Edge is a bit calmer now. Three years had passed since they had last seen Sephiroth. Tifa stood at the kitchen sink inside Strife Delivery Service's home building. She was washing dishes and Barret's adopted child Marlene was helping her work on the small pile of dishes that had grown steadily over the past few days. Tifa hummed quietly to herself and now and again looked outside to watch cloud teaching Denzel how to fight with the sword Cloud has named Tsuragi. As she clearly saw, Tifa could tell that it was a bit much for Denzel at this point but he would soon grow used to the weight of Cloud's giant blade. Her thoughts were broken by Marlene who quietly said, "Tifa, can I ask you something?"
Tifa looked at Marlene with a bit of a surprised look and then said, "Sure, what is it Marlene?"
Marlene seemed to think about her question as a one of her more thoughtful looks crossed her face before she asked her question. "Why do you and Cloud never talk about her?"
Tifa knew who Marlene was talking about even though the girl hadn't said her name. It was still a bit of a sensitive subject with her even after all this time. Tifa had kind of been expecting this but right now she felt like she was going to be at a bit of a loss as to what to say. Tifa sighed loudly and said, "I guess Cloud and I don't talk about her much because we both cared about her so much. We lost one of our greatest friends but Cloud seems to think she might not be as gone as we think. It's just so confusing, losing someone and then hearing there might be a possibility that they would come back. It's like it was with Sephiroth, although that we didn't wish for by any means."
Marlene weighed what Tifa said in her mind and heart and then said, "If I had been older back then and been with you guys, I would have fought Sephiroth with you." Her voice had the gravity of all seriousness in it when she spoke.
Tifa was taken aback by this statement. Surely Marlene had seen what Sephiroth was capable of in the past. "Marlene Wallace, I'm very sure you would but please don't say such things. Barret would kill us for letting you fight."
Upon hearing her full name, Marlene knew that discretion was going to be the better part of valor and quickly stopped talking about the matter. It took them several more minutes to finish up all the dishes and then Tifa spoke up saying, "Marlene, do you think you could run a delivery for me? I need you to run a package up the street. You remember where that girl with the Moogle doll lives?"
"You mean Rina? Yeah of course I do." Marlene said, letting Tifa know the girl's name as it was obvious Tifa had forgotten it.
"Well the store that is getting this is right next to her house. Be a good girl and run that package on the table up there for me." Tifa said with a smile.
Marlene assented to her orders by nodding and she grabbed the package and left the shop.
Cloud and Denzel walked in as Marlene left. Cloud looked at Tifa and smiled one of his rare smiles and Denzel asked, "Where's Marlene going?"
"Oh just up the road to do a delivery for me. Reno wanted me to drop it off at that shop for him." Tifa said as she sat down and relaxed a bit.
Cloud's Mako colored eyes stared at Tifa and he asked, "You sure that's a good idea? You know what our history with the Turks has been like in the past. I don't need Reno calling in favors to us all the time."
"I'm doing this because Reno is paying us, not because we owe him anything. I'm just as aware about our history with the Turks as you are Cloud." Tifa said her tone slightly cold.
"Yeah well, I just don't trust them, that's all." Cloud said, his voice flat. "You hear from anyone lately? The only one who has been in touch with me on a constant basis is Barret and he said he hasn't heard from Vincent, Yuffie or Cid in a while. Red XIII and Cait Sith both seem to have disappeared from our radar too, but then again a Turk controls that cat. Reeve is as elusive as is his cat."
"The only person I've heard from is Yuffie. She seems to be holed up in Wutai. By the sounds of it she's trying to find someone who'll love her for who she is." Tifa said, some of her natural warmth sinking back into her tone.
Cloud looked at Tifa a bit darkly and said in his normal passive voice, "That girl doesn't need anything like that."
"It's not for you to say that Cloud." Tifa said instantly.
"I don't care if it is or not. I'm just stating my opinion Tifa." Cloud shot back.
"Well your opinion is stubborn and pigheaded. You think that the whole world is a dark and evil place. Move past what's in your past Cloud." Tifa said gently knowing this was going to be a touchy subject.
