask me then. I needa rest!"
Tifa nodded in silence and they continued on for about 20 minutes before the car stopped.
They were in a private estate shadowed by numerous towering palm trees, a road opened symmetrically between the still woods. This area must be quite far from any other settlement, she thought. Without peering deeper, not even the silhouette of a hidden white mansion could be seen. Facing her now, was a huge metal gate, the colour of ebony, completed with metal fencing that wrapped the mansion and its gardens. The driver got off the car and approached a screen beside the gate. He touched it with his fingers and each time the screen generated a soft beep sound, before a small box extended from the screen and he pressed his right thumb against it. It was the first time Tifa saw anything like that. After the driver heard a beep, he withdrew his hand and the screen changed into a "Welcome" while a husky female robotic voice said the same words. The metal
"Ya print won't be recognized though." Almost as if he sensed her thoughts, Reno lazily replied to them.
Tifa let off a small bitter chuckle. "In other words, I'm not allowed out."
Tifa stepped out of the car and stood before of a short flight of unblemished white marble steps, it looked like the most exquisite jade and extended to a huge door embroidered with silver and golden lining, completed with a carving of the word "Shin" and "Ra", in a polished tone of milky white with similar golden lining, standing out from the rest of the design. Telling her that this is where she will be kept, under Shinra's huge wall.
The door parted, and so did the "Shin" and "Ra".
"Nice to meet you, Miss Tifa Lockheart. I am Cissnei, a Shinra turk, and I will be in your care from now on." A woman extended her hand in greeting.
Cissnei, Tifa noted, had her copper-coloured har worn at shoulder-length, it turn wavy at their ends. Her sincerity for the job can be easily seen in how she had forcefully held the ends of her fringe straight on her forehead, without applying too much hair wax to look presentable. Her copper eyes shone with confidence and cordiality.
"Nice to meet you too, Cissnei." Tifa smiled, taking her hand into a handshake.
Cissnei bowed and retreated to have her back against the opened door, her hand extended to welcome Tifa to the mansion.
In her mind, Tifa felt a tinge of pity for Cissnei. She, who wore a white undershirt beneath her black suit, carried a shotgun by her side, and wore a pair of equally unflattering black shoe.
"Then I'll leave her ta ya, Ciss!" Reno winked and pointed his index finger towards the unresponsive Cissnei. "See ya!"
"Well then, Miss Lockheart, let us proceed to the foyer. You would have to go through the rules and regulations of the East Wing."
0000
Cloud was right to have donned on extra clothing, the night was agonizingly cold. It would take a little while more to reach Cosmo Canyan, where they will stock up on some supplies, mainly weapons and items that were rather limited in Nibelheim.
On their cabin, they were the only boarders.
Cloud stood up, making as little noise as possible beside the snoring Zack. He peered to the other cabin, the one on the right has one occupant, and the one of the left has none.
Returning to his seat, Cloud unzipped the upper compartment and retrieved the rectangular box given to him by Tifa. Slowly, he walked to the cabin on the left.
He opened the box, and in it was a small device with a set of earphones and a note:
"Happy 16th Birthday to my beloved Cloud Strife. When the player runs out of battery, just use this to charge it at any power point. Wrapped in that note was a bundle of wire with a plug.
He attached the earphones and switched the player on. It was on standby, so it played the moment Cloud pressed the switch.
The sound of piano playing… He remembers this piece… The one she had asked him to guess the title of. He adjusted it to full volume and closed his eyes. He could picture Tifa alone, in their secret mansion, seated by the piano. He wondered when it was that she recorded this, and when was it that she completed the score.
The piano continued playing. It was peaceful, but he could feel his tears welling. Alongside the piano, he could hear Tifa hum against the music with calculated rhythm as part of the piece, and his chest tightened. Tears were already falling from his eyes. Weird, he don't remember crying ever before, but only a day's separation from Tifa, his heart ached so badly.
Chorus… He felt the ends of his lips pursing up slightly, as he could feel Tifa's warmth, he could see Tifa's smile, her eyes lowered, her long eye lashes fluttered as she pressed different keys on the piano. Towards the end, she turned to face him, her face flawless, he could picture it perfectly. And the piece ended.
