Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Guns and Roses ❯ Cleansing Tears ( Chapter 12 )

Disclaimer: FF VII and all the characters herein belong to Square Enix, except Liana (I made her ^_^). The song is Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson.

 

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Tifa plugged in her black electric Strat, turning the gain up. She looked around, making sure she had everyone's attention.

 

“Wow, Tifa,” Yuffie said, sitting at her keyboard. She smiled slyly, raising her eyebrows. “What's the special occasion? You brought a new guy, who, might I add, is totally smokin' hot, and your guitar.”

 

Tifa blushed slightly, looking her guitar. “I wrote some new music for our next gig,” she said, pulling the papers out of her messenger bag. She began to hand them their respective parts.

 

“Wow,” Aerith said, looking over the entire song while sitting on the couch. “You did the whole thing.” She glanced at Tifa, her green eyes surprised. “The guitar, bass, drums, everything.”

 

Tifa nodded, putting Cloud's music on his stand. “It just came to me a couple of nights ago,” she said, meeting his electric blue gaze briefly, before looking away. She felt his eyes on her back as she walked away.

 

She took her place at her mic, setting her own music before her. She glanced at Aerith. “Ready?” she asked.

 

Aerith nodded, smiling.

 

Tifa then looked over her shoulder at Cid. “Ready?” she asked him.

 

He nodded. “Count me off,” he said.

 

Tifa gave him a tempo, then listened as he pounded out half a measure of drums. She glanced at Cloud as they joined in with guitars, and she heard Barrett on the bass. After a measure of that, she stepped up to the mic.

 

Oo-ah-oh, oo-ah-oh, she sang for two measures, continuing to strum on her guitar.

 

She listened to the noise calm, as only the drums and bass accompanied Cloud as he began to pick notes on his guitar.

 

Seems like just yesterday

You were a part of me

I used to stand so tall

I used to be so strong

Your arms around me tight

Everything it felt so right

Unbreakable, like nothing could go wrong

 

She could feel their eyes on her as she sang, pouring the song from her very soul. She risked a glance at Cloud, noticing that he was biting his lip as he tried to concentrate.

 

Now I can't breathe, I can't sleep

I'm barely hangin' on

 

She listened to the drums build as she pounded the chorus on her guitar.

 

Here I am

Once again

I'm torn into pieces

 

She heard Cloud's guitar stutter, but she covered it with her own.

 

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the tears I cry

Behind these hazel eyes

 

She picked the first bit of the verse, having heard Cloud drop out at the end of the chorus. She glanced at him, seeing him staring at her. She looked away, focusing on the song. He understood.

 

I told you everything

Opened up and let you in

You made me feel alright

For once in my life

 

Tifa heard Cloud come back in, this time with a bit of force.

 

Now all that's left of me

Is what I pretend to be

Sown together but so broken up inside

 

She heard Cloud pick up the pre-chorus, building into the chorus.

 

No I can't breathe, no I can't sleep

I'm barely hangin' on

 

Here I am

Once again, I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the tears I cry

Behind these hazel eyes

 

She once more strummed on her guitar, playing and singing with force.

 

Swallow me then spit me out

For hating you I blame myself

Seeing you, it kills me now

But I don't cry on the outside anymore

 

She heard Cloud stutter again, and she looked at him, holding his gaze.

 

Anymore

 

She looked away, scraping her pick on the metal strings as she played into the chorus.

 

Here I am

Once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the tears I cry

Behind these hazel eyes

 

She shook her head, belting the last chorus.

 

Here I am

Once again

I'm torn into pieces

Can't deny it, can't pretend

Just thought you were the one

Broken up, deep inside

But you won't get to see the tears I cry

Behind these hazel eyes

 

Tifa let her guitar squeal as it faded out. She opened her eyes, realizing she'd closed them. She also realized how quiet it was. She looked at Aerith first, seeing her deep green eyes fixed on Cloud. She turned to look at the rest of the band. She wasn't surprised when she was greeted with blank stares.

 

“That was…intense,” Yuffie said, looking around uncertainly.

 

Barrett scoffed softly. “No shit,” he said, staring at his bass.

 

“That was fucked up,” Cid said, grinning. He looked at Tifa. “Why don't you write like that more often?”

 

Tifa gave a little smile and looked at the ground.

 

“Yeah, Tifa,” Yuffie said, glad Cid had lightened the mood. “Talk about hot shit on a plate!”

