Summary: Reno has a secret, one that has decided to now bite him in the ass. The eyes of his Mother were more than just a family trait, they were a sign of his destiny, a destiny coming to collect / FF7HP crossover / Reno/Rufus / AU
NOTE TO CURRENT READERS/FOLLOWERS OF PLANET'S EYES: I'm going through the chapters and doing an overhaul. This means I'm editing, sometimes adding, and sometimes deleting things. I'm doing this because some rather important information came into light. At the beginning of each chapter I will state if there were any major changes and then strongly suggest you re-read them. For the most part however not much of the overall story will change. It should just flow a bit better.
Sorry for any inconvenience!
So, for this chapter…I strongly suggest a re-read. Though most of the content is the same I've added a bit more that will be important later, as well as re-wrote some parts to fit my style.
Planet's Eyes
Traveling
Ignorant Lands: Dursley Residence, μ εyλ 1994
Harry let out a barely audible groan as he curled up on his side. Vernon hadn't taken the news of his Godfather being the escaped criminal well, and so far Harry's summer was looking to be the worst ever.
Especially if his uncle wouldn't stop the beatings; he wasn't too sure if he'd even survive…
Sirius frowned as he stared up at Number Four. It wasn't the first time he'd felt drawn to the house, nor was it the first time he'd felt the inescapable fear and worry course through his body. It was, however, the first time he'd ever really acted on it, and he only really acted on it after he had been given a little push.
Who knew the dead could be so enlightening?
He really had to thank that woman Ilfana for bringing him to his senses and showing him just what these feelings meant, and Merlin be damned if he wasn't going to act on them now.
'Dumbledore and the Wizarding World won't know what happened until its too late.' Sirius growled. 'No one keeps a Potter ignorant and molds them into a martyr. No one hurts a Potter without consequences, and I'll be damned if I let this go further.'
"Then don't let it, Sirius Black," was whispered in his ear, and the whisperings only urged him on. Growling low in his throat he stalked towards the back door, hunkering down into the shadows until night became more prominent; thinking back on that rather interesting meeting two weeks ago.
Sirius was lounging on a beach, biting the end of a quill in thought of what to write his godson to let him know he was okay and to see how things were. Although the current pull at his mind and the pain swallowing his heart for some unknown reason was making it really hard to concentrate.
"You know, it'd be easier if you didn't ignore the Planet."
Sirius jumped up and whirled around, holding the quill before him like a weapon, only to freeze at the sight of the ghostly woman standing there.
"Who are you," the animagus eventually growled out.
"I am Ilfana," Ilfana said. "I'm here because you keep ignoring the Planet."
"The Planet?"
"Gaia, Sirius Black; or Earth, as you know it…"
"Gaia? Earth?" Sirius frowned, smoky blue eyes narrowing.
"Yes; she's crying out to you. You can hear her, can't you? You've always been able to, and she's always helped you," Ilfana stated.
"The...Earth is sentient?" Sirius blinked.
"Of course," Ilfana said, surprised. "Where do you think all life comes from? Gaia is our Mother; her Life Blood flows through us. Do you not know anything?"
"Oi! I know things," Sirius said, insulted.
"But nothing of the Planet," Ilfana sighed. "Just follow her, Sirius Black, she cannot lead you astray. As of right now you are the only one capable of helping her on this side of Gaia. You are the only one capable of hearing her on this side. Listen to her and do as she say's or Shiva help me..."
"Whoa lady, calm down," Sirius backed up. "What is the...Planet trying to tell me? And who's Shiva?"
"Sirius Black don't ask me I'm only the messenger!" Ilfana snapped. "Listen to her yourself!"
Sirius backed up further but nodded hastily.
"Okay!"
"Good. Now I have to return to the Lifestream; and please, do hurry or it might just be too late," Ilfana said in parting before disappearing into streaming green lights.
Sirius blinked and then muttered, "Now where have I heard this before?" he shrugged and then glanced towards his parchment.
A quick, sharp, breath and a gasped out "Harry!" was all the escaped convict could get out before racing off to find Buckbeak.
Harry needed him and now.
