Within the premises of the shop, Aerith sat on a bench with an undeniably sobbing Tifa next to her, almost squeezing her to death. Yuffie suppressed a laugh watching Tifa hunched up like that. "There, there," Aerith cooed, patting Tifa's back as she sobbed onto her shoulder. "There, there." She didn't have any clue what to say to her friend other than repeating 'there'.

"Shiva," the raven-haired woman began. "Of all things, him." Why can't it be a pole or a wall or something?

Yuffie grinned as she remembered the conversation she had with Tifa in the car earlier, which was the unknown repetition of Tifa's disjointed tale; a sudden kiss with a stranger when she was drunk – which he might be, too. "Ooh, was that the one? Last month?"

Tifa nodded with an 'mmhm'. "Though I barely remember things before and after that… I only remembered his face, and…" She unconsciously raised her fingers to her lips, touching them softly. Aerith stifled a giggle while Yuffie slid a finger down Tifa's spine and that made her gasp. Sexily. The gasp was practically loud enough for some people around their area as turned their heads towards the three of them. After stuttering 'sorry's, Tifa pulled her sleeves up as she cracked her knuckles. "Yuffie …"

"Ooh, now there's a sexy side I haven't known that's in you, Teef." Yuffie laughed out loud with both hands on her hips, proud of her recent discovery as she evaded Tifa's oncoming fist. Had she known that sooner, she'd leave Tifa breathless during their sleepovers. "Tell me more about him, Teef."

"Um, there, … there?" Aerith said.

"Stop that, Aerith," said Tifa before turning back to Yuffie.

"But I thought you'd need it."

Tifa shook her head. "Not anymore. Also, Yuff, I don't want to talk about him right now."

Yuffie managed a laugh. Louder this time and was muffled by Aerith from behind. "You are pointing at that topic now," she managed.

"Look at him. He's there, far away from me, standing—"

"—tall and steady, having a pretty lithe body and from his hairstyle, he looks like he has a wild streak in him," Aerith said, scanning him from end to end critically like choosing a new hair care product.

"Think so. I bet he can take down ten shots of tequila or more without making a face," Yuffie giggled. The two began inching away from Tifa discreetly.

"Ten? I'd stop at one. Do you think he's Tifa's type?"

"Why not? He's hot and looks like he probably works out everyday. Diligent."

"Hmm… I've decided for our mythical Tifa here!" Aerith announced and pulled Yuffie away, snickering as she did.

Tifa rolled her eyes and cleared her throat. Mythical? Since when did she become such an unidentified object? She had a thought when, though. Since she refused any blind dates the girls hooked her up with. She'd always end up twisting her partner's arm and leaving a threat whilst she was alone with whoever he would be. While Yuffie and Aerith were infectiously giggling and laughing amongst themselves, Tifa turned to the fresh patch of blooming white blossoms. Lilies. Aerith's favorite. Yuffie, on the other hand, would be white … roses. On some occasion, anyone would find that girl stating that she's one.

Her favorite? … She wouldn't mind a guessing game on it. She let a small trace of grin play on her lips at the thought as she hummed a small tune. Something then caught her attention, a bud of a small plant on a table. The others were already opening but that one hadn't started.

Her thoughts once again wandered off to that certain redhead.

He was so close.

And her body acted as if she had wanted that. She didn't push him away.

-- -- --

"Hey, Tseng. Why are we here again?" Reno lazily yawned as he stretched his arms, cracking the knuckles.

Tseng, his ever so stoic boss sipped his cocktail a little. "This is an opening ceremony—"

"Done out of politeness. That's like you. Right, Rude? Let's go say hello to the owner then." Rude nodded and went along with Reno to where Yuffie and Aerith were. So … Eenie meenie miney mo. She'd have to be the hot one earlier.

Which was obviously wrong.

Reno didn't get to let his eyes wander any more than the upper half of the woman he'd just encountered. She was in that corner and his view was blocked by a younger woman who was grinning form ear to ear, greeting him with a sing-song 'hi'.

Small, loud and enthusiastic … Should be Kisaragi's daughter.

"Hey," he nodded and tried to move over to his main object of interest. Rude grabbed his shoulder and he stopped, confused.

"Aerith Gainsborough. The owner," Rude said, pushing his shades on place before motioning his head to a woman in a conspicuous pink dress. She greeted all of them with a happy smile.

"Ah," Aerith said, when she heard that they were there because of Tseng, their boss. "Of course. Isn't he here?"

"We kind of went ahead of him. He's still there though, your loveliness," he said, taking Aerith's knuckle before kissing it.

