1Chapter 1: The Girl Who Resembles Me
One year after the events of Kadaj's attack, Cloud and co. go back to living their normal lives. Cid helped repair Cloud's bike, Fenrir before he left back for Rocket Town; while the rest of the team dispatched.
Although that battle was over, the war in Cloud's heart still remained. Tifa had hoped after fighting once again, Cloud would come back home but again, he drove around, only stopping by once and awhile. Tifa didn't know where he drove to or why, all she wanted was for him to come home. Deep down inside, she knew Cloud would never come home permanently until he resolved the uneasy feeling he had in his soul. What was bugging him? Tifa didn't know...she spent days thinking about it but decided her mind was better spent somewhere else. She had a bar to run, and a family to look after. Barret, Marlene and Denzel still lived with her in Edge city. Although she loved him, Cloud was out of her reach at the moment and had to put him second.
Cloud understood. He was always gone, never staying with Tifa for more then a day and even then, it felt like he wasn't there at all. She'd ask simple questions like 'How are you doing?' or 'See anything knew?' and his answer would always be the same. He was always doing fine and never saw anything. However, that was a cold hearted lie. He wasn't doing fine and he did see things, many things. Cloud knew he wasn't alone, but couldn't resolve the feeling in his heart. Something was missing, Cloud could tell that was it now. He was missing something he hadn't found yet and he had to keep searching until he found it. He'd never be truly happy or good to anyone until he did. And so, Cloud would travel around on Fenrir and visit his old teammate's every now and then, hoping he could find what he was missing. He still kept up his delivery service, however, 90 of the time, he didn't have a delivery.
With the construction of Edge city, and Shin-Ra's joining with the new company, W.R.O, brought new hope to the world. Geostigma was gone. Whoever had it, journeyed to Edge city to go to the ruined Midgar and bathe in the pool of water in Aerith's church, which would cure them instantly. People brought the water all around the world and just like that, Geostigma disappeared from everyone's worries. Most people now a days only worry about joining the new army, and making enough money to live. Raising families and telling them the stories of the past; Midgar's destruction, Shin-Ra's fall, Sephiroth's insanity, Meteor; informing each and every one of them what went out in the past and how close they came to being completely wiped out. Sephiroth succeeded in one thing, He'd never be forgotten. This also posed a problem, as long as people remember him, he may never truly die. He came back through Kadaj, what's stopping him from coming back fully once again? This is what worried W.R.O and Shin-Ra so they started up a new army, just in case. Materia was still being used but Mako reactors were put at a minimal. There was only one or two left to survive with, all the others were destroyed. Coal mines and Oil rigs were popular for fuel now. Mako was generally used for Materia and such solely.
"Our mistakes will never be forgotten...and our history will never repeat itself. We will make our planet safe for our children to grow up in. Soon total peace will be achieved but until then, we must be prepared for anything...those mistakes could happen again if we're not careful" This was the latest speech given out by Rufus Shinra, head of Shin-Ra's part but co head of W.R.O. with Reeve. He too, had changed. The world was on it's way of recovery and reconstruction.
"Are you sure we're going to find work here?" Akira asked, following slightly short of Saru. Saru wasn't hard to miss, she wore those white mage looking robes everywhere after all. Akira however, kind of blended in with the crowd.
"This is the new major city," Saru said looking back, "So yeah, we will."
"I hope you're right...and I hope, those men don't find us..." Akira said running a bit to catch up to her friend.
"Do You have a visual?" Rude asked Reno who was sitting a top a building.
"Yep. Got both of 'em in my sights yo!" Reno exclaimed with a nod, "I'll take a few pictures and then it's off to see Kuroudo!"
"Kuroudo!" Denzel said, running up to the familiar spike headed blonde who just walked into Tifa's bar.
"Denzelu," Cloud said looking down at the smaller boy with brown hair, "Tea-fa here?"
"Ya...but she's busy with Marlene at the moment, kicked me out of the room...I think it's girl stuff," Denzel nodded, "Are you...going to stay longer this time?"
