Chapter 6
Aeris sat once again on the rocks, looking up at the moon.
"What are you doing out this late?"
She sighed. "You just seem to revel in creeping up on me, don't you?"
He shrugged. "Hey, it's a friggin' island. Not a lot to do." He sat down beside her. "What are you thinking about?"
She flexed her fingers out in front of her. "Lots of things. Mostly how hungry I am right now."
He grinned. "Plenty of berries left."
She groaned. "I'm sick of berries."
He studied her carefully. The smile was gone now. "Okay. What are you really thinking about?"
"What's it to you?" she said, annoyed.
"Would you rather hear what's going on in my mind?"
She smiled. "No way." She considered telling him to shove it, but suddenly everything became too much. She was used to expressing her feelings, and keeping them inside had become more than she could bear.
"It's like this…" she said slowly. "I've thought about what you said about wanting to numb your feelings, and right now I think I understand."
"Woah…" he said. "You actually thought about something I said? I said?"
She ignored him. "I understand because I feel awful right now." She looked at him, almost tearfully. "We came on this trip based entirely on my impulses. In the slums, we were attacked. I thought it was just one of those random things that happen in that part of the city, but now I don't think so. Next, the ship catches fire. Then, you and I are again attacked. And I have a bad feeling about the others." She sighed. "I feel like a plague."
"I think it's more likely someone's trying to kill you," he said reasonably.
She looked at the ground. "…maybe. But I can't stop thinking about Mom and Reeve. They were killed trying to revive me. It's just…" She wiped a suddenly teary eye. "If it wasn't for me, they'd still be alive."
He startled her by standing, then moving around in front of her. He knelt there, so she had to look into his sea-green eyes. They were cool, and somehow distant. But his face was set, hard.
"Listen to me," he said, sounding almost angry. "It's not your fault. Reeve and your mom knew there'd be danger when they signed on for that trip. But they did it for you anyway. Know why? Because they loved you, Aeris. And saying it's all your fault, like it was an accident or something, is like throwing it all away. They made a sacrifice for you. And if you want that sacrifice to stay precious, you've got to concentrate on treasuring their memories, not grieving over their deaths."
She wanted to look away but couldn't. His gaze stayed locked on hers until something flashed across his face, and he looked at the ground.
"How do you know all that?" she asked, breaking the silence. "You didn't make that up spur-of-the-moment."
He struggled internally for a moment, but he was tired. Tired of keeping everything he felt inside hidden behind a calm expression or a sardonic smirk. Tired of hiding things. Tired of pretending everything was all right.
"Some of it did just pop into my head," he said at last. "Some of it I just figured out. But some of it…I've dealt with." He shook his head. "I do know this: Bad things happen when you blame yourself for other peoples' deaths.
She watched him intently. This seemed to be the hardest thing in the world for him.
He drew a long, shuddering breath. "You've seen a woman in your dreams sometimes. She had smooth, dark hair and…beautiful green eyes." He looked at her a moment, then dropped his gaze to the ground again. Aeris' eyes looked so much like hers it was painful.
"Who was she?" Aeris asked quietly.
"She was my wife. Her name was Heantha, and she was a Turk too. One day…it was our first anniversary, actually…she went out on a mission. She never came back."
Silence. Neither of them spoke for a long time. Aeris was wondering if perhaps she should say something when he went on.
"It was strange. It was like when I lost her, I lost myself. I started drinking more and more. I started to enjoy the power my company gave me, too. It was almost funny, watching my victims' startled faces right before I killed them. It was around then I stopped feeling."
She looked at him sympathetically. "Reno…"
He kept going. "Sector 7 was the worst." He lifted his hands to his face. In the dark, he could almost see the blood on them. "I enjoyed it while it lasted, but…it hurt, Aeris. It hurt." He blinked back a sudden warm feeling in his eyes. He hadn't cried, really broken down for what seemed like forever. He certainly wasn't about to start now. "And still does," he finished quietly.
Aeris stared. She had never imagined there to be another side to Reno. She had always thought of him as a cold, sarcastic man, but she had never thought of why he was that way.
"I'm sorry…" was all she could say.
He looked a little embarrassed at this spillage of everything he had kept inside for so long. He tried a tiny smile. "Yeah, well, remember what I said about my rep? Don't spread this around."
She nodded slowly, but her green eyes revealed she was thinking about something else. "It's strange…" she said at last.
"What is?"
