Chapter 2

The WRT

Summary:

A massive city. A Thief. A Chase. A Purpose.


The morning chill and dew clung to everything. The campfire had been quenched and left to smolder with residual heat. The sound of an engine coming to life cut through the stillness with the precision of a sharp knife. Fenrir snaked its way through the undergrowth, disturbing flocks of birds which hadn't risen yet. Roxas felt delighted at seeing the abundance of life all around him, as it punctuated the conversation they had last night.

The early morning faded and mountains made of wood and steel began to tower before them. Wutai Village came into view. The name was certainly deceptive, Roxas thought. He saw the pagoda well before they had reached the top of the plateau, climbing out of a deep valley. It was a massive structure, towering over the landscape. Cloud halted the bike on the crest of the mountain they had just rode up. Both were awe-stricken. A vast city sprawled out before them. This surely must have been one of the most open spaces on the entire island, and it was completely swallowed up by man made structures. At the very heart stood the pagoda and a few massive and imposing looking temples, glistening red in the haze. The mountain range hugged the city all around almost protectively.

The city appeared densely zoned together. Yet even here the war had left its mark. Debris littered and tore whole sections of the cityscape apart, leaving gaping voids and scars among the modest medium density buildings and the few high rises that did exist. Cloud imagined living here while the insurgencies were running amok, terrorizing everyone and blowing things up. He shuddered and his mind wandered to Zack. This is where Zack had spent nearly six years of his life. Cloud couldn't be further from the older man, yet he felt closer to him at this very moment than even at their most intimate moments.

Cloud's stomach had turned when Roxas told him where he wanted to go. But Cloud had made himself a promise to give his brother more autonomy and choice in the things they were going to do from here on in. He had come to realize that he couldn't dictate anyone's life but his own.

The thought of coming to Wutai had scared him to death, though. He had been terrified of what he would find - of what he would have to face. Their father's death haunted Cloud. The events and choices he made after the message was delivered to them tormented him. Cloud had feared what coming to the place which was the catalyst for it all would do to him. Cloud suspected that those thoughts whirling around his head were more to blame for his motion sickness than being on the actual vessel when they crossed the straits between the mainland and Wutai. Yet he couldn't bring himself to speak about it with Roxas.

Cloud was beginning to feel more at ease however. Wutai was just like any other place. He had seen the life all around as they had pushed through the countryside. And now to be gazing upon the city like he was; Cloud deeply breathed in the crisp air and let out a long sigh.

"What do you think we'll find down there?" asked Cloud of his travel companion.

Roxas gazed across the vast expanse and sternly stated, "Answers. I want to know what was so important for dad to give us up."

It was a stab to Cloud's heart. They never spoke about their father; too much resentment, and too much blame. Cloud loved his father despite everything though. He held many good memories of being with him. Roxas however had hardly any, and it made Cloud sad.

"Let's find out together," spoke Cloud as he turned to look upon his sibling. Roxas reflexively glanced at Cloud and gave a steely nod. Fenrir roared to life once more.


They were parallel with the city within half an hour. From ground level the city looked more formidable, albeit also more torn and destitute in some ways. Rubble and ruins kissed the outskirts. The bike passed a few people tending to their daily chores like the rice fields and maintaining or fixing the surrounding tumbling buildings. Only a handful of vehicles passed them by seemingly heading towards the harbor town. Wutai once had a population of 7 million. He had read about it in a brochure he found while trying to keep his breakfast down during their sea crossing. Cloud dreaded to think of where that number stood now.

As they continued their journey the buildings grew denser and streets narrowed considerably. Cloud pulled over into something that might have purposefully been built to be a car park or perhaps it had once been the site of a building. He couldn't be sure. Both got up and stretched. The morning had passed and the sun indicated it to be high noon as it beat down on them ferociously.

Cloud dug around for his map and then began walking out his stiff legs whilst trying to orientate himself and the map in relation to the landmarks. Roxas joined him shortly with a muesli bar shoved in his mouth and another in his hand to offer to Cloud.