"..." Cloud wasn't sure how to answer him 'this time', "...Well...maybe..."
"Kuroudo...Tea-fa says you're searching for something...is that true?" Denzel asked.
"...yeah..." Cloud slightly nodded.
"Then, why don't you let us help you?" Denzel asked. Cloud placed a hand on his shoulder and gave Denzel a small smirk.
"...This is something...I have to search for myself. I won't find it otherwise," Cloud said, giving Denzel a nod before sitting on a bar stool in front of Tifa's bar counter. Denzel sighed deeply. /Always protecting us from yourself.../ he thought/Tea-fa was right.../
"Nice bar..."
Cloud perked up to that comment, and stood up almost instantly. He walked over to in front of Denzel and gave Denzel a hard look. Denzel nodded and took off up the stairs at the back.
"What do you want?" Cloud asked.
"We didn't think we would catch ya here yo...you're a hard one to track nowadays," Reno shrugged.
"Quite frankly to me, that's a good thing," Cloud stated, "Again, what do you want?"
"We came to hire you," Rude stated bluntly.
"...not interested." Cloud turned his eyesight away from the two.
"..Just hear us out yo!" Reno begged.
"Haven't you done enough?" Cloud side glared at the two, still not looking at them directly.
"...You're a delivery guy now right? Well...we need something picked up, and brought to us...we'll pay you whatever you want," Rude grinned, "...it seems your 'family' needs the money..."
"...what..." Cloud began to question.
"That's right yo...Tea-fa didn't tell you? They're in deep financial trouble...if you do this little errand for us, we'll make that disappear." Reno grinned.
"..." Cloud didn't want to accept, he hated these people. However, if Tifa and co. needed the money...then he couldn't refuse. /I don't understand...why she didn't tell me/ he thought.
"...here," Reno put a few pictures on the bar counter, "Find that person here in Edge city...and bring them to the new corporation. If you succeed, we'll pay you whatever you want."
Rude nodded and the two exited the bar just in time for Tifa to come down that stairs.
"Who was-"
"..Are you in financial trouble?"
"Kuroudo I-"
"Answer me..."
"...yes..."
Cloud looked over at Tifa and gave her a bit of a sad look, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because..." Tifa shook her head, "I didn't want to bother you with our problems...you seem to busy these days that it wouldn't do any good anyway"
"That's not fair..." Cloud turned away and walked to the bar counter, "...you know I'd help. No questions asked."
"Still...I didn't want to trouble you," Tifa said walking up to him, "I can handle it."
"40 000 gil Tea-fa?" Cloud looked angry with her now, "That's a huge debt...what were you planning on doing to get the money?"
"Does it matter? I said I would handle it." Tifa restated, "Anyway, what did they want?"
"...To offer me work." Cloud said, sighing and looking down at the pictures, "They'll give me the money you need if I complete the job..."
"Don't do it..." Tifa shook her head.
"Too late. I might've been able to avoid it had you told me sooner," Cloud said, "But there's no choice...you'll be on the street if I don't."
"..." Tifa couldn't really change his mind once he had it made up. Cloud began looking closely at the pictures. /A girl/ Cloud thought.
"This can't be right..." Cloud ran a free hand through his hair.
"What do you mean?" Tifa asked looking at the pictures, "Wait-they want you too..!"
"...capture a girl." Cloud sat on the bar stool now with his elbows on the counter holding up his head, "...great. The only way to clear this debt is to become a kidnapper...I doubt Zack would've wanted me to be a kidnapper..."
"Kuroudo you don't have to do it..." Tifa looked away.
"...yes I do." Cloud stood up.
"But don't you see-"
"The resemblance? Yeah I do..."
"She could be-"
"Just like I was...probably."
"Then..."
"...because you need this." Cloud said, "I'll look into it. Maybe there's another way...or I can insure they don't do anything to..."
He trailed off a bit before continuing, "...I'm sure it's nothing major."
