Ok I'm going to try and pic this thread up Here are some Clotif Pistures------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Here are some FMVshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vBzCLv9XkUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jVgudylLaAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjRdZJL9Scwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8OxMf6G6z8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbWB1vh9c8U------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And Here is a fanfic that I thought was so good that I decited to copy and past it right here.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Untold Stories
The Secret Encounter
Cloud felt best when hiding his face behind his hood. He was too ashamed with the fact that he had not made it into SOLDIER, and he was worried that the people of his hometown would recognize him, and he was especially worried that Tifa would see him. He couldn’t bear the humiliation he’d meet with if he faced her now. So, he only watched her from a distance. Tifa never realized the heavy gaze on her. Nor had she realized then Cloud’s real weakness had always been her.
A SOLDIER’S Lost Thoughts
(SOLDIER’s recorded voice log)
*Clicks on* “Hi, this is Zack’s voice log, I’m SOLDIER 1st class. Today is… well, actually I’m not sure what day it is, but the time is o’ 19 hours. Current status … me and the team's occupying Nibelheim, checkin’ out some mako reactor they’ve got up here, so far so good. We’ve got some cute tour guide with us, yes! I’m getting tired of looking at all the pretty boy faces around here. Well, no threats or causalities yet in the mission. We just wait for orders from Sephiroth. Yeah! So, that’s about it! End log.” *Clicks off*
(Later that day)
*Clicks on* “Something has gone terribly wrong. Sephiroth lit the village on fire, he’s gone mad! He’s furious. I’m going up to find him and stop him from killing anymore innocent people. I can’t believe this is happening… what happened to him? We trusted him. Why did he…” Zack stared at his small, hand held tape recorder as he listened to the sound of the burning fire and smelled the disgusting smoke that rose from the ashes of Nibelheim. He made a slight hesitation before continuing with his words, but then he made up his mind about something and decided to continue talking.
“This is Zack… and this is off the log… In truth, I don’t know what I’m doing here. I don’t know why I ever joined SOLDIER. I had someone back home… Cloud, if you live to hear this and I don’t, stay strong, friend, please… find Aerith. Tell her… let her know that I love her, and that we’ll see each other again someday. Good luck Cloud, Aerith, listener… end log.” *Clicks off*
Tifa’s Journal
Dear Journal,
I haven’t heard from Cloud in such a long time, ever since he left to get into SOLDIER. I’m probably a faded memory to him anymore, but he’s been in my thoughts constantly since he went away. I wonder if I’m falling in love... well, my heart’s always with you Cloud. I won’t forget you or the promise that was made.
~Tifa Lockheart~
In the Lifestream
(Aeris’ thoughts while in the Lifestream…)
“I can’t describe what it’s like to be in the Lifestream, except that it’s sort of like being in a beautiful dream that you want to stay in forever… I’ve watched Cloud closely when he fights; I feel the need to protect him and the rest of our friends. I helped him all I could, but now it’s his turn to help himself and the Planet. He reminds me so much of Zack, he’s always so hopeful when looking to the future, at least he is now. That’s what I first saw in him, my boyfriend Zack… It took me a long time to realize that, and I discovered on my own his feelings for Tifa. Oh Cloud, you tried so hard to hide them, even from yourself. You shut Tifa out the most of all of us, only making her feel more rejected by you. Tifa… neither of us wanted to get in the other’s way, right? Because we admired the other too much to steal Cloud’s entire heart, but my poor friend, Tifa… you are so wonderful. I understand all the things Cloud sees in you. I hope you will someday know that you had his heart all along, from the very beginning. I only encouraged Cloud’s heart to open more, but you had another kind of affect on him. You helped him to love someone, you. I hope Cloud can one day discover for himself what he didn’t know was already there."
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"I admire so many things in my friends. I know they’ll save the Planet from dying. When this is all over, Zack promises to take me back to the Promise Land when it was at its peak before the Ancients began dying from the Jenova cells… Zack also promises to take me to the place where he asked me out. It’s on a hilltop that overlooks some flowers. Finally, I understand my feelings for Zack. I only hope Cloud will finally tell Tifa how he feels, as Zack told me he loved me…"
…......................................................................................................................................................................
"Occasionally I go back in time to look at what happened in my life. I remember even my dreams, like of me marrying Cloud. It was really just me trying to fulfill in life my desire to marry Zack, who died before I got the chance to. The closest thing to Zack when I was still alive was Cloud, a friend who Zack and I will see again one day in the Lifestream."
