A/N: Sorry for not posting so long. I have a bad announcement. Due to some educational business, I will have to put my story on a hiatus. I know it sucks and all, but I am trying to do whatever I can to do better. In the meantime, my brother will be posting his chapters for his story on my username account. If you think you're interested, go check it out on my page.
Please try to enjoy and review.
Cloud's Past: Part 4
Few years later...
A 13-year old Cloud is traveling with a group of 4 people. Barret, Wedge, Biggs, and Jessie are walking with Cloud on the field outside of Midgar City. They see a ship preparing for something. The pilot and crew members are organizing the ship as if people will soon be on it. Cloud looks at it with his passionate eyes.
"So, kid, you really planning to get out of this place?" Barret crosses his new metal arm and his other arm.
"Yeah, I want to see this "Cocoon" for myself." Cloud nods
"But, they said it's far away, you're gonna be far away, too…" a young Jessie states.
"I know, but it's something I've been wanting to do for so long." Cloud tells her
"Cloud, she thinks that you won't come back for a very long time." Biggs said.
"…"
"Cocoon sounds like a fun place to go…I never heard of it for my whole life!" Wedge sounds excited.
"Guys, why won't you come with me?" Cloud asks his group, "It might be worth the trip."
"…" the whole group is silent.
"Sorry, blondie, but my place is here now. Traveling doesn't really suit me all that much." Barret answers.
"Yeah, me, Jessie, and Wedge are still in school. We can't just leave…" Biggs explains
"I see." Cloud sighs
"Hey, kid." Barret puts his metal hand on Cloud's shoulder, "If you do go, just try and visit once in a while, all right?"
"Don't worry, I will. I promise." Cloud smiles and the entire group puts their hands together.
"Forever AVALANCHE." They all said in unison.
Night falls and tonight will be Cloud's greatest accomplishment.
He knocks on Tifa's door and waits.
Tifa quietly opens the door and steps out.
"Sorry, my dad doesn't like my going out at night." Tifa smiles so beautifully
"Don't worry, we'll only be right there." Cloud points to a tall well nearby.
The two of them climb up, and sat on the edge of the top plate. The both of them look up into the night sky, and stare at the stars. They started talking about what AVALANCHE did today and the other times before. Tifa mentions about the other citizens of Midgar are talking about having a President help govern the city. Cloud then begins to tell something that will start a new chapter of his life.
"Hey, Tifa…" Cloud prepares.
"Hmm…?"
"I'm…I'm leaving Midgar." He gulps
"…!"
"I'm planning to go to Cocoon and live there for a while."
"…"
"And…and uh…" Cloud sways his hand on his back hair, "I was wondering if you like to come…"
"Oh. Cloud…" Tifa is surprised to hear this from him, "I…"
Cloud is hoping for her to say yes.
"I…can't." Tifa closes her eyes when she said it.
"…" Cloud had a feeling this would happen
"My parents would be so mad at me if I did go…" Tifa swings her legs back and forth.
"…"
"I…I really do want to go with you…I do."
"That's okay." Cloud shakes his head
"…"
A moment of silence occurs within their conversation. Cloud has been waiting for this for a long time. He at least wants it to end properly.
"Hey, is it okay we go for a walk for a bit?" Cloud asks
"Sure…" Tifa smiles as they climb back down
They start walking only around a few blocks around and not going so far. Cloud needed to move so he could tell Tifa some his thoughts a bit more comfortably.
"Tifa…I…I really think that me going to Cocoon can change things."
"…"
"I have always felt like I'm stuck in some kind of bubble." Cloud tries hard to explain, "I don't want to stay in one place forever…"
"What's wrong with staying…?" Tifa asks
"No, not like that. And that's the problem, I also want to stay here…with Barret, Wedge, Jessie, Biggs…and with you. But, some part of me…I feel like…" Cloud looks up to the sky with his red eye shining, "…something is calling for me."
"…calling for you? Like what?"
"I don't know…but I want to find out." Cloud insists
"…" Tifa smirks, "Well, I hope you do."
Cloud smiles along with her as he begins to take her hand and walk down the cool and bright night.
"Cloud, will you promise me something?" Tifa asks
"…?"
"Promise me…that you will come back."
"…"
"I don't know how long it will be, but…please, come back one day." Tifa holds Cloud's hand tighter.
As his hand ensures he is not lying and grins, "I will, Tifa. I promise."
Tifa smiles greatly and pecks one on his cheek. Suddenly, a flash of light appears in front of them. The two rubs their eyes and refocuses, seeing a man with a camera and a large bulb.
"Hello there you two!" the man speaks
"Who are you?" Cloud maintains his hold with Tifa's hand.
