Cloud couldn’t stop her. She wanted to go… On her own. She’ll do it herself, she said. She has to. To prove to him that facing your fears is how you move forward. It’s how you move on, towards the future. And not stay behind, lurking in the past. Cloud over looked her, shrugging it off. It wasn’t his problem. What she did was her own business. That is, until he got a call. Barret’s voice had been frantic on the other end. Tifa was in danger. A group of ShinRa’s finest hired elite assassins. They wanted Cloud, the SOLDIER who defeated them in the past, captured; dead. And they would do so by any means necessary.

There were far too many. Tifa took out as many as she could; but… Cloud stood across the distance, racing towards her, watching it all unfold. Crashing through the factory window, he spotted her form--falling. Bloody and torn, body bleeding life. “Hn… You came…”

“Tifa… don’t talk. Save your strength! I’ll get you to a hospital, you’ll be--”

“Cloud… Do you remember… our promise?” Her brown eyes are turning grey, devoid of color; yet conveying so much emotion he had never bothered to see before. Why… Why had he waited so long? Why did he choose now, when she was… Why did he choose now to see it?

“Do I… Of course. Now stop talking.” He mumbled, hooking his arm beneath her bloody form and hoisting her up in his arms, bridal style. Her head slumped against his shoulder.

“Lets…make a new one…okay?”

“Tifa…” Cloud nearly breaks, “lease…”

“romise me… You’ll move forward…” She murmurs, her voice hoarse and weak. “romise me that… you’ll never… forget me…” Her weight becomes heavier, head falling back as tears pour from the corners of her eyes. Cloud pauses, his heart stopping as he gazes down at her. Gently, he shakes her.

“Tifa!” She doesn’t answer. Doesn’t even move… Her body is growing so cold. “Tifa!” He shouts again with more emotion, setting her down as he searches for a pulse.

He finds none.