The Death of Aeris
Cloud held Aeris gently in his arms. Her lifeless body dangled above the water’s surface. His heart hurt so much when he looked at her that he couldn’t even bring himself to cry. He felt lost in his own thoughts and tortured by his own feelings. So he just stared down at her, sad, and ashamed of himself for not being able to protect her. The guilt he felt was undeniably painful. If he couldn’t save her, he was beginning to wonder if he was capable of saving anyone, the rest of his friends or the Planet.
Tifa’s Tormented Heart
Sometimes Tifa wondered if things would EVER happen between her and Cloud. If she had been Aeris, would he have done something by now? She sighed at the thought, and waited for Cloud to get home to her and the orphans they took care of. Tifa had waited up for Cloud, but he didn’t come home so she walked up to her bedroom and lay down on her side facing the wall. She thought of Aeris and started to cry, because of all the love and jealousy she had for her friend, then she thought of Cloud and cried even more. The only time she had ever cried this hard was when Aeris and her father died. She cried so hard, she cried herself to sleep.
It had been two hours later when the sound of Cloud’s heavy boots rose up the stairs. He opened the door slowly and before placing his eyes on the other figure in the room. He first looked over his surroundings, a habit of his ever since the fight against Sephiroth began. When Cloud felt the room he was presently in was safe, he laid down on the bed beside Tifa. He wrapped some of the covers around himself and stared at her from head to toe; taking in all he could of her, even her smell was lovely. It was the smell of a fighter’s spirit, someone who never gave up, even for him.
Cloud appreciated the concern Tifa had carried for him, ever since childhood. But he had never really taken the time to stop and think about it as he was doing now. He had always been too busy to think about things that were other than fighting, mostly because he didn’t know where to start. His feelings had constantly confused him, and he’d always turned away from any personal thoughts unless they were of battle, he’d considered them unimportant until recently. Although Cloud had continually suspected Tifa’s feelings for him, he had only just started to heavily think over them. The battles with Sephiroth and his brothers, and trying to find a cure for the orphans were over with, and now he couldn’t ignore his personal thoughts and feelings any longer when they were all that he had left anymore. Ever since Cloud was healed with the orphans in the pool of water in the church, and he ended up seeing Zack and Aeris’ spirits together, he realized their love for each other and his own love for someone else. He was tired of fighting everything so he finally did the unthinkable and gave in.
Tifa opened her eyes before rolling onto her other side. When she turned she was shocked to find that Cloud had been lying right beside her. She wondered for how long, but she wondered even more as to why. After all this time, she didn’t want to take it for what it was, because then all her hopes would be lost if it wasn’t what she had always dreamed of. She turned back to her other side, and squeezed her eyelids shut. After a while she decided to leave the room. For once she was scared of the situation she was in, because she wasn’t used to this, and she didn’t know what to think of it at all. This wasn’t like Cloud in the least. He must’ve passed out from deprived sleep onto her bed by accident from visiting her in her room or something. It was the only thing she could come up with it; aside from what she wanted to believe, but wouldn’t let herself. It must’ve been the deprived sleep, that’s what it was she convinced herself. So, she decided to forget this ever happened and to sneak off and go make breakfast. Cloud showed up downstairs an hour later. He sat down on a stool, and did something he never usually did. He stared straight at Tifa, looking into her brilliantly colored brownish-red eyes that seemed to glow like star dust. Tifa’s heart pounded and she went for the food she’d just prepared. She couldn’t look him in the eyes, “I made some food for you Cloud. It’ll give you some energy.” He didn’t say anything, which was normal for him. She decided there was nothing up with him and left her thoughts at that. As soon as she built up enough courage she looked up at him. He was already looking away from her and down at the food she had just served him, holding his fork in hand. He still didn’t say anything.
“Are you not hungry Cloud? Do you want me to fix you something else? I’m sorry I thought that was your favorite.”
“I’ll eat it later. I’m sorry; I need to go somewhere right now.”
“Right now? But Cloud…Why”
Cloud got up, leaving his plate of food and his fork on the counter. He stepped off the stool, and then he picked up his sword that he always carried with him. He walked to the front door entrance that led outside. He hesitated for a moment while he leaned his left hand on the side of the door. He didn’t look back at Tifa but asked, “Would you… like to come?”
“I…” Tifa didn’t know what to say. He didn’t usually ask her to accompany him, she usually just volunteered, “Sure Cloud,” she said faintly to him.
They rode on Cloud’s motorcycle, and finally stopped at a place Tifa recognized very well, “This is… this is the place you said that reminded you of where we talked when we were kids, but, why?”
“Why bring you here?” Cloud asked a rhetorical question.
“I…yes, why did you Cloud?”
“I like it here.” He said simply, not exactly answering her question.
