Chapter 2
Sector 8 was quite familiar to Korri Olanice now. She walked through the large cobblestone square that lay at the heart of the town, and advanced on the marble fountain at the square's center. At the distinct sound of Korri's heels tapping the cobblestone a young man, around 23, sitting on the fountain's edge looked up. His skin was strangely tanned, for there was no sunlight in Midgar. She had found him easily because of this, and his long spikes of silver-white hair that flew back from his forehead like a snowy mane.
"You are Matel?" she asked coolly. The man nodded and stood up, showing his full height. He wore a dark blue suit, much like Korri's.
"Yeah, that's me," he said, "What is it?"
Wordlessly, Korri slid a thin blue card from her pocket, and tossed it in Matel's direction so that it landed on his collar, suspended under his stiff lapels.
"Perfect aim, as always," he said, taking the card, but when he looked up, the woman was gone. He looked at the card, and his eyebrows raised. He then slowly smiled.
"It's about time!" he whispered, putting the card into his own pocket.
*~*~*~*
Tenshi had finished the job set on her by Venne rather easily. Then again, it was supposed to be easy. She had then rented a room at an inn for herself and Terrea. It was about the best sleeping place you could get in the slums, aside from a private home.
Tenshi opened her eyes. She had been awake for some time, but she had finally decided to get up. She looked beside her toward Terrea, in her own bed. The girl was fast asleep still, so Tenshi got up, walked to the other bed, and tossed another blanket onto Terrea.
Tenshi surveyed the room. No windows. Of course, why would one want windows with no sun, and only the dirty slums of Sector 7 to see? She then checked the clock. 8:03 MST (Midgar Standard Time). Then, she sat on the end of her bed and rolled the previous day's experiences over in her mind. She had escaped a train, been captured by Turks, met Rain again, met Aerith, delivered a message for Venne, and came to this hotel. Of course, her favourite part was seeing Rain. They had grown up together in Gongaga -along with-who?- and had lived next door to each other. The two were inseparable, and were always together -together with…- exploring the areas near the town. Rain had left Gongaga first -after him- leaving Tenshi by herself. Bored with Gongaga, Tenshi decided to pursue the same lifestyle as him -them- as a mercenary.
And now, finally, she had found him again.
He had asked her to meet him at the bar, called Seventh Heaven, at nine, so they could catch up. Now Tenshi waited impatiently for the clock to show that number.
Tenshi went to the washroom for a shower, and by the time she had dried and changed her clothes Terrea was awake.
"What time is it…?" she moaned groggily.
"Check the clock yourself," called Tenshi, still in the washroom, putting in her jewellery. Terrea stumbled toward the desk, half-blind with sleep, and was unaware of the ottoman until she tripped over it, landing with a crash and a stifled moan of annoyance.
Tenshi looked out the bathroom door at the noise, and shook her head. "It's just after 8:30, klutz," she laughed. Terrea obviously didn't think it was very funny.
"Whoa, what's the occasion?" Terrea asked, seeing Tenshi come out of the washroom. She had put aside her vest and shorts for an oriental-looking high-collared sleeveless blue top with floral patterns, and a matching skirt, which fell, straight, to the top of her kneecaps. She still wore her laced, knee-high boots, but that was because she had failed to pack other footwear. She had also put jewellery in all of her piercing: crystalline earrings, a ring over the right side of her nose, and silver rings in her snakebites. She also had a tight silver chain around her neck, and six rings on various fingers. Her hair was straightened so that it fell in a glossy, shimmering sheet down her back.
Tenshi just grinned.
"No, tell me!" Terrea laughed.
"I'm meeting an old friend soon," said Tenshi, "So I'll be leaving in a few minutes. Stay here, and call me if you leave, okay?"
"Yes, mom."
*~*~*~*
As she walked through the streets of the slums, men whistled at her. Tenshi smiled and winked back at them, watching in amusement as their faces flushed red. She went up the steps to the small bar, took a deep breath, and opened the door.