And somehow, the fact that he just realized this, made him feel as if someone was immensely proud of him, even if a bit exasperated.
It was a strange feeling.
He kind of liked it.
"Filthy sonova..." Sirius snarled from his crouched position by the door. "I should just off them for the nerve of-"
"Help him! Revenge is not what's needed here. Wait no more, Sirius Black!"
"Right, right," Sirius mumbled, eyes narrowing. "Now where..." his head snapped up to the darkest window on the house and his eyes narrowed further. "There," he hissed before turning back towards the kitchen. "Up the stairs...best go when they're distracted; living room?" Eyes still narrowed the animagus shuffled forward slightly to get a better view of the living room from the kitchen. "Move you stupid bint," he growled to Petunia who was washing in the kitchen. He could already see the elder Dursley and his progeny staring avidly at the box of pictures.
"You need to be educated..."
"Yeah, yeah," the Lord Black grumbled. "I'm not the smartest when it comes to mundanes...finally!" Petunia had left the kitchen. Sirius waited until she was firmly seated in the living room before slipping through the cracked kitchen door. He carefully made his way towards the hallway, pausing to make sure none of the Dursley family could even see him. Petunia was still facing the hallway so he had to wait. "How that bitch is related to Lily I'll never understand," Sirius muttered darkly, eyes tracking the family's every move. Petunia turned away.
"Now!"
Sirius darted into the hallway and up the stairs quickly; his light footsteps causing no sound to come from even the squeaky steps.
"Second window, right," he muttered over and over under his breath, and stopped in front of a door with tons of locks. "Of all the nerve-!"
"No time, hurry!"
"I'm hurrying," Sirius growled, pulling out a multi-function pocket knife. He quickly sprung each lock and pushed the door open. The room was dark, eerily so. Sirius couldn't see a thing, but the smell was horrid of that much he could tell. Slipping the door shut behind him he flipped on the lamp and froze.
"Those filthy pieces of-" he started, dashing towards his unconscious godson's side. "Harry?" he asked, stopping his tirade to try and wake the teen. "Harry, can you hear me?"
"He's unconscious. Too hurt; heal him!"
"How?"
"Heal him!"
Sirius jerked, feeling an unknown power rush through his veins as a small orb formed from the same streaming lights that Ilfana had disappeared into and almost immediately he knew what to do.
"Cure," was whispered and the more serious injuries faded. Sirius pocketed the orb, knowing that Harry was not in any more immediate danger for the moment, and relaxed slightly.
"Hedwig."
"Hedwig," Sirius mumbled, turning sharply towards Hedwig's cage. "Hey girl; we're getting out of here now, okay? He's safe enough for one apparition now...but you need to get out of here."
Hedwig let off a soft hoot.
"You'll find us, right girl?" Sirius asked and Hedwig bobbed her head in reply. "Good girl; let's get you out of that cage." He quickly undid the latch, swinging the door open, and carefully pried open the window to allow Hedwig to fly out. "You find us, girl. Harry'll need all the help he can get. Now go!"
Hedwig flew off and Sirius turned back towards Harry.
"One apparition," Sirius said in tandem with the voice that had been whispering softly beside him and bent down, scooping his godson up into his arms. With a sharp turn and a loud crack he and Harry were gone.
The Planet's worry eased for the moment; her child was safer now.
Four months, twenty apparitions, and about ten casts of Cure later had Harry completely healed, although not yet awake. Sirius would have been worried more about his Godson's unconscious and unresponsive state if he wasn't given an explanation.
Ilfana was apparently much more than a messenger; she was also Sirius' teacher since he had apparently missed out on "Gaia 101" in Hogwarts.
For now the duo were aboard a boat going from Japan to the continent known as Wutai. It had taken about three weeks to arrive in the country, really, but Sirius hadn't the funds, nor understanding of the language, to do anything for another three months.
It was during the whole trip that Sirius, through Ilfana's teachings and the quiet whisperings of Gaia, had come to terms with the odd feelings, thoughts, and the knowledge of just what his Godson was to the Planet as a whole.
