The Painted Lady
Lady of Wutai
It was crowded, as he had expected; bodies crammed in to fill every last space. Sweaty, filthy, excited people were everywhere, pressed into lines or flowing along the walkways. The man bumped into another person, harshly connecting shoulders before trudging on. He caught three street urchins trying to filch gil out of his pocket.
He gave them all 10 gil, and sent them on their way.
Pushing ahead, dodging each wave of bodies, the man tightened the cloak around his shoulders, and jerked his hood lower.
Smells of fresh cooked food filled the air, exotic and local alike; people pressing against booths and stalls, playing games and buying stuffed animals. He was dodging a clown with a fistful of balloons when the first bang when off, startling the people for a moment. Eyes tipped skyward, and the crowd collectively said 'ooh and ahh' after another loud bang.
Colored lights burst forth and lit up the night, casting green, orange, and red hues across the smiling faces as a gondola swung across the dim moon. Screams of delight entered the picture as a cart on the roller coaster sailed by overhead. A trumpet sounded in the distance, and a man began to advertise for an upcoming show.
However, while every other person was smiling, laughing, and enjoying one of these things, the man known as Cloud Strife ignored them all to his best ability. He carved a path through the crowd, most still looking upwards at the fireworks, and kept his head low beneath the hood of his cloak.
He wasn't here to enjoy any of the entertainment the Gold Saucer offered, not tonight at least. He was traveling, looking for information, something that had become a habit in the past three years. Most of his efforts had turned up fruitless, and he found himself following a loose trail with barely any clues, and his gil dwindling. He would have to return to the bar soon to pick up supplies again, to refill his pockets, and rest. However, he found it hard to rest, especially when he had actually gotten his first big lead in three years. In reality, it wasn't much of a lead, but it was the only thing he had ever gotten. He was reluctant to deviate from the trail just to replenish his supplies; however, he knew it would come to that soon, but he had to stop here before returning home.
If he could even call it that anymore.
Tilting his head to the left, he glanced over at a sign, not really expecting to have his attention caught. He was on a mission, and that was to talk to one person only, and he had never been sidetracked before.
However, this time...
Pressing against the flow of the crowd, Cloud pressed to the left towards a sign. There was a midget on an overturned bucket shouting into a bullhorn about the new show. Cloud lifted his eyes to the poster. It read:
'Come see the one and only,
Lady of Wutai!
Shows: 3:00, 5:00, 7:30, and 9:30.
Don't miss this beautiful, but deadly woman in red.'
The poster portrayed a young woman in a red kimono, a fan before her face, peering over it with narrowed eyes. It was faded, details hard to make out, but beneath it, he saw the peeling corner of another poster, only a few words exposed.
'The Pla-
Alfred
Legend-
Cloud's eyes widened slightly at the memory, but went to press on, to move on from this distraction. He mentally scolded himself for getting sidetracked.
However, as he went to turn, the midget rung a gong, proclaiming to the crowd that the show would begin in five minutes, and it would be your last chance for the night.
Cloud paused, turning slightly as the crowd pressed towards the entrance of the stage.
Would it hurt, really? Would it really hurt to take a break and see a show? One that she would undoubtedly want to stop in and see...if she were here.
Cloud hesitated for a moment as the crowd thinned, forfeiting money over to the small man, till he was the only one left standing there. The man turned on his bucket to look at Cloud, and frowned.
"Don't kid yourself, you know you want to see her."
Cloud narrowed his eyes, but forfeited the gil to the small man before passing through the curtains of the entrance.
It was different from last time. There were many more people, the benches filled, and many people pressed against the walls, and he realized this must be a popular show. Smoke hung heavy in the air, the spotlights cutting beams through it towards the stage. Large electric-powered candelabra decorated the walls, and dimmed as Cloud found a place on the back wall.
The spot lights moved to form a single circle of light on center stage, the red velvety curtains still tightly closed.
Cloud lifted his head in interest as a steady drum beat began to play from somewhere unseen, followed by a gong. The curtains parted slightly, and a short, bald man emerged, microphone in hand. The crowd quieted slightly, but still not enough.
The man waved his hands down, "Shh. Please, please, lower your voices."