At that instant she was hit with the strong smell of alcohol so hard she stumbled. She stood there, trying to get her wits back, when the barmaid called pleasantly, "Sorry about the smell, but could you please come in and shut the door?" She laughed.
"Sorry," said Tenshi, dipping her head in apology. The barmaid sniffed as if smelling the air. She then waved her hand in front of her nose, and went to open one of the windows.
"It doesn't smell much better out there," she said, "But it's not as thick."
Tenshi surveyed the room. There were two tables, a counter with eight barstools, and a pinball machine. The barmaid had gone back behind the counter, and was washing a shot glass. One of the tables was full up with customers, and a few children were crowded around the pinball machine. The second table was held three people: a red-headed girl, a rather large boy, and a tall wiry young man. At the counter, though, there was a man with spiky red hair drawn back in a ponytail. He was the person Tenshi was looking for.
"Hey, Rain," she said, sitting down beside the red-haired man. He looked so different than when he had left her in Gongaga, yet his features were still the same: the angular yet pleasant pale face, and bright, intense unnatural yellow-orange eyes.
"Hi Tenshi," he said, smiling his odd fanged grin, "Why so dressed up?"
"I don't know" she said, blushing, "I just thought… well, never mind what I thought. What have you been doing since you left Gongaga?"
"I've been doing jobs wherever they come," he said, "Mostly in Nibelheim."
"Really?" Tenshi asked, "I was in Nibelheim about, oh, about a year ago."
"Oh, I had left for Midgar by then," Rain said, "I got hired out by an executive of Shinra to do a surveillance job. One of the Turks seemed… different, so I was told to keep an eye on her."
"And?"
"I don't know," he said, and then laughed, "I got laid off after a while."
"Oh, that sucks."
"Yeah, but I'm still earning gil. What've you been doing lately?"
"Well, I left about 6 months after you," you two "left, and tried to take jobs. I bounced around, from Corel, to Nibelheim, and Kalm, and Junon, and wherever else work took me. I guess you could say I'm quite the traveler. I ended up in Midgar a two days ago after being hired out."
"Sounds fun," said Rain.
"It is. I love to see new places."
"Same old Tenshi," he said.
"Same old Rain," she replied.
"Hey, miss!" called one of the patrons, ruining the moment between Rain and Tenshi, "Can I get another bottle?"
The barmaid bent down to look under the counter.
"Hey, Wedge!" she called to the tall wiry youth, "Can you go upstairs and get me another crate of whiskey?"
"Okay, Tifa!" he replied, and got up from the table and disappeared up the stairs near the pinball machine.
"Can I buy you a drink?" Rain asked after a moment.
"Uh, sure," Tenshi replied.
"Hey, Tifa, can we get two glasses of red wine?"
"Er, white wine for me," Tenshi added hastily. The barmaid smiled and nodded, and grabbed two glasses, and, in one movement, snatched the two bottles, popped them open simultaneously, and poured two glasses. She did it so expertly Tenshi was stunned. She then brought them the two glasses.
"Thanks… it's Tifa, right?" said Tenshi.
"Mmhm," she nodded.
"I'm Tenshi," she replied, holding out her hand. Tifa shook it.
"Pleasure to meet you," she said, smiling genuinely. That's when Wedge returned with the crate of whiskey. He plopped it down on the counter with a tinkling noise.
"Can you take a bottle to the other table there?" Tifa asked Wedge. He nodded, opened the crate, and took a bottle out.
Rain and Tenshi drank their wine, talking idly. After they were done, Rain paid and asked Tenshi if she'd like to be shown around a little. She was about to agree when her phone rang.
"Hello?" she asked.
"Hey Tenshi," It was Terrea, "You said you wanted me to call you when I left?"
"Yeah, where are you going?"
"I dunno," she said, "Around. Do you want me to call you when I'm going back?"
"Uh, sure. Thanks Terrea," and she hung up.
"Who was that?" asked Rain.
"Oh, my roommate, I guess," Tenshi replied, "Where were we--?" She was cut off, by her phone again.