More than human…more than Cetra…more than WEAPON…and still much was missing, to Sirius at least. Ilfana had said he had to learn about half of what he needed to know on his own; while she was there to teach she was really more of a guide. It was through her insistence and Gaia's silent whisperings that Sirius had even headed in the direction of Japan, and eventually Wutai.
"Why head to the Known Lands?" Sirius had questioned once, in India, as he meditated after having cast yet another Cure on Harry. Ilfana had been telling him about the world they would enter, and Sirius was curious.
"Even though they are killing the Planet," Ilfana had replied, "it will be the safest for him."
"No where is truly safe," Sirius frowned.
"That may be so, but from the evils of the Ignorant Lands he will be safer in the Known Lands," Ilfana had explained calmly.
"What if he is seen on our way there?" Sirius had mumbled after a few moments of silent contemplation.
"That Restore materia does not only heal, Sirius Black," Ilfana had told him. "While it's not special like the White Materia my daughter holds, the Planet made it specifically for you and your young charge. By the time you reach the Known Lands he will be different, slightly so, and so shall you."
"Like a glamour..." Sirius murmured.
"Only permanent," Ilfana had finished and Sirius poised his next question.
"What if they learn his 'condition'?"
It was on the third day at sea that Harry awoke and Sirius was almost deliriously happy at that.
"You gave me and the Planet quite a scare, cub" Sirius murmured to the shocked teen.
"Siri?" Harry whispered back hoarsely.
"Yes; I'm here. Relax Harry..."
"Where?"
"I'll explain later; you need to rest right now...tomorrow, when you wake up again, I'll explain what I can, okay?"
"But..."
"Harry...you were hurt badly. You've healed up now but…you still need your rest. Here, drink…" Sirius tipped a glass of water to the young teen, "and sleep, okay? A little longer won't hurt anything."
"When did you get so smart...?" Harry wondered tiredly, eyes drooping.
"When I got my priorities straight," Sirius said dryly. "Now rest; I'll tell you later."
"'Kay..."
During the rest of the week long trip Sirius' education from Ilfana finished, and Harry's education began. His young charge took to the knowledge rather well, in Sirius' opinion. He even took to the changes in his appearance nicely too.
When asked about it all Harry had said was, "Everyone knew me by my face alone; I was always told I looked like my dad, but now I'm more like mum...and I like that."
Not long later Sirius had taken to calling Harry "red" instead of the nickname "cub" that had been formed when he was a child. Harry in turn began to call Sirius Padfoot the more he got to know his godfather.
When they reached Wutai they rested for about a day before taking off. When asked why they weren't staying there Sirius had stated that they stood out too much.
"We need to blend in with those more like us, Red," Sirius told him calmly. "That's why we'll be going to Midgar. It's more along what we're used to. Now did you practice writing and reading the script? You'll need to have a fair comprehension once we get there…"
Harry nodded didn't say anything more.
Known Lands: circa μ εyλ 1996
Harry's fifteenth birthday had come and passed by the time they reached Costa del Sol, as he had turned fourteen while comatose in Japan. It had taken Sirius, and Harry, a long while to scrounge up the gil required get any farther than Rocket Town. So long, in fact, that the New Year had already passed them by. It was February now.
The duo spent two days of pure relaxation in Costa del Sol upon Sirius' insistence that Harry deserved it for all the hard work the teen had put into his studies. Those two days were cut short when Harry, who looked almost feminine with his shoulder length bright red hair, was accosted by two drunkards.
It was the first time that Sirius realized the gravity of some of what Ilfana and the Planet had told him about Harry's abilities, and what could happen if he lost control.
More than human…more than Cetra…more than WEAPON…and Sirius understood much clearer now of Harry's limitations caused by his pre-teens as Harry insisted they called them.
He had said, when Sirius asked, "I never was a child."
Sirius vowed to fix that, but first would come helping the teen on his control to prevent another incident such as Costa del Sol. Said incident ended with a whole block practically in ruins before Sirius was able to locate and calm Harry. They left two hours later with some pilfered gil and a stronger resolve.
Ilfana suggested more meditation exercises while the two here hunkered down on the ship heading to Midgar. Sirius implemented them immediately. He also began to up Harry's lessons on how to fight, and how to fight dirty, knowing that they weren't going to be having the best living conditions. Drawing attention was a big no, and since they barely had any gil anyway the two would be living in the Slums underneath the Plate.
