A/N: Alright guys, I decided to post this chapter early for a few reasons. I did get some reviews and subscriptions, so that's exciting. And Over 300 people have viewed this story this year. In my book, that's pretty good. (:

However, I do have to apologize for something. This chapter is pretty short. So who knows, I may feel guilty enough over that to post the next chapter soon too. But commenting would definitely help get chapters up quicker. ;)

Oh, and here's my disclaimer: I own none of the characters or anything related to FFVII. I mean, seriously, that's pretty obvious. Because if I did, Tifa and Cloud would have been together a long time ago. :3

Chapter Six: Her Cry

"Tifa—wait!" Cloud shouted, chasing after the brown-haired girl he had grown up with. After finishing the conversation with Reeve, Tifa had just gotten up and left. Cloud knew why that was; at her weakest moment, she had whispered his name. And he needed to know why that was.

"Forget it Cloud," Tifa said, not even turning around as she spoke. "You had your chance. But you threw it away a long time ago."

"Tifa," he breathed, having finally caught up to her. He grabbed onto her arm, noticing that she physically winced when he did. But at least she had finally stopped walking away.

"Let me go."

"We have to talk about this."

"Nothing to talk about."

"Teef, you said my name when you were lying there wounded and bleeding. You didn't say Barret's name, or your boyfriend's."

"I don't have a boyfriend," Tifa muttered, looking towards the ground. This seemed to startle Cloud. She had no clue why, but he seemed absolutely stunned at that fact. Can't you see that I'm still healing from the heartbreak you caused me? I can't love anyone right now because you're still holding onto a piece of my heart. Tifa took in a wobbly breath. Please, give it back...

Cloud awkwardly rubbed the back of his head, a movement which Tifa noticed out of the corner of her eye. "You said my name," he repeated softly. "Please; that gives me the right to talk to you."

Tifa released another breath before slowly turning around to Cloud. He released her arm when he saw the look in her eyes; she wasn't going to run away this time.

"What do you want to know?" she asked quietly. There was only a hint of emotion in her voice; most likely because she didn't want to break down again, for a few reasons. First off, she didn't believe Cloud was worth it. He had betrayed her trust, so he shouldn't have the pleasure of seeing her cry. The other reasons were pretty much just because she wanted to be strong.

"Why did you say my name? Was it because...." Cloud didn't dare finish the sentence, not wanting to words in Tifa's mouth.

"Because I was hoping you'd keep your promise?" Tifa snapped.

Cloud was stunned at the bitterness in her voice. Stunned...and hurt. "Y-yeah," he managed, his timid blue eyes locking with Tifa's enraged brown orbs again.

She turned her head slightly, gazing down at the ground. "I don't know why I said your name," she confessed softly. "I guess...old habits die hard." Her phone began to ring in her pocket. However, she hesitated, unsure as to whether she really wanted to pick up or not.

"Tifa," Cloud pleaded. At that moment, she decided to answer it.

"I have to take this," she stated, removing the cell phone from her pocket before flipping it open. "Hello?"

"How do you like the game so far, Tifa?" Tifa gasped softly, successfully gaining Cloud's unwanted attention. She recognized that voice...Yazoo. He chuckled on the other side of the line. "Take two steps away from Cloud; this call is for your ears."

Tifa hesitated for one brief moment before obeying. Cloud appeared confused, but he didn't move towards her.

"What do you want?"

Yazoo laughed again. "Come now; don't sound so bitter. I know deep down inside you love this."

Tifa stiffened. "No. I don't."

"That's too bad, because my brothers and I are enjoying it very much."

That's it, Tifa thought, gritting her teeth. She had enough of listening to this pointless babbling. "What do you want?!" she shouted into the phone.

"Yazoo, what're you doing?" another, softer voice, said over the line. "Quit fooling around and give me the phone." There was a shuffling noise on the other side as a new man came to the phone. "Let's get the game rolling, shall we? You have twenty minutes to get all your friends to the abandoned Shin-Ra warehouse near the outside of Midgar."