"Oh, I'm just a wandering photographer. I'm selling pictures right on the spot. And you two, just shared a very interesting picture! Would you like one? It only cost just 5 gil!" the man advertises
"Sorry, but uh…" Cloud is about to decline
"No, we'll take it!" Tifa accepts
"…?"
"Very well, then. 5 gil, please." The man opens his hand.
Cloud decides to pay for it. The man takes the camera and prints out a very small black and white, but clear, photo. The moment is exact. Tifa's lips on Cloud's smiling face.
"Thank you very much." The man nods his head and takes off.
"Why take the picture, Tifa?" Cloud wonders
"I at least want our first date to be remembered. Don't you?" Tifa studies the picture.
Cloud simply blushes and rubs the back of his neck.
He then starts taking a wooden box out of his black pocket.
"Happy birthday, Tifa."
"Cloud…?" Tifa takes the box with her hand, "My birthday's not until tomorrow."
"I know, Tifa. But the ship leaves tomorrow too."
"Oh…I see." Tifa sounds a little sad since Cloud won't attend her actual birthday.
"Come on, open it." Cloud hastens
Tifa lifts the lid off the box and sees a heart shaped necklace with a wolf imprint on it.
"Wow…" Tifa's eyes become amazed.
"I…remember you telling me that wolves are your favorite animals. So, I got this. Also, you can open it and put a picture inside."
"Cloud, it's…" Tifa is just about to thank until she hears a voice in the distance.
"TIFA! Tifa, where are you?" the voice of Tifa's father echoes.
"Oh no, I'm sorry, Cloud. I have to go." Tifa immediately hugs him, "I'll make sure I will see you go tomorrow."
"O-Okay." Cloud nods his head.
"Bye, Cloud." Tifa waves at him and takes off in the direction they came from.
Cloud waves at her too, even though she's not looking. This is probably the last time Cloud thinks he going to see her.
Cloud heads and enters his home. His mother finished cleaning the dishes. Her blonde hair was just like Cloud's, but darken due to age. Her skin is still smooth, with only a few unnoticable wrinkles. Unlike her son, she has two blue eyes. She spots him coming into the kitchen with a rather gloomy face.
"Cloud, dear? What's wrong?" Cloud's mother asks, "The date didn't work out?"
"Um…no, mom. It was just cut off short. Tifa had to go back." Cloud explains.
"Oh…was she upset that you are leaving tomorrow?" Cloud's mother starts to rubs his shoulders to make him feel better.
"No, but I know she's sad…."
"Don't worry, my son. I'm sure she will understand why you're going." She puts her hands on Cloud's rather warm face.
"Mom…?"
"…?"
"Is it right for me to go?" Cloud sits down at the kitchen table, "I mean…I've been living here for so long. I can't think to myself that I will just leave like that…All my friends will be left behind, I'm leaving Tifa behind, and…I don't want to leave you."
"Cloud…" his mother sits down next to him, "This opportunity is what's best for you, it will certainly help you."
"…"
"You're body has now become much stronger now. This journey will help you make sure that you are no longer weak. I know it will." Cloud's mother brushes his golden hair, "And didn't you tell me that you had dreams?"
"Dreams…?"
"Yes, dreams of a place filled with lights and fireworks?"
"…" Cloud searches for that memory, "I did have those dreams…"
"That must be sign, right?"
"Yeah…" Cloud lightly beams.
"…My dear boy…" Cloud's mother whispers as she hugs him tightly.
Cloud returns her hug with a definite cherishing one.
"Now, get some sleep. Tomorrow is the big day!"
Cloud stands in the same field as yesterday, but this time it's filled with numerous people. Everyone is saying their goodbyes, families and friends. Cloud holds his duffle bag as he looks around for his friends. He spots AVALANCHE coming up to him instead.
"Cloud!" Jessie, Wedge and Biggs calls
"Guys…!" Cloud smiles
Barret is walking right behind them.
As they finally approach each other, they start saying their farewells.
"All right, kid, looks like this will be a day to look back to." Barret puts his hands on his waists, "I'll see you again."
"Thanks, Barret," Cloud shakes
Both Jessie and Wedge grab him with tears and remind him in unison, "Don't forget about us."
"I will never." Cloud pats them both on the backs
Biggs places his hand on Cloud's shoulder after the two lets go, "So, how long do you think you'll come back?"
"I…really don't know." Cloud shakes his head.
"Well, whenever it is, call us sometime." Biggs smirks
The two briefly embrace and Barret mentions about something else.
"Hey, where's Tifa?"
Cloud looks around and cannot find her anywhere.