“Oh. Is that all?” She asked sadly, as if it was the only reason he had brought her here.
Cloud tilted his head down and slowly turned it behind him to answer her face to face, “No.” She felt her cheeks blush with the way he looked at her. She didn’t care if she got her hopes up now, she was longing for his response, whatever it was. He sat down on the sidewalk after a bit before saying anything else. Tifa stayed on the motorcycle waiting for an answer as she stared off blankly in the distance. He waited a few minutes before continuing, “I couldn’t protect her.”
“Protect who Cloud… Aeris?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s not your fault! None of us could have predicted Sephiroth would be there. None of us knew Aeris would put herself in harm’s way to save the Planet…Otherwise we would have, we would have…” Her words trailed off as she realized how grave this conversation was if he was speaking of Aeris. He never spoke of her. It had always been too painful for him. That thought alone made Tifa sad to think, because it made her feel like Cloud loved Aeris, even more than she had suspected before, if it had pained him that much just to talk about her. Tifa unconsciously said allowed, “You love Aeris…”
Cloud sighed without turning around as Tifa realized what she had just said. He replied, “Yes.” Her heart sank with this one word. This hurt her more than anything could, even more than her father dying. She wanted to live with Cloud forever, even if she meant nothing to him, but somehow it was harder hearing that she didn’t, so, she began to cry. She didn’t want to, but she did nonetheless. Here were tears that she had kept hidden for so long from him, but now they were flowing out of her in all of her despair.
Cloud stood up, and his eyes softened when he saw her face. His body came very close to hers as he stood just inches apart from her, “I don’t love her the way I love you though.” Tifa sniffled somewhat, and stopped crying enough to say to him, "What? I don’t… I don’t understand Cloud." Cloud kept his gaze on her as he said, “I saw Aeris as my friend. I thought I might have loved her, but I realized eventually that wasn’t the case… I usually ignore my feelings and any personal thoughts whatsoever unless it is of fighting someone or something… Aeris opened up my heart, Tifa. It’s because of her that I finally understand things more about myself. Now I finally know that I ignored my heart, I… I ignored you, Tifa.” Tifa didn’t know what to say. The one thing she had always wanted to believe was true. Cloud wrapped his arms around her as she cried once again. It started to rain, so he brought out the blanket he had carried in the back compartment of his motorcycle. He slowly wrapped the blanket around both of them. Then he rested his head on hers. After the rain stopped Cloud looked bravely into Tifa's face, and for the first time in his life he saw a future for himself.
Waiting for Cloud
It had been a week for Tifa since finding out Cloud’s love for her. Although he hadn’t quite said the words “I love you,” in a straightforward manner to her yet. She was completely confident that he was since he had heavily implied it, but Cloud had not brought the subject up for a whole week now. He hadn’t talked to her; he hadn’t even kissed her let alone anything else. She was very distraught over the matter and she was finding out quickly that for once, after everything that she had been through, it wasn’t until now that her patience with Cloud was growing slim. She was tired of waiting, tired of wanting him and only getting parts of him when he had her whole heart. She wanted all of him: heart, body, soul, and mind.
Tifa searched for him, deliberately going to places he might be and talking to people that might know where he was, but she didn’t find him. Finally, she went home and tucked in all the orphans before going to sleep, “Goodnight Denzel, sleep well,” she said as she kissed the child on the forehead.
“Goodnight Tifa,” Denzel replied softly, “Hey, Tifa?” Tifa stopped in the doorway with her balanced figure, and turned her head slighting in back of her to reassure the child she was listening. “I was just wondering… When are we going to see Cloud again? He hasn’t been around as much this passed week. Does he not like us anymore Tifa?” Denzel gave her a sad look as he asked the question, quietly pulling his sheets to his chin.
Tifa sighed, “No, I know he loves us. He just has had a lot on his mind lately. Now try to sleep Denzel.” She turned out the light and left the room. As Tifa walked up the stairs to her room, she noticed that Cloud’s door was somewhat open and all his lights were on. He never left all his lights on and he never left his door open. She was somewhat suspicious, so she stopped at the front of the door with her fists ready to pound any monster hard in the face. As she burst open the door and flew into the room like the skillful fighter she was, she stopped when she realized a half naked Cloud was sitting directly down and across from her. She dropped her hands quickly, embarrassed already, “Sorry Cloud, I thought something was going on up here.” Cloud didn’t say anything; he cracked a slight smile though, “Oh, it’s okay.” Tifa had already been blushing from embarrassment, but her cheeks were burning red when Cloud directly smiled at her while at the same time he hadn’t been wearing anything, but pajama pants she had made for him.
