That was the first "dark" fanfic I've ever read and I am totaly impressed. I'm german but I understood it very well, your skills of writing (or how do you say that in english?^^') are brilliant. I couldn't stop reading. the parts which were confusing sometimes were very interesting to me and I loved how you described Cloud's emotions, dreams and thoughts. And you used some facts of the game which made it easy to imagine a connection to the story of FF7.
The only thing I could critisize is that you started the story with the first three sentences beginning "He...", but somehow it fits to the content and maybe you intendet it ?
To your question who almost killed Cloud... I think it was Tifa, because she was the person who was responsable for the first "promise" that he couldn't fullfill?? I don't know maybe I'm wrong. I'd love to know your interpretation *__*

THIS STORY IS SO GOOD...good job! :-D

A very dark and satisfying story. Sadly, romance, especially in Final Fantasy VII, isn't roses and happy endings, for Cloud love has been pain, torment and despair, and you conveyed that well, especially in his abuse of Tifa, which I didn't really approve of but found a unique twist, because while I don't believe Cloud was really do that to her I do believe, if he did, Tifa would love him enought to let him if she believed it could help him.

Anyway, like I said, dark but satisfying.

Holy moly... very nice. I have a rosy perception of Cloud and Aeris' relationship, but hey, this was a great philosophical twist... I applaud your effort. :)

Agh, this is the most awesome thing in the world.

It speaks truth about them and makes you feel the effects it can have on this triangle. I also love that you made Cloud somewhat hate Aeris. You can never find something like that lately and all the fics that have Cloud pine after her with love and they get back together is really starting to wear down some readers I bet.
There are some Cleris fans who don't want her to come back, but still love the paring and don't want Cloud with Tifa. Really harsh on Cloud, but I suppose its what Tetsuya Nemura wanted. Also the bitter-sweetness of this triangle is just a good combination especially if nothing happens. I suppose I just like their triangle, but the messed up part. When I think of this triangle, I see the angst and pretty much of what you wrote.
And for the killer? It could possibly be an angry Barret or Rufus, or maybe even Reno. It couldn't possible be Yazoo, he's dead. Or its Vincet...I go with Vincent.

Once again, this is awesome and I am definately faving.

n_n

P.s, sorry, this was really long.lol

Hmm, i really like this. It's quite an intriguing take on Cloud really, and i like how you've portrayed a darker side of his previous muddled thoughts that continued to plague him. But i kinda doubt that Tifa would ever be this defeated. She's much stronger, emotionally and mentally. But good job all the same, please write more FF7 fiction!

Even though I'm here not for cookies (I can't guess who was that man/woman/creature) I'd like to tell that this is one of the best !dark! takes on Cloris. There were three most true lines about that:
"She loved him so much that he treated her like dirt and it was alright." - about Tifa
"What Tifa failed to understand was that it took so much more than just to love him to have him." - about Tifa again
"He was Tifa and Aeris was him. And he realized, he deserved to be." - poor Cloud really doesn't know if Aeris loves him!
I applaud this story. I like sappy fics very much too, but sometimes really want to read something dark.

this is great... i love the angst **... my guess is that it's cloud. he tried to commit suicide and failed miserably.

lol... i'm adding this to my favs...

You know what would make a good story? if that person was Vincent, who was actually torn between Lucrecia and Tifa kind of like Cloud is torn between Aeris and Tifa. Possibly the most twisted love triangle in the history of the world. Damn. You should totally make a story about something like that =) Maybe an addition to this. about Vincent. and his love issues with Tifa and Aeris. Gawd. that's twisted.