/I know you're just trying to convince yourself that...oh Kuroudo/ Tifa thought/Please forgive me...for not telling you sooner./
"Saru...Saru...!...Saru!" Akira called, finally catching up with her friend, "Don't walk...so fast..!"
"Then don't window shop," Saru crossed her arms, walking at a slower pace now, "The place we're looking for is a few more blocks from here. We have to get there before 2pm."
"...I've never been to a city like this before..." Akira said looking around, "...you can't blame me for being curious."
"...guess not." Saru shrugged in defeat, "But just stay close from now on alright? You don't know what kind of weirdos reside in town..."
"...okay." Akira nodded. /So many people...it's so busy.../ she thought her eyes still wandering.
"...we're almost there." Saru said turning the corner. A lot less, barely anyone was around this street. It looked broke up and a bit unstable. Saru started getting a bad feeling. Akira was trailing behind, still looking around at all the sights."Akira!"
"...Saru...?" Akira lowered her head to look at her companion, "...what is it?"
"...Get close to me." Saru ordered. Akira didn't ask any questions, she ran up behind Saru. Sure enough, out from a side alley walked three people dressed in black.
"Who are you?" Akira asked, feeling very uncomfortable. It was the men in black but this time, they were different ones.
"They're Turks." Saru answered for them, "People employed by the President as body guards, hit men, anything."
"Hey, you're pretty smart!" The blonde girl said, "Only the whole world knows about us,"
"Apparently not the blonde," The red head man said grinning, "Now I know the sayin' is true! Blonde's are dumb!"
"Hey!" The female Turk said punching him in the arm.
"Our names are," The bald one began.
"Reno, yo!" The red head said.
"Elena," The blonde stated.
"And Rude." The bald finished, "The president would like to speak to the blonde girl."
"What? Me? Why?" Akira asked, "I've never met...the president before!"
"I doubt that," Reno grinned before Elena silenced him.
"Shut up Reno!" Elena spat.
"Why would the president of Shin-Ra want Akira?" Saru asked, her eyes fixated on Reno as if she was directing the conversation at him and none of the others.
"Well, she'll just have to come along and find out yo!" Reno said.
"What if I refuse?" Akira asked, "What will you do then?"
"Then we'll have to forcefully take you," Rude answered.
"High measures for just a conversation," Saru glared.
"Hey, we get paid to do this yo! The president doesn't care how we do it, he leaves that up to our imagination," Reno grinned.
"Well..." Akira said stepping back, "Tell the president that I won't see him! If he wants to talk to me, he can come to me himself!"
"You heard the girl, now get lost." Saru said.
"Maybe you didn't hear us right, we said we're taking 'Akira' to the president, as simple as that." Elena said pulling out a gun.
Akira began to feel a little nervous when the gun was pulled out, these people were serious. Saru on the other hand, had a grin across her face.
"Guess there's no other option," She said. The Turks nodded all in unison, happy that they were finally complying.
"Saru!" Akira said shockingly, "But I-"
Just then, Saru kicked up a trash can lid from in front of her feet and chucked it at Elena's hand, knocking the gun out of it. She grabbed Akira's wrist and took off in the opposite direction of the Turks.
"I hate it when they run," Reno complained as the three Turks chased after them.
Saru led Akira through the crowds of people as quickly as she could, shuving everyone out of their way. One of the people she pushed down was Denzel. Denzel caught a glimpse of Akira's long blonde hair and bright blue eyes. /Just like Kuroudo../ he thought.
Saru saw that the Turks were no longer in plain sight so she slowed down a bit.
"I'll by you some time, find somewhere in this city and hide!" Saru ordered.
"No, I'm not leaving you!" Akira said.
"They are after you, not me. I'll be fine, just go!" Saru said pushing Akira forward, "Now!"
"Be careful," Akira nodded before taking off down the street. Saru on the other hand walked back the way they came until she saw the Turks heading straight for her.
"Ha! You could never...out run...us...!" Elena huffed, Rude and Reno running up behind her.
