Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ A Tale Of Tifa ❯ The Stranger ( Chapter 4 )

* As I have promised…here is the next chapter! I'm beginning to think I'll never finish my other fics…^-^ Oh well… Enjoy! *

Chapter 4

The Stranger

Tifa awoke to the sounds of a crackling fire. It was such a sweet sound and when she opened her eyes she saw shadows dance across the rocky walls. She heard another sound…humming. She tried to sit up but the scene around her became a blur and her mind went for a spin. A cold breeze swept in and she shuttered. Tifa quickly grabbed at the material that had kept her warm. It was old leather and it smelled odd. Tifa also become aware of the bandages that were wrapped around her wounds. I wonder who came to my rescue…

Tifa gazed at the heartwarming sight of fire. On the other side of the flames sat a man humming an old tune. He looked familiar but her poor vision would not relent.

"Where am I?" she asked. The man looked up and she saw his intensifying green eyes.

"At the Northern Crater. Are you feeling any better?" he asked.

"A little…what's your name?" Tifa asked.

"You don't remember me? I didn't think I was gone that long. Besides, you fought to defeat me with your comrades, Tifa." He said with a weak chuckle. Tifa peered closer to the man and her eyes widen in horror.

"How…Sephiroth! This can't be possible! You are supposed to be dead!" Tifa exclaimed. She scootched away toward the back of the cave. Tifa felt the wet and slick stone penetrate her tattered clothing and mingle with her skin. It was cold and it woke her up a bit more.

"Please Tifa, don't do that. It's not everyday I wake up from the dead." said Sephiroth.

"Let me get this straight. You came back alive and you saved me from a cold death?" Tifa asked quietly.

"Yeah."

Tifa went over her thoughts, while watching Sephiroth poke a dead stick into the glowing embers. He was evil…but why did he save my life? Maybe he came back to do something? Tifa hated Sephiroth and now here was her ultimate foe sitting across the bonfire. He looked harmless…so innocent.

"That's because I'm free of Jenova." Sephiroth said suddenly.

"What?" Tifa asked, "How did you know…" but she was cut off.

"I can read minds, telepathy sort of." Sephiroth explained. The cold wall was chilling Tifa to the bone and she slowly eased herself toward the flames.

"How can I trust you?" she whispered.

"Look, I know I have been an asshole since the burning of Nibelhiem, but that wasn't me. It was Jenova and I was a puppet. Now all I want to do is live out my life and experience it my way." He answered.

"Why did you help me?"

"Because you were hurt and I just couldn't leave you there. Besides you had my weapon, Masamune."

"That piece of rusted metal was Masamune?!" Tifa exclaimed.

"Yup and I'm surprised that you could handle it. Maybe it was because it became useless after I died." Sephiroth said. He held up the Masamune that was once a rusty old weapon and now a spitting image of a new one. "I've been working on it while you were asleep."

Tifa reviewed everything that had happened since yesterday night. Cloud had hurt her and she cried more tears then she could ever account for, Bright Rose ran off to Gods know where. And now she sat by the fires alive because of Sephiroth.

"Thank you…so what are you going to do now that you `re back?" she asked quietly. She rubbed her hands while the heat from the flames soaked into her skin.

"Don't know. I'll probably stay here for about a decade and then move out. Better for people to forget me." He said humorously.

"That wasn't funny you know. You can't waste ten years living in a hell hole like this." Tifa protested.

"Maybe you're right, but I'm afraid to go out there. The people will hate me for what I have done."

"No they won't and I'll prove that to you. Tomorrow, you and I are going to Costa del Sol." Tifa said stubbornly. No man no matter how bad he is can live here! This place is terrible and cold…

"What are you talking about?" Sephiroth asked.

"Didn't you read my mind?"

"No, because you told me not to." He retorted.

"Oh. Well, I'm taking you out of here. That's the least I can do in return. You saved my life and I am in your debt." Said Tifa, "I'm not a cold hearted person like others, Sephiroth. I want you to come with me to Costa del Sol so you can get back on with life. You deserve that much at least."

"But mother told me to do something for her. I have to find a man named Vincent, my father." Sephiroth said quietly.

"Your father? I thought Hojo was your father?" Tifa said in question.

"Nope, he just assumed he was." Sephiroth answered.

"Well that will have to wait for now. First things first, you need to look like a normal clothedperson." Tifa said as she eyed his torn black pants.

"I believe you are right." Laughed Sephiroth.

* Yes! It's Sephiroth, but not the evil Sephiroth, the new and improved innocent man. You people are probably like, uh, not another one of those people who write about the villain! ^-^ R/R*