He took it with a "Thanks" and turned his eyes up at the pagoda which was still a considerable distance away yet noticeably looming large. "You know, I read about Wutai. There are many tourist hot spots, especially in the center of the city."

"I really don't feel like being a tourist, Cloud." muttered Roxas.

The two weighed up their options for several minutes, debating where to go and what they even wanted to get out of this experience. A small sound caught Cloud's attention from behind them. The occasional car had passed by. The insects hummed in the hot summer air, but this sound was something scraping against metal. Cloud glanced around out of reflex rather than genuine concern, and quickly did a double take. He suddenly sprang into action and dashed off, starling Roxas.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing!", yelled Cloud as he made short work of the distance between himself and his bike which was currently being rifled through by a reedy girl barely any older than Roxas. Dark brown eyes shot up. The startled look was replaced by a wicked grin. She grabbed their bags, slung them over her shoulder and jumped backwards with great agility. Letting out a boastful laugh a voice emanated from that tiny frame. 'You've just been burgled by The Single White Rose of Wutai! See ya!"

She was off like a shot.

Cloud gave chase without a second thought, yelling at Roxas to stay put only to hear a second set of footsteps advancing and keeping time with his own.

They ran through alleyways, vaulted over fences, and dodged any items the thief knocked over in her wake. The brothers didn't know the terrain so they were at a clear disadvantage. They would round a corner only to find the next alley completely deserted. Then a sound would alert them to the thief's whereabouts and they would make another mad dash for it. They would see the thief scale rooftops and give more boastful laughs, taunting them before disappearing on the other side.

"She's toying with us," huffed Cloud, exhaustion starting to set in. They had been at this game of cat and mouse for over ten minutes now and still were no closer to getting their belongings back. They were however completely lost, observed Cloud as he looked about yet another alley. Every turn started to look the same. Maybe they had just been running in circles? Cloud wasn't sure.

A clatter sounded from one of the rooftops.

"In there!" shouted Roxas and raced towards a wooden structure with a stone lantern adorning the front. Cloud followed as Roxas slid the door open with a loud rattle shouting 'We've got you now, thief!" They burst into the dark interior, eyes adjusting slowly after having been in the glaring sun for so long.

"Can we help you?" a man's voice came out of the dimness.

As eyes adjusted the brothers began making out the features of the house they had stumbled into. It looked to have been a bar once upon a time with a counter running the length of the back wall and glass cabinets behind it. It had been completely gutted however. Several sturdy looking wooden tables and a sofa lined one side of the room and a large and imposing table stood in the center littered with reams of paper, writing utensils and a hefty amount of drinking cups and coffee pots. This table seemed the focal point of the room if the small crowd of people gathered around it was anything to go by.

A brunette man dressed in a casual white shirt, and dark washed jeans stepped forward. Calculating yet calm blue eyes fell on the two blondes who had come crashing into their space. Heavy breathing filled the room. The gentle hum of the ceiling fans could be heard overhead as well as the buzzing of the few lamps that illuminated the table.

A gust of wind rolled through, rattling the traditional wooden sliding door and walls. Cloud cleared his throat uncomfortably. "We're in pursuit of a girl who stole our things. We thought she came through here," said Cloud by way of an apology for barging in like they had.

All eyes were on Cloud and Roxas. Both of them felt awkward. Suddenly a girl who was sitting at the table bent over a laptop began giggling, causing her brown flicks of hair to bob and dance around her face.

The man who stood in front of the brothers let out an exasperated sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose with a gloved hand. Turning his back on the intruders he threw his eyes upwards to the roof and barked, "I know you like to steal from rich people, Yuffie, but these kids don't look like they've ever seen anything of value in their lives. What are you doing!?"

A hatch opened above. The taunting voice which had lead Cloud and Roxas on the wild goose chase chimed up "Look out down below!" and two bags were dropped from the ceiling hitting the wooden floor hard.