“You’re wearing the pajamas I made you,” she stated as she sat across from him on the floor. She leaned her back on the opposite bed as him. He glanced up at her for a moment, “My other clothes were getting to be too uncomfortable for me to wear to bed anymore.”
“Oh,” she didn’t know what else to say, Cloud had never acted so peculiar before, so, normal! She got so distracted from thinking over everything that had happened just moments before that she wasn’t focusing on what was happening now. She didn’t notice Cloud coming in to kiss her. He surprised her as he leaned forward saying, “For a long time now, I’ve loved you, Tifa… I love you… I…” Those were the three words she had desperately wanted to hear from him, but she was too shocked with his bold actions and words to say how she felt back. She kissed him back with the full power of an Ultima it seemed. When their lips met it was like lightning meeting fire. Both had their own unique, powerful passion, which challenged the other, and before Tifa even realized it. She was on top of him and already out of her skirt. Neither of them wanted to ruin the night with anymore words. Tifa was too afraid of the moment possibly ceasing for them, and Cloud was worried that he might not be brave enough to continue their romantic escapade, but both their doubts were laid to rest as the night carried on. Later Tifa confessed to Cloud she had loved him for what seemed like forever.
The Church
Tifa didn’t have to dream of marrying Cloud anymore since it was finally happening. Her heart had pounded so fast that she felt like she was either going to faint or have a heart attack from all of her contained excitement. She was so worried thinking that as soon as she got to the alter that Cloud would suddenly change his mind about her and leave her there. She couldn’t bear the thought of that, especially in front of all their friends. She was actually debating about running away now, to avoid the matter from even happening. None of this seemed real! It seemed too good to be true for her. She sighed as she was about to take off her wedding dress, and sneak off (sneaking was something she’d learned from Yuffie to do quite well), but then she heard a sound. She quickly looked up in the mirror to see a smiling Cloud looking back at her, “C-Cloud…” she muttered under her exasperated breath. She forced herself to smile even though she was ashamed of what she had just been trying to do, run away.
His eyes glowed as he stared at her, “I think you’re beautiful…” It had been a few minutes before he continued what he came to say, but finally he started to talk. He folded his arms and sighed, “I’m sorry, I know I’m not supposed to see you before the wedding, but I just had to see you. I have to ask you in person… Are you sure you want this Tifa? I feel unworthy to have you…” He lowered his head slowly as if he didn’t even have the right to look at how beautiful she was. Tifa smiled for real this time, “I… have wanted this for so long that I almost stopped it from happening, Cloud. If there’s anyone who isn’t worthy, it’s me, for ever doubting that you’d stay with me.” Cloud’s face looked serious as he walked over to his bride and hold her, “Let’s not doubt ourselves or each other anymore, Tifa.” Tifa nodded through eye-closed tears.
When she was finally ready, Tifa stepped outside the reception house, which had been located across the street from the building she was to be married in, a church that her friends had rebuilt for her and Cloud’s wedding. It was sort of a wedding present from all of them to the happy couple. Before Tifa walked into the building, Cid came up to her and took her arm in hand, “You ready for this kid?” He asked through a wide open, half grin, Tifa nodded her head and said silently, “Yeah.” He gave her the okay look and said, “Goddamn! I mean, amen for that; worried I’d have to coax ya in there or somethin’ to marry the boy! Well, let’s get your a** married then and have a weddin’!” Tifa chuckled.
As Tifa walked into the building, the first thing she noticed was Aeris’ flowers sitting where they always had been. The only light in the room came from a hole (which could be covered with a board her friends had made for the roof when it rained) in the side of the pointed roof that shown on the flowers, the alter, the priest, Yuffie, Barrett, and Cloud. Yuffie had turned out to be the bridesmaid of honor and Barrett the best man. Yuffie looked as though she was trying to hold back her giggles from seeing Barrett in a tux, but she couldn’t hold back any longer. She burst out laughing, uncontrollably. Barrett scolded her, “You laughin’ now Yuffie, not be laughin’ later… this ain’t ********’ funny! This be a weddin’ you laugh at!” Yuffie’s laughter only grew with Barret’s words. Cid’s wife, Shera, who was another bridesmaid maid made a, “Sshh…” sound at them, “She’s almost here you two,” her and Yuffie were the only bridesmaids. The second best man was Vincent, who was not looking amused at either of Yuffie or Barrett. He just stood there, silent as always. It wasn’t unusual for him to wear a suit, because he used to wearing suits as a Turk all the time. He actually looked really handsome in one, especially without his red headband on, and his hair looked nice for once. When Yuffie wouldn’t stop giggling, Vincent lifted his head up and turned in her direction. He was a little lost at how beautiful she looked in her violet colored dress, but he said softly to her without blinking, “Yuffie…” She turned towards him and it looked like her heart was going to leap out of her chest. Her laughs quietly desist as her and Vincent looked at each other warm heartedly. Nanaki sat silently next to Vincent. He was in line as the third best man. He hadn’t been wearing a tux or anything since it’d be a little hard to fit on him. So, he just looked like he always had, except he seemed to be smiling.