"The same thing happened to me, sort of. You see, before I met Cloud, I knew a guy named Zack. He and I were very close. He was a member of SOLDIER, First Class. I met him when he had some time off. One day…he was supposed to meet me at the playground by Sector 7. When he didn't show up, I went looking for him. I never found him, but…he was reported killed. It turns out he saved Cloud's life, and died for him. It was one of the darkest periods of my life." She shook her head, remembering. "I spent nearly all of my time in the church in the slums. It almost grew to be an obsession. That was where I met Cloud, and you, as a matter of fact." She gave him a wry smile. "It's very strange."
Normally he would have made a comment about Cloud better turning around and running as far away as he could get before he got killed, too, but thought better of it. "Yeah," he agreed. "Now who would guess that you would be telling all this to the same guy that stomped on your flowers almost a year ago?"
She smiled a little. "It's all right. I made them grow again."
Now what made her think that was an apology?
Reno thought to himself.She stood up. "I think I'll go to bed now. I'm very tired."
Reno glanced at the sky. It was almost dawn. Unlike Aeris, he was used to staying up all night, but he was tired too. "Yeah. Me too."
They were starting down the slope when Aeris looked at him. "…Reno?"
"Mm?"
"Good-night." She turned to a comfortable-looking spot, then laid down. In a few seconds she was fast asleep.
The hell was that about?
Reno wondered.* * * * * *
Aeris woke the following morning almost as wet as the night she had arrived. The grass around her was also soaked. Apparently it had rained last night.
She sat up and groaned. Every inch of her body ached. The hard swimming she had done that night had finally caught up with her.
She forced herself to her feet and looked around for Reno.
"Dear God. He must already be up," she murmured. "I've slept really late."
However, a quick glance at the sun, barely risen, proved it was still early morning.
She finally caught sight of him standing on the rocks, looking out to the sea. Yawning widely, she walked over to join him.
"What are you doing up so early?"
He glanced at her. "Couldn't sleep." He pointed out to the water. "What's that?"
She looked. "What?"
"That."
"What?"
He went around behind her and turned her head in the right direction. "That."
Looking carefully, she could make out a small yellow thing bobbing way out in the waves. "What is it?"
"That's what I'm asking you," he said, obviously irritated.
She squinted, then shook her head. "I don't know. It's too far out." She turned back. "Come on. It's time for breakfast."
He followed her back to their makeshift campsite. It consisted of two piles of grass for pillows, and a small heap of berries on a rock.
Reno picked up a rain-soaked berry, popped it into his mouth, and winced. "I wish we totally knew if these were safe to eat."
She looked worried. "What if they're not?"
He shrugged. "Hey, we're not dead yet, right? Besides, what're we gonna do, make a spear and go hunting?"
She shuddered as she ate a few. "If we don't get off this island, eventually that's what we're going to have to do. What about your rod?"
He took it out of his jacket, used a knife to pry open a panel, and immediately dropped it. He gave a curse as a shock pricked his fingers.
Aeris knelt to look to look closely at it. Electricity crackled among the wiring. "I guess it's busted," she said. "What about your gun?"
"I think it's okay, but I don't have a lot of bullets left. I'll have to save them."
She nodded distractedly, looking past him. "Oh!" she yelped suddenly.
He glanced behind him and jumped to his feet.
The yellow thing was much closer.
Reno ran to the rocks at a run, Aeris close behind him.
"It's a boat!" Aeris cried. "I'm positive it's a boat!"
"But why's it coming here?" he wondered.
"Maybe to rescue us?" she suggested hopefully.
He shook his head. "If someone knew where we were and sent someone to rescue us they'd send a ship, not a little dinghy like that."
Having no other options, they sat down and watched as the boat drew closer.
At last, Aeris thought she could distinguish people. "There are…two, three, four, five people on board," she reported.
"Odd, how this island has suddenly become popularity central," Reno remarked.
"Hush! They're probably survivors, like us."
She peered intently at the people. Even at this distance she could tell one of them had blond hair. Funny, how it stuck straight up, just like…
"Cloud?" she whispered. Another second and she was sure. She jumped up, waving her arms. "Cloud! Cloud!"
In the boat, Tifa looked at Clod. "Why's one of them waving their arms like that?"
"Trying to get our attention," he replied. "I wonder why…" Suddenly he stood, making the boat rock. "Tifa! I think that's Aeris!"
"What? No way!" Tifa squinted carefully at the figure. "You're right!"
"Row faster, Rude, Elena!"
Excited beyond measure, Aeris hurried down the rocks to the beach. Reno followed, more slowly. Once there, he shielded his eyes from the sun. "Yeah, I'm guessing that's Spike. Tifa, too. And-" He stopped.
