The Pieces That Remain

Disclaimer: We all know by now. I don't own any of these people. If I worked for Squaresoft, you can be sure Cloud and Tifa would've been together at the end of FFVII.

A/N: First of all, this story isn't tied to my other series at all. It's just an idea that hit me in the middle of Spanish class one day two years ago, and it's taken me until then to think to post it. (That class is so boring...) So, read and enjoy. And if you haven't read my other fics...go read them! Bahamut commands it!

Chapter One

Shattered Love

It had only been a few months since the defeat of Sephiroth and Meteor's near impact. Cid, Red, and Barret had returned to their hometowns. Reeve, Yuffie, Cloud, Tifa, and surprisingly enough, Vincent, stayed together in Kalm. Tifa was standing in the twilight watching Cloud practice like he did everyday. Shifting nervously, she tried to gather her courage. She had decided that no matter what she was going to tell him how she felt today. Now that it had come down to it, she couldn't bring herself to say anything. Finding herself turning to walk away, she steeled her resolve. No! I have to tell him. I can't keep going on like this without knowing how he feels.

"Cloud?" his name seemed to slip out of its own free will.

He turned to her, resting Ultima Weapon against a large boulder. "Yeah, Tif?"

She noticed something in his eyes then, a pain that he was unsuccessfully trying to cover up, "What's wrong?"

He shook his head, "Nothing."

She stared into his eyes, searching for the source of his pain, "Cloud..."

He heaved a sigh, "I don't know, Tif." He turned from her, walking a few feet away and sitting in the grass. "I guess it's her. I still miss her. I guess I thought I could do something... something to bring her back to me. I...I think I love her."

Hearing those words, Tifa's heart shattered. Tear welled up in her eyes and threatened to cascade down her face. He loves Aeris, not me...How could I be so stupid?

Cloud turned toward her, and seeing the tears in her eyes, he sprang to his feet and went to her side, "Tifa?" He gently lay a hand on her shoulder, "What is it?"

She angrily pushed him away, "Just leave me alone."

He blinked in confusion, "What?"

"Get away from me!" she screamed, trying to crush the pain that was overwhelming her heart.

He stepped back, surprised by her outburst. What did I say? "I don't understand."

She laughed bitterly, "Of course you don't! You never understood my feelings! I love you, Cloud. I always have. I stayed by your side no matter what and you don't even care! So you can keep on clinging to the past, I don't care! But don't expect to ever see me again!" She turned and ran off, leaving Cloud staring after her in shock. After a moment thought caught up to him and he ran after her.

"Tifa, wait!" he called.

"Leave me alone, Cloud!" She started running faster, hoping that Cloud would just give up and turn back.

He finally slowed to a stop, realizing that he was only making it worse. He watched her for a moment as she ran into the forest near the town, a deep pain stinging his heart. I had no idea, Tif...I'm sorry...

"Hey, Cloud, what was all that yelling about?" a voice asked.

Cloud turned, Cid was standing behind him. Cid had stopped by the group's home on his way back to Rocket Town after doing a test run on the new engines he'd installed in the Highwind. "I...don't know...She just kinda freaked out."

Cid studied his face for a moment, "Huh." he grunted, making it obvious that he believed there was far more to the story, "You'd better just let her cool off for a while. Supper's ready anyway." He turned back to the house and disappeared inside.

Glancing once more into the forest that Tifa had run into, he followed Cid. Yuffie came running down the stairs as Cloud walked in, nearly plowing him over.

"Oh, sorry, Spike." she said quickly.

"Hey, where's Tifa? She went out to look for you, Cloud." Yuffie asked as the group took their seats around the table. All eyes turned toward him expectantly.

"She..." Cloud stared down at his hands, "We had a fight. She ran off into the forest. She'll probably be back soon."

"A fight?" Vincent asked, his voice cold as usual.

"Yeah..."

Yuffie glared at Cloud, "Why didn't you go after her?"

"Because it'd just make it worse! She..." Cloud's voice trailed off.

Cid's eyes narrowed, "She what?"

Cloud stood up, slowly walking over to the window. He stared out at the setting sun, still trying to make sense of what had happened, "She said she loves me. And I...didn't know."

"You didn't know?" Cid yelled, "Damn, Cloud, how stupid can you be?"

Yuffie glared at Cloud, "You broke her heart didn't you? I can't believe you."

Cloud's hands clenched, "I didn't mean to."

"What did you say to her?" Vincent asked.

"She came up to me when I was practicing and asked if I was okay. I told her that I missed Aeris...that I...love Aeris...And she just freaked out and started screaming at me. She said that I never understood her feelings, that she's always loved me. Then she just ran off. I tried to follow her, but...I thought she'd get over it and come back in a few minutes."

"You are dense! And Tifa's right, you obviously never did understand her feelings. You broke her heart, you bastard." Yuffie said.

Cloud turned on her, his eyes intense, "How was I supposed to know?" He stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him. Stalking over to a boulder, he retrieved Ultima Weapon and slashed at a large dead tree. I hurt her...I never wanted to hurt her. I can't believe that I never knew. I should've seen it...

"Cloud." Vincent's voice said from behind him, pulling Cloud from his thoughts.

"What?" Cloud growled, still hacking at the tree.

"Do you love Tifa?"

Cloud halted his mad assault, slowly lowering Ultima Weapon to the ground. "I...don't know. I care for her...a lot. She means more to me than anything. Without her...I don't know what would've happened to me."

"It sounds like you do love her. Take time to think about it carefully. You need to."

Cloud nodded, "I will. But I've gotta find her first and apologize." He looked up at the darkening sky, "I'm worried about her. She should've come back."

"Go look for her, Cloud."

Strapping his sword to his back, Cloud slowly trekked toward the forest. Stepping under the shadows of the trees, his sapphire eyes scanned the landscape for any signs of Tifa. "Tif!" he called into the enveloping darkness of the forest. "Tifa, where are you?"

There was no answer. He trudged on, keeping up his search, all senses tuned to the faintest sign that could lead to his best friend. Best friend? Is that all she is, really? She means so much to me; I don't even wanna think about a life without her...No matter what, it's always been her who stayed by my side. She never faltered, not even when faced with her own death in the Lifestream. No, Vincent's right, she is more than a friend, far more than that. She always has been, I've just denied it too many times. The missing part of me...what I've been searching for ever since I lost Aeris...It's Tifa. His steps faltered as the realization hit him. "What have I done...?" he whispered to the uncaring trees, "Tifa! Come back, please!" There was still no answer, and he suddenly knew she was gone. He'd waited too long, and now she wasn't coming back. Finding her would be near impossible, he knew. He clenched his hand tightly, then whirled, swinging Ultima Weapon in a wide arc and burying the blade in the rotted trunk of a tree. "Dammit!"

"Cloud!" a group of voices called.

Yanking his sword from the tree, he turned toward the sound and waited expectantly for the others to find him. Moments later they appeared from the underbrush. Yuffie slumped to the ground, panting heavily.

"Cloud...we...found you..." she gasped.

Cid rolled his eyes in exasperation, "Kid, what's takin' so long? Haven't you found Tifa yet?"

"No. She...she's not here anymore, she's gone, but I don't know where." he replied, returning Ultima Weapon to his back. "I...I have to find her, I have to tell her..." Cloud stopped, shifting his weight uneasily.

Cid put a hand on Cloud's shoulder, "We know. And we'll help you find her."

"There's no way she'll forgive me this time."

"We must find her first. It hasn't been long, so she may still be nearby." Vincent added.

Cid nodded, "Right, so we take the Highwind and start searching."