Fan Fiction Better This Way™

[Six]

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, all rights belong to SquareEnix.©
Author'sNote: Okay, so this story is set right after the end of Final Fantasy VII. I used On The Way To A Smile: Case of Tifa.© as inspiration to write this lyrical One-Shot story, and the song Better This Way by Brighten.© The lyrics of this song just suited the whole idea I had in mind, and the story title was originally my own, until I realized this song, and added the lyrics of it at the same time, so... It's a mix of both. There's a reason behind the story title, seeing this story is a CloTi, "Cloud and Tifa", everything is just better "that" way. No other pairing with Cloud, no, just him with Tifa. I will not go into my rants but... You get the point. =] Hehe. The lyrics, basically describe Tifa's feelings. So... Besides that though... I hope you like this one-shot. Please review! I'd love to know what you think of it.​

I copied it over from my FanFiction account, seeing I was too lazy to write an author'snote at 7 in the morning... Omg...

Better This Way
Cloud Strife x Tifa Lockhart
One-Shot (again)​

And I am war after ten years of fighting,
I am there after every time you hear bad news.​

"What the hell IS that?!", Barret's voice echoed through the chaos around them. The shaking was slowly easing, as the screams of the people turned into a long silence, while they watched the incredible scenery that was going on at this moment. Green light, with a bright glow was found all over Meteor. Along with Holy, something else was facing this threat.

"Lifestream."

Cloud Strife. The leader of the small group that was fighting for the planet, had just said it. Lifestream was indeed what was helping them. Everyone. It was helping the Planet out right now. All of their effort would've been useless without the Lifestream's help. Without... Her help.
The bright light was fading. The shaking had stopped. There were just amazed gazes now, focused on nothing else but Meteor being melted into a liquid that the Lifestream drained out, while the last bits were disappearing into the cracks of the Planet's surface. Maybe everything was okay now. This was what they aimed for. It was what she was preparing herself for, it was her fear, her hopes, everything. Everything they had fought for, everything they had been through lately, was for this... To save the planet. At first, it might have been her strong feelings, for getting revenge on what SHINRA had taken away from her. But now... Maybe the Sin locked deep in her heart, the many lives that were taken the day they started... Maybe this... Maybe all the people that were still alive now, were worth it? Or maybe that was just what she hoped for it to be.

Her eyes were focused on the ground, as the HighWind kept going in wide circles above the ground, keeping an eye on all that was going on. Fear struck her, as a certain thought crossed her mind. "What if it's all over now...?"She glanced to her side, where she noticed Cloud with a peaceful smile on his face. For some reason, she couldn't get her eyes off of him now that she noticed the smile. Cloud's smile, was a rare thing. She blinked, while she broke out of her stare, as Cloud had noticed her gazing at him.

"What's wrong?"

"Cloud... You're smiling."

"I am?"

"Yeah.", Tifa nodded slowly.

"Everything starts now. A new...", he paused for a moment, before continuing, "A new life."

I am not a flame with seven years of lighting,
And I need you just like they do...​

"Everything starts now." But... How did that make sense? Everything was ending now... Their journey. Their goals... Their... Contact? Everyone was about to go their different ways... The group. They would split up. She had no where to go. She wouldn't be able to take care of Cloud anymore, or even look after him. Fear struck her once again. If this was going to be her new 'life', she wasn't sure if she was going to be able to live with it... Yet still...

"I'm going to live. I think that's the only way I can be forgiven. We've been through... All sorts of things."

Tifa's thoughts remained unspoken, as she nodded at what Cloud said. "I guess you're right..."

"But when I think about how many times I've thought about starting a new life, it's funny."

"Why?"

"I've always failed to do it.", Cloud said sarcastically, with a bitter smile. Tifa cocked her eyebrow slightly, a serious, and worried look on her face.

"That's not funny."

"...I think it will be alright this time.", Cloud stated after Tifa's words. He became quiet for a moment. "Because you're always with me."

"I haven't always been with you...", Tifa said, yet her stomach felt like it turned. What did he mean? Was he...

