Author's Notes: Sorry it took some time. It's been crazy what with my 35-page Research Paper on Consumer Behavior for one of my dumbest majors ever. Okay, so it's not dumb, I just hate my professor. I just finished my reviews for my Financial Management exams, too so there. I'll dedicate the next chapter to the person who can guess my degree. Haha! Anyhow, I still have to do my powerpoint presentation for the aforementioned paper and I'm doing this to take a break. I wrote it quickly so forgive me for errors. :s

CHAPTER TWO

CLOUD'S SPEECH

"Damn it, can't this thing go any faster?" Cloud muttered as he kicked the accelerator, willing his motorcycle to go faster. All that he passed were only lines of colors and still he was unsatisfied.

When he got Tifa's call, he immediately turned back to Edge. He was on his way to see Barrett for a matter which apparently required his help, as it turns out, he was the one who needed the favor, "I'm sorry, Barrett. Something's happened."

"What are you talkin' about, Spikey? To the kids? To Tifa?" Barrett had responded, his voice worried.

"Yes, but I don't know what. Tifa was saying something about the kids being kidnapped. I have to go back," Cloud said, "Listen, can you send some people to the west of Edge? It's important."

"I've got some people comin' from that way. I'll have them check the area out. That where the culprits went?" Barrett responded, his voice gruff and edgy. Angry.

"That's what I heard Tifa say. I'm putting it in your hands," Cloud said.

"I'll go get 'em myself, Cloud. Count on that," And with that, he hung up. Cloud trusted his friend's abilities in tracking down these kinds of people, but for them to be able to make Tifa powerless, they surely were not ordinary.

When he rounded the last curb to Seventh Heaven, everything was silent. Several patrons passed by and looked disappointed at the close sign hanging on the front door.

"Is Tifa out?" One of them asked. The others had begun walking on their ways home but stopped to listen.

"Yes. Please go home now," He had responded flatly, his eyes fixed on the door. As the people dispersed, he reached for the door. His heart was racing. It was unlocked. The bar was still dark but as he entered the door, the sunlight radiant behind him, his eyes grew wide. The room reeked of alcohol. Tables were upturned, chairs were scattered all over the floor, most of them missing a leg or two. The glasses and wines Tifa kept on a display case were spilled all over the floor, broken shards and little puddles were all that was left.

He made his way through the destruction, holding his breath, feeling nervous. He peered behind the bar and saw that Tifa was not there. He went up the stairs, which creaked as though crying out in pain. His heart was beating faster. The door to Marlene's room was slightly open, a tiny slant of light pouring out. He gently pushed open the door, all his muscles taut. His foot brushed a bullet.

"T… Tifa!" His chest began to tighten as his breath became fast and shallow. The worst part was seeing all the blood. Her skin was very pale, her lips lost its rosy color. "Tifa, please hold on!" He shouted, as though it could help. He didn't even know if he should touch her. He didn't know what to do. All the blood. It was everywhere. Tifa.

Tifa…

" I will rescue you, Tifa, whenever you are in danger. I promise I will rescue you."

Cloud woke with a start. The room was white everywhere and a pot of flowers was set near a window with an open curtain.

"Again," said a voice behind him.

Cloud turned to see the young man with the tattooed face. "Reno?"

"This is the second time I had to save the two of you," he told him smugly, referring to the incident with Loz in Aerith's church, "I mean, what were you thinking when you carried her out? That you were going to tie her to your motorcycle and bring her here? Tssss."

"Thank you," Cloud simply said.

"Huh?" Reno was startled, "That's it?"

"Yes, thank you," Cloud repeated as he turned back to the sleeping woman before him, "Barrett called you?"

"Yeah. And I suppose you'd want to know how she's doing?" Reno said, changing the subject. He didn't like the insinuation that he could be called out by Barrett at a moment's notice, even though that was how Rufus wanted it.

"How is she doing?" Another voice said.

"Ngyay! You scared the hell out of me!" Reno responded the crimson-clad man who suddenly appeared beside him, "Good thing the hospital let you in, looking like a ghost town and all."

Vincent merely eyed Reno as he straightened up.

"Well, how is she?" Cloud asked, looking over his shoulder. He looked worn.

"The doctor said she lost a lot of blood," Reno said, his face falling a bit, "Said it would take a while for her to recover her strength because of the transfusion. They need to keep her hear to keep her wound in check but so far, no major organ damages. It was a through and through, after all," he scratched his head nervously, "It'll take a while before she wakes up."

"I can't believe this happened. I have been gone for only a couple of minutes," Cloud muttered to himself, his hands rolled into a tight fist on his knees.

"Well, it's not your fault. I've never seen the likes of that bullet before either. I'm bringing it back to the boss. We gotta' find out what we're dealing with here," Reno said lightly as he left. Vincent followed him without a word. The door was shut quietly.

Cloud looked over at Tifa. "This is the second time, Tifa. This is the second time I see you lying here in a hospital bed. I remember when we were kids and you fell from that bridge. I thought I would lose you then. But when I tried to save you, you ended up in the hospital with a coma, and I got nothing but scraped knees. I had wished it was me then. And now… This."

He fell quiet as he glanced at her right hand. He saw the ring he had given her before they moved to Edge. The ring with his symbol on it. It was also the symbol of his promise, a promise he had been having trouble keeping.

"I made you a promise before I left. Do you remember?" He asked, as if expecting her to answer. He brushed her hand slightly and sighed. He had so much courage to talk to her when she was unconscious. He knew she couldn't hear him, but in his heart, he felt like he wanted her to hear him, "I wanted to join SOLDIER so that I could be strong enough to protect you. So that I could impress you. Funny isn't it? I know you told me that all my insecurities are untrue. That I could protect you. You even made me promise but… Again, here we are… And I just..."

Cloud bit his lower lip and closed his eyes, willing the tears to stay in. "I have failed you in so many ways, Tifa. You should hate me. But still you keep staying by my side even though I push you away. Even though I keep hurting you. You are my family Tifa, the most important to me in the world. And you've always protected me… from myself. And I'm the one who made you the promise. I'm so sorry, Tifa…" he was whispering now, trying to keep his voice even. He knew he was alone, but he wanted to be strong. For Tifa. She always had a smile on her face for him, despite all that he has done. "You must think me ungrateful. After all, you were the one who was there during my weakest moments. You helped piece together my memories in the Lifestream. You helped me dispel Sephiroth from my mind. I… I don't know what I would be now without all your encouragement and your help."

He couldn't stop it now. He bit on his lips more forcefully until it drew some blood. He bit on them harder until blood began dripping down from his lips. He wiped it off with his hands. "Tifa… I'm so sorry. I…" He laughed despite the tears rolling down his cheeks, "I can only say things when I know you can't hear me. It has been so hard for me to tell you what I've been feeling lately. It's so hard to keep it bottled up inside. It used to be so easy, when we were kids. I used to know what I was feeling, but now… I'm just… So afraid of what you think of me now. I…" He reached over to touch her hand when his cellphone vibrated in his pocket. He wiped off his tears and cleared his voice. "Yeah?"

"Cloud," Barrett's voice was serious, "We got him."

Author's Note: So how was it? I might have switched up Cloud too much, but come on, he's going through a rough patch! Haha! I can't remember specific details from thre original storyline and it would take a long time if I researched it, so I'm going to make my own organizations, antagonists, term and what-nots instead of using the ones from FF7, so I hope that's okay. Anyway, review! Motivate me! :D

Oh! And I'm inviting you to read my other fics. I'm kind of shocked someone faved my Witch Hunter Robin fic recently. Traffic's slow there! :p Gotta go!