"I'm leaving. I'm not sitting here and listening to this all over again." Cloud said as he got up, picking up his sword off the wall where he had propped it. "Vincent called me today. Says that something's stirring again. He also said that he might be coming back again." He said with his back turned as he walked out of the house.
A chill ran down Tifa's spine as she thought about what Cloud had just said. It wasn't Vincent he had been talking about coming back. It was something much darker.
Elsewhere in Gaia, Vincent Valentine was staring at the crystal the object of his love has encased herself in. He was still working out how to get her back but he might as well give up on it if he hadn't found an answer by now. The conversation with Cloud had been short. Just a mention that something was stirring again, that Sephiroth might be coming back once more. Vincent was still getting used to carrying the phone Tifa had bought him at the end of their long fight with Kadaj and his gang. Still it let him tell Cloud about his findings. Knowing that Weiss and Nero had been planning to bring back Project G just two years prior had given Vincent enough reason to look into the matter of Sephiroth once more. Genesis could be easily handled but Sephiroth was something Cloud had to deal with. If the both of them had returned Vincent knew that the world was going to be in far more trouble than just Cloud could handle. He spoke to empty air and to Lucrecia who wouldn't hear him anyway. "I guess it's time to get everyone back together again. This fight is going to take all of us working together once more." He put his hand on his gun, Cerberus, and looked at Lucrecia once more before leaving the cave. As he left he got out his phone once more and started to call those he knew they would need to help them.
Farther south in Wutai Village, Cid was getting bored waiting around for Yuffie all day. His cigarette burned slowly in his mouth as he took a drag on it. Yuffie had told him that she was only going to be a short while at her place, that she was meeting someone here. That had been over two hours and twenty cigarettes ago. Cid always thought he had a decently long enough temper but Yuffie had stretched it too far this time. He swore loudly as he said to himself, "Damn it Yuffie. Why in hell do I gotta come down there and drag your ass out? You're wasting my time girl." He let himself into Yuffie's house and went to go grab her.
The downstairs of Yuffie's House was a mess. It was her room after all. The only things out of place in the messy room were the two sets of girl's clothes that lay spread out across the room. One set was Yuffie's and the other belonged to the girl who was currently on top of Yuffie passionately kissing her. That wasn't all that was going on between the two of them either. Yuffie's hands were on the girl's toned ass, pulling her close and the girl's hands were gently kneading Yuffie's breasts. Each time the girl brushed a nipple she gained a gentle moan from Yuffie. Yuffie let her hands slide around the girl's hips and in between her legs. The girl gently broke their kiss and looked at Yuffie. "Someone isn't patient I see." She grabbed Yuffie's hands by the wrists and pulled them away saying, "You'll get your turn when I'm done. For now you can settle by letting me pleasure you. Oh and before I forget, my name's Aiko."
Yuffie smiled and lustfully said, "Aiko, if you don't get busy, I'm going to."
Aiko smiled at this and kissed Yuffie once more before trailing a line of kisses down Yuffie's chest. All of this surprised Yuffie. She had simply asked a girl she had met in the materia shop over and all she had wanted to do was ask her out. Instead here she was getting her mind blown by the amount of pleasure this girl was giving her. Yuffie moaned gently as she felt two of Aiko's fingers slide inside of her and start to play around. The sensation of Aiko's tongue on her nipples was almost as intoxicating to Yuffie as the feel of Aiko's fingers playing with all of the most sensitive spots inside of her. Yuffie couldn't think of anything that would feel better until she felt Aiko trail kisses further down her body until she reached Yuffie's now soaked slit. Yuffie at once saw what Aiko was intending to do and spread her legs to invite the girl inside. Aiko didn't need to be told twice and dove in hungrily. Yuffie let out a loud moan as she felt Aiko's tongue playing around inside of her. Yuffie ran her fingers through Aiko's hair and pushed her closer while she arched herself to let Aiko in deeper. Aiko obliged this unspoken desire and it drove Yuffie wild with pleasure. The moans were much louder now as Aiko brought her attention up to Yuffie's clit. Yuffie felt like she was going to break with the feeling rising inside of her. With Aiko flicking her tongue back and forth and gently sucking on Yuffie's clit, it did not take long for Yuffie to finally climax. Yuffie held Aiko closer as she came, a loud moan accompanying it.