"That's how it will be starting from tomorrow.", Cloud replied again, smiling.
As everything had settled down, and the people had gone back inside their houses, the team agreed it was the most respectful way to go to the Forgotten City, and thank Aerith for all that she had done for them. The HighWind set course to the Forgotten City, as the team sighed deeply, yet... relieved. Tifa almost hesitated walking down to the spring of the Forgotten City. Maybe it was guilt. She couldn't cry when her friend was killed by Sephiroth. She had no time to deal with her emotions. If she had then... She wouldn't have been able to fight. Instead, her sadness turned to hatred. A fire that burned brightly inside of her showed the hatred she carried for him who had taken so many things away from her. Sephiroth...

I am windows breaking in the airplanes,
Where nothing comes out quite how it was meant to.​

But now... Her tears wouldn't stop.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...", Tifa managed to whisper out between her tears. Her glossy eyes were fixed on the lake where Cloud had put their team-mate, their friend, to rest. She felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Cloud. He held onto her firmly so that she wouldn't go anywhere. The tears burned, as waves crashed on her cheeks every time she closed her eyes. She just wanted to run away, like she had that day. Curl up and just give herself the time to over come these feelings. Her heart ached. But... She wasn't going to run away. She was just going to let herself cry as much as she wanted this time.

I am more invisible, than you could ever be...
And I am what you wanted, and, you're everything I need...
If you think I'm so terrible, than you are not aware, see...
I... I am... Better, this way...​

Everyone was gone now... Gone their separate ways. But he... Cloud Strife... He was still with her. Today was the day that they had decided to give their hometown a visit.

Nibelheim. Hometown to Cloud Strife, and Tifa Lockhart. Neither of them spoke, as they stared at the entrance of the town. All kinds of feelings were going through them, mostly the kind of feelings that are too hard to describe in words. Cloud was the first one to speak, as his words were short, yet they spoke out for the same way Tifa felt.

"I shouldn't have come. It draws me back to my past."

Tifa nodded slowly, and without a word, she took the first step into their once dear Hometown. Cloud's expression changed from a slight anger, to a puzzled feeling as Tifa walked into Nibelheim. He waited. Tifa's eyes scanned the houses, she spotted her own, and Cloud's... The well... She stopped and stared at the well, to up higher, to the dark blue sky they were drifting on earlier, in the HighWind. It was only hours ago, that all of this, all of her memories could've been... Erased. They could have died. Yet... She was standing here. The noticeable stars in the sky, took her back to when she was only eight years old. A small smile took hold of her lips, as she closed her eyes to the Heavens, and took a deep breathe.

"...Tifa?", the familiar voice asked.

"... I...", her voice was soft, almost a whisper.

"Hm?", Cloud asked, as he had followed her into town, after waiting outside for a while.

"You wanted to be noticed."

"Huh?"

"The reason you left town. Our promise that night. Not just you... But... Me too...", Tifa nodded softly, as she lowered her head to the ground. "When you were telling me, about what you thought about my friends. How they were stupid and all... I told you we were just kids back then. But... You were right."

"Tifa... I just..."

"They were. Mean, and non-caring at the same time. They never wanted me to talk to you.", Tifa glanced at Cloud for a moment. "I remember that now. We were always too busy, and I always got dragged along when you were walking our way. I never noticed. I just..."

Again. Again she felt that comforting hand on her shoulder.

And I am what you're feeling when you're nervous.
I am what you're hearing when you walk away.
And we want this so bad!​

"A...At least, they didn't stop me that night...", Cloud said, blushing lightly. "I mean... I got to be with you that night... I couldn't sleep that night.", he admitted, with a small smile on his face. "I was... I was so happy I got that moment with you, that... That you wanted me to be your hero... Heh...", Cloud turned his face away, as his hand slipped back to his side, he stared away, almost shy, after all, she was his childhood crush, but now...

Tifa turned to look at him, as his expression had changed from comforting, to him feeling... Awkward? She smiled slightly. Her first meant smile today.
"Cloud?", she asked.