"Yeah?"
"Tenshi, I have a new job for you," said the person on the other end.
"Oh," Tenshi replied sarcastically, "Good morning to you too Venne. How are you?" in a deeper voice, "I'm good Tenshi, how are you?"Normally, "I'm fine, Venne. Glad you asked. Oh, by the way Tenshi, I have a new job for you. Oh really Venne, what is it?"
Venne sighed.
"Just get your cocky ass to the Sector 8 square. Now." And he hung up.
"Care to give me a tour to the Sector 8 square? I've got a new job," Tenshi asked Rain.
"Gladly," he laughed, and the two left the bar.
"Come again!" called Tifa as the door closed.
The two walked through the town of Sector 7. As they walked, they chatted about a wide range of things, and by the time they reached Sector 8, Tenshi realized that she hadn't paid attention and had no idea how to get back to Sector 7 -- until Rain brought the numerous signs to her attention. When they reached the square, they saw Venne standing with a stranger beside the marble fountain with his arms crossed. Just before she left, Tenshi and Rain exchanged phone numbers. She then went over to Venne.
"Well?" Tenshi asked.
"Tenshi, this is a Turk, Shayla. She'll be assisting you on this job."
Shayla, a young woman with a high, long brown ponytail, sized Tenshi up. Then she laughed shrilly, twirling a long hunting rifle on her finger as if it were a mere baton.
"So you're Tenshi! Pleasure," The last word had heavy sarcasm.
"You're no jewel either," said Tenshi, complete with an eye roll.
"Okay," sighed Venne, "Your job is to find a rogue Turk, and bring him back here, dead or alive." He then pulled out a folder. He held it out, and Shayla was about to take when he handed it to Tenshi. Shayla had a rather shocked expression on, and Tenshi threw her a smirk. "Shayla, there is a tracker on your phone. Tenshi, the file is a description of the man. Now go!"
They walked off in the direction indicated by Shayla. Reading the file, Tenshi learned that the subject had bright blue hair in a waterfall fashion, with a long X-shaped scar across his nose and forehead. He was last seen wearing a long black cloak.
"His name is Asi," said Shayla, "He fled after going on some sort of a rampage, killing four Turk trainees and five low-level SOLDIERs. Apparently, it all started--"
"I'd rather not learn his life story," said Tenshi, "Let's just get it over with and kill him. He'll be much more manageable that way."
Shayla looked at her partner. "You'd make a good Turk," she finally laughed. Tenshi shrugged.
"Could you send me the tracker?" Tenshi asked. Shayla nodded and sent her the tracker. "Okay, let's go."
Tenshi took off at a run, and Shayla cried out at the unexpected motion, but quickly matching the mercenary's speed. The two women dashed through the streets, quickly catching up to the flashing red dot. Suddenly, Shayla cried out upon seeing the target, who noticed the two and took off at a run.
"Keep going," said Tenshi, who veered off into another alley. She checked her phone, and moved to corner the target.
Shayla chased him down an alleyway. Asi artfully leapt-flipped over a stack of crates, and Shayla followed, throwing herself over with one hand. She then noticed that is was a long alleyway with no obstacles. She cocked her shotgun, and mounted it on her shoulder. She shot.
"Damn it!" Shayla cried, as Asi ducked behind a crate, avoiding the bullet. Tenshi then from another alley, between Shayla and Asi. She checked her phone, and slowly went up to a crate, and with a crash, brought it down on the crate. In that instant, Asi grabbed a pipe on the wall, and rappelled his way up on t the roof. Tenshi yelled out, dismissed her summoned staff, and proceeded to follow Asi. Shayla ran up, to do the same.
Asi dashed across the roof of the apartment complex. Tenshi looked upwards for a moment, and was completely taken in by the close iron sky that was the upper plate.
"Tenshi!" Shayla cried, snapping her out of it. Tenshi nodded and continued to chase Asi, now farther ahead of her.
"I've got you now!" Tenshi laughed, as Asi began to run out of roof, "You'll never make that long of a jump."