Aiko slowly pulled away and licked her lips before kissing Yuffie, sharing the unique taste of the girl. Yuffie smiled and said, "You're next Aiko. I'm sure you'll taste better too."
Aiko smirked as she saw Yuffie waste no time at all getting down to business. Yuffie gently slid a couple of fingers inside of Aiko causing her to gasp in pleasure. Yuffie played with her new lover trying to get Aiko to moan as loudly as she had. She kissed Aiko and immediately slid her tongue down Aiko's body. She made the whole trip down to Aiko's slit without stopping. Yuffie stopped just above Aiko's opening and smiled up at Aiko. Aiko spread her legs open and spoke, panting, "Just get in there already ninja girl. I want you like you wouldn't believe."
Yuffie ran her hands along the inside of Aiko's thighs and said lustfully, "I should just drive you crazy with waiting, but I want you too."
With that Yuffie let her tongue slide inside of Aiko. The taste of the girl was amazing to Yuffie. Aiko's moans grew louder as Yuffie slid her tongue along the slit and then in deeper causing Aiko to arch herself to get Yuffie to go in deeper. Yuffie took her time, licking at every inch of Aiko's soft, wet slit. Yuffie then found Aiko's clit and went straight for it. Aiko moaned even louder, and panting told Yuffie, "Come, on. Faster, harder."
Yuffie obliged her and licked at Aiko's clit with a furious passion. Yuffie nibbled at it and flicked at it with her tongue. Aiko's moans had grown more frantic and louder as Yuffie drove her closer to her climax. Aiko arched suddenly and held Yuffie close as she finally came. Aiko's moan was loud and let Yuffie know just how much her new lover had enjoyed things. The two collapsed on the bed kissing passionately. A knock at the door came a few minutes later with a gruff sounding voice saying, "Yuffie what the hell you doing girl? I've been waiting for two hours now. Come on girl, your dad wanted to see you remember?"
Yuffie sighed and said, "I'll be out in a minute Cid, hold your damn horses."
She dressed quickly and smiled at Aiko who had fallen asleep on her bed. Yuffie left a note for Aiko saying she would be back shortly and went out into the hall and smiled at Cid who was standing there, cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth. "I don't want to know what you were up to in there but your dad wanted to see you."
Yuffie groaned inwardly at this but decided to follow Cid to the other end of town. She wanted nothing more than to still be back in her room with Aiko. She walked slowly next to Cid and said, "So have you heard anything from anyone we know lately?"
"Yep. I heard from Vincent earlier, said he's got wind of something nasty kickin' up again. Sounds like we'll be seeing the gang before long." Cid said, taking a long drag of his cigarette.
Yuffie sighed as she knew that meant flying in the airship again. She hated the fact that she got motion sick. It wasn't a proper thing for a ninja to have happen. She knew her father would be angry if he ever learned this fact. Wutai was peaceful but Yuffie could feel a cold wind blow across her face as she walked. It felt like something was in the air that added to what Cid had said that Vincent mentioned.
Just outside of Edge the sound of Cloud's motorcycle Fenrir roared off the walls of the cliffs as he drove though them. He just wanted to drive around and get his mind off of things. At least this time he wasn't plague by the Geostigma, causing him to remember things he wanted forgotten. This time it had been Tifa who had caused him to recall the past and his never ending fight against Sephiroth. He didn't know specifically where he wanted to go as he drove. His mind wandered and he decided to go up to Healin Lodge where he had talked with Rufus Shinra before. If his memory served him well Cloud knew that Barret was in Healin. Maybe talking to Barret about things would get his mind off of the past. He gunned his motorcycle and drove, leaving a trail of dust as the only sign he had been there.
"It is nice to see you here Vincent. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visitation?" said Red XIII as Vincent sat down on the only couch in Red XIII's house.
The wolf like Red XIII sat down on his haunches and stared at Vincent, his fiery tail flickering slightly. Vincent quietly said, "Sephiroth's coming back again. This time though there's something else to complicate things."