 

Tifa continued to stare at the ground. “Yeah…well…” she said softly. She looked up, that little smile on her face. “So, you guys want to do it for our gig this weekend?”

 

Cid, Barrett, and Yuffie chimed their agreement.

 

Tifa turned. “Aerith?” she said, looking at their manager before turning to Cloud. Her voice quieted at the look on his face. “Cloud?”

 

Aerith nodded thoughtfully, watching Cloud and Tifa. “If we have full band support, I'm up for it,” she said, noticing the others were watching them as well.

 

Tifa watched Cloud as he took his guitar from his shoulders. His eyes were downcast. “It needs some work,” he said. Electric blue met hazel. “But I think we could pull it off.”

 

Tifa's eyes widened in shock. She would have thought for certain he hated it.

 

“Well, then,” Aerith said, looking around. “Why don't we call it a day, and you guys can take this home and practice?”

 

A hum of agreement went up around the room.

 

“Be back here tomorrow at our regular time,” she told everyone, watching as they packed up and slowly left. She excused herself from the room when she realized Cloud and Tifa were the only ones left.

 

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Cloud watched Aerith leave, knowing she wanted him and Tifa to talk. He glanced at Tifa, watching as she put her guitar and music away. He gathered his courage, then stepped toward her. “Tifa?”

 

Her hazel eyes shifted to him. “Yeah?” she said quietly.

 

“Um, do you have some time to talk?” he asked, putting his guitar down and sitting on the couch.

 

She stood slowly, watching him. “I guess,” she said.

 

“That song,” he said slowly. “It was aimed at me, wasn't it?”

 

She looked away, sighing. “No,” she said softly. “I wrote it thinking about you, but I didn't mean for it to be a slam or whatever.”

 

Cloud caught her eyes. There was a pained expression on his face. “Is that how you really feel?” he asked.

 

She looked him squarely in the eye. “Well, yeah,” she said quietly. “I mean, I'm not stupid Cloud.” Her voice became bitter. “I've seen the way you look at Aerith, and I know that's why you broke up with me.”

 

Cloud looked away guiltily.

 

Tifa felt a familiar anger surface as she gazed at him. “So, yes,” she said. “Maybe that song was aimed at you. But you can't blame me.”

 

Cloud looked up, feeling the need to fight back. “But I could blame you for the same thing,” he said, crossing his arms. “What the hell were you doing at our diner, and with HIM, no less? Huh? Answer me that.”

 

Tifa looked away. She knew he would use that. “I don't have to explain anything to you, Cloud,” she said, pulling her bag over her shoulder and picking up her guitar. She started toward the door.

 

Cloud jumped up, regretting his outburst. “Tifa, wait,” he said quickly. He watched her pause.

 

“Shut up, Cloud,” she said fiercely, opening the door. She glanced back at him before she stepped out. “Just leave me alone.”

 

*************************

Vincent sat in his car outside the studio, waiting for Tifa. He turned up the Pantera CD he was listening to, mouthing the words to `Walk'. He felt his thoughts shift to Hojo as he sang the words to himself.

 

Perhaps I should give the bastard a call, he thought, sighing. Maybe there's a way I can help with out being his new science experiment. His thoughts turned to Tifa.

 

It was weird. As many nights as he had prayed to the gods above to take him, he suddenly found himself not ready to die right away. And it had nothing to do with the fact that he was rich or famous. It was Tifa. He wanted to stay with her; learn everything about her he could.

 

He released a forlorn sigh. His life was just one big, weird roller coaster ride. He glanced at the building, surprised to see Tifa walking quickly toward him. He saw her break into a jog, just as Cloud came out of the studio.

 

She opened the door and slid in quickly, guitar and all. Tears blurred her vision as she closed the door.

 

“Tifa?” Vincent asked, concerned. He watched her watch Cloud in the rearview mirror.

 

“Drive,” she said suddenly, her voice choked.

 

Vincent did as she said, watching the tears roll down her cheeks.

 

When they were about four or five blocks away, Vincent pulled over, parking. He got out, walking around to Tifa's side, opening the door.

 

He was greeted with teary, startled and confused hazel eyes. “Tifa, tell me what's going on,” he said softly, kneeling on the side walk to be on her level.

 

She looked straight ahead again, more tears rolling down her cheeks. She surprised Vincent when she suddenly threw herself into his arms, sobbing quietly into his chest.

 

“It's okay, Tifa,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her tightly. He rested his chin lightly on the top of her head. “Everything will be okay.”