It was on that ship that Harry had finally decided upon a new name for himself, something he and Sirius had been discussing since first arriving in Rocket Town. It was originally Ilfana's idea, and Sirius took to it (especially since Harry rarely called him Sirius anyway) and now bore the name Grim. Harry liked it, but had hesitated concerning his own until then.
"What's th' name?" Sirius asked. Harry tilted his head before smiling slightly.
"Reno," he said.
"Any partic'lar reason?"
"No' really, Padfoot; it just seems right."
"Ah."
When Sirius spoke to Ilfana next, telling her of the names they'd chosen (which she knew already, having been watching them) she told him that both she, and the Planet, approved.
They arrived outside the Midgar Slums where Ilfana visited them one last time.
"You're new life begins now," she said. "Your journey here has taught you much…but you have more to learn." Sirius smiled at her; his smile faded shortly after her next words. "Watch out for my daughter, will you? She doesn't understand…and she needs a Teacher…she—"
"I understand," Sirius interrupted with a whisper, "and I promise ta do my best."
Iflana left them and the two entered the Midgar Slums to begin their new life.
end chapter.
ONWARDS TO THE AUTHORS NOTE!
Wow. Okay, this has been a little bunny that hasn't wanted to leave me be since Shi-kun forced me to begin watching FFVIII cutscenes. He wants me to 'broaden my horizons' on the FF verse. It's not my fault I'm not that much of a gamer, and the only FF games I've played are DoC (AC apparently doesn't count as it's a movie; pooh) and that I have this issue with "aesthetically pleasing" things, meaning I dislike looking at block figures and twitching/glitch-filled moving graphics.
However I bear with it, if only to shut Shi-kun up and sate my own curiosity.
Shi-kun, I mean no disrespect towards you when I say 'shut you up' okay? I love you, my friend, but honestly you can be a bit much -.-;;
That's not a bad thing, though! Don't think that! Don't hate me!
Okay, I think I've prostrated myself for my friend enough XD
Pushing past that, this idea actually came around when Shi-kun decided to shoot down the idea of "Squall = Harry" on the grounds of it would never work.
Really Shi-kun, how can you know it won't work if you don't even try?
Don't kill me!
So, like my Blood of the Mother idea this has to do with the connection of Reno's green eyes and Harry's...only now I've dragged in Sirius, lol.
Right, I'm also sure you all can guess what Sirius is. If you can't, I honestly pity you because I'm pretty damn sure I made it obvious.
Also this idea has similar basing as Planet's Child and if you even look at my profile and check the stories I have listed you can probably guess how they have similar basing.
It also has similar grounds as another idea which I have, but no chapters on that are even forthcoming. That story has the working title Full Circle and is more focused on Vincent, Lucrecia, and Harry. It is also where my CloudRufus obsession truly began...it was a random pairing idea.
Ignore the rambling there.
Finally yes I have most of this story planned out. I'm doing a heck of a lot of research into the FFVII verse (materia, layout, storyline/script) to make sure I get this working right. As you may have guessed this'll be focusing more on the Turks, however AVALANCHE makes a lot of appearances (it has to do with Sirius' role in this fic...you'll see later on) among other things. It will go through CC, 7, AC, and Dirge although each of these will be short segments most likely, with 7 being the longest I am sure.
Then again I'm not 100 percent sure; I still have a heck of a lot more research to do.
That's everything of importance I believe. Review! They make the world go 'round, stave off depravity of the author, and for every review made an author lives a day longer.
On the flip side for every reader who doesn't review an author loses lifespan.
Yeah, kick that one around for a while.
OH! There'll be language, some might even be really foul, but seriously, what can you expect? It's Reno, 'nuff said. Yaoi too, and prolly a lot of innuendo...again, what can you expect? It's Reno...although Sirius might play a bit on that too...hmm...
Most pairings for this story are up the air, barring RenoRufus. That's a definite no changer (unless I get enough reviewers who claim Cloudykins should join in a threesome...I might make an exception then)
Tata!
TK
Twin Kats