"What?"
"Well, I'll be damned," he said, smiling. "That's Rude and Elena."
Elena suddenly stopped rowing to grab Rude's arm. "Rude, look!"
"At what?"
"That's Reno!" she cried. "He's alive!"
"Of course he's alive. I told you so."
She would have groaned in frustration, but she was too happy to care. Dropping the oar, she stood up. "Reno! Hey, Reno! It's us!"
Seeing they would get nowhere with Elena as an oarsman, Cloud sighed and took her place.
"Just like him," Elena scowled. "Doesn't even bother to wave. Doesn't he see us? RENO!"
"Elena, look out!" Tifa shrieked.
Too late. Elena toppled over the side of the boat. While Cloud and Rude steadied it, Tifa leaned over to help her back in.
Elena, however, ignored Tifa's outstretched hand and began swimming to shore. When she reached it, she ran to Reno and threw her arms around him, sobbing into his shoulder.
"You JERK!" she said through her tears. "You…you…stupid jerk!"
"Jeez," he said. "I would think you'd be glad to see me."
"GLAD?! I…we didn't even know you were alive!"
"Sorry," he shrugged. "Next time I'll send a telegram that clearly states the fact that I'm alive next time. By the way, you're soaking my shirt."
She let go of him and wiped her eyes. "I hate you. I…I just hate you."
Meanwhile, Aeris couldn't take it anymore. She ran out to meet the boat. "Cloud!" He stepped out, and she ran into his arms, laughing and crying at the same time. "Oh, Cloud…"
"It's okay, Aeris."
Rude glanced at Tifa, and was struck by the incredibly sad and wistful look on her face as she watched Aeris and Cloud. She really loves him, he realized.
"Rude!" Reno called. "You an' Tifa are the only ones who aren't hugging!"
"…….."
"C'mon, Rude! Give Tifa a biiiiiig hug!"
"Lay off, Reno!" He snapped. Reno only grinned. Annoying people was his specialty.
Rude stepped out of the boat and pulled it to shore. Adine and Tifa jumped out.
Aeris suddenly looked a little sheepish at letting her emotions run away with her. She moved away from Cloud and went over to Tifa.
"I'm glad you're okay," Aeris whispered as she gave her a quick hug.
"Yeah." Tifa tried to smile. "This is Adine. Say hi to Aeris, Adine."
Adine stayed silent, looking up at Aeris with large eyes.
"I must look a mess," Aeris laughed. "What about the others? Are they coming, too?"
"You mean they aren't with you?" Tifa frowned.
Aeris shook her head. "I hope they're all right."
"Y'know, this little reunion is very touching and all," Reno interrupted, "but since we now have seven people here, and only berries to eat that are probably poisonous anyway, I suggest we get to thinking about what we're going to do for food." He grinned. "Guess it's sunk to hunting after all."
Chapter 7
Later, Tifa and Aeris were washing by a small stream. They had just finished exchanging stories and were now idly talking.
"Rude seems to like you," Aeris said lazily as she splashed water on her face. "I've noticed it before."
Tifa sighed, stretching her arms over her head. "I knew him once," she admitted. "And I like him as a friend. I think he's starting to realize that."
"Yes," Aeris agreed. "It's good to be able to trust the Turks, isn't it? Shame it didn't happen before the fall of Shinra. Anyway, I'm glad you guys made it out of the ship. It must have been awful."
"Yeah. But what about you? It must have been worse for you." Tifa grinned to let her know she was kidding.
"What do you mean?"
Tifa's grin grew wider. "Trapped on an island alone with Reno? I would've died."
Aeris smiled. "You don't like him much, do you?"
"Not that," Tifa shrugged. "He's just so…Renoish."
"Yes, I know," Aeris assented. "He can be…Renoish. But…" Again she smiled. "Sometimes he can be very…sweet."
Tifa raised an eyebrow. "You're not interested in him?"
Aeris laughed. "Oh, Tifa. Really, sometimes you can be so funny."
"I'm serious!"
Aeris climbed to her feet. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm just starting to understand the guy. C'mon, let's get back to the others."
"Yeah." Tifa got up. "I left Adine with Cloud. I hope he isn't trying to entertain her or something."
As they walked back to where everyone had gathered, Adine ran, crying, into Tifa's arms. "Tifa! Cloud's dead!"
"WHAT?!"
Reno came up to them, looking sheepish. "Uh, us guys decided to stage a little fight. Cloud…died, and she got upset."
