Power Is Ours And Ours Alone
Chapter One
The search for the boy had proved to be harder than he had anticipated, although he had ordered more people to begin looking, he did not expect success.
Rufus Shinra turned away from the window in his office. His eyes finding it hard to adjust to the sudden darkness, making him see green. He cursed under his breath and positioned himself at his desk.
Eager to learn of his recent attempt to catch the boy, he picked up his phone and dialled the number of the worker he'd put in charge of the mission. Slightly annoyed at the constant ringing sound penetrating his ears, he waited for the person to answer.
"I'm sorry, I'm unable to –"
"Reno, how's it gone?" He asked hopefully.
" – right now, please leave your message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
Annoyed, he hung up. So he's turned his phone off, that's not a good sign he thought. Or maybe this has gone right for once and he's currently trying to capture the boy, he added sarcastically, somehow I find that unlikely. He rubbed at his temples, feeling a headache coming on. That dam boy had been taking up his time for weeks, he was growing tired of this. Somehow the boy had managed to escape him so far.
But how? 20 men against one boy and he still got away. What am I missing? I've sent some of my best men out there and they've come back looking like clowns. My patience is wearing thin … but to not have a creature as fine as he … well he wasn't even going to think about that.
He felt the boy was laughing at him, making a mockery of him. Almost questioning his authority. He could not allow that. He would not allow his reputation to fall at the hands of a boy. This was more than a chase now this was personal.
He was broken out of his thoughts by his secretary's voice over the intercom.
"Sir, I have four of your workers to see you, shall I send them up?"
"No, not now!" He wanted to be alone, to think. He rubbed at his temples, but to no avail; his headache seemed to get worse with each passing second. Whatever these people wanted it could wait. He had far more pressing matters to attend to, like capturing that blasted boy! He did not have time for whining workers complaining about working conditions or asking for something or other.
"They say it's important sir, it regards the boy, Tsung is with them" she pressed.
Rufus immediately snapped to attention "bring them up."
"Yes, sir"
- - - - - - - - - -
"WHAT!"
It was the final straw … rage and frustration boiled over and he slammed his hands down onto his desk – hard.
"HOW COULD HE HAVE POSSIBLY ESCAPED?" He bellowed accusingly at the four in front of him. He failed to add "I had it covered from all sides. I made sure this would work."
His workers stood there shaking in fear, too scared to say a word. They were in the middle of a tempest rage and any word they said could either calm Rufus down, or set him on fire. For now, they were safe not saying anything, but they couldn't remain quiet like idiots, that would only serve to fuel his anger. Tsung stood there, rather vacant to what was going on. His mind was replaying the day they discovered the boy and he had been the one to report it.
- FLASHBACK -
Tsung had been sent to Rocket Town, to pick up a package for Rufus. It was a discreet mission so he had been ordered to don a disguise.
So there he was. His black hair brought up and hidden beneath a hat. His perfect suit left in his apartment and replaced by faded blue jeans and a white T-shirt, complete with cowboy boots. He had to admit he looked pretty good!
He had two more people accompanying him. One of them was a man in his late twenties called Takeshi; the other was a woman called Miya.
"Do you think he'll let me keep them?" Tsung asked absent-mindedly.
"Eh? Keep what?" replied Takeshi, who turned to face him.
"The boots"
"Oh, probably, why would he want them back?"
"I don't know just wondering"
Miya was sat on a patch of grass not far away from the two boys. Tsung noticed, with a small smile, that she'd attempted to make a daisy chain.
"You okay?" He called to her.
"Yes I'm fine, I just wish he'd come soon. I feel like I've been here for ages"
"That's because we have" piped up Takeshi.
She sighed and stood up, brushing grass off her behind. She winced slightly "Ouch, my arse has gone flat!"
"Hello" Takeshi said curiously. Miya and Tsung turned to him but he was looking ahead of them. They followed his gaze and spotted a boy.
