AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yay! And update! A pity its probably one of the shortest I've ever written. All the same an update is an update afterall. Unfortunately I'm back at college now so I hardly have any time to write anymore and I'm also working on a Kingdom Hearts fic called War of The Worlds, which I admit is taking preference as I'm enjoying writing that one more. Go check it out if you like. I think its a lot better than this one. Try to think of this chapter as an interlude to the next as a lot more will go down.
XXX
"And despite numerous warnings and police action, the drug cartel known as JENOVA continues to elude the authorities. The criminals deal with an illegal substance known as Mako," the reporter was saying on the flashing TV screen.
"Mako?" Cloud mumbled suspiciously as he laid on the sofa watching the box.
"This drug, perviously used as a performance-enhancer for body building and military services was banned after it was found to cause an array of harmful side effects. Aside from being highly addictive, these side-effects were found to include: mental dementia, physical breakdown and a large dependency. In large doses it can cause fatal poisoning and will result in the user falling into a vegatitive state soon after. It is often frequented due to causing euphoric highs and acts as a powerful aphrodisiac. A tell-tale sign of a user is bright green rings will appear in the user's irisis, if anyone is found using the drug, police have requested-"
Cloud turned the TV off, unable to listen anymore. He went to the mirror hurriedly, to check. Nope, no "green" rings surrounded his irises, they remained their usual sky-blue colour. He was safe.
He quickly checked himself, there was nothing out of the ordinary. He had only had one dose, and that was just to try. So why was he suddenly feeling so paranoid? It's not like he was an addict! He just shook his head as he heard the door open.
"Cloud! I'm home," Mrs Strife said, hanging up her coat. "Cloud? You alright?"
Cloud realised he was shaking and he was sure his face was pale.
"Y-yeah Ma, I'm fine," he stammered.
"You look awfully pale! Are you sure everything's fine?" She asked in concern, walking closer.
Cloud licked his dry lips. "Yeah, everything's good!"
She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. Cloud thought wildly.
"Actually, not everything's fine Ma," he said at last.
Her suspicious gaze suddenly turned concerned. "What is it dear? You know you can tell me anything."
"Its just that," Cloud gulped. "I've been having some problems with the work and stuff," he finished, collapsing on the couch. "Everything's just so different here, and the work is so tough, I just...don't know if I'm in the right place right now!"
Mrs Strife sat down next to him. "Oh my! Cloud, I'm so sorry. I've been so busy with work lately I didn't even stop to consider maybe things haven't been all sugar and rainbows for you. I'm sorry!"
"Its not your fault Ma, I just didn't think I'd be able to adjust so quickly. It'll get better you'll see!" Cloud said hurriedly. He was internally relieved he had managed such a good cover.
"Maybe we just need sometime to get away from Midgar for a while. I know! How about we go back to Nibelheim this Christmas!" She suggested with a smile. "Just for the holidays," she added quickly, seeing Cloud's face fall.
Cloud slumped, he really didn't feel up to a return to Nibelheim at the moment. "Why can we go to Costa de Sol or Rocket Town?"
"Now Cloud, you know we won't be able to afford Costa de Sol. And there's nothing to see in Rocket Town!" Mrs Strife said, once her mind was made it was extremely difficult, bordering on impossible to change. "We're going home, and that's that!"
Cloud supressed a groan.
XXX
Cloud pulled up at the Midgar Civic Centre, wondering why Tifa had asked him to meet her here of all places. Looking at the run-down complex, it hardly seemed the type of place a classy chick like Tifa would hang out. Maybe this was where she dealt with merchants?
Cloud pulled out his phone to check the text Tifa had sent him. It said she would be in Room VII. Figuring he might as well go inside then stay out in the freezing November cold, in an admittedly dodgy area, he walked inside and began searching for Room VII.
What awaited him was a wide room with a mirror wall. Men and women in karate gi spread out across the room, watching intently at the centre of the room.
In the centre of the room stood Tifa. She wore a gi as well, with her hair tied as she stood facing a large man in a similar uniform. Cloud raised his eyebrow at the neat black belt tied around Tifa's trim waist.
"Ready?" An elderly man with grey hair and red cape asked. "Begin!"
Tifa surged forward, meeting her opponent's charge head-on. He swung a right at her, which she dodged and kicked at his leg.
The man stepped back, avoiding the blow, but Tifa was not about to give up. She rushed him again, this time succeeding in getting him with a well-aimed hook. The guy staggered, but righted himself and retaliated with a punch at her gut.
She was momentarily winded but recovered in time to roll out of the way of his follow-up assault. She moved back in and kicked his stomach and followed with an uppercut.
The man collapsed, with Tifa standing smugly over him.
"Well done Tifa! Once more you've proven yourself to be my best student! Keep it up girl!"
"Thank you Master Zangan," Tifa replied with a customary bow.
"Well class I hope you were watching closely, you can all learn a lot from this young woman!" Zangan said enthusiastically.
More than you think, Cloud thought to himself with a smirk.
"That's all we have time for today! Dismissed, see you all next week," Zangan continued.
The class began to disperse some of them stopping to chat to each other. Tifa, however made a bee-line straight to the door, where Cloud was leaning against the door-frame with a smile on his face.
"Hey!" She greeted with a smile. "What's up?"
"Still a little in shock," Cloud said with a smile.
"What, Cloud please tell me you didn't think I was some vapid airhead!"
"No," Cloud interrupted. "I'm not really surprised that you took on that guy and won!"
"Then?"
"Its more shocking to see with all your clothes on!" Cloud said, ducking as Tifa made to cuff him.
"Bastard!" She said, although she too couldn't supress a giggle.
"We gotta make a plan for the holidays before Christmas!" Cloud said enthusiastically, determined to at least have some fun before he waas reluctantly shipped off to the mountains.
"Can't Cloud," Tifa replied. "My dad and grandad made up, we're going back to Nibelheim for Christmas!"
"What? No way! I am too!" Cloud blurted.
"Wow! That's great news Cloud! I wasn't looking forward to it at all, but now that I know I'll have company in that stupid mountain town, I'm sure we'll have a great time!" She said in excitement.
"Oh yeah! Pity there won't be any crazy things to get up to there though," Cloud said.
"Its still two weeks till I leave, there'll be plenty more parties happening till then!" Tifa waved off.
"That's true," Cloud said happily
XXX
AUTHOR'S NOTE: again I apologise for this abysmally short chapter! It was just done as I needed a small interchapter piece to fill in the void left until we head to Nibelheim for some more action. I noticed Zack and Aerith taking a bit of a backseat in the last few and I will try and fix that as I want little to no doubts on their connection with Cloud. Please bear with me I will try to update as soon as possible but I cannot make any commitments. Thankfully I managed to pass all of my courses this time around (second attempt at first year engineering lol), so pressure is off for the moment. But I have to pass this semester or else I'll lose my place at college! So please understand and don't forget to review!