Before Tifa had made it all the way to the alter she noticed Rufus and the Turks sitting on the left side of the row of seats in front of some of the orphans. One of the orphans was pulling on Reno’s ear and Rufus was trying not to laugh like Yuffie had been trying not to laugh at Barrett, but Rufus probably tried a little more not to laugh than she had. Rude was too busy crying to laugh at his friend’s situation. He’d always had a crush on Tifa, and never told her. He was sad that she was getting married; now he’d never have a chance with her. Elena and Tseng were sitting beside each other, ignoring the rest of their companions. They both looked forward at the alter where Tifa was to stand at. Tseng had one of his legs crossed over the other while Elena sat up, very straight with both her feet plastered to the floor. It was very shocking, but Tifa could have sworn she saw them holding hands. Denzel and some of the other orphans sat on the other (right) row of seats along with Reeve Tuesti who held the robotic cat, Cait Sith, in his arms. All the children seemed to love the cat and took turns holding it. Reeve actually couldn’t stop smiling as he told them all to be careful.
There were a few other guests that Tifa didn’t recognize by name, but remembered she’d met some of them on her adventures to save the Planet. As she looked in front of her she saw Marlene just seating herself next to Denzel, she’d just finished her flower girl duties, which were throwing petals down the aisle for the bride to walk on.
The last thing Tifa had placed her eyes on was Cloud. He smiled at her, he seemed to be glowing. She’d never seen him look this happy before in the entire time she’d known him. He never once took his eyes off of her, and she kept her eyes intently on him. When Cid finally handed Tifa over to her soon-to-be-husband, Cloud, he went to sit down, and the priest began to speak, “We are here today to celebrate and unite this lovely couple, Tifa Lockheart and Cloud Strife…” as he continued the only thing Tifa seemed to be able to focus on was Cloud. It was as if the church had suddenly become silent and it had just been them standing there at the alter, the priest eventually got to the part where Cloud had to say, “I do,” and when he did he took his time and stared away from Tifa until his glance finally looked up at her and he said, “I do.” Tifa felt like she was melting in a puddle of euphoria and almost forgot she had to say it too. The priest began for Tifa now, “Do you, Tifa, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love and to cherish, to have and to hold; and do you promise, forsaking all others, to cleave to him and to him alone, for as long as you both shall live?” Tifa didn’t respond, she suddenly lost her train of thought with Cloud there, staring at her and loving her. Finally the priest repeated himself and she quickly said, “I do.” After everything else was said, the priest finally told the groom, “I pronounce that they are Husband and Wife, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Cloud, you may kiss the bride.” Cloud had the biggest smile on his face, and Tifa just smiled back at him as he came in for the kiss. It was so great that the couple could taste the sweet lingering of the other’s lips. They were now pronounced husband and wife. Tifa and Cloud started to run off the alter, and just before leaving the church, out of the corner of her eye she saw Aeris and Zack’s spirit smiling at her. They were sitting in the back row. Aeris looked so happy seeing her friend, Tifa gave her back that friendly smile as she saw Aeris’ hand holding Zack’s, Zack quickly shrugged and winked at Tifa as if to say, “Hey, who would’ve thought?” The two waved goodbye at the bride before their spirits disappeared back into the Lifestream from where they had come.
Cloud and Tifa rode off on their motorcycle; Cloud had never wanted to drive so fast in his life, but he found it exhilarating, and it went well with how happy he was. Tifa wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his back as she quietly said the words, “I love you,” and then they were off.
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Untold Stories II
The Encounter
Tifa stood in the church holding her hand to her belly. She looked tenderly at her growing bump. It wouldn’t be much longer before the child was born. She closed her eyes and thought of the day when she could hold hers and Cloud’s future in her arms.
She slowly opened her hopeful eyes and looked down at the flowerbed. She felt the warm comfort of the sun shine down upon her from the hole in the roof. It was as if Aeris was watching over her, protecting her and the unborn child in the suns light, but Tifa slowly moved into the roof’s shadows where the sun’s gentle touch could not reach her.
