((Author's Note: Let's see... Just a few things. Rika Hikari is based off a good friend of mine, so I can't really call her my character. :P I do not own Eternal Darkness or Final Fantasy VII (you'll see why I mentioned FFVII later on). Just so you know, I couldn't think of a character to own the place where Danielle Roivas works, so I was joking with my friend in PE class, who told me to just make the owner who I have right now... :P Don't ask. I think I was hyper. Well, after so long, this fanfic is finally on the move))

Chapter 1: Normal Again

"You know it wouldn't hurt to go out and have some fun once in a while."

Danielle Roivas didn't even glance up from her textbook, focused on her work. "I can't, Rika. Too much work."

Rika Hikari folded her arms, a stern look on her face. "That's what I'm talking about! You always have work to do! The only nights you don't have work are Sunday and Wednesday, and then you don't even want to go hang out with me!"

Danielle sighed as she finished her last problem and set her pencil down. "You know that I do church and youth group. I'm already cutting it close with my job. If I weren't such a hard worker, I wouldn't even have a job right now."

Rika sat on the edge of her bed, frowning. "Why do you have to work, anyways? Can't your parents send you the money you need?"

"No, they can't," Danielle replied, shutting her textbook. She knew what Rika was going to bring up again, and she didn't want to talk about it.

"What's the deal with your parents? You act like you hate them and never talk about them."

They had talked about this several times since the start of their first year of college. Rika was Danielle's roommate and closest friend, even though they were opposite in several ways. Rika kept pressing Danielle about her family, and it was really starting to get irritating.

Danielle didn't reply as she changed into her black work uniform and khaki pants, but Rika persisted with her question. "Come on, Danielle. What happened? Did they get into a lot of fights or something?"

Danielle had slipped her keys and wallet into her pocket when she looked back at Rika, a hand on the door handle. "You want to know the truth? My parents are dead, Rika." Danielle slammed the door shut behind her as she walked out.

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Danielle was in a foul mood by the time she arrived at work. Some jerks had siphoned the gas out of her car, so she ended up having to get her skateboard out of the back of her car and use it to get to work…

The owner looked up as Danielle walked in, brushing a strand of black hair from out of her face. "You're late, Danielle."

She nodded, noticing how tired and wore out she was. "It's okay. Just go get yourself washed up a bit and get to work. It's not too busy for once. It may actually be a bit of a slow night."

Danielle nodded and quickly went to the restroom, washing her face off before heading out to server tables. The owner, Tifa, had been right… It was almost empty in here. "That's pretty weird, especially for a Friday night," she muttered, going to her first table.

And just my luck. I get a table full of weird looking people, she thought to herself. There were four people here, three men and a woman. All were dressed in expensive-looking dark blue suits that were crisp and fresh with the exception of one man's unkempt suit. There was a man with long black hair and an air of authority about him. Beside him sat a young woman with short blonde hair and a slightly annoyed look on her face. Across from the man with black hair was a young man with spiky red hair that was long enough near the back of his neck to be worn in a ponytail. He was the one with the disheveled suit. Beside him was a bald-headed man with several ear piercings and dark shades that hid his eyes.

Danielle took their orders, noting their different personalities. They all acted completely different, and they all seemed to regard Danielle with mild interest. Danielle suppressed a slight shudder as she went back to the kitchen, giving the cooks their orders. Even while she served other tables, she could feel the stares of the four suited people on her back the whole time. Thankfully, Danielle's shift was shorter than usual, since Tifa had told her that she needed to go and get some rest…

Danielle was finishing up at the table with the four suited people when the red-haired man knocked over his drink onto the floor. "Reno!" the young woman chided, although there was a strange tone in her voice, almost like she wasn't serious about it…

"I'll get someone to clean this up," Danielle said, picking up the cup and setting it on the table. She gave them their ticket, and the black-haired man put a twenty in her hand.

"Forgive us for Reno's clumsiness. We don't mean to trouble you or keep you longer," the man said.

