Cloud's POV

I was walking her home, not that she thought she needed it, but I was happy to do it anyway. Tifa had come to the back to ask me to walk her, but I had overhead their conversation and started to pack up my things before she had walked through the door. I'd never tell her, but I followed her home every night, not to be creepy, but to make sure she got home safe. Anyways, I was a little disappointed to see that Tahri was mildly annoyed that I had to walk with her. She ignored us for a moment as she continued to wipe off the table, and all I could do was watch in silent appreciation.

Tahri's hair was pulled back into her ever-present ponytail, with several loose strands falling gently across her neck. The sun had already set hours ago, but the light of the bar glinted off her black hair, oddly tinted with a shade of purple that matched her eyes. When she looked up I stared into them, lost to all else for a moment, as she studied Tifa and I. She didn't say a word when she walked past the two of us into the back room, but I caught a whiff of her scent. Lavender and sunshine rolled over me in a soft wave and I couldn't help but be happy. Tifa gave me a weird look and I realized that I had almost smiled, almost, so I quickly rearranged my face to its customary blankness.

While walking we didn't say anything for the most part, and I was grateful for it. It had been a long while since small talk had been required of me, and I feared that if pressed, I would make a complete fool of myself. About halfway there, I discarded my anxious thoughts when I recognized two men who had been in the bar earlier that day, following us. Amateurs. They didn't even bother to hide. Instinctively, I grabbed Tahri and pulled her close, thinking that they would leave her alone if they believed she was with someone. Unfortunately, the gravity of my actions didn't hit me until after it had already been done. I tried to play it cool, showing her our overt companions, and pretending that my nerves weren't going crazy at her proximity. Her hair tickled the skin of my arm, her scent flooded my nostrils, the melody in her voice as she carried on conversation as though me holding her was the most natural thing in the world, made it difficult for me to concentrate on anything else. As soon as she could see her house she took a step away from me and, against the will of my heart, I dropped my arm so she could go.

She mumbled her thanks, and quickly turned to go to her house. I wished that I could have said something to her then, something that would make her smile, something that would make her laugh, something, anything, that could make her stay with me, but I was at a loss.

She couldn't have been more than twenty feet from her home when I saw two large motorcycles tear around the corner, gunning for her. At first glance, I saw suits, and thought it was the Turks, but this wasn't their style, something was off about it. I yelled, trying to get to her as fast as I could, but I wasn't fast enough. One bashed her over the head, and the other swept by, yanking her limp body onto the bike and driving off. I couldn't do a thing. I was losing someone again, and I was just as helpless to prevent it.

Tifa POV

They had left the bar a while ago, and I was happy for them. Cloud needed someone like Tahri. She was tough, and could match him blow for blow, but she could give him a light he didn't have on his own. Ha. Listen to me, talking about light and dark as if I'm Cloud. I chuckled at the empty bar room, thinking about everything the group of us had been through, when suddenly the doors burst open and the spiky haired blonde himself flew into the room. I would have made some sarcastic comment about his dramatic entrance, but the look on his face made me forget fun and games.

"Cloud? What's wrong?"

He walked past me and I followed him into the back room. He strode from one side of the room to the other, assembling his gear as though he were going off to war.

"They took her, damn it! I don't know who. She was almost to her house." He stopped, suddenly lost as it replayed in his head. "She was so close to home, I thought she'd be alright. I thought…" His voice was little more than a whisper now, "It's happening again, and it's my fault. Again." Then, his face hardened and he clenched the jacket he held in his hand, before throwing it on in one grand gesture, grabbing his belongings, and storming out of the room.

"Cloud, wait!" He whirled on his heel, fury and determination rolling off him so thick I could feel it. The look in his eyes left no room for discussion, so I didn't argue. I went behind the bar, and reached under to a secret compartment I kept there. I pulled out a pouch full of gil, and a few other emergency items that anyone might need. He took it from me, and I hugged him and followed him to the door, watching him mount his motorcycle, Fenrir, and blaze off into the night.