"It's her birthday, today. Cloud, does she know about this?" Barret questions
"…"
Loudly, the pilot of the ship yells out, "All right, those who are entering the ship, please hurry! The ship will be leaving in 5 minutes."
Cloud immediately prepares himself. He turns and faces his group. He smiles and puts out his hand face down. The group quickly puts their hands on top of Cloud's. Together they cheer…
"Forever AVALANCHE!"
After putting their hands down, Cloud gives his word, "Until we meet again."
Cloud takes off and heads for the stairwell that leads inside to the ship. He spots his mother waiting for him along the way. His pace quickens and he stands in front of her before she could notice him.
"Mom."
"Cloud…"
Their hold in each other's arms is filled with love. Cloud never wanted to let go, but his mother knows that he must go on his journey. The mother and son look at each other in the eyes.
"Cloud, my boy. You have fun now. Don't make this journey seem as if you're going on a mission or something." Cloud's mother states, "Make sure you eat a good breakfast, brush your teeth, don't over-exercise yourself, and get plenty of sleep."
"I will…" Cloud hugs her one more time, "I love you…"
"I love you too, my son."
"…" Cloud releases her and grasps her hands.
"Now go, you have a flight to catch." Cloud's mother points the direction with her head
"I will come back, mom." Cloud tells her as he runs past her.
Cloud finally reaches the stairwell. He looks up, and feels the cold air currents and hears the roaring engines. Before he could takes his first step, a girl grabs him from behind. The body and arms had a familiar feeling to Cloud.
"Tifa…?"
He turns around and sees her having teary eyes.
"Cloud…don't forget our promise."
Cloud instantly takes her in his arms. The both of them told their goodbyes without using any words.
"I want to give you something…" Tifa said in his ear
"…?"
Tifa hands him the heart shaped necklace he gave her last night.
"What? Tifa…I gave to you as a gift…"
"I know…and I want to give it to you as a gift of my own. Open it…"
Cloud presses the side of the necklace and it flips open, revealing the picture of Tifa kissing Cloud's cheek.
"I want you to take it…so you can always look at it if you're lonely." Tifa smiles
"…" Cloud looks up to her and back down. He closes the necklace and holds it with a stronger attitude. "I will always wear it."
"2 minutes until takeoff!" the pilot informs loudly again.
Cloud takes one of Tifa's hands as he walks backwards on the stairwell. Their hands disconnect as Cloud comes closer to the open door. He takes one last look to the AVALANCHE group in the distance, his mother, and the city of Midgar. His eyes land back on Tifa. He said his final goodbye to his friend.
"I'll be back."
Cloud sees the rows of seats full with boys about his age. He wonders why there are only boys going. He tries to find an empty seat and ends up being in the back row. As he sits down, he finds the seat next to him the only one empty. He looks around to see if there are any passengers that need a seat. Apparently, everyone is seated. Cloud places his duffle bag on the empty and looks out the window. It was a shame that the window is not on the side where Tifa and the others are. Suddenly, an argument is heard in the front.
"Sir, I'm sorry, but all the seats have been taken. You should've arrived sooner." A lady said to a jet black haired tall teenager.
"I'm sorry, but I had to say one last goodbye to my parents. I can't be late now." The teenager explains
"Look, as you can see, all the seats have been taken. I can't allow another passenger to come aboard."
"But…!"
"Wait!" Cloud raises his hand, and alerts the lady and the tall teenager. He takes his bag off the seat next to him. "Uh…this bag belongs to me. No one is sitting here."
"Oh, in that case, I apologize.' The lady tells the teenager, "Please take the seat."
"Thank you." The teenager kindly accepts and swiftly goes to the offered seat.
Cloud hurries to put his bag away and make room for him. The teenager sits down and speaks to Cloud.
"Thank you very much. I thought I wouldn't be allowed to come on."
"It's okay; I know saying goodbye to your parents must be a priority." Cloud smirks
"Yeah, they really worry about me. They think I can't take care of myself and I won't be able to survive on my own."
"Is that so? For me, it's the opposite way with me and my mother. I worry about her more than myself."
"...?"
The tall teenager gives his hand for a handshake, "My name is Cid Raines."
Cloud shakes his hand and properly introduces himself, "I'm Cloud."
Already, Cloud has made a new friend. The ship takes off and flies high into the sky. A green gate opens a pathway that leads even clouds to a completely new world and a completely new life.
A/N: This chapter has been rushed and has not met the level of my standards, I am sorry. I hope I can return very quickly so that the story can meet the epic ending I have drafted. However, for now, the story will be on hiatus because of my schedule. I hope to get to the next chapter as quickly as possible. In the meantime, please review!