"Oh, really!" Tifa snapped. "Don't you guys know anything about children?! Cloud, come over here and show her you're fine."
After Adine had calmed, Cloud looked at them in reproach. "I don't want you two going off by yourselves again, understand?"
"Why?"
"Because it's dangerous. We don't know what we're up against, and until we do, you stay with us. Reno just told me what happened to him and Aeris, so from now on we stick together."
"Oh, come on!" Aeris sniffed. "It's just because we're girls. If Reno and Rude went off alone, you'd-"
"Seriously, Cloud!" Tifa protested. "We know how to take care of ourselves."
"I know you do, but Aeris lost her staff and most of her materia on the ship. She's defenseless."
"I am not!"
"Never mind," Tifa interrupted. "Aeris can get another staff. Listen, did you guys do something useful and at least get us something to eat?"
"Um…well, Rude shot a squirrel and some kind of bird, but I don't know if you'll want to eat-"
"I don't care," Aeris said. "I'm starving."
"Yeah, anything but berries," Tifa agreed.
After an unsatisfactory dinner of burnt meat, (Elena had managed to use a Fire materia to light small campfire) they all sat down to discuss what to do next.
"I don't think we'll be able to do anything but try to survive," Tifa shrugged. "Sooner or later someone will send out a search party."
Reno shook his head. "No one's gonna know we're here. We have to get off this island on our own."
"How?" Tifa asked. "It's not like we can just call up Cid and ask him to pick us up in the Highwind."
"No, because there are no phones, and anyway the Highwind has been destroyed," Reno answered. "But we do have the boat."
"Reno, think about what you're saying!" Elena snapped. "There are seven of us. IF by some miracle we managed to fit in that tiny rubber thing, we'd starve to death long before we found a place. There's no land for miles."
"I agree with Reno," Aeris said suddenly. "I want to get off this island, too. I-" She broke off, biting her tongue. "But of course it's not practical to just jump on the boat and take off," she contradicted herself. "I don't think we have a choice. All we can do is stay here and hope someone comes our way."
There was silence a moment, during which Reno shrugged.
"Obviously I'm outnumbered," he said. "From the look on your guys' faces you're not too keen on setting out anyway. BUT…if help doesn't come soon, we'll have to go." He suddenly grinned. "However, there's enough woman for each of us men. Guess that's a good thing if it turns out we are stuck here."
He ducked as Elena, Aeris, and Tifa each smacked him.
"If it comes to that, I think us girls will just jump in the water," Tifa joked. "Not a lot to choose from here."
"Actually, we'll probably just push you guys in and take over the island ourselves," Elena played along.
Reno suddenly stopped laughing and looked up. "Do you guys hear…?"
"What?" Cloud asked.
Reno listened carefully. He could almost swear he heard a chopper's blades. But the sound was gone now. "Thought I heard…nah. It's nothing."
Dispite his assurance, everyone else listened a moment before a scream pierced the air.
Aeris was on her knees, clutching her head. It was she who was screaming.
Cloud leapt forward and tried to calm her down, as did Tifa, but nothing they could do could ease her suffering.
"What's happening?!" Elena cried.
Reno was watching the scene with slitted eyes and didn't answer.
* * * * * *
Aeris was alone in a dark room. Or at least she thought she was. She couldn't tell. It was too dark to see.
"Hello?" she whispered hesitantly.
A soft sobbing, crying sound met her ears. Slowly Aeris moved toward it.
At last her eyes penetrated the darkness. A young woman with dark hair was crying into her hands.
"Hello?" Aeris asked. Even in the dark, Aeris could discern her bright green eyes.
"Are you…Heantha?"
The woman nodded. Despite the fact she had stopped crying, Aeris could see the sadness and pain written all over her face. "How do you know my name?"
"I know Reno," Aeris said truthfully. Then something made her say, "Is there anything you want me to tell him? A message?"
Heantha seemed to panic. She glanced around frantically, then wrung her hands, screaming. "Tell him to stay away! Or he'll-" She broke off into dispairing sobs again.
"You! What are you doing here?!"
Aeris whirled around. It was Kralin. He was yelling, not at her, but at Heantha.
"Get out!"
Face in her hands, Heantha ran past Aeris into the darkness.
"Worthless pest," Kralin muttered. He looked at Aeris, and his face broke into a smile. It did nothing to warm his face, however. All it did was make him seem colder still, if such a thing was possible. She looked at him and a horrible feeling of dread rose in her heart. Without knowing quite why, she backed away from him.