"That's impossible! They're nowhere near there."

"Ready?"

"Hey! Are you lis--"

"Go." He hung up. Tifa pulled away the phone, in shock. How in the world had they gotten her phone number? And why was she the center of this? None of it made sense....

"Tifa?" Cloud inquired, concern evident in his voice. Tifa shook her head, not answering. There was nothing to say, not to him. She started dialing Yuffie's number. "Tifa, what's going on?"

"No time to explain," she started. Yuffie picked up on the other side of the line, and before she could say more than hello, Tifa took control of the conversation. "Yuffie. You and Vincent need to get to the abandoned Shin-Ra building outside Midgar. Hurry." Before her friend could respond, Tifa hung up and was already dialing Barret's number. Cloud stupidly tried asking her again what was happening, only to be ignored by a rushed Tifa. Five minutes later, she had finished calling her friends and turned back to Cloud.

"We have fifteen minutes. Do you have Fenrir?"

"What-?"

"Do you?!" Tifa practically screamed, heart racing. She didn't have time to argue with him over this; if they weren't all there, Tifa had a feeling something terrible would happen. And it would probably happen to Marlene. She couldn't live with herself if that happened.

"Yes."

"Good. You know where we have to go."

Cloud nodded, still thoroughly confused but accepting of Tifa's demands. "It's parked right around the side of the building. Let's go."

Thirteen and half minutes, Tifa and Cloud pulled up at the building. Tifa released her grip on the bike (because she had held onto the bike itself, hardly touching Cloud as they rode there). She was extremely relieved to see that Cid, Barret, Reeve and Nanaki were there. But where were Vincent and Yuffie?!

Just as she got off the bike and scanned the area, she saw the two running up. She breathed a sigh of relief, nearly collapsing because of the release of tension. But she steadied her knees and stood still, feeling the gaze of all her friends resting on her.

"Tifa, is everything alright?" Reeve questioned as Yuffie and Vincent stopped right by the group, Yuffie panting and sweating. Vincent didn't look nearly as winded.

"I got a phone call...from Yazoo. Something about the game starting, and we had twenty minutes to get everyone here."

"Yazoo?!" Yuffie cried, shocked. "But—he—Cloud, didn't you--?"

"I know, Yuffie," Tifa answered before Cloud could. "But we--" she nodded to Cloud "—confirmed it. Kadaj and his gang are the ones who kidnapped Marlene."

Barret growled off to the side, but didn't say a word. So Cid took the opportunity to speak. "So then, why are we here?"

Tifa looked clueless, so Nanaki inserted his opinion. "Perhaps there is something waiting inside..." Everyone fell silent at that; Nanaki had a good hunch. After all, why else would they all be summoned here?

"Everyone have their weapons ready?" Cloud asked in a low voice. Everyone turned to him, instinctively looking at their weapons as well before nodding. "Anything could be in there; we have to be cautious." While he was saying this, Tifa was slipping on her gloves.

"Tifa..." Yuffie called softly. It was clear why she had said her friend's name; Tifa was still wounded, so it was likely Yuffie would tell her not to fight at all if the time came. Tifa ignored her completely and pulled on her second glove.

Cloud, apparently unaware of the exchange between Tifa and Yuffie, just grabbed his sword and stared at the door. "I'll go first," he volunteered. Nobody argued against him. Everyone was slipping back into their old positions quite naturally, with Cloud being the leader of them all. Tifa had to give him credit; he always was a good leader.

"Cid, open the door on three." Cid nodded and grabbed onto the handle of the big garage door.

"One..."

Tifa glared at the door, fist tightening. What was awaiting them on the other side? Was it Marlene? Or was it a trap? The second man on the phone, Kadaj, told her he was going to get the game rolling. Tifa had a feeling this was only the beginning.

"Two..."

This wasn't going to end that easily. But at the same time, Tifa didn't think this was a set-up to kill them all. If they all were pawns in the game (which apparently they were, having all been summoned there), then Kadaj couldn't just kill them off. Things weren't that simple.

"Three!"

It was only the beginning.