"Wow, he's pretty" giggled Miya. Tsung could not help but agree. He had pale skin, which glowed in the sunlight and had a slender feminine build. It struck Tsung how many he looked feminine, but was a man. He had long black hair that fell past his hips and shone a deep red. He had a gothic look about him and his clothing sure helped Tsung come to that decision. Black leather trousers and a long tattered black trench coat were covering his body. He truly was a sight to behold.
"Why do you think he's here?" Miya inquired "He could be the deliverer"
"I doubt it" Takeshi snorted "he isn't carrying anything and I'd hate to think where he'd hide it if he was!"
"Eewww" Miya shrieked.
"Quiet down you two-" Tsung hissed "-I want to know what he wants."
The boy was moving from person to person, asking them something. Whatever it was all he received were shakes of the head.
"Go and help him Miya, he's bugging me" Takeshi asked in a boring manner.
With a sigh, she wandered over to the boy and tapped him on his shoulder to get his attention. He whirled round and before she could even register a thing, she was on the floor.
From a distance Tsung turned to Takeshi in a silent agreement that what he did looked pretty cool.
"Not bad is he eh?" Takeshi asked
"Not bad at all" said the dark haired man enthusiastically
"I don't mean his looks Tsung, I mean that thing he did just then."
"I know what you meant, I'm not an idiot … then again he's not too bad looking either!" He added with a small laugh.
"Never one to resist beautiful men you are you?"
"You know me too well Takeshi, it scares me sometimes. It's kinda creepy"
Takeshi turned to him, mock seriousness on his face. "Tsung we've known each other for years, I know you like a book"
Tsung choose not to answer to his last comment. He wasn't sure he liked being compared to a book. He believed he was a rather personal man, then again Takeshi was right, they had known each other for ages. Since junior school, if his memory served. They continued to watch Miya and the boy.
"Um … sorry" the boy said at length, offering a slender hand to Miya.
"Not a problem" she said hauling herself up and dusting herself off, she checked to make sure she had got rid of all the dirt, then turned to the boy "what was that?"
"What?"
"You know…" she said imitating martial arts.
The boy laughed softly. He had a strong, healthy laugh but carried a sadness deep within it that made Miya want to wrap her arms around him. When she heard him laugh she felt it was a privilege to hear it.
"Oh … I know how to fight" he said shyly
"Really!" the girl exclaimed "that's sooo cool" she paused for a moment. "I'm still a learner myself, my uncle is teaching me a couple of moves, he used to teach karate." This was of course a lie. Shinra's workers had to train in the art of fighting, especially if they were Turks, like herself. She was rather good, not the best but a good fighter.
"That's good…" the boy sounded like he was itching to get away, obviously he wasn't used to people much. Probably socially isolated she thought or just shy.
"Erm, I saw you asking people something, is there anyway I could help?" she asked
"I'm trying to find someone" he sounded rather put out when he said this, like he didn't feel well and was weak.
Miya never thought a voice could carry so much emotion "Who? I might know him"
"His name's Vin-" someone shouting for his attention cut him short. Miya saw him tense a bit but his face remained neutral.
"Hey, hey boy, you listening? … I can help you find who you're looking for" It was a man's voice and he casually approached the boy. He had a gangsterly look about him. He had short orange hair that was spiked up. He had a very freckly face and was plain looking. His clothes were dynamic red and blue. From a distance, Tsung knew the man wasn't to be trusted. The boy didn't seem to notice anything wrong and proceeded to follow him.
"Stay here, get the package and wait for me" Tsung told Takeshi. Miya was slowly making her way to them.
"Why what are you doing?"
"I want to see if he's alright"
"It's not your problem Tsung, we have our orders. We have to stay here and wait" Takeshi stressed.
"Takeshi-" he took a deep breath realising he was becoming angry "-please just do as I say. It doesn't take three to receive a package. I won't be long" he reasoned in a softer tone. He walked away before Takeshi could even begin to protest.
"Where's he going?" Miya asked sitting next to Takeshi.
"The fucking idiots gone off to play hero" the man spat, plucking a piece of grass from the ground and throwing it down to emphasise his anger.
"Why?" The girl inquired.