"You're right, I give up!" Saru said holding up her hands.
"Where's Akira?" Rude questioned.
"Long gone." Saru said as Reno approached her. He grabbed Saru by her shirt and pulled her closer to him.
"I wouldn't want to bruise up such a nice looking girl. Just tell us where your friend is and we won't harm either of you." Reno suggested.
"I know you won't harm Akira because you need her and as for me...I don't have any proof that I'll be safe except your poor excuse of a pick up line," Saru shrugged, "So I don't like what's in it for me!"
"Just tell us where she is you stupid bitch!" Elena cursed, "You know how LONG it took us to track her down!"
"Why are you pulling out all the stops just for Akira?" Saru asked as Reno let go of her shirt and turned around with his back too her, "As far as I know, she's done nothing to you. Hell, I've been with her for quite some time and I've never seen any members of W.R.O. or Shin-Ra interact with her until we started to this town. Why the sudden interest?"
"That's for us to know," Reno said, tapping his shoulder with a long metallic rod. Rude walked up to Saru and punched her hard in the gut. Saru dropped to her knees.
"Just tell us and you won't get hurt anymore!" Elena said walking up to her.
"I'm already hurt so what's the point now?" Saru questioned as she just regained her breath that was knocked out of her.
"Stupid girl," Rude mumbled as he kicked her in the head sending her to her back and unconscious.
"She didn't even fight back!" Elena spat, "She's so stupid!"
"Nah, she just knew we'd waste time on her instead of going after Akira," Reno said turning back around to face his comrades.
"Why don't you ever watch us beat up a girl?" Elena asked.
"Because hitting girls isn't my style," Reno shrugged.
"You hit me all the time!" Elena cursed.
"That's cause yer no girl. I only hit girls that want me too." Reno chuckled.
"Well, we might as well leave her here, She's no use to us." Rude said.
"Ya, come on, we got to find that girl!" Elena said, "Or Rufus is going to be really pissed!"
"Hey I got an idea," Reno stopped, "Let's let 'someone else' do our dirty work..."
Reno looked out the corner of his eye to the street behind them and saw a familiar motorcycle drive by.
"I got ya," Rude nodded, "...let's go"
"What! What are you two blabbing about!" Elena snapped. Rude and Reno turned back the way they came and started walking, "HEY! Don't leave me!"
Akira kept running as fast as she could. She didn't care where she went, so long as it was far away from 'them'. Akira walked past people, trying desperately not to hit them or push them. Some asked her what was wrong but she couldn't waste any of her breath telling them, she just kept running. Finally, her breath and legs could no longer go and she collapsed to the ground on her hands, breathing rather hard. Once she regain her breath, she stood up and looked around. There was a church standing tall a few buildings beside her. She heard the sound of a motorcycle and took a quick glimpse. She didn't recognize the person so she ran into the church.
Flowers. The sent of flowers filled her nose. This was no ordinary church. In the center was a bed of beautiful, sparkling flowers. They sparkled in the sunlight shining through the stain glass windows. She felt calmed.
"...I hope...they won't...follow me here..." She said walking up to just before the bed of flowers and kneeling down. She liked starring at the flowers, they were so pretty. Then she realized she shouldn't be so calm. "Saru...I wonder if she's ok..?..."
/What am I saying...of course she is...she can handle herself../ Akira thought. Her eyes snapped open to the sound of footsteps. She suddenly stood up quickly, her heart pounding hard. This was it.
"Beautiful...aren't they?"
The voice did not sound familiar. It was calm. Akira slowly turned around to see the person who walked in. It wasn't one of the turks. A man with blonde hair and blue eyes...spikey hair. It dawned on her that this was probably his place.
"Are they yours..?" Akira asked kindly. She didn't feel scared at all, not like the feeling she got from those other people.