Cloud had promised to meet her here later so she stood waiting for him, smiling to herself as she thought of him. She picked a flower and held it against her belly as if the flower was warning off any evil within the buildings dark corners. She then held the flower to her face and smelled its loveliness; a second later she heard the clonking of foot steps from behind her that sounded like they were entering the church. Cloud was early she thought, but she didn’t care. It was better than him being a minute late! She couldn’t bare him being away. She quickly spun herself around and her hair flew smoothly behind her as she brushed back a part of it from her face, “Cloud!” She yelled out in excitement, but as quickly as one can give into the feeling of happiness and hope, the feelings left abruptly as the realization that the person standing before her was definitely not Cloud. Her heart sped up as they came towards her.
Cloud glanced up into the pouring rain. It felt so soothing like the streaks of joyful tears on one’s face. He’d never felt better. His life was finally on track. He was going to have a family with the woman he’d loved ever since early childhood. Nothing could make him happier than he was now as he was thinking of his wife and his soon to be fatherhood. He couldn’t help but crack a slight smile at the thought of it.
He sighed as he tilted his head and pointed his gaze in the direction of the church. He wasn’t too far away now. It would only be a few more minutes, but his heart still leapt. He was nervous when getting to see his wife. Tifa always made him feel uncomfortable and shy only because he’d felt such a connection with her, and even though they had been married for almost two years now she still made him feel like he was in the presence of a Goddess every time he saw her. Her beauty alone killed him to see, but how much love she had for him tortured him. It was almost too much to take. It was so powerful that it sometimes pained him to see her go. If anything ever happened to her, he’d never be able to live with himself.
Cloud breathed in the air and felt a new sense of refreshment. His pace increased as he was very anxious to see his wife. To hold her in his arms and feel the warmth of her heart against his own. He couldn’t believe that he married such a beautiful woman that she was his and vice versa, and that the child she carried within her womb was his very own flesh and blood.
There was no one in the church as Cloud gazed over the flowers. His eyes narrowed in curiosity and suspicion as he bent over to pick up a flower that had been crushed to bits and pieces. It looked like it had once been very beautiful, but someone had ruined it. He wondered…
A cry rose from outside the church and Cloud stood up immediately to dart outside. He put his hand over his shoulder, holding onto the hilt of his sword. He was ready to pull it out of place at any moment as he came out of the church. He noticed an elderly woman with her hands in her face. She looked petrified. He slowly put a hand to her back to calm her. It was something he wouldn’t have normally done, but Tifa had been bringing out the best in him ever since the beginning of their marriage. And he not only connected with Tifa, but because of her he was beginning to connect with others more as well.
“Excuse me, what’s wrong?” He asked politely, leaving his hand on her shoulder as if to reassure her she was safe.
“It was… it was horrible!” The old woman said through loud sobs.
“Tell me what happened.”
“I can’t… I can’t… don’t make me, please…” Her sobs grew softer as her spirit grew weaker by the minute.
“Please…” Cloud pleaded softly to her with this one word.
“There was… there was a man… I couldn’t… I couldn’t see his face it was hidden from view, but he… he… oh, please, don’t make me say it…” The woman glanced up through heartfelt tears at Cloud, but she knew she had to continue whether she wanted to or not, “He killed her! I saw it! A young… poor…poor…” the woman hesitated for a moment and her eyes went dull before she quietly spat out the words, “p-poor p-pregnant woman” her eyes were very sad as she said this. Finally she shut her eyes tightly and continued her story. It was as if she was trying hard not to imagine what happened, but it seemed too important to her if she didn’t continue, “He threw her out of the church, she was… she was bleeding all over. She must have died. I don’t know how anyone could have survived that. That poor woman… that poor, poor child…”
Cloud’s hair fell in front of his eyes, big, dark circles formed under them above his cheeks as his mouth opened slightly as if to say something but no words followed from his mouth, only silence. He wanted to scream his sudden pain out into the world, but his mind went blank after his whole life’s happiness flashed before his eyes in an instant and vanished. He stopped breathing for a moment as if the air was caught in his chest, pounding at him to be let out. He let out the exasperated breath. He’d never been so uneasy before in his life, but he couldn’t panic now. He needed to stay focused. He had to save his wife and unborn child if they were still alive, “Which way did they go?” He asked with immediate anger rising in the tone of his voice, which was also sounding a bit shaky. His hands were trembling. It was the first time he’d ever acted like this. He couldn’t control how he felt. He was fearful for his family and it was definitely showing.
“Oh, that way sir, but you don’t want to…”
“I have to go. That woman… that woman you spoke of… she is my wife.”