"Charmed to know you, Reno," she said after getting her hand back. Really. I can see why she refuses to forget about you. Aerith had said his name slightly louder, hoping that Tifa might hear her. She gave a brief glance to where her friend was. She did nothing at all. She didn't move from her spot, nor did she fluster around, looking for a space to hide. Boring! Wasn't she loud enough?

Rude only gave both of the ladies a brief handshake each and was constantly confused by Yuffie's extreme happiness. She seemed too happy, in fact. If he was interested by that, he didn't show.

In the middle of their friendly chat, Reno excused himself.

"And he thinks we didn't know," Aerith said, nudging Yuffie. "I can see something."

Yuffie laughed. "Oh, yes. So how are things between you and Zack? I want full details."

"Oh, the usual. He pees everywhere and tears things apart like the puppy he is. Whiney." The two women walked off to where Tseng and Elena were with a more confused Rude dragged by Yuffie.

Teef. Tifa. Teef. Tifa. Teef. Tifa. Reno liked how it sounds.

There he saw her, standing alone with a finger stroking a bud of a small, unnamed flower. It had yet to bloom. His attention shifted back to her. That single gesture. Other than fondness, it simply screamed yearning. Of what, he didn't know.

"Reno," he said. She looked up as she pulled her hand, frowning slightly when she saw him. How he'd love to stare into her eyes longer. He found them pretty dark for someone who was born in a cold place. Reno inwardly shook his head. What the … How did he know about that? Pretty and dark, he corrected himself.

She then returned her gaze to that small plant. "That flower's name is Reno," he said, grinning.

Tifa rolled her eyes, sighing. "And I'm a lily." After a while they stood apart in silence, Reno repeated his name and shuffled a step, effectively reducing their distance. "I heard," she replied, still not looking at him.

"And you?"

"Must we do this?" she sighed as she continued to stare at the flower bud.

"Yep. Unless you want to call me by 'dude' or 'stranger'. In which I won't accept for those who came across me."

She flashed him a wide grin. "I'll take 'stranger' even though I do have a feeling I've met you before."

Reno shrugged. "I'll still call you Teef."

"Don't call me like you know me." Anger flared in her eyes. Don't. That name was only reserved for those who were close to her. A pet name she'd always loved, started by Cloud, the man who left her alone. This person beside her who had latched himself to her suddenly just had the nerves to call her that.

"I wouldn't mind getting to know you, Teef. Besides, I got the feeling we really met before."

Tifa parted her lips to say something especially rude to him when she realized something she had never told him before, her name. "Hold it. What did you say?"

"Hm? Said I wouldn't mind—"

"Teef. …How did you know my name?"

"I heard your friend, sweet cheeks. 'sides, I'm not that far from where I was earlier."

Shiva, this man has ears like a cat's!

"Third and nth time, …Tifa. My name's Reno. Also, this ... cat would prefer you a butterfly than a flower."

Tifa found his gaze as she shot her head up. "W-what?"

Reno gave her a wink before he sashayed to where his friends were. Tifa blinked as she watched him go. Had she said that out loud earlier? Thinking back on it, she actually muttered that through her teeth. Still … So those were how sharp the hearing of a professional who was expected to …

Wait. Professional what? Why professional? How was she going to complete that sentence—'expected to …'

And something inside her was stirring. She knew it, somewhere; she'd met him but couldn't remember when or where. "Reno…" Unconsciously she lifted her hand to her lips, mumbling. "Have we really … ?" So he too had that feeling. The fact she couldn't remember any more than the kiss angered her more.

For once, she wondered. Would he remember that small incident the way she did?

* * *

Sneak peek:

Eliminate Tifa Lockhart.

That's it. A client's request.

A blur of black went up next to his stool. As he raised his head, his eyes feasted on the very vision of her starting from bottom to top. She was there in the flesh. He didn't know whether to remain aloof and laidback at the same time or to act heavily drunk and pass out in the middle of a sentence. He never even touched his drink for Odin's sake. Pathetic, Reno.

"Hi," she said, taking a seat. He could smell the faint vanilla scent emitting from her. "I'm Tifa."

-- -- --

"… Not so much that I would find you annoying."

"Not much? —oh." Tifa raised an eyebrow. "Oh," she said, louder. She stopped dead in her tracks. "Am I annoying you?"

"No. I didn't mean it that way—"

"I am, aren't I? Should've known," she huffed as she began to walk away, neatly avoiding passers-by.

Way to go, shithead. Reno clicked his tongue in annoyance as he strode over, keeping up with her.