"Hell knows" he lay back onto the grass and crossed his arms over his eyes and remained silent. Miya sighed; recovered her daisy chain and decided to finish it off.
- - - - - - - - - -
Tsung followed the boy from a distance. The orange haired man met up with a group of people, presumably friends. They had a short conversation, which Tsung couldn't hear from his hiding place, and then continued to walk.
What the hell's going on? Tsung wondered, as the group led the boy to an isolated place. This isn't right, why is he staying with them? They can't be taking him to the one he seeks. By the looks of these idiots they couldn't lead a flock of sheep! Why would they lead him here? … I don't like this. He silently counted the people leading the boy. Seven people … Jesus if this goes all ape he wouldn't be able to fend them off, not even with his martial art shit.
The group came to a standstill and turned to face the boy. The orange haired man said something and his gang laughed. The boy suddenly looked fearful and started to take cautious steps backwards, his palms facing the group in a gesture that meant he didn't want trouble. The man said something else and all present, excluding the boy, pulled out some form of weapon. The boy turned and ran from them.
Shit thought Tsung. They were heading his way; he would be caught if he didn't act now. He was about to move when one of the man's friends cracked his chain. It wound around one of the boy's legs and he fell prone on the floor. He turned onto his back, his nose bloody from the fall, and watched the approaching men in horror. One of the gang members spoke and Tsung just managed to make it out.
"Nowhere to run now is there pretty?" His voice was dripping with malice. His friends came up behind him laughing sadistically.
The boy swung his free leg and navigated it towards the man's stomach. The man reeled over in pain and loss of air. The chain slacked and the boy took his opportunity and pinned up.
"You'll pay for that," the orange haired man said approaching him. Murder in mind and eyes.
There was a rustling flapping sound as wings unfolded from the boy's back. He had two slits in his trench coat where they slid through.
Tsung gasped from his hiding place and almost fell back from his safe place. What the hell? This is phenomenal, I have to call Rufus.
The boy spread his wings and lifted himself from the ground. He hovered a few feet in the air, fixing his would be attackers with a glare. He then turned around and flew off at lightening speed. It was both beautiful and terrifying.
FLASHBACK END
"Well?" demanded Rufus impatiently stopping in front of every worker, as if daring him or her to tell him they didn't know.
Tsung lifted his head up tiredly and looked at Rufus.
"Mr president, you are aware of the boys mutation, he can easily evade us because we can't fly! It doesn't take rocket science to figure that out."
Rufus stopped pacing the room and stood with his back to the workers. He remained motionless for a short while. He turned slowly and faced the four in front of him.
"Who the hell do you think you ARE?" He hissed striking Tsung across the face with the back of his hand. Tsung stumbled backwards, automatically bringing his hand up to the abused flesh. He was shocked Rufus would hit him. Shock turned to anger. This guy's been for three fucking weeks. Three weeks! And nothing, anything has come out of it. We have to tolerate his anger all the time. When something goes wrong for him he takes it out on us, like the spoilt little bastard he is. I've had enough! I didn't join ShinRa so I could do his fucking work and get hit for it. He's gone too far now.
"You know what?" Tsung said, slowly bringing his hand down to his side. "I fucking quit, I've had it with you and this relentless chase. I'm leaving."
"Oh really?" Rufus pressed smugly "you'll never find a place that pays as best as I do."
"I don't care about the fucking money-" god I should stop swearing "- you've been a slave driver, with no regard to your workers. They've all had enough, they just won't tell you. At least if I leave I wouldn't have to kiss your ass again!"
With that he turned and stormed out of the room. He had to do it now before the adrenaline left him and he realised what a big mistake he'd made. He was right though; he'd spoken his mind to Rufus. Although he was glad he'd been the first to do it, ShinRa had been like his home. He had to continually tell himself he'd been right, and force himself to not think about what to do now. He knew he'd been over the top, but it added to the anger he was feeling at the time.
Rufus stood there in shock, mouthing incoherent words to himself. Remembering himself he turned and faced his workers.