He could hear slight disturbance as she touched the device, bringing it to her lips. He could hear her soft breathing. He could see her in his mind, her cherry lips parting, her hazel eyes closing.
"Happy Birthday. This piece was made for you. Do you still remember the night I asked you to guess its name? Or the first time I hummed to you at the rooftop?" She let off a small snort, melodious to his ears. "This is the melody I heard in my head… my heart, when I first saw your genuine smile. The day at the rooftop."
His brows furrowed as he tried to recall. He remembered her humming the tune at the rooftop, and he remembered her teaching him some random piece, but he didn't remember him doing anything to trigger it.
"Do you remember how you used to tease me?" She giggled. "When we were young, you bullied me!" She laughed, and he found himself grinning. "Strangely though, I was very much attracted to you… Despite you looking like a girl back then."
"Hey!" Cloud found himself replying to her.
"Then slowly, your existence became so much to me. The day at Mount Nibel must be the turning point. I'm glad I was with you." He could hear her soft sniff on the other side… Was she crying?
"I love you, Cloud. The name of this piece is 'Cloud smiles'" she let off a small, embarrassing chuckle.
"And it is for you, only you. My one and only love. We might change in the future years of separation, but I will definitely, definitely only love you in this lifetime."
The sounds stopped.
In his mind, he thought of a million things to tease her with, but more than that, he missed her. Greatly, deeply, feverishly.
He was about to play the clip again when the train system sounded.
"Dear Passengers, we are faced with a sudden attack by a pack of wolves. Please tighten y—ssk sssss zzzssz…" The lights on the train flickered off.
Cloud ran to the previous cabin and kept the box back into his backpack. He touched the daggers beneath his leather shirt and pulled two out. Zack was awake, but only in a semi-conscious state when the windows smashed open and within seconds, the cabins were all invaded by wolves and screams echoed through the train.
"CLOUD DODGE!"
0000
Tifa sat in the bathtub, the water touching her chin as she slouched. She felt a sudden dull ache in her chest as she bathed, but was distracted by Cissnei.
"Miss Lockheart, dinner is ready."
Tifa nodded, and realizing that Cissnei couldn't possibly see it through the door, replied, "Sure. And please, Tifa will do."
"Yes, Miss Tifa."
Tifa sighed at Cissnei's robotic formalities and stepped out of the bath when she heard a soft clatter from the other side of the mansion. She put on her robe and drew the curtains.
A small figure was throwing a piece of metal at a huge oak tree by the West Wing.
She remembered Cissnei's words, "Well, out of these rules, please prioritize these three."
"Do not leave the mansion without Turk's approval and company.
Do not associate with strangers even through phone call. Once a day, a call to a chosen kin or close friend will be permitted by the phone located at the foyer.
Do not trespass into the West Wing."
Looking at the figure while drying her hair with a towel, Tifa wondered if there was something, or someone suspicious by the West Wing. Perhaps this mansion has more residents other than Cissnei, her and the maids…
Knock, knock.
"Miss Tifa, I have brought your dinner." Cissnei gave a regular bow and snapped her fingers as two maids each pushed a trolley into her spacious room.
"I thought we are having dinner together in the dining room?"
"Oh, perhaps you would prefer to have your dinner at the East Wing dining room?
East Wing again? What's with this distance between east and west? "And where would that be?"
"That would be the room behind this door." Cissnei walked towards the other end of her room and opened a door Tifa had failed to see before.
"Alright, I'll have it there… Have you eaten?" Tifa asked, concerned.
"Yes, I have, Miss Tifa."
She sat by the dining table and looked at maids as they slowly set out the dishes.
Smoked Salmon.
Fresh Garden Salad.
Whipped Potato.
Steak.
Lamb.
Boiled Prawns with some brown sauce.
Sushi.
…Wait, Sushi? Isn't that Wutaian food? Tifa cocked an eyebrow at the dish that stood out from the rest.
"It's rare to see Wutaian food. The chef here prepares Wutaian food?"