You're the only thing that just might save me,
Oh the thought of it just makes me crazy.​

"Remember the night before yesterday? When I told you... I guessed nothing's changed?", he said, gaining his confidence again, as he looked at Tifa, noticing her smile. She nodded.

"Yeah."

"I know now."

He noticed how she stared at him with a puzzled look. He smiled.
"Nothing's changed.", Cloud started walking back to the entrance of Nibelheim, as Tifa stayed behind for a moment, wondering what he could have meant. The blond headed man turned around, motioning for Tifa to come along. Tifa gave the town she was born in one last glance, before she followed her childhood friend.

They were back in Kalm now, as Cid had now taken the airship back to Rocket Town, as they said their goodbyes. Tifa and Cloud were now officially alone. Her thoughts trailed back to what Cloud had told her a while ago. Nothing had changed... It bothered her for some reason, worried her... It could mean anything.

Cloud and Tifa were both invited to stay at the Town's Inn for as long as they needed to get started on their own "New Life". Cloud had noticed the troubled look on Tifa's face. Tifa sat on the bed close to the window, as she stared into town, that was embraced with a soft blue light that the moon was giving. She was lost in thought, thinking about everything that was said, everything she felt, and everything she had locked inside of her that she just couldn't say out loud... Even after all she had been through, the thought of losing this scared her more then the thought of losing her own life with their last battle earlier...

"It's not like you to be troubled by your thoughts.", Cloud said softly, sitting down on the same bed. His eyes focused on the same scenery she was watching.

"It's... Just the way I am.", Tifa said, softly, and in all honesty.

"No. You're much more cheerful and strong. If you've forgotten the way you were then, I'll be here to remind you."

A small chuckle as in a slight laugh was heard, a soft smile on her lips, yet she felt worried, as if he would leave at the same time. "You really will?"

"Hm.", Cloud said, blushing.

"Cloud?"

"Yeah?"

"...What you said earlier."

"?"

"'Nothing has changed.'"

Cloud smiled slightly, with a small nod. "Looking at back then, and now. My feelings...", he turned his face away, as he noticed she looked at him. He nodded. "My feelings."

"...Your feelings?", Tifa asked, not quite sure what he meant.

"Hm... They haven't changed for you."

Tifa's eyes widened just a little, as she could feel her heart racing in her chest. That meant that he... Didn't it...? Before she could say anything, Cloud continued the slight pause he made, with a small smile on his face, as Tifa was just overwhelmed with... Was it happiness?

"Everything we've been through together. Everyone we met along the way... I couldn't have made it this far without you..."

Tifa smiled softly. Cloud remembered their night under the HighWind, and what she had told him. He quoted her, as she looked at him. "I've kept it in mind, and it's what gave me the strength to go into the last battle with Sephiroth... Your words, were with me the whole time. 'As long as I'm with you, I won't give up even if I'm scared'."

Tifa nodded. Smiling, as they both blushed. "Exactly...", she said softly.

I... I am...
Better This Way...​

They were going to start living. 'They', him and her. Cloud Strife and Tifa Lockhart. She was what he needed to live, and be who he wanted to be, and it was the same for her. They needed each other, in every way. Always...

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

I loved this one shot!

I remember you posted some of this in the Cloud and Tifa Club a while ago and I never realised that you posted the whole story here.

It was very touching and actually made me want to read another chapter if there were one. XD

I love how you added the lyrics in here and there too! It was very well set out and I like that you didn't do what most people do, where they simply make a Lemon or have them kiss at the end or whatever.

This ended nicely and you at least know how they feel about each other, without rushing into the making out scene etc.

Keep up the awesome work!

 

[Six]

Thank you so much, Kandy! I've posted the chapters up on Fanfiction.net xD I'd appreciate a review there? It's so much easier to post things there, rather then set it all up here, xD and add in the spaces it doesnt seem to automatically copy onto here.

Linky.

Hope I can add you there soon too.