Apparently he could.
"What!?" Shayla cried after watching Asi leap to the next building.
"He's got enhancement materia," said Tenshi, "Shoot him quickly!"
Shayla cocked her rifle, aimed, fingered the trigger…
Asi collapsed off the rooftop into the alleyway below. Tenshi ran to the edge and hopped off onto a sturdy-looking crate, then onto the road. She ran to the dead end alleyway where Asi had fallen, only to find him holding a massive, freshly summoned claymore. Shayla hadn't shot him. He had fallen to make them believe he was dead.
"My turn…" he whispered, the glint of madness in his eye. His hair had become dishevelled, and his scar now seemed brighter.
Tenshi screamed and ran for her life. She leapt boxes and obstacles with the grace combined with extreme haste.
"Shayla, run!" she shrieked. Shayla's eyes widened upon seeing Asi's state, and took off. Tenshi glanced behind her to see that Asi hadn't entered this alley yet. She ducked into an archway that stuck out of a building over the door, and stood as still as she could, despite her ragged panting and the cold sweat running down her brow.
"You're in here somewhere…" came Asi's deranged whisper. Tenshi was practically holding her breath, praying to the goddess he wouldn't see her, and move on, so she could get him from behind.
The silence was unbearable. Tenshi could watch Asi from a crack between the bricks. She saw him ready to leave. Tenshi sighed, then…
Riiiiiiiiiiing! went her cell phone. Asi whipped around. Tenshi let out a small whimper as he moved closer.
Riiiiiiiiiiing! Asi suddenly ran up, and brought his claymore down hard on the arch. The bricks flew apart in a shower of stone and mortar, burying Tenshi.
Tenshi! Wake the hell up!
I… I can't…
Have you really become this weak?
Shut up.
Move over, let me handle him.
Asi was about to leave, when there the bricks moved. Tenshi stepped out.
"You're alive…!" Asi cried, staring in disbelief at Tenshi. Except, it didn't really seem like Tenshi. Her eyes had changed from deep blue to a fiery emerald green, and the atmosphere around her seemed different, more… fierce.
"Are you going to run?" Tenshi asked with an arrogant sneer. She then ran up, and with a palm strike to the chest, knocked Asi back a few paces. He swung his claymore at her, but she whipped around behind him, grabbed the sword out of his hand, and tossed it behind her as if it were nothing. She then spun around, back to back with him, and drove her elbow into his back. With a grunt, he fell to the ground.
"Wh-what are you…?" he moaned, struggling to get up. There was a bang, and Asi fell over, his eyes still open, with a shocked expression pasted on his dead face.
"I could have handled him myself, Shayla," said Tenshi.
"Tenshi, your eyes!" Shayla gasped. Suddenly, the colour of Tenshi's eyes flickered until they landed at their original blue, and she suddenly seemed much more fragile. With a moan, the young woman fell to the pavement, and lost consciousness.
*~*~*~*
"Tenshi…"
She slowly opened her eyes, thankful that the light was dim. She was in a bed, presumably in the Shin-Ra building. Around her was Shayla, Rain, Terrea, and Venne.
"Wh-where am I…?" she moaned.
"The Shin-Ra building," said Shayla, confirming her suspicions. Venne and I brought you back, and I then called your friends," she gestured to Rain and Terrea.
"With my cell?" she asked. Shayla nodded.
"I found it along with a pendant near where you collapsed."
"My pendant!" Tenshi gasped, grabbing the raindrop-shaped pendant from the small table beside her. She sat up and put it on.
"Now that you're better," said Venne, "I have business to attend to," and he left the room.
"Tenshi," said Shayla, "What happened to you back there?"
"What do you mean?" Tenshi asked.
"Shayla told us about the eye colour thing," said Terrea. Rain looked away, knowing instantly what they were talking about. Tenshi sighed.
"You have to promise not to tell anyone," she said. Shayla and Terrea nodded.
"I have MPD. A split personality."
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She did it. She dropped the 'two-in-one' bomb. This can't go over well.
