Who did Cloud Really like, Tifa or Aeris or Yuffie

[Amylin]

Beccachin

But was he looking at Aeris as...a motherly friend...or...did he LOVE her?

After reading all the posts, especially by Amylin, I gotta conclude this further...

He did have a childhood crush on Tifa, however he was more into Aeris throughout the game.

After really thinking about it, im kinda jaded from this. Think about how much cloud has been thrown around, he really was a punching bag emotionally

Didnt fit in with the kids, and tried to get tifa to like him, she finally shows him attention, but its after all the other kids have gone away. Cloud wants to become stronger to impress Tifa, and to get her to acknowledge her, but yet...all that does is set him up for failure, and being tortured on. Then, He meets Aeris, but I believe she likes him just because she saw Zack in him. They get close, and then she dies.

Poor guy ; ;

First off... thank you very much for the nice words.

Now... I would have to disagree with you on the Aeris only likes Cloud for the Zack in him theory.

Yes, I do feel that Cloud should not be in a relationship but that's not just under the situation of how he was emotionally kicked around by Tifa. (No offense to Tifa fans.) However... it is also in part to Aeris' death. For those whom have seen Advent Children, you see that Cloud is unable to let go of Aeris' death.

Cloud is a very easily confused individual... Every hardship he takes to heart and he's quick to blame himself.

Cloud

I think I want to be forgiven... Yeah, I want to be forgiven.

Aeris

For what?

I never hated you.

Cloud was Aeris' "bodyguard" and cared very deeply for her. Aeris also made it obvious that she was reliant on him. For physical protection. Just as Tifa was reliant on him for emotional protection.
One of the biggest spurs for the Tifa/Aeris war, in my opinion, was not that they both had feelings for Cloud... but that they were opposites. (But still friends need mind you!) In the game... Tifa: physically strong and emotionally weak... Aeris: physically weak and emotionally strong. Tifa does grow an emotional spine in Advent Children but I think that's in part because she realizes she can't be emotionally dependant on Cloud because he can't support himself.
Aeris' feeling for Cloud in Advent Children can easily be a depiction of her telling Cloud... "I can except my death... you need to do the same." If she were to be emotional and telling Cloud how she loves him that would more than likely make Cloud feel worse. Leading to more emotional torture.

As for the game... First I'll quote an argument I made in another thread regarding that Cloud did NOT become Zack.

Amylin

Cypherangel

I don't like Cloud that much, mostly because of the problem of him stealing other people's identity. In FF7 he stole Zack's identity. In KH1 he stole Vincent's style, with the brooding and the claw too. He just can't ever seem to be himself.

My fav of the FF7 playable male would still be Vincent. Dark past, an actual mission, and screwed up relationship with Lucrecia and Hojo.

::cracks fingers:: I have time... I can rant.... icon_twisted.gif

Cloud did not steal Zack's identity. To steal one's identity you would have to become that person as a whole and despite popular belief... Cloud did not do that to Zack.
Things Cloud did take from Zack:
1: Clothing... and Zack actually gave that too him. He didn't steal it.
2: Buster sword... I don't know about you but Cloud taking Zack's sword was more respectful and logical than Cloud stealing it. Afterall... as far as Cloud can tell Zack it dead... Cloud weak and can't defend himself; he needs a weapon... also, I think by keeping the sword after he recovers and remembers Zack I think he's showing respect to Zack's skills as a soldier.
3: Status... Cloud failed at reaching his goal to become a great soldier. Its theorized this is because he failed the psychological exam... the game doesn't fully explain why he didn't make SOLDIER except that its said he was too weak and this can be interrupted in many ways. Now... he feeling ashamed, confused, and more than likely scared. So his mind tells him he is strong enough to survive and Zack just died.
4: Memories of what happened to Zack when Sephiroth went crazy... now Cloud was there... remember the guard that kept Tifa from going into the reactor while Sephiroth and Zack investigated it. That was Cloud. Cloud spoke of Zack telling him stories which is how Cloud learned of these events that he was not present for.
5: the mercenary idea.... now Cloud and Zack had planned on being mercenaries together, but Zack dies. There's nothing wrong with Cloud following through with his and Zack's orginal plans. icon_rolleyes.gif

Now... aside from the the clothing and sword.... these are things to reassure Cloud of his insecurity in his strength born from his confusion. In order for Cloud to have stolen Zack identity he would've taken these as well.
1: His name... now, as far as I know... Cloud never introduces himself as Zack.
2: All of Zack memories... now Cloud does not recognize Zack's parents as his own. Nor does he identify his childhood to be in Gondola.
3: Zack's motives.... Cloud says he joined SOLDIER to become strong. Zack's parents say that Zack joined SOLDIER because he didn't want to stay in a quiet town.
4: Aeris.... Zack was Aerith's boyfriend... he Cloud became Zack he would've identified Aeris as his girlfriend.
5: Tifa.... if Cloud had become Zack he wouldn't have ever refered to Tifa as his childhood friend. Zack never met Tifa before the tragedy. In order for Cloud to have become Zack, Cloud would've needed to abandon his memories of his life and fully taken on Zack's memories.
6: Personality.... here's the contriversal one... Zack is described as a lady's man.... now Cloud may have a woman or two (or a thousand) swooning for him but to be a lady's man he must also be outright noticing and enjoying this. Cloud may have privately enjoyed it but he wasn't outright. Also... from the cut scenes Zack is depicted as a social butterfly (not Cloud)... he almost seems to be the personality opposite of Cloud.

Now... for the KH Cloud becoming Vincent. I honestly see a lot of correlation with the two already. Vincent is plaiged with guilt and saddness and shuts out himself out due to the loss of Lucrenia(I don't know if I spelled it right.) Now... look at what has happened as far as we know of in AC.... Cloud is living alone and hasn't contacted anyone for two years. He is also feeling a great deal of guilt, regret, and saddness. He also finds confidment in Vincent. Vincent and Cloud also share many personality traits in the game. They are the same... at least not yet.
To me... Vincent is representative of what Cloud will become if he does not let go of his saddness, guilt, and regret. Like in KH... Cloud did not let go. Remember that while I like Vincent he is an optional character. He can go through the whole game and never meet him. He is there... in my belief... to explain Sephiroth's origin further if you wish to seek it out... and show what Cloud is to be if he does as Vincent does and not forgive himself.

::dips swollen fingers in ice water::

Aeris does admit to Cloud reminding her of Zack... but as she states on their date ...

Aeris

At first you reminded me of a lot him. The way you walked... gesture... but you are different. Things are different.

Aeris only goes back to Zack memories three times in the game. When she first meets Cloud... when you meet Zack's parents... and on the date.
I will not try to argue your theory of Aeris liking Cloud because he reminded her of Zack in the beginning. However, if this was constant than there would have been more instances of Aeris thinking back on Zack in this manor. However, the second time she thinks back on Zack was not spurred by Cloud but Zack's parents... in fact... Cloud pulls her back from the memories. (If Cloud still reminded her of Zack at this time he would have made it worse.) As for the date... that's when you see her come outright and say that she has realised that Cloud is not Zack. Her words are thought out... you can tell she had been sitting on them for some time now.

I don't believe Aeris fell in love with Cloud because he reminded her of Zack... it sparked interest for her to get to know him.

That's my opinion though. If Cloud ended up with anyone I'd ideally say Aeris.... but she's dead and Cloud now has to except this just as she did. The Cloud/Tifa relationship... slowly... as I've said before. That would be an extremely fragile relationship and very easily broken. Realistically... Cloud needs to learn to emotionally support himself first.