"You're all dismissed"
To pass time and calm down, he decided to do some work. He went to his desk and looked in his in-box. There was a petition from the workers for a better cafeteria, a letter from Hojo requiring something or other for his recent experiment, and a job application for a position as scientist. He looked into all of these.
His secretary's voice filled the room once again.
" The workers of your recent mission have come back sir, shall I send them to you?"
"No I don't wish to deal with them yet" he heard a phone ring in the background and Reno's voice answered he call.
"Okay sir, I'll send them home."
Rufus looked at the time on his clock, 11:00PM. God, have I been working that long?
"Okay you do that, thank you Victoria." As the intercom was about to go off he heard Reno exclaim. "Wait!" Rufus said quickly, wanting to know what was going on.
"Yes sir?"
"What's Reno excited about?"
He heard Victoria ask Reno the question. Reno came closer to the intercom and spoke to Rufus himself.
"Erm, not … nothing sir, just a friend." His voice was dripping with the lie he had just told.
"Victoria send him up" ordered Rufus.
"Yes sir"
Victoria broke the connection with Rufus and turned to Reno. "You're to go to his office immediately, the president is waiting for you."
"Fuck" cursed Reno under his breath. He straightened his appearance and entered the lift that would take him to the top floor. Who does he think he is? Reno wondered it could've been a friend I was talking to. Does he want to know everything about our personal lives too? I was supposed to leave work an hour ago. This isn't fair. What am I gonna tell him? If I tell him the truth he'll call everyone back and send us out again. Yeah the lads will love me for that! I have other things to do, Reeve's having a lads night out tonight, he'll hate me if I tell him he can't do it, he's planned it for weeks but had to keep putting it off through work. My life does not revolve around the boy … oh when is this lift gonna stop? Then again I wish it would just break down, then I wouldn't have to face him. There was a ding and the elevator doors opened. Fuck … thank you God!
Okay Reno you can do this. He took a deep breath, knocked on the president's door and went inside.
"You wanted to see me, sir?"
"Yes I did, I had the slight feeling you were lying to me earlier, now why would you do that? You're not hiding something from me are you Reno? Don't think I don't know what all you are saying about me right now. I had Tsung in here earlier today telling me what he thinks. A rather bold move for him, but that's not a problem, I know he'll be back."
Tsung was here? Wow! I wonder what he said. I'll have to go round to his house and give him a pat on the back. He'll show him. I hate people who think they can second-guess you, you show him Tsung. Who'd have thought? "No sir, I'm not hiding anything from you, that really was my friend I just thought it weird you asked that's all"
Rufus sighed and bellowed "You're lying, you always don a professional tone when you lie, that's not like you Reno. You know something and you don't want me to find out. You think the same way Tsung does" He sighed and turned his back on Reno. In a voice that was coldly calm he said "look the sooner you tell me, the sooner you can go home. I'm not a fool Reno, you know something about the boy."
Reno felt just about the same way a five-year-old does when it can't have a toy. He wanted to scream about how unfair it was and kick his legs around. He felt like he had to stretch his anger out of himself.
"The boy was sighted in the Ancient Forest not long ago, he seems to be camping there for the night" he informed in a flat almost ominous tone.
"That wasn't so hard was it? Now go home, get some sleep and report to me at five in the morning"
"5:00am!" Reno exclaimed.
"Yes, you heard me, now go"
"But sir you kept us out all day today, we're knackered!"
"Then I suggest you leave now and get some sleep"
If ever there was a time Reno wanted to hit Rufus it was now, but he simply turned and stormed out of the office, slamming the door as he went so hard the glass cracked.
"Excellent" said Rufus gathering his things and calling it a day himself. On his way out he informed the cleaner about the window Reno had cracked "Have a new one fitted will you?" and with that he left, a grin plastered on his face.
End Chapter
A/N this is my first fic, so please be nice! Then again I don't mind honesty, if you think its crap don't hesitate to tell me. But try to tell me what's wrong so I can rectify it. I'll try to update the story soon, so you don't loose interest. I'm in over my head with these stories! I've had ideas galore and I want to write every one of them. I'm currently writing three stories at once, including this one! - So please bear with me.