The crowd's murmuring ceased, and turned their attention the man.
"We don't want to scare the lovely lady, do we," he laughed, "She's very skittish, shy."
"I thought she was suppose to be deadly," a man shouted from the crowd.
The host laughed again, "Ah, someone who knows to get straight to the point! Right, right. Well, we can't start if you don't know the story of the Lady, now can we? Now, it's quite obvious that the Lady is royalty. Trust me, I know. You know it the moment you see her. Some speculate she is the long lost Lady Kisaragi of Wutai...some say she's not. Some say...well, some say..." a red lily appeared in the palm of his hand, "Some say she is the ghost of the woman. Not even real, merely a sad memory left to the world. Truly, a tragic story, and some say believable. What other woman could be there and then be gone, like that," the lily was gone from his hand again with the quick flick of his wrist.
Cloud had seen the trick, and watched at how easily the crowd was amused by cheap tricks.
"And what could the explanation be, for such a timid soul as the Lady to be able to kill mercilessly, and defend herself ruthlessly."
There was a couple of chuckles from the crowd, and the man looked offended.
"You don't believe me? Fine, I guess we'll have to show you. See it to believe, my friends," the host walked the length of the stage quickly, "We have our strong man coming out. Many of you have seen him, yes? Good good, well, he's here to show you just how deadly the Lady can be. Come on out, Frank."
Another assortment of chuckles as the large, burly man moved out flexing his muscles. He winked and grinned and laughed, and the crowd laughed with him. The host was truly dwarfed by the large man, standing well over six feet; a definition of the stereotypical carnival strong man.
"Now, quiet...The Lady approaches."
Cloud found it amazing how quickly the sound died in the room, and was soon picked up by a lone flute to create the mood.
The woman moved forward, in her trademark red kimono. Cloud studied her. She held a delicate fan before her face, painted with dolphins, and her hair was a startling red as well, tied up into a lose bun. Her face was a pale white, as were her hands, and there was thick kohl and red paint on her eyelids. She moved gracefully, timidly across the stage, captivating the crowd with her mysteriousness.
Cloud was not impressed, however. Yes, the woman did prove to be beautiful, however, even from here Cloud could tell the woman wasn't of Wutai. Maybe she had some Wutai heritage deep in her blood, but nothing recent. The woman's eyes were too big, round, not the eyes he associated with a true Kisaragi.
The woman's eyes slid open smoothly, dark irises.
The strong man didn't even wait. He advanced on the tiny woman, and before he knew it was flat on his back. The woman sighed, flicking her wrist to open the fan again, and the crowd stood in awed silence.
Cloud narrowed his eyes.
"How are we suppose to believe that?!" the first brave spectator shouted.
"Can I have a challenger, please. Anyone of you, would like to come up? However, you'll have to sign this release form...in case...well, accidents happen."
This silenced the crowd quickly.
A scam; Cloud had payed money for a scam. Although the strong man was doing an impressive job by lying still. Cloud sighed, pressing up off the wall, ready to leave, but then hesitated.
"I will," his voice rang out smooth over the silent crowd.
The host looked surprised, "We have a challenger!"
The red headed man stepped forward, aquamarine eyes glinting maliciously.
Cloud faded back against the wall. Reno, what is he doing here?
The Turk hopped up onto the stage, jerking the release form from the man's hand and signing it in a fluid movement.
"Say, can I use this?"
Cloud recognized the weapon.
"Sure," the host stated.
And then Reno was jumping through the air, slinging his rod around, electricity pulsing around the weapon, as he sailed the object towards the Lady's head.
And she wasn't there.
And Cloud recognized the look of amusement in her eyes.
He swallowed. Her eyes.
Reno choked for a moment, then smirked as he turned.
"She's fast, so what?"
And then he was after again, swinging a little bit more controlled in case he should have to take the defensive. How the Lady moved in that kimono, Reno did not understand.
I know her.
And she was gone, and he felt a light tap on his head as the Lady whacked him with her fan. The crowd burst into laughter, ignoring the silent, cloaked man that inched his way towards the stage.
The amusement played across the Lady's eyes again, and Reno gave a smile, but there was an anger behind it, for being embarrassed.