"Hey watch it!" shouted Roxas in concern and rushed over with Cloud close behind him to claim their items.

The girl lowered herself swiftly from the hatch, being careful to aim for Cloud as she dropped, landing squarely on his shoulder. She laughed loudly, ruffling Cloud's hair and somersaulted off while Cloud made sounds of indignation.

"I just thought the blonde was too cute… so I brought him in," Yuffie winked at the brothers, grinning broadly. Cloud and Roxas exchanged confused looks, not knowing which of them she was actually referring to.

The girl at the computer laughed again while the other men just sighed.

"I'm sorry that she caused you so much trouble," said the man who seemed to take on the leadership role of the small group. "Apologize to them Kisaragi and make it up to them" came the order.

"The Great Ninja Yuffie apologizes to no one!".

"I will revoke your mini bar privileges if you don't."

The girl called Yuffie looked stricken.

"But Squall!"

The man she had addressed as Squall only narrowed his eyes and shook his head. Yuffie's head slumped and she dragged her heels walking over to the brothers. "I'm sorry" came the quiet and disgruntled mutter. "How can I make it up to you?"

Cloud and Roxas looked at each other before turning their attention back on the defeated ninja and in unison said, "Lunch."


Yuffie had organized a banquet for them. She had run around and arranged multitudes of plates and dishes from the surrounding restaurants. Cloud and Roxas had told them this was their first time in Wutai so Yuffie felt inspired to introduce them to the culinary delights which her beloved homeland had to offer. Cloud considered himself pretty hardy when it came to food. But some of the dished she presented were completely alien to Cloud's palette and he wasn't completely sure if he liked them or was repulsed by them. The occasional glance towards Roxas indicated to him that his brother felt much the same way. Despite their host having introduced herself in a spectacularly bad fashion they didn't wish to be rude, offering up positive comments about the food, no matter how imaginative they had to be to find a good point.

Everyone had introduced themselves. There was Squall, who seemed somewhat reserved. Irvine who looked ridiculous in his cowboy hat which covered lanky long brown hair. Cid, a rather gruff looking older man who constantly had a cigarette in his mouth, whether it was lit or not. Barret a burly and well built man with a strange contraption fused to his arm, which Roxas couldn't look away from, and then there was Selphie, a cheerful young woman who did the bulk of the chatting. Selphie who had been on the laptop earlier told the brothers that they were all members of the Wutai Restoration Team, or WRT for short.

The WRT worked tirelessly at organizing and fixing the eastern section of Wutai.

"There are other WRT's all across the city. We all get a section and then compete against each other to see who can fix their bridges, roads, or parks first. So far we are trailing behind the Central-East guys, but not by much."

Cid sat at the far end of the desk grumbling and taking a long drag on his cigarette. "Those bastards are sabotaging our work. I saw one of them sons of bitches snuffling around our scrap yard the other day, sussin' out what materials they could come and nick. We needa get some security, Squall."

"We're strained for personnel as is, Cid. I can't spare anyone for a hunch."

"It ain't a bloody hunch ya lily livered-" Cid was getting riled up but Barret placed his good hand on the other man's shoulder to calm him.

"Pipe down ya hear. Squall's doin' 'is best. Them scum at Central-East's just got themselves a bit of a head start. Nothin' to worry 'bout. I'll get some of my guys to swing by ya scrapper durin' da nights."

This appeared to appease Cid somewhat who then sat in silence chewing his smoke.

"Maybe you could ask Godo to give us more money or man-power, Yuffie. If he's so determined to have Wutai be rebuilt he should cough up more resources." Squall put to her.

She just scratched the back of her head in agitation.

Roxas looked at Cloud eagerly. Oh boy, Cloud knew what was about to happen. He could see it in the way Roxas looked at him with pleading eyes. Cloud gave a small resigned nod. They had been looking for things to do in this city after all. The smile on Roxas' face brightened.

"If you need more hands Cloud and I would be glad to help in any way we can."