In that moment, she could see Cissnei's face turn pale. "Sorry, Miss Tifa, I believe they served the wrong dish." She paused and looked at the maids who were now kneeling on the floor. "YOU! Take this dish out to where it is supposed to be served! Serve the wrong dish again and death would be your punishment!"
Tifa's heart almost stopped at Cissnei's sudden outburst. She did not expect Cissnei to be so pissed. Does that mean that Wutaian food is supposed to be served to other guests here?
To the West Wing perhaps?
0000
"Grrrrrr" The fourth wolf that attacked him gritted its teeth and growled hungrily.
"Man, this is never ending. Here comes more!" Zack shouted as he moved towards the other end of the cabin, forcing close the door.
Cloud ducked as the wolf leaped across to him, reaching for the carcass that laid below him, Cloud pulled out the bloodied dagger and threw it at the wolf. It pierced right in between its eyes. He reached over and pulled the dagger out again. Zack, holding two daggers himself (provided by Cloud), had killed most of the attackers.
"We can't stay here anymore! We've gotta run from this damned train!"
Right. Cloud threw Zack's backpack at him and Zack caught it in mid air. Using his shoulder to block the door, Zack hastily slid his backpack over his other shoulder. "When I count to three, throw two daggers at me!"
Cloud knew better than to doubt Zack's fighting skills and nodded.
"Now move to the window!"
Cloud climbed on the seats and with his cloak, brushed the shards of broken glass and checked the surroundings outside the window. "Clear!"
"Okay! One, Two, Three!" The instant Zack finished the third number, Cloud threw two daggers to where Zack had been, and hit two wolves in their chest when they pushed through Zack into the cabin.
"Nice work." Zack retrieved the two daggers and joined Cloud as they jumped off the train.
"That was some crazy shit. We just wanted to board the damn train!" Zack sound frustrated. Probably because he had to fight for his life just minutes after he woke up.
"Anyway, we will have to proceed to Cosmo Canyon through foot now. Thank god it's not too far from here. We should reach by morning."
"Damn the stupid wolves."
They climbed up the grassy slope to a open field, unkempt and close to a forest. The wolves probably came from there.
"Not bad, humans." They could hear a low growl from behind them, Cloud wondered if he heard human words or animal growls.
They turned and faced a red wolf with fiery tail looking straight into their eyes. It had a scar across its right eye, and a track of hair straight from its temple to its back, standing up. Beside its sharp ears, a feather rested at each side of his head.
"Did it just talk?" Zack asked, his eyes and mouth wide open.
"I have no idea."
0000
Tifa stared blankly at the ceiling, Cissnei slept across her bed, at the other end, separated by a short marble wall. She wondered why Cissnei had to sleep with her despite having many rooms.
"Say, Cissnei…"
"Yes, Miss Tifa?"
"Do you know a certain couple…? The male has long black hair and crimson eyes, and the female has long wavy brown hair, tied up in a ponytail?"
"You mean your parents, I suppose?" Tifa sat up and her eyes were wide open.
"You know?"
"I'm a turk, of course I would know about certain things Shinra is involved in."
"Oh… So, what are their names?"
"Vincent Valentine and Lucrecia Crescent." Cissnei stated. "A beautiful couple, loving and kind."
"So, can you explain my situation to me?" Tifa almost sounded like she was begging.
"Which part of it? I can't say too much."
Tifa thought for a while and structured a few questions.
"Why am I asked to come back here now?"
"Young Master Rufus wanted to take you with him."
Tifa looked at Cissnei suspiciously… Surely there's more, but she thought it would be better to move on with the questions.
"How did I end up in Nibelheim?"
"You were sent there."
"For what?"
-Silence-
"How did my parents not die?"
-Silence-
"I watched them rot! Maggots and flies! How did they survive that? TELL ME!" Tifa found herself screaming, tears flowing. She was frustrated. Frustrated at not knowing anything, and feeling like a useless pawn for someone.
Cissnei sighed. "All I can say is that, you are the last person you should trust, Miss Tifa. If there is anyone in this world that exists to tell you nothing but lies, that person is yourself."
Tifa sat silent at her words. What the hell does she mean?