The woman looked like she was about to cry harder, “Oh sir, I’m so sorry… I didn’t know.”
“It doesn’t matter. I just need to know where they went.” The woman pointed off in the direction in front of them to the left, and Cloud quickly gathered himself in that direction.
It had been dead silent in this part of town. Most of the houses were abandoned and all he could see were the dark shadows that filled their emptiness. He felt all his frustration build as he looked from one house to the other only to be disappointed with the outcome. It wasn’t until a few houses down that he spotted there on the foot steps the blood ridden body of his wife, Tifa, lying in a puddle of her own blood. She seemed to be lifeless. Cloud’s eyes fixed themselves on the spot as he shot himself over to her withering body. His heart pounded furiously as it started to sink further into the sadness that he felt.
“Tifa! Tifa!” He shouted to her, “Please answer me!” For what seemed like the first time in his life Cloud began to cry as he held his broken wife in his arms against his broken heart, “Don’t die… don’t die…” he whispered to her, “…don’t die…”
“The woman won’t die if I get the former specimen’s cooperation,” Cloud turned around to see a hooded man stare out at him through small, beady eyes. The man’s face was too narrow, and the shadows that played on him were too dark for Cloud to make out just who the man was. It didn’t matter. He just wanted to hurry to help Tifa with whatever it took.
“Who are you, and what do you want?”
The man laughed loudly. It was an evil laugh, “I tell you what I want SOLDIER boy, and then maybe you will find out who I am.”
Cloud’s eyes turned to a deeper sadness as he stared down at his wife. Tifa was covered in so much blood that it was hard to tell where her wounds were located. Her hair was soaked in water, blood, and mud. He stared at her stomach as it had been covered in most of the blood that he saw. He placed a hand on his wife’s belly and gently held his hand to it out of respect for his unborn child.
Cloud lifted Tifa up carefully before giving his attention to the man in front of him. He slowly turned around like a mad bull. His eyes flared like a burning fire that needed to be fed more firewood. He wanted to burn into the other man’s soul and rip his heart out.
“Now for me to tell you what I want from this frivolous world!”
“No! I need to know first what you’ll do for my wife if I help you, you b*****d.”
The man started to chuckle, “The woman is dying, and your unborn child along with her, and the only way she can be saved is with this special revive that I have created and now carry. You help me and I’ll save your family’s life. If you don’t… the woman dies. And die she will very soon if your mind is not made up in a sufficient amount of time. I have already calculated in my head how much longer the woman has and it is roughly a few minutes. Maybe five if you are lucky. ”
Tifa’s dying body was laid down carefully by Cloud. He then pulled out his sword and gritted his teeth at the man, “I want nothing more than to kill you right now!” He started to walk slowly towards the heartless man.
The man pulled out a small vile that held a violet liquid within it, “Kill me. And I drop this vile that contains the cure for that woman. If you lose a single drop of this, she along with your child’s future, dies,” the man grinned and slowly placed the vile back inside his coat pocket. All of Cloud’s will power disappeared as the man’s words sunk into the very depths of his soul. There was nothing he could do by fighting. He knew he could risk his life in battling, but his wife’s and child’s life was not something he would risk losing, “I’m listening,” he said softly. The man took off his hood to reveal himself. Those eyes, the sharp features of his face, that dark hair, Cloud recognized it. It had belonged to Hojo, Sephiroth’s father, “Hello… Cloud,” he said with an evil grin and suddenly Cloud pictured himself staring into Sephiroth’s face, not Hojo’s.
“I… Hojo…” Cloud’s eyes grew and narrowed at Hojo.
“You see me as Hojo? Fool! I am a clone of Hojo. Hojo was a man of brilliance! He was so brilliant he created a copy of himself. I am that copy! I am the new Hojo! The better Hojo and I have come to finish his work, my work. Power… Sephiroth can give me the power I need. I was going to experiment on your unborn child… I was going to make them the new Sephiroth as I am the new Hojo! Your child carries your blood, the blood of Sephiroth, but then I discovered your child would not work, your child is female,” Cloud’s eyes widened suddenly, holding a warm sadness in them. He had not known the child’s sex until now, “I need a male… and seeing as you are a clone of Sephiroth and you have been so strong as to defeat Sephiroth… I want to experiment on you; you will be the new Sephiroth, the better Sephiroth! My first experiment…”
“I may be similar to Sephiroth by blood due to Hojo’s earlier experiments, but I am not him. And I am not his clone!”
“Yes, but you can be,” he stated eagerly, “with enough… motivation,” he pointed at Tifa.
“Tifa…” Cloud’s eyes softened as he stared back at his wife. He then looked down at the wet mud before him until he raised his gaze to Hojo’s clone, “I’ll do it… just save her.”