Danielle shook her head, surprised that he had given her such a generous tip. "Nah, it's fine. You guys are my last table anyways." She slipped the twenty in her pocket. "Thanks, and have a nice night."

The man nodded. "You, too." He and the others stood up, walking to the register to pay for the meal. Danielle sighed a bit and spotted Tifa heading over to her. "Well, you really want me to go now?" Danielle asked.

She nodded. "You work harder than anyone else. You deserve a bit of rest. And the next time you don't have a ride, call me, okay? You look like you're about to pass out."

Danielle shrugged. "Someone siphoned the gas in my car, so I had to skateboard here from the dorm."

Tifa raised a slender eyebrow. "That's pretty far to go. No wonder you're exhausted." She frowned. "What's with the way people treat you? You seem like an average nineteen-year-old teenager to me."

Danielle sighed. "Beats me. People probably believe all of those stupid stories about my family. Anyhow, I should get going. I've got a long way back."

Tifa nodded, now looking a bit worried. "Okay. Take care, Danielle. It's not safe out there on your own in the middle of the night."

Danielle nodded back. "Thanks… Oh, and some guy spilt his drink over there, so we need a person to clean it up," she said as she jerked her thumb over her shoulder. She walked away as Tifa went to the back to find someone.

Danielle headed past the register, stopping as a hand gripped her shoulder gently. She spun around, heart racing, only to see that it was the red-haired man from before. "Sorry about earlier," he began, his tone light and relaxed. "Really didn't mean to do that to you."

Danielle felt the stares of the woman and bald-headed man on her, but she kept a slightly cheerful expression. "It's okay. It happens sometimes. A split drink isn't something to worry about."

The man nodded, a slight smirk on his face. "Well, we come here often, so maybe we'll see you again."

Danielle felt a bit nervous. "Yeah, maybe. I… I have to go." Danielle pulled away, heading quickly out the door without looking back. She went around to the back, grabbing her skateboard from where she left it. Danielle went onto the sidewalk a good couple of feet from the restaurant before getting on her skateboard, glancing back at the building. The four people were standing there, the black-haired man at the front. He caught her gaze and smiled, but it wasn't a kind and gentle smile. It was one that sent chills up her spine. Turning away, Danielle took off on her skateboard, the setting sun blazing ahead of her as she left the suited strangers behind.

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The black-haired man's smile widened as he watched the girl depart. Things had gone exactly as planned. Better, actually. The only problem encountered was her slight suspicion of them, but that was to be expected. Anyone would be suspicious…

"Did you get it, Reno?"

The red-haired man, Reno, held up a small black wallet with a smirk. "Of course. She didn't even notice it." He opened it up, reading the information on the license out loud. "Danielle Roivas. Birthdate November 19, 1982, weight 145, female, height five foot five, two restrictions… This is her all right."

The woman snorted. "We didn't need to steal her wallet to find that out. It was easy to tell that our waitress just so happened to be the one girl we've been searching all over Rhode Island for."

"You talk too much, Elena," Reno muttered as he looked through the wallet.

"At least I'm not slow on the uptake like you are."

"Hey!" Reno growled, stepping towards Elena.

"Enough!" the black-haired man scolded. "That license gives us just the information we need. Elena, Reno, Rude, keep an eye on her. We can't let anything happen to her. Understood?"

"Yeah, yeah… I gotcha," Reno replied in a bored-sounding voice as he put the wallet in his pocket. "I still don't see what's so special about one kid."

The black-haired man smirked slightly as he began to walk off. "I'm quite sure that she doesn't see her own importance, either. You know what we were ordered to do. No harm can come to Danielle Roivas."

Reno stood back near Elena and Rude, a serious look on his face. "Consider it done."

"Good. I leave this in your hands. Elena, you will report back to me when the mission is complete or if something happens."

Elena nodded, looking just as serious as her companions. "Understood."

The black-haired man walked off without another word, leaving the three of them alone. Reno smirked slightly. "Let the fun begin," he muttered softly as he followed after Rude and Elena.

The Turks had arrived.