"...Not really, they're for everyone." Cloud answered. This was the girl he was supposed to capture. She was the girl in the picture, the girl who looked like him. Bright blue eyes, blonde hair...if it was short and spiky, people could mistake them as twins. He couldn't help but feel guilty all of a sudden. She didn't look like a criminal, or someone who the Turks would want. She wore torn up, baggy jeans, with a large trench coat and for a shirt, all she had was bandages wrapped around her chest.
"...I'm sorry for coming in here," Akira continued, "...I just...needed somewhere to hide,"
"...you're being pursued." Cloud asked but it sounded more like a statement rather than a question, however, Akira took it as a question regardless.
"...yes. I thought it might be safe in here, or by me some time anyway..." Akira smiled, "...please forgive me..."
The more he talked to her, the more he second guessed what he wanted to do now. /How could...she's so...innocent.../ Cloud thought.
"...this place, is open to anyone.." Cloud assured, "...so it's alright."
"..Oh good." Akira sighed in relief, "...My name's Akira by the way...what's your name?"
"Kuroudo..." Cloud answered.
"Kuroudo?...that's a nice name...I don't think I've ever met anyone named Kuroudo before..." Akira said. Suddenly her head began to sting and she held it tightly. Cloud took a few steps closer until he could almost reach out and grab her.
"Are you alright?" Cloud asked concernedly.
"...I'm ok." Akira shook it off and gave him a smile, "..Happens all the time."
"...?" Cloud gave her a slightly confused look. She giggled.
"...sorry I guess that wouldn't make sense..." Akira stopped giggling, "...Sometimes...I get head aches...and I bunch of scenes I don't know flash in my head...I was told it was a result of 'Mako' poisoning..or something like that..."
Cloud's eyes went wide. /...She's had mako poisoning/ He thought/...that explains her bright eyes.../
"...I'm...sorry..." Cloud choked out. He was still so confused. More so now, he didn't want to bring her to the Turks.
"...It's ok. I don't mind. Live for today, not yesterday right?" She smiled brightly. Cloud couldn't understand it. This girl he just met was opening up to him, telling him stuff you normally wouldn't say. She smiled and laughed like they were long time friends. She couldn't be bad.
"...why...are you...telling me this?" Cloud asked.
"Hmm...?" Akira asked, "...I guess...you don't seem like a bad person. I'm not afraid of you."
"..not afraid?"
"...when I'm around people I either fear them or get a sense of calmness...before they even start talking. I use that as my way to talk..." Akira nodded, "...and I don't fear you. I get a sense of calmness from you...that's why I said those things. I didn't mean to upset you,"
Cloud looked up at Akira. He had just started feeling sad and guilty and looked down, but she caught it right away. He looked at her for a long time, almost searching her eyes for an answer on what he should do. The more he looked at her...the more he stood by his previous feeling. He couldn't do it. /I can't...turn her over to them. She looks so...innocent and happy...she said she either feared people or felt 'calm' by them...if she was running from the Turks, she must fear them...how could I bring her to someone she's scared of/ Cloud thought shaking his head/Zack...Aeris...they would never forgive me if I did. I'll get Tea-fa the money for her debt another way.../
"Listen I-" Cloud began but stopped when he saw Akira's expression change. She went from smiling to looking like she was about to be shot. He turned around and saw the Turks, Elena, Rude and Reno standing there.
"...There she is, I knew you'd find her yo!" Reno said. Cloud narrowed his eyes just a bit.
"...what?" Akira questioned. Cloud turned back around to face her.
"...those are the men who are after you right?" Cloud asked quietly so only she could hear.
"...yes but-" Akira began but Cloud stopped her.
"...I'm going to get you out of here..." He said. Akira looked rather shocked.
"...I couldn't possibly trouble you..." Akira said sadly, "It's my problem.."
"...don't worry," Cloud said giving her a small smile, "...it's no trouble..."
"What are you talking about over there yo?" Reno called. Rude and Elena looked rather impatient. Cloud turned back around to face them.
"...Sorry...she doesn't want to go with you," Cloud stated.
"Kuroudo what are you-" Rude began but Cloud cut him off.
