Tifa Lockhart, the brunette childhood
friend of Cloud Strife, was travelling on
her bike through the deserted
moonlight washed streets of the town
almost at midnight.
It has been quite some time since
Sephiroth’s defeat, and now they were
at peace, although different challenges
kept coming.
Suddenly Tifa slowed down as she
noticed a girl waving at her from the
pavement on the side. Tifa stopped
her bike as she reached close to her,
then lifted the glass of her helmet.
“Hey, can you please tell me where
the nearest guest house is?” the girl
smiled at Tifa.
“Just a few kilometers down the
way.” Tifa replied.
“Ok. Thank you.” The girl replied.
“I can drop you if you want me to.”
Chirped Tifa.
“No, its allright. Thanks for the offer.”
The girl smiled.
By this time, Tifa has studied the girl.
She had mid length black hair, dusky
complexion and dark brown eyes. She
was carrying a big mauve back pack.
“Ok.” Tifa said before sliding down
her helmet glass and restarting the
bike.
………………………………………………………………
It has been ten minutes since, when
Tifa came out of a late night
restaurant with a food parcel packet
in her hand. Suddenly, a bike passed
by her in high speed as two boys on
the bike laughed mockingly. Tifa
gasped as she noticed the familiar
mauve bag of the girl she had just met
a few minutes back.
Sensing danger, she hopped onto her
bike and went back the way to where
she had met her.
As she was passing, her eyes widened
to see the body of the certain person
lying on the pavement. She stopped
the bike before getting off and running
to her. She gasped as she knelt down
beside the now unconscious body of
the girl. There was a fresh slit over her
collar bone as blood trickles down her
neck. Her shirt was partly torn apart,
which proved that she was assaulted.
“Now what do I do?” Tifa thought,
worry covering her face.
At that moment, another bike stopped
just near Tifa’s bike as she looked
back. The man on the bike took off
his helmet to reveal his long red hair
that was tied into a pony. He got off
from the bike and walked up to her.
“Reno! Thank goodness!” Tifa sighed
relief.
Reno smirked. “Looks like someone
needs help yo!”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The girl is lying on a bed in Tifa’s
room still unconscious. Tifa is sitting
beside her on the adjacent bed, while
Reno is looking at the girl standing at
the side. The wound at her collar one
was covered by a bandage and the
blanket was pulled over her.
The door of the room clicked open as
Tifa looked back to see Cloud enter.
“Cloud, you’re back.” She said.
“Yeah. Marlene told me that you’ve
brought someone home.” Replied
Cloud.
Reno smirked as Tifa shoved her head
towards the girl lying down. Cloud
walked upto her and looked at the
girl.
“Who is she?” Cloud asked a bit
surprised.
Reno chuckled. “She’s pretty, isn’t
she?”
The girl slowly opened her eyes and
stirred in the bed. Their eyes were
fixed on her. As soon as she realized
the situation around, she jumped up
on the bed and immediately winced in
pain pressing her hand over the
wound on her collar bone.
Tifa softly gasped. “Careful, you’re
hurt!”
The girl looked at her surprised.
“It’s you?” She smiled sighing relief.
Tifa smiled back at her. “Hey, I’m
Tifa Lockhart.
The girl also smiled and reached out
her hand as they shook hands.
“My name is Rune.” She replied.
“Nice to meet you.”
Tifa smiled and looked up at her
comrades. Rune also looked at them.
“They’re my friends. This is Cloud and
that’s Reno.” Tifa said.
Reno smirked at Rune. “Hello
sweetheart!”
Rune blushed at that and somehow
managed to smile.
“Hey, nice to meet you all… and…
thank you for your help.” Rune said
before looking at Tifa. “I think I
should get going now.”
Tifa looked at her surprised.
“What?... now?”
“It’s midnight babe, it isn’t safe to go
out now yo.” Said Reno.
“Where exactly do you have to go?”
asked Tifa. “I hope you don’t mind
me asking you.”
“Well, I’m looking for a guest house.”
Replied Rune.
“We can help you if you ask.” Said
Reno.
“I’m looking for a job.” Replied Rune.
“Didn’t you plan before coming
here?” asked Cloud.
Rune looked a little depressed. “No,
… not exactly… It happened all of a
sudden.”
Tifa understood. “It’s ok. You can
stay here for the night then.” She said.
“I…. I think I better get going…”
Rune said before removing the
blanket from over her and getting
down from the bed.
As soon as she tried to stand, she lost
her balance and fell with a shriek,
when Cloud caught her.
“I…I… am s…sorry…” she stuttered
as tears trailed down her cheeks.
“W…why can’t …I forget… my past?”
she stuttered in a low voice that
didn’t go unheard by the others.
Cloud was stunned for a moment as
Rune sobbed hiding her face in
Cloud’s chest, standing on support in
his arms, clutching his jacket tightly.
After sometime, Rune’s sobbing
stopped as her clutch loosened. Cloud
carefully put her on the bed and laid
her down.
