Parting Ways and Crossing Paths

Nobody would have guessed that he'd be the first one to go. But, apparently, first one to come, first one to leave. And everyone gathered around his grave, wondering why their fearless leader was lying dead and cold six feet under.

Reno hated to be the bringer of bad news-- but, somehow, due to some cruel twist of fate, he always finds himself telling everybody else of something tragic. Quite frankly, he'd rather be telling a joke. But he couldn't bring himself to do so. Tseng had always told him to be more serious, less childish, and more appreciative of life. Maybe...for that one day, he just might.

Elena cried through the whole ceremony. She couldn't even use her hankerchief anymore, it was soaked in tears from the very moment she heard about the incident. It was three nights ago. Reno, voice hoarse, had showed up at her apartment, his white shirt covered in blood, face covered in cold sweat. He didn't tell her there and then. Couldn't bring himself to. He can't let her break down. Because, if she did, then she'd refuse to see Tseng, and that, in his opinion would be a great disrespect to his memory. It was only when they arrived at the hospital that she understood the only words that left his mouth from the moment she opened her door.

Be brave, Laney.

Rude didn't cry. Rude never cried. He stood by Tseng's bed, waiting for Reno to come back with Elena, hoping that Tseng would live long enough to speak to her one last time. He didn't. Not that it was unexpected. He had lost too much blood. Stab wounds had been all over his body, it was only understandable. Reno was the one who found him, a couple of blocks away from home. Whether it was for the better, or for the worse, Reno was sober enough to process the scene and figure out that his boss was dying. Rude swore to find whoever did such a thing. He knew many people hated Shin-Ra, and Tseng was nothing short of loyal, even obsessed, with the once-great company. Even after the end of its reign, people still found it hard to let go of old grudges. Found it hard to live and let live.

The funeral had been a typical Turk funeral. Less than ten people were there. Tseng's only remaining family was his little sister, who left, giving the three remaining Turks spiteful looks.

How could you let this happen to him? Her eyes seemed to say.

This automatically reduced Elena to tears even more tears, if that was possible, and Reno, reluctant as he was, offered her a shoulder to cry on.

Rufus had approached them the following day. He said that he'd be leaving for the his family's first home in the country the following morning. Reno had ranted about being 'fired' for quite a while, before finally accepting the the ex-President's mind was settled and there was nothing he could do about it.

They all saw Rufus off, watching the black car disappear into the distance, before driving off in Rude's car to the nearest bar.

They needed the booze.

Rufus was gone.

Tseng was dead.

And the Turks were no more.

Edge

Two Years Later

" Anything I can get you? "

" Just a beer, please. "

" You got it. "

Elena sank into an empty seat and watched the dark-haired barmaid pour her drink out. The bar was almost completely empty, except for a particularly shady-looking character at the very back table. She amused herself by counting how many discarded beer bottles littered his table.

" Here you go. " the barmaid said, placing a glass of beer in front of Elena, who nodded gratefully. She couldn't remember exactly where she met that girl before...so familiar...

Then, it hit her.

" Tifa? " she asked, reluctant. " You're Tifa Lockhart, aren't you? "

The barmaid laughed. " I was wondering when you'd recognize me. " she replied amiably, extending her hand. " Elena, right? "

" Y-yeah. " Elena said, finding some difficulty conversing with a former member of AVALANCHE. It was just so...weird. But she went along with it anyway. Shaking somebody's hand was no big deal.

" I thought the Turks left. " Tifa went on, sitting opposite Elena, seemingly happy about her newfound company. " You still live in town? "

" No, just... meeting a friend. " Elena let the lie roll out her tongue as smoothly as possible. " How about you? Ever thoguht of moving away? "

" I have. But this place is just as good as anywhere else. Besides, there's always a good chance that he'll come back. "

" Who'll come back? "

" Cloud. You know, guy with the spiky hair. " Tifa laughed bitterly. " I haven't seen him in months. "

Elena could hardly believe that this woman was once an enemy. She knew that Tifa bore at least some hatred for Shin-Ra and anyone who worked under it. Suddenly, she felt the need to apologize. If not to all the people she killed. If not to anyone she harmed directly in any way. But at least to someonewho fought to overthrow the very foundation whose ideals weren't as right as she, and millions of others, once thought them to be.

" Tifa... "

" Yeah? "

Everywhere she went, she was looked down upon as some mass murderer who deserved the death penalty. She didn't want to be hated anymore.

" I'm sorry. "

Tifa only smiled.

Today was the day. He had hoped that she would at least go out her way to be there. She had cared about him a lot after all. Maybe she'd show up. Or maybe she already had. But, that was impossible-- his were the only flowers on the grave. He had to remind himself every now and then that he wasn't there for her. The flowers he brought weren't for her. The past hour and a half of sitting in front of the friggin' grave of a man he swore to have hated wasn't for her. So where the hell was she?

He took yet another puff from his cigarette, basking in the feeling of satisfaction that nicotine gave him. She had told him to quit, right before she left. He didn't promise her anything. Her cab had turned the corner to Mainstreet when he realized that he forgot to ask for her new number. He hasn't seen her since.

He waited for another hour or so. But, then it started raining.

" Little disappointed in you, 'Lena. " he muttered, pulling the hood of his sweatshirt up to prevent his bright red hair from getting drenched, before getting up and starting to walk away. Fate just hated him, he figured. Why else wouldn't she show up?

" Reno! "

He turned on his heel. The water blurred his vision, but he knew exactly who it was.

She was running now, a bouquet of tulips clutched tightly in her hand, rushing right past the grave she had initially intended on visiting. But, she hadn't changed at all. And the next thing he knew, she had her arms around his neck, and was crying into his chest, just as she had that fateful day, when the Turks parted ways and their worlds fell apart completely. As much as they tried to live normal lives, they couldn't. The past just kept catching up to them, and their lives were left tattered and broken.

He wondered if they'll ever be able to pick up the pieces.

A/N: Figured I'll just make this a multi-chap fic since I was planning on writing another Turk story anyway. Might be some ReLena in later chapters. And I'm sorry I killed Tseng off...he was a good man...