but tifa and cloud did see each other. wen sephi strikes tifa down the stairs at the reactor, it was cloud who moved her to the side, not zack. Tifa would've known that cloud was telling the story wrong, unless she really had forgotten over time. and maybe it was the lifestream that rekindled her memory.

oh and btw, does anyone think cloud looks so much cooler in a soldier uniform than he does in his normal purple jumpsuit!?