"What's the matter?" he asked her. "Cat got your tongue?" And he began to laugh, a cold, dark laugh that evoked such terror from her she would have screamed if her voice hadn't caught in her throat.
"I've got you right where I want you," he smirked.
She found her voice. "Keep away from me! And my friends!"
His smile widened, and he pointed right at her. "Soon. Very soon."
She bolted upright. Cloud and Tifa, as well as everyone else, were gathered around her. She was breathing hard, gasping, but she was in control.
"Are you okay?" Cloud asked her.
She didn't answer, just looked around for Reno. Where was he?
"Reno?" she asked.
Sounding puzzled, Cloud said, "He's right there. Behind you."
Turning, she saw hm staring right at her, as though scrutinizing her. His narrowed eyes showed he was trying to figure her out.
Locking her eyes on his, she nodded slowly. His eyes widened slightly, and he seemed to want to ask her something, but not in front of everyone else.
Looking more than a trifle perplexed, Cloud repeated, "Aeris, are you okay?"
"Um…I think so…" she muttered. She stood up. "I, I'm going for a walk. I need to clear my head. Alone," she added as Cloud opened his mouth. "I'll only be a minute."
There was silence after she had gone. Then Reno stood.
"I'm going to go have a smoke." He left.
"I thought all his were ruined from the water," Rude said, perplexed.
"You think there's something those two aren't telling us?" Elena asked.
* * * * * *
Reno found Aeris some distance away, sitting by the beach. She didn't look up when he approached.
"You saw her again, didn't you?"
She nodded. "Yes."
"What happened?" he asked, almost pleadingly.
She told him everything. When she had finished, he was silent for almost a minute. At last he spoke.
"If you see her again, tell her I'm sorry. About everything." He looked away so she wouldn't see him biting his lip.
She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Reno. You're upset, aren't you?"
He didn't answer.
"You're not a Turk anymore," Aeris urged. "You don't have to hide everything. If you're upset, let it out."
She was wrong. He was a Turk, and would always be a Turk. He shook off her hand. "Leave me alone."
"Reno…"
He climbed to his feet. "I don't need you, or anyone else, trying to help me. There are things I have to handle by myself."
"People need people," she insisted. "You're not alone, Reno."
Ignoring her, he walked away. She watched him go through sad eyes.
"What was all that about?"
Aeris jumped, then looked around behind her. "Tifa!"
Tifa had her arms crossed over her chest. A suspicious expression had hardened her face.
"You were spying on us?" Aeris said, looking a little angry.
Tifa sighed, then came and sat down beside her. "I wasn't eavesdropping, but yes, I watched you. Come on. What was that about?"
Aeris bit her lip. "I'm sorry. I can't tell you."
"Why not?" Tifa said, looking hurt.
"I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone. It's personal."
"I thought we could tell each other everything."
"Tifa, look. It's not about you, or me, or anyone else here. He's already embarrassed enough that I know something about his past." She sighed. "He seems to think he has to handle everything himself."
Tifa looked at her a long moment. "Are you sure you can't tell me?"
"Yes, Tifa." Aeris suddenly raised an eyebrow. "Why are you smiling?"
Tifa stifled a giggle. "I just think it's…cute…the way you two have gotten to know each other. But I guess that would happen when you're alone on an island."
Aeris flushed. "That's not funny! Seriously, Tifa, we're just friends."
Tifa stood, that smile still on her face. "Whatever you say. C'mon, let's get back. The others are worried about you."
* * * * * *
The helicopter thudded to a stop on the other side of the island. It hovered a moment above the sandy shore, then descended. Before the blades had even stopped whirring, a man climbed out. He tapped the speaker once on the radio in his hand, then spoke into it.
"This is Z-28, reporting in. Over."
"It's about time." Kralin's voice came crackling over the line. "What's your status?"
"Just touched down on the island. Do you want my report? Over."
"Don't give me the 'over' shit," Kralin sneered in cold sarcasm. "Just give me your report."
"Everything's under control. We're pretty sure they don't know we're here. Everything's ready, we can begin at any time. I already told the Squad B team to get moving. They should be here any minute. Other than that, we await your orders."
"Don't do anything yet. Attack at dusk."
"Why dusk?" The man asked, running a hand through his spiky black hair.
"It's not your place to question orders. But just to humor your stupidity, dawn or dusk is always the best time for an attack. Not quite dark, not quite light. It's difficult for the enemy to see. Especially when you have the jump on them."
"I see…" the man muttered. "Very well then. When Squad B arrives, we'll wait until dusk, then attack."