I know her.
He swung again, and this time the Lady did not dodge. The crowd gasped Reno's rod came swinging around at her head.
Cloud's eyes widened slightly.
Reno gave a startled cry as her fingernails dug into his wrist, holding back his hand. He growled, preparing to jerk away, but the Lady didn't give him a chance as she kicked his knees out from beneath him. Reno gave out a cry as he fell backwards, only to be elbowed in the stomach as he fell, his rod flinging to the stage floor, clattering silent.
The crowd froze as Reno clutched his stomach, realizing this was no fake.
I know her. I know her.
Reno struggled to his feet, before giving a clumsy bow and a wide grin.
"The round's to you, milady."
He received many cheers and laughter from the audience, and held his arms out before diving backwards into the waiting crowd's arms.
Cloud watched with fascination as Reno was deposited on to the floor, and the Lady flicked her fan across her face again. The crowd cheered as the host gestured to the lady, and an eery music began to sound from somewhere off stage. The Lady took this as her cue, and began to dance, the fan fluttering here and there, twisting her feet, bending her arms.
He was captivated, moving closer, and closer to the stage, the audience in an awe along with him. She danced beautifully, a mix of grace and deadliness, beauty with danger. The fan ended before her face, eyes peering over, narrowed, and beautiful.
Her eyes.
Cloud finally understood why the show was so popular, and had gotten a good look at her face. It was painted white, but her lips stood out in a blood red. Familiar, yet distant; foreign yet close. The Lady quickly exited the stage, escaping from the loud cheers, unaware of the cloaked man on her heels.
xxx
She sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead, some of the makeup smearing as she did so. She headed straight for the large, red tent behind the moogle stand, only throwing one glance over her shoulder. She slipped into her tent quickly and quietly, heading straight for a large tub of water. Yanking the red wig off painfully, natural, darker locks fell from its hiding, framing her painted face. She tossed the wig to the ground, pins littering the area surrounding it. She yanked at the twists and ties of the silky kimono, freeing herself, and allowing herself a bit more breathing room.
And then her face was plunging into the ice cold water of the tub, white clouds swirling out, making the water dirty and unclear.
She shoved her hands into the tub as well, the paint up to her elbows beginning to wash off easily.
She flung her head back, her long locks slapping her back as she gasped for air. Water streamed off her face and her hair soaked her back, and she fought to hold it in, but couldn't. Seeing someone from her past, she couldn't take that; then she was sobbing, tears cutting tracks over her rough face. She buried her face in her hands and cried, and then pulled at the precious silk kimono, ripping its sleeves from the bodice, tearing the neckline, and ripping the hems off, hating what she had become.
That was when she heard the rustle behind her, and turned her head swiftly.
He was standing at the entrance to the large tent, eyeing the woman warily after seeing the discarded wig on the ground, and the way she shredded the kimono with her bare hands. His eyes met with hers, and he saw the paint that ran from her face, and hands. He saw the way she snatched up the delicate fan in a fluid movement to hide her face.
Even then, she knew she'd been a moment to late.
It wasn't just the combined affect of recognizing her, it was her face. It was the way the scars crisscrossed her cheeks, delved into her eyebrows, and cut across her eyes and her lips, speaking of a past unknown to the man. It was the way her nose seemed slightly crooked, the way her eyes held a proud defeat, and a broken soul. It was the way her cheeks were puckered with scars where dimples should be. It was the deep lines on her wrists up to her elbows, and the large scar that protruded from the ruined neckline of the red kimono.
A second flashed, frozen in time, the ring still on her finger, on the hand that clutched the fan furtively, almost desperate, to stay the ghost, to stay the woman that was mysterious, that was painted and in red, even when she despised being that.
But she couldn't, not anymore. Not now, when her secret was out.
"Tifa?"
She fled.
A/N: The bunnies made me do it. This story, it's complete ignoring AC...so, like, if you want emo agnsty bitch Cloud, you ain't gettin him. This is...different, it's very dark, and the gold saucer, or is it golden? I can't remember. anyways, I set it up more like a carnival, or a fair...just so it could work with the story. So, you'll have to wait to see what's up with Tifster. Later