“Seems like she found comfort in
Cloud’s arms.” Said Tifa looking at
her pityfully. “It seems like she has a
bad past.”
Cloud stared at Rune thoughtfully for
some time before gently pulling the
blanket over her.
“I think we can check her for some
time and let her stay with us. What
say Cloud?” Reno asked with unusual
seriousness.
“That would be good” said Tifa. “She
seems nice to me. She can also get a
job here.”
“We can decide on that by time.”
Cloud replied. “For now, she can’t go
anywhere, so we have to keep her
here.”
Then Cloud turned and walked out of
the room. Reno followed.
“G’night Tifa. Take good care of this
pretty lady.” Reno said smirking.
“Yeah. I will. Good night.” Tifa
smiled.
Reno left the room and closed the
door. Tifa turned off the light and lied
down on her bed that was adjacent to
Rune’s.
.......................................................................................................................................................................
Tifa is working in the kitchen while
Marlene is standing beside the
counter and talking to her.
“Is Rune still sleeping?” asked
Marlene.
“I think so dear.” Tifa replied.
“She’s really so nice. She knows so
many games!” chirped Marlene.
“I know Marlene.” Said Tifa. “You
sure do enjoy with her.”
“I’ve been having the best days of my
life since the last few days.” Smiled
Marlene.
Tifa smiled. “That’s right. It’s just
been a week that Rune’s here, and
she’s brought such happiness to
everyone around.”
Marlene nodded happily. Reno
entered the kitchen.
“Hey Tifa, where’s Rune?” asked
Reno.
“In her room.” Tifa replied. “Reno
don’t scare her again.”
“She’s a sweetheart!” Reno smirked
before exiting from the kitchen.
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Rune is standing at the window of her
room combing her loosely flowing
black hair while humming a song. She
suddenly shivers as an arm wraps
around her body from the back. She
immediately turns her head to see
Reno smirking at her. She sighs.
“Reno, you scared me!” She told him
before turning back to the window
again.
“I wonder how long it’ll take for you
to get used to me babe.” Reno
whispered into her ear as he wrapped
his other arm around her, completely
hugging her from the back.
Then he pulled her close to him as
possible, which made her loose sleeve
slide down her shoulder revealing the
scarred skin over her collar bone and
her slender shoulder bone. Reno
swiftly placed a soft kiss on the scar
making Rune shiver and fluster.
“W…What… are you doing?” she
asked blushing profusely.
“Just tryin to kiss your pain away.”
Whispered Reno.
“Stop flirting nya!” Rune said before
shoving off his arms from around her
and walking to the dressing table.
“Hey, you look so pretty with your hair
down yo.” Reno smirked.
“Thank you for the compliment.” Rune
said in a serious tone, yet blushing.
Then she brushed up her hair and tied
it into a pony. Reno walked up to her
from the back and caught her by her
shoulders before placing his face at
the crook of her neck, softly nibbling
at the tender skin.
Rune’s face heated up and she was
about to push him when he licked at
her ear lobe and pulled her hair down
again.
“Reno! Stop it already!” she said
blushing profusely.
Then she sighed and roughly tied up
her hair into a bun, grasped Reno’s
arm and walked out frowning pulling
him with her. Reno smirked as Rune
pulled him down to the drawing room
where Tifa was now sitting with
Marlene. Tifa looked at them and
smiled.
“Hey Rune, did Reno get on your
nerves already?” Tifa asked.
“How do you handle this guy?!”
exclaimed Rune as Reno
sweatdropped.
“Hey, that’s not fair! You’re single
right?..” asked Reno.
Rune turned to look at him with her
hands on her hips. “That DOESN’T
mean I’ll let you FLIRT with me!” she
said raising an eyebrow.
“She doesn’t seem to be interested in
men,… like me!” chuckled Tifa.
“What do you think of Cloud?” Reno
asked looking at Rune. “Don’t you
like him either?”
“I don’t even know him!” Rune said
frowning. “The last time I saw him
was the first day I came here…” she
blinked thoughtfully. “Speaking of
Cloud, when is he coming back? It’s
been a week that he’s left.”
“He’ll be back tomorrow morning.”
Replied Tifa.
“That’s good to hear.” Chirped Rune.
“But, we won’t be here tomorrow.”
Said Tifa. “I have to leave early for
some urgent deliveries tomorrow
morning and Yuffie is gonna take the
kids out. Hope it’ll be alright for you
to take care of everything by yourself.”
“Don’t worry! I’ll be here babe.”
Reno said smirking and winking at
Rune.
“Don’t even think about it Reno.”
Rune told him before turning to Tifa.
“Don’t worry Tifa. I’ll take care of
everything and make dinner for you
all.” She smiled.
“Thank you Rune.” Smiled Tifa.
“That’s so good. I love Rune’s
cooking!” Marlene said excited.
“Thank you Marlene.” Chirped Rune
before turning to Reno. “I’ll be going
to the market tomorrow morning, so
don’t try to sneak in coz it’s gonna be
useless.”
Reno slouched as he sank into the
sofa. “Yeah… whatever…”.