"Very good," Kralin said snidely. "That will be all. Oh, and by the way…"
"Yes?"
"You'd better pull this off. Or it will be your head."
"Yeah, got it. Over and out."
The man clicked off the radio with an air of annoyance. His leader knew his stuff all right, but he was a real cold bastard. He put his radio away and straightened his black suit. The Squad B team would be arriving by sub. They were trained men, but not quite good enough to match his rank.
He hoped he could pull this off.
Chapter 8
It was a rather subdued group that gathered that evening. Both Aeris and Reno were oddly silent, and Tifa was locked deep in thought.
"Aeris? You okay?" Cloud asked.
She wished he would stop asking her that! She actually wasn't, she felt sick and stressed and awful. What she really wanted to do was go sit among her flower garden in Midgar and have a good cry. But of course that wasn't an option.
"I'm fine, Cloud. Really, I am."
"Are you sure?" He looked skeptical. "You seem edgy."
"Yes, I'm sure!" She snapped. "I am perfectly, 100 percent, A-okay! So please, just get off my case!"
That just proves she's not,
Tifa thought. She's obviously worried about something.Cloud seemed to be thinking the same thing. "Well, if you're going to be touchy about it, I won't ask again. I was just concerned, that's all."
Aeris rubbed her eyes tiredly. The truth was, there had been a nagging feeling in the back of her mind ever since they had landed on the island. And now it seemed much stronger. Bus she stubbornly refused to tell the others, knowing they would take her seriously. She didn't want to worry them for what was probably nothing.
Still, it wasn't right to take it out on Cloud.
"I'm sorry, Cloud," she sighed. "I just…I want to go home."
Reno ran a hand through his hair in disgust. That's what happens when you get emotionally attached to something, he thought. Be it a place, object, or person. They get yanked away, and you're left with nothing but sorrow.
He would never, ever let that happen to him again. Once was enough. More than enough.
Only a hundred or so feet away, hidden among the trees, one of many gunmen waited. At last, the voice crackled over the radio.
"Are you ready?"
The gunman tapped the speaker once to signify "yes".
"Good. Just don't hurt the girl. We want them to know she's alive when she leaves them. Other than her, kill anyone you like. Except for the failed clone, of course."
"Which one is he?" The gunman's voice was barely audible.
"The spiky-headed one. We need him alive. Don't kill him, and let the girl get by you."
Again the speaker was tapped.
"Okay. Attack."
Immediately the gunman signaled to the others. They leapt out of the trees, firing wildly.
Reno reacted instantly, as did Rude and Elena. Their Turk training had prepared them for times such as these.
"Quick! Behind the dunes!" Reno yelled, yanking out his gun.
"But what-" Aeris started, but he cut her short.
"Move, move, MOVE! Now!"
Elena grabbed the bewildered Aeris and pulled her behind a sand dune. Cloud quickly joined them, as well as Tifa, holding tightly to Adine. Reno and Rude were last. They had been covering the retreat.
"We'll have to fight back," Cloud said, speaking fast. "All of us have got weapons. Except you, Aeris. You take Adine and get out of here. We'll cover you."
"No way!" She protested vehemently. "I'm not running away!"
"You have to!" he said tersely. "We need to get Adine somewhere safe, and since you can't fight anyway, it makes the most sense for you to go. Don't argue, we don't have time. Just take her and go."
Aeris hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. Just be careful."
"On the count of three, everyone. One…two…THREE!"
They jumped out from behind the dune. Aeris grabbed hold of Adine and took off along the edge of the beach. She planned to circle around behind and hide in the trees.
Strange, how they weren't firing at her. They seemed to busy trying to take care of the onslaught from Cloud and the others.
At last she reached the trees. She glanced behind her for a last glimpse of her friends. She hoped they'd be okay.
But she was powerless to help them now. And she had a responsibility to take care of the child first.
They raced through the trees for she didn't know how long. But by the time she grew tired of carrying Adine, she felt fairly safe and set her down.
"What's going on?" the little girl whimpered. "Where's Tifa?"
"Hush!" Aeris had heard something up ahead. She hesitated between going to check on it and keeping the child safe. At last she decided to do both.
"You stay here," she whispered. "I'm going to check and see if the way ahead is clear. If it is, I'll come back and get you. Wait for me, understand?"
Adine nodded. Cautiously Aeris stepped forward.
Only a few feet away was a small clearing. She stopped, biting her lip. If she went into the clearing, she would lose protection of the trees. But if she stayed where she was, she'd be none the wiser.
With a sharp intake of breath, she stepped into the clearing.