The new Hojo threw Cloud a green vile, “Then drink,” he said with a wicked smile. Cloud caught the vile and slowly drank its containments. He quickly grasped his throat as if he were chocking to death. His eyes went blood shot as if they were about to pop out of their sockets, and then he closed his eyes slowly, groaning as he fell to the mud and whispered to himself, “Tifa…Tifa…”
Tifa’s eyes opened gradually as she moaned from feeling her newly aching body, “W-Where am I?” She asked dully. Before her stood a blurry, but tall dark figure that she couldn’t quite make out, “Hey! She’s awake! Get yer asses in here!” Other figures ran into the room and Tifa grasped her aching head as she tried to focus her eyes on the other figures in the room. She suddenly gasped and stood up as she remembered Cloud yelling her name, “Cloud!” She yelled aloud, “C-Cloud…” Her eyes were focused now and before her stood Barret who she assumed had been talking about her earlier. Then there stood Cid with his arms folded and his angered eyes looking at her with extreme concern. Yuffie seemed undeniably sad and wouldn’t even look at her. Nanaki’s face appeared the same except his eyes seemed emptier. Vincent hid from Tifa’s gaze. He had his arms folded across his chest and his head was lowered just enough so their eyes wouldn’t meet. Reeve looked at Tifa, but he was caught up in his own world of pity for her. Shera who stood next to Cid (her husband) had her hands interlocked, she too was sad. Tifa didn’t understand all of the concerned and depressed faces, “What…what happened?” She asked everyone, but no one would answer her. So many thoughts unveiled in her mind. Her beautiful eyes sunk into a soft despair. She was hurt by the silence and her own thoughts. She finally turned towards Barrett as he had been closest to her. She was on the edge of crying now, “Barrett! Tell me what happened… please, please…” her lips bent slightly back as she squinted her burning eyes to hold back unwanted tears, “Tell me…I have a right to know what happened, don’t I?”
Barret nodded bravely at her, but Tifa could hear the change in his breathing. It was soft breathing, but shorter. He was nervous. Finally, he raised his eyes to meet hers. She was his friend and he felt she had a right to know, “You’d been… kidnapped Tifa at the church over here. Old lady say you been done in. She also said Cloud went after you, to find you. We find you later ain’t no Cloud, just you be there, bleedin’ to death we think. We thought you gonna die, but you lived Tifa. Dunno how, but you ain’t dead, that’s all that’s important to us now, keepin’ you and your baby safe.” Tifa’s eyes looked tormented as she suddenly yelled out as if to lash out with her words, “No! What about Cloud? What happened to him? Why don’t you know where he is? Didn’t you look for him Barrett, how couldn’t you look for him?” This was a side of Tifa not many saw, even Tifa herself. She was still crying but her tears seemed like angry flames falling from her brilliant eyes. Barrett didn’t know what to say, but Yuffie stepped in for him. He’d talked enough she thought, “You were dying Tifa when we found your body. You should have died, but you didn’t for some reason. I think Cloud had something to do with it. We think that’s why he’s missing now.”
Tifa’s chin touched her chest now in shame and sadness, “Is he dead? Just tell me if he is…”
Yuffie sighed before replying to her question, “I don’t know. None of us know. We did look. It’s possible that he is,” more tears fell from Tifa’s eyes, “but we don’t know for sure if he’s…” Tifa almost fell off the bed, but Cid ran up to catch her. So, she just sat on the floor with her head lowered and her hair in her face. He held her tight in his arms as Yuffie came up along side her to embrace her as well. Cid yelled, “Don’t ya start quitin’ on us Tifa! This be someone’s doin’. Don’t know what ******** hurt ya, but we sure as hell are gonna shove rockets up his or her a** when we find em’! We’re ******** here for ya. And this old geezers got a few hugs left in em’ just had to pull em’ out of my a** for ya, but they’re hugs nonetheless ain’t they?” Tifa didn’t know what to think of Cid’s statement. Was it supposed to be funny or serious? Yuffie glared at Cid, “Yeah, way to cheer her up old man! Tell her you got rockets and hugs coming out of your a** for her!” Cid chuckled loudly, “Well, that’s the closest to being sentimental I can get! Right Shera?” Shera blushed, amused.
The rest of the party didn’t react. Nanaki slowly approached Tifa and he stared up into her blank face, “If we try maybe we can find him.” As much as he could smile, he gave her his best one. To everyone’s shock he closed his eyes and softly pressed his forehead against hers. Vincent lifted his head up, “And so the search begins for Cloud…”
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