Indepth on my outlook of Cloud and Tifa's relationship, and why I am not partial to the idea of them together.
Oh, yes. The decade old controvery... Hm, where do I begin? My intention is not to bash Tifa, anymore than the fans of the Cloud/Tifa pairing as I have in the past. Mainly because for one thing, it's just tedious to bash and insult the whole thing because there's a better way of getting my point across. And as I've gotten older, I realize I truly don't care about pointless arguing and it just seemed that my past essays have gotten flames sent into my inbox, so I want to try and get my point across in a better, respectful manner.
I will admit, I am bias and at the same time, I'm not. I say that because I respect the opinions of the people who support Cloud/Tifa. I deeply empathize with Tifa and her feelings, I love and understand her character a lot more than you may realize. And I know that the way I love Cloud/Aerith, is the same way people love Cloud/Tifa. It's none of my business what other people believe or love, and it's no one else's but mine when it comes to my love and opinions. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind about anything. I am simply writing about how I see things. I don't necessarily consider them 'opinions' because there is proof to back most of everything up. Though, yes a lot of stuff is interpreted, but the main important facts are not. And I won't apologize for how I feel, and you can always leave my website if that isn't okay with you. This is my website, after all. So with that said, shall I continue onto the main point?
In the past, I wrote up how much of a misconception it is that Cloud and Tifa were childhood friends and blah blah blah. I have clearly explained that in his biography, and I think it should be evident to anyone that they were only neighbors and such. And for some odd reason you still seem to be diluted, then well... I can't help you with that, buddy. I just want to really delve deeper into their relationship and explain it as it was, as much as I can.
Tifa and Aerith were equally important in Cloud's life. Tifa was the important part of his childhood, as Aerith is the important aspect of his adulthood. Although—as stated above, Cloud and Tifa weren't really childhood friends, but that does not mean Tifa wasn't important in Cloud's younger years. Tifa was Cloud's salvation when he was a child. He was lost and alone, and the hope and dreams of impressing Tifa, gave him something to focus on and block out the neglect he was feeling. "I was devastated. I wanted to be noticed." To me, it almost seems that Cloud's 'crush' was just more of a desperation to be noticed. Since Tifa was a popular girl in town, maybe if Cloud impressed her, she would accept him and so would everyone else since they followed her. Though, with his failed attempt at saving her from falling off the bridge, this brought Cloud into even a deeper well of anguish. He blamed himself for not helping her and took it out on everyone else. When he finally left for Midgar, that hope of conciliating her blossomed again. The scene when Tifa meets Cloud at the well, was really their only time spent together as kids. Tifa asks Cloud to promise her that he will come and save her when she was in trouble. He did, when Sephiroth attacked her a few years later at Mt. Nibel.
I really do believe the reason why Cloud lost his feelings for Tifa, was because it brought him back to a painful time in his life, and he didn't want to be reminded of that. But more importantly, he realized that Tifa did not return his feelings back when they were younger, so he had to let go. Though, both Cloud and Tifa had lost everything—their homes, their family, and their innocence. It would only be obvious that this tragedy would bring them together. It did, and it didn't. In the wake of Sephiroth's plunge into madness and destruction, they were separated from eachother. Not to meet again until Cloud was altered by Hojo. He was a different person, but Tifa stood by him and helped him return to his real self. Though, yes, Cloud did return to his natural state, that did not mean he was going to automatically fall for Tifa all over again. He had lost his feelings for her long before he was ever injected with Jenova's cells.
The last night shared by Cloud and Tifa was under the Highwind. "Now that we're together like this, I don't know what I really wanted to say. I guess nothing's changed at all." Implying that Cloud's romantic view of Tifa has not changed—his feelings had not returned. This scene is very important. It shows how hard it is for Cloud to really open up to Tifa. As hard it is for him, it's harder for her because she believes it is the last time they will ever have. But her feelings are blatantly obvious. While his, on the other hand, makes it seem as if he's quite uncomfortable. The whole situation just seems awkward. Compared with the scenes that Cloud and Aerith shared alone, he seems to act more open and let loose. Thus, Aerith was able to bring out a much more caring person in Cloud.
I don't find their relationship all that 'special'—I'll put it. I think if they had really grown up together, it would be really cute. But since they didn't it just doesn't compare to the amazing story of Cloud and Aerith. When I think of the 'love' Cloud and Tifa might have had, it just seems boring to me. I'm not trying to be mean or anything, that's just how I see it. When I see the Nibelheim well and Highwind scenes, I get a sense of awkwardness between the two. Like they're not comfortable being around eachother and that a lot of stuff between them needs to be settled and openly talked about, but both are too afraid. Moreover, maybe Cloud is too afraid to admit to Tifa about his feelings for Aerith, because he senses that Tifa has feelings for him.
I see Tifa more like...a sister figure to Cloud. For some odd, deranged reason, people say Aerith was like a sister figure to Cloud? Um, I'm not really sure how that works but okay. I see her that way because she did come from Cloud's past. Although they were not close, they did grow up in the same town. And that was their main connection in their relationship. They were friends. There really wasn't much bonding between them through out the game. Of course, you would consider the Lifestream and Highwind scenes. But when you look at both of those key parts in the game, Tifa was the one who was really showing her affection towards Cloud. In the Lifestream sequence, it's all pertaining to his past. And the Highwind scene, well, I already mentioned that whole shindig above.
So. With all that said, I just want to make it clear again, that Tifa was a key role in Cloud's life. But mostly from his past, even though they weren't close. But she was important to him. And she still is, but not in a romantic way. Tifa was Cloud's past, but Aerith was his present. Future? Well, Aerith is dead, and Cloud and Tifa still never got together. So who knows?