Instantly she discerned a presence. She whirled around to see a man dressed in a black suit that perfectly matched his spiky black hair, brushed back from his forehead. The look enhanced his sky-blue eyes and smooth, even features. A large sword was strapped to his back.
Aeris stared at him as if struck by lightning. She took a step forward, then another.
"Zack?" she whispered.
He didn't even have to answer.
"Zack!" She cried in joy. She ran to him. Time seemed to stand still, she was so happy she could cry, she could-
Suddenly she was on her back, laying on the ground. She stared up at him in confusion. Had she tripped? Had she-?
She touched her cheek and winced. She glanced at Zack's face. His arms were crossed over his chest and he was watching her with a hard expression that did not at all suit him.
If she didn't know better, she would have thought he had struck her. But Zack wouldn't…her Zack…
No matter. She climbed to her feet. She wiped the tears streaming down her face, and smiled sheepishly. "I'm so glad you're back."
He looked at her, and his eyes were the coldest she'd ever seen. "You won't be for long."
"What-"
"I have a new life now. One which I will follow at any cost. And I have orders."
"Zack…I don't understand," she said softly.
"I have orders to kill you."
She took a step back. "You…you wouldn't…" she stammered. "You couldn't…"
"Believe me, I can. And will. Watch."
He surprised her by striking her again, right in the face. The force knocked her to the ground.
Tears slid down her cheeks, not so much because he had hurt her, but because it was Zack who was treating her like this, Zack who was treating her like yesterday's trash. Her Zack, who had always treated her so tenderly. She had thought he was gone forever. But to be back alive, and like this…
"Zack…" she whispered. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because it's orders. And I have to kill you." He raised his sword.
"No!" she shrieked, sobbing. "Please don't, Zack, please don't, oh please…"
Meanwhile, the others were fighting for their lives.
Tifa and Cloud were in front, getting up close and personal with the attackers. Reno and Rude flanked their sides, using their guns, and Elena stayed in back and cast magic spells.
Tifa grinned in self-satisfaction as she flipped a gun out of a gunman's hands while at the same time backhanding a guy attacking Cloud. They were getting the upper hand. The odds were definitely against them, but still they were winning.
On the other side of her, Reno frowned for the exact same reason. They were winning the upper hand, all right, but it seemed far too easy. If Kralin was behind this, (And Reno was pretty sure he was) then he would have a good idea of the fighting skills they possessed.
Then why waste our time with these morons?
Reno wondered as he dodged a barrage of bullets. It's like he's…manipulating us.Manipulating them for what?
In his frustration his concentration slipped slightly, and a bullet grazed his elbow. Annoyed, he shot three times at his attacker, and he fell.
Ooh, gory,
he thought. Aeris wouldn't like that.Aeris! It was a trap!
"It's a trick!" he yelled. "A distraction!"
"Huh?" Cloud asked, turning to him slightly.
No time for an explanation. Reno saw an opening and ran. He heard Elena shouting after him, but he ignored her.
He charged into the trees, running as fast as he could. If he was wrong, he'd cost them damage and, if they survived, would probably be screamed at by Elena and scolded by Cloud.
But if he was right…
He broke free of the trees into a small clearing. Until then he hadn't even noticed his surroundings.
He did now. He noticed a pleading, crying Aeris at the feet of a man with a sword. He was poised to kill her.
Reno didn't think. He just reacted.
One bullet, shot straight through the skull.
Zack fell, collapsing almost on top of Aeris.
"NO!" she screamed. She lifted Zack's head tenderly. His eyes were wide open, staring at nothing. He wasn't breathing.
"No…" she sobbed. She held him to her, rocking slightly back and forth. "Zack…hold on, everything will be all right. Just hold on…"
Reno went to her and gently touched her shoulder. "Aeris. He's dead."
"You get away from him, you monster!" she screamed. "You…you…I can't believe…get away!"
His eyes flashed. "I did what I had to, Aeris."
She continued sobbing as though her heart was breaking.
"He's dead, Aeris."
"No! Stop saying that! Zack…everything will be all right again…"
Cloud burst through the trees. "Reno, what-"
He stopped dead at the scenario. "Is that…Zack?" he whispered.
Reno nodded once. Cloud glanced at him, at the dead man, the sobbing Aeris, and the gun still smoking in Reno's hand. Cloud gave him a look of understanding, then went to Aeris.
"Aeris…"
She screamed at the sight of him, and hugged Zack close again. Tifa, who had come up so quietly neither man had noticed her, placed a hand on Cloud's shoulder.