"...So we're leaving," Cloud finished. Akira couldn't help but smile at him. /Thank you...Kuroudo-dono.../ Akira thought.
"...I don't think so!" Elena snapped pointing her gun at him, "One move and I'll kill you!"
Akira began to get worried now. Cloud turned his head slightly to the side so he could See Akira. His hand went to his sword handle.
"...trust me," Cloud said. Akira nodded. Cloud pushed back his foot a bit and watched how Elena held the gun. He started to pull out his sword and Elena fired. Akira closed her eyes and brought her arms up to her face. Cloud snapped out his sword and blocked the shot. He turned around and grabbed Akira's right hand wrist with his left hand and pulled her to the left. She opened her eyes to see Cloud leading her. Elena fired more but every shot missed as Cloud pulled Akira down a side passage in a church and out a side door.
"Damn it!" Elena cursed, "I thought you two said Kuroudo was on our side!"
"Damn, the worse case scenerio happened...guess I owe you 50 bucks Rude," Reno shrugged.
"WHAT!" Elena whipped around.
"I thought Kuroudo would take the money to help Tea-fa...but Rude said he'd help the girl. Rude won." Reno shrugged. Elena cursed under her breath.
Akira followed Cloud closely. She had no idea where they were going, she only hoped he did. She began to feel really dizzy all of a sudden and sick. Cloud looked back to check up on her and saw she was slowly lagging behind. He stopped and walked up to her.
"Just a little further okay? We're almost to where I parked," Cloud said placing his hands on her shoulders. In the midst of their running he had put his sword away back in it's sheathe across his back.
"Oh...kay..." Akira breathed giving him a smile, "Why...are you..."
"Don't worry about that now," Cloud said turning around, "I'll explain later.."
Suddenly, almost as if he sensed it, he turned right back around and caught Akira just before she collapsed. He picked her up across his arms and looked at her for awhile. She looked so peaceful. Cloud couldn't help but smile. He saw over in the distance, the Turks exiting the church and bolted for his bike, carrying Akira.
End of Chapter 1.
Ya ya ya...mary-sue..oc fic..I get it. I don't need to be told. However, I'm quite proud of the way I'm writing this, my two friends I got involved in this story and all the plot ideas I've already come up with. I'm putting it up so all of you can see/read it however, if you don't like it because it's mary-sue..or an oc fic, then please, stop reading. With that said, if you're curious and actually interested in this story, then by all means wait for the next one! (Mostly all my chapters are planned out, I just gotta write-em!)
I needed to put this up because my KH fan fic I'm writing, that's good, ties into this one. Enjoy it and R&R. Any flames given due to the hatred of what I mentioned, I will delete. Arigatou!
(P.S. all names when spoken will be spelt how they are pronounced...there will be some japanese words in it as well, so u may have to do research. I'll try to put up the basics here!)
After a name:
- chan : usually refering to someone as immature, younger, inexperienced, etc. Could also be taken as saying they're cute and little.
- san: shows some respect, one of the most common uses when speaking to someone older then you.
- sama: meaning lord or master, I think that's self explainitory where it's used..
- dono: the highest form of respect you can give someone...Akira will often call Cloud-dono, because she admires him and his strength.
- kun: referring to a male.
- tan: Only Saru is called this, it's a nickname for her.
Domo, Domo Arigatou, Arigatou, Arigato-gozaimashita: Thank you, Thanks, Thank ya, Thank you very much!
Gomen: Sorry
Oni-san, Ni-san, ni-chan, Oni-chan, Oni-sama: Brother
Oneh-san, Neh-san, Neh-chan, Oneh-chan, Oneh-sama: Sister
Baka: idiot
Hai: Yes.
Sempai: senior, senior student,
Sensei: instructor; teacher
Onegaishimasu: please
Ohsh: pronounced 'os', greeting.
Yame: stop
Ki-sama: Bastard! You..!
Yoi: Ready!
Yasume: Rest
Kime: focus
and others if I add them in!