"How could things get any more complex than that evil returning to Gaia?" Red XIII said, looking solemn.
Vincent laced his fingers together and said, "Have you ever heard of a Shin-Ra project called 'Project G'?"
Red XIII shifted uncomfortably at the mention of Shin-Ra. "Yes, I have but only in passing. I never knew what the project was though."
"While I was asleep to atone for my sins the project came into full effect. At its core was the person known as Genesis Rhapsodos." Vincent's voice shifted tone slightly. "I know that Weiss and Nero had been planning to revive him. I think they succeeded. If both Genesis and Sephiroth are in this world at the same time, it will take more than just Cloud to deal with the problems this world is going to face."
Red XIII looked at Vincent thoughtfully. His mind thought of the implications behind what Vincent was talking about. He sighed and said, "If what you say is true than it seems like we shall need everyone helping to deal with this. Who besides myself have you told this to?"
Vincent said, "I've told Cloud but haven't told him to gather everyone together. I have told Cid who said he would tell Yuffie. I also talked to Reeve about this and he said he'll send Cait Sith along to help. Barret is next on my list of people to tell. When I'm done that I'll have Cloud send out the general gather order. I'm not sure about this one though. I don't know if we can win this time."
Cloud walked up the steps to Healin lodge minutes after arriving. He had planned on talking to Barret here, hoping to get things off of his mind. Barret stood at the top of the stairs and giving Cloud a big smile said, "Yo, spiky nice to see you. The hell you doing out this way?"
"Arguing with Tifa, that's what has me out this way." Cloud said coldly. "You got a minute?"
"Sure I got a minute, what do you need Cloud?" Barret said, his voice becoming a bit more serious.
"I just want to talk. I need to forget some things for a while." Cloud said not looking directly at Barret.
The two walked into the lodge and found a somewhat comfortable spot to sit. Cloud went to speak when the door to the outside opened once more and Vincent walked in unannounced. "Good, the two of you are here. This saves me a phone call."
Cloud looked at Vincent and said flatly, "What do you want Vincent?"
"I needed to tell you about something." Vincent said.
"Well spit it out Vinnie." Barret said, his tone jovial.
Vincent shot Barret a withering look before saying. "I'll just cut right to the chase then. Sephiroth is coming back and this time he won't be alone. Weiss and Nero brought back Genesis a year ago and Genesis knows that bringing Sephiroth back to help him will make things much harder."
"Genesis?" said Cloud. "I recognize that name."
"Of course you would. Zack defeated him over six years ago. If Sephiroth doesn't kill him outright, Genesis will complicate things." Vincent said.
A ringing sound filled Cloud's ears and he grunted as he held his head. His eyes shifted from their normal light blue to a dark green, the shape of their pupils becoming slits. The sensation was like the Stigma had come back after all this time being rid of it. It hurt enough for Cloud to fall off the couch, writing in pain. He was thankful when he passed out seconds later.
The first thing Cloud heard upon waking up was Barret saying, "The hell was that spiky?"
Cloud caught his breath and painfully said, "He's back. I can feel it. Sephiroth's finally come back and you were right Vincent. He's not alone this time."
(Author's note: Final fantasy is always one of those things that fanfictioning it can be either good or bad. I hope we, yes we, fall into the first category. Unlike everything else I've written this as a collaboration. Now there are a few reasons for this. First of all, so I didn't screw up one of my favorite games of all time by trying to do this all by myself. Second is that working with someone was the only way I wanted to attempt something as far as writing for Final Fantasy 7 goes. The last reason is the other writer is a good, personal friend of mine and probably knows 7 better than I know all of the sequels and prequels to that game. He also set up the whole project and is the one running all the little details as I write. Using what we knew of the games and movie, we've tried to create a continuance of 7. The yuri in here isn't simply just for entertainment. There's a reason for everything here. So, come with us as we once more follow Cloud and the whole gang as they try to save the world once more. Next chapter should be out in about a week. Read and enjoy.)
Shinobi of the Onyx Sands and Lucian J. Raidijiu