"Let me handle this."
Cloud nodded. Tifa crouched down beside Aeris and began speaking softly.
"Aeris, he's gone. Returned to the Planet. There's nothing left but his body. You can let him go now."
Reluctantly Aeris loosened her hold on him. She looked at the still face, then up at Tifa.
"Tifa…it's awful, to have him come back after so long, and then have him yanked away again. No, not yanked. Murdered!" She buried her face in her hands.
"I had to!" Reno snapped. "He was going to kill you, Aeris, I don't care how long he was your boyfriend or whatever-"
"Reno!" Tifa interrupted angrily.
He went on. "If he was willing to throw all that away and kill you, and you were willing to die, well, guess who had to get involved? Although now I gladly would have not done it if I had known you were so weak-"
"Reno! Shut up!" Tifa snapped.
He shut up. Why had he gone and said those things? It was probably the worst thing he could have done.
Tifa put an arm around Aeris, who was now crying harder than ever.
"He wasn't going to do it!" she wailed. "I know he wasn't! He wouldn't!"
Reno shook his head. It was incredibly stupid, how blind love could make you.
Tifa led Aeris away. Take care of Adine for me, she mouthed to Cloud over her shoulder.
While Cloud took care of the child, Rude and Elena, who had finally arrived, beckoned to Reno. He joined them a few feet away.
"Don't say it, okay?!" he snapped before Rude could open his mouth. "I lost it and I know it. Looks like Reno finally went off the deep end and lost control, right? Well, that happens sometimes. Everyone loses their temper, and there's no reason why I should have to be any exception! I'm human, too! I know I'm losing my 'Turk' touch, and I'm sorry, I was wrong, you were right, just don't criticize me, okay?! I've had all I can take."
"I wasn't going to criticize you," Rude finally said when he could get a word in edgewise.
"Oh." Reno felt around in his pocket for his shades, then remembered he had lost them. "Um, I knew that."
"Sure," Elena said sarcastically. "Reno, you really are losing your Turk touch, you know that? You used to be such a calm, cool guy. Now you lost it at Aeris and now you just lost it again, at us! And-"
"Elena. Stop. Talking," Rude said loudly. "Stop. Talking."
Reno inspected his gun, for once at a loss for words. He waited for Rude to speak.
A firm hand clapped on his shoulder, startling him into looking up. Rude was smiling at him kindly.
"We just wanted to say," he said. "That we're here for you, Reno."
"Uh, thanks," he said, genuinely surprised.
"Well, Jeez Reno, what'd you expect?" Elena scoffed. "Whether one of us is losing it or not, we're still Turks."
"Yeah," Reno said. Something made him say, "Thanks."
Sometimes he had to remind himself he had friends.
* * * * * *
Cloud, the Turks, and Adine were sitting morbidly around the campfire that night. Reno especially was looking down; talking with Rude and Elena had helped some, but not for long. They all looked up when Tifa joined them.
"How is she?" Reno asked, trying to appear unconcerned.
"Resting," Tifa replied as she sat by Adine. "She's pretty worn out." Then she surprised him by leaning over and whispering in his ear. "It would help if you talked to her, you know."
"What?!" Reno sputtered. That was the last thing he wanted to do. "No way!"
Angrily she grabbed him by the arm, hauled him to his feet, and dragged him a few feet away from the others.
"Listen to me," she spat. "I pulled you away so Adine wouldn't have to hear me threatening your life. Which is what I'm doing right now. Now, I think what Aeris really needs is to talk to you. And you WILL, if you don't want me to beat the crap out of you!"
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I'll have you know, however, that I receive death threats all the time, and yours doesn't worry me much-"
He was cut short as Tifa socked him as hard as she could in the gut. He doubled over, gasping. She smirked as she helped him back up.
"Um…when was it I should talk to her again?" he wheezed.
"Not now," Tifa said. "In the morning. Oh yeah, and thanks!" She waved cheerfully as she joined the others.
Reno cursed softly to himself as he did, too.
"I with Cid were here," he complained aloud. "He's probably have lots of smokes. Which is exactly what I need right now."
"Shut up," Elena snapped. "It's probably good for you anyway, not wasting half your money and a good twenty years of your life on cigarettes." She said it like it was a cuss word.
"If I quit, I wouldn't quit cold-turkey!" he snapped. "I heard that kills!"
"So does smoking," she replied sweetly.
"Fine. I'd rather die happy with my cigarettes."
"Go to hell, Reno."
"I'm already going there. But thanks for your concern."