Disclaimer time! Since I forgot to put it on the other chapters. I own NOTHING except for Kaia and Kade and they dont even completely agree with me on that.

Nothing had changed. Kaia parked her bike and removed her helmet. The Forgotten City was just as she had remembered it. Dark and foreboding in appearance and, to everyone else, creepy. But Kaia felt at home here. She had always loved this place and had often come here during her days with Shinra.

But that had been a long time ago. It had been years since she had been here and yet…. All the sounds, all the smells, even the wind, was still the same. She put down the kickstand and dismounted walking to the water's edge and looking down at her reflection.

The water was different though. Her brow furrowed as she tried to peer into the once crystal clear water that was now pitch black. What had happened? She reached her black, fingerless, gloved right hand down to touch the water, but a painful throb in her arm caused her to stop.

"Geostigma". The word passed through her lips and her brain though she had never heard it before. What was with the water? Why did her common sense tell her it was dangerous to even touch, while her brain urged her to dip her hand into its depths?

Shaking her head she straightened up and pondered over the strange sight before her. She looked up at the monument on the spit of land in the middle of the lake and a glowing object caught her attention. Not even pausing to think, she leapt into the air and landed on the opposite shore. It was a materia. Glowing a soft white with a green tint to it, it was unlike anything she had run across before.

She picked it up and studied it, her blue eyes quizzically taking it in as she held it up in the air and tried to figure out what type of materia it was. Though she was as clueless as ever. Materia had been more up Genesis' alley. Her eyes suddenly widened as the materia glowed even brighter and sank into her hand.

"Shit." Kaia muttered flicking her hand a couple times. She didn't even know what the damn thing did and here it was now equipped to her actual arm. How in the hell did she get herself into these things?

A sudden disturbance in the grass behind her caused her to whirl around, hand flying to the hilt of her sword and drawing it. A young girl was standing a few feet away, fear in her silver gray eyes as she met Kaia's fierce gaze. Her hair was black and she looked only about 18 with light skin and a pretty face. She was dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a black t-shirt with a black leather jacket over it and had a black backpack slung over her shoulder.

Kaia replaced the sword in its sheath and held up both hands. "It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you. You just surprised me that's all."

The girl visibly relaxed. "I'm sorry to have startled you. My name's Kade."

"No problem. I'm Kaia." Kaia replied. "So what are you doing out here?"

"What is that?" Kade asked as the Highwind soared into view and hovered above the treetops.

"My ride." Kaia replied as the gargantuan machine touched down near the edge of the lake.

A side door opened and a black blur streaked out of it tackling Kaia and causing her to fall on her back in the dirt. The blunette girl's eyes narrowed and Kade blinked a few times at the sight in front of her.

"Yuffie," Kaia said in a very dangerous tone. "Get the hell off of me. Now."

"Kaia I'm so glad to see you." The hyperactive ninja said releasing Kaia and bouncing around as Kaia pushed herself back to her feet.

"You are a nuisance." Kaia muttered, dusting herself off.

"Yuffie! What did I tell you about that damn shuriken of yours! It crashed into the controls again!" Cid yelled walking out towards them.

Kaia snickered. "Some things never change. How you doing Cid?"

"Would be better if I wasn't stuck with this teenaged chatterbox for another week and a half. Her father got annoyed and sent her to me to teach her some discipline." Cid grumbled. He then brightened up. "So have you thought anymore about my offer?"

"The answer was 'no' four months ago Cid why would it be any different now?" Yuffie asked still bouncing around.

"You been listening to my phone calls again!?" Cid exploded.

"Yep! And besides," Yuffie said grinning. "You know that Kaia and Vincent have had a thing for the past few years or so."

"To tell you the truth, I haven't heard from him since the last time I was in Midgar." Kaia said tersely. "Oh and you two." She dragged Kade forwards. "Meet Kade. She's on the run from her parents and I've told her I'll help her out. Kade this is Yuffie and Cid."

"Hi!" Yuffie said brightly.

"Since when have you been dating Vincent?" Cid was obviously oblivious to what Kaia had just said.

"I haven't seen him in 5 years Cid." Kaia said. "Do you mind if I bring my motorcycle along?"

"Sure why not. She goin' to?" He jerked his thumb at Kade who shook her head vigorously.

"No don't trouble yourselves. I'm fine on my own there's no need to-,"

"Kade, shut up and get on." Kaia said smiling. "I said I'd help you and that's what I intend to do."

"For the record Yuffie, you're getting off with them." Cid said.

"Yay!" Yuffie cheered.

"I should have stocked up on aspirin." Kaia moaned.

"I'm not getting a phone." Vincent growled from his place against the wall.

"Hey don't get onto me about it. Cloud's the one who said it not me." Tifa said defensively as she washed the dishes.

"When is Cloud coming back?" Marlene asked as she looked up from playing with a spinning top.

"He didn't say. Though I got the impression it would be sometime tonight." Tifa replied, shutting off the water and drying the plates with a towel.

"I was planning on leaving tonight." Vincent muttered.

"But why?" Marlene asked. "You're never around."

"I have things to attend to." Vincent replied.

Tifa snorted. "Cid would have loved to hear that."

"I'm leaving as soon as Cloud gets back." Vincent said. "Without a phone."

"Hey! If you got a phone we could call you and you could come see us more!" Marlene said brightly.

Tifa smiled at Vincent who looked as expressionless as ever. "Yeah Vincent, I'm sure you'd love to hear from Marlene on a daily basis. Don't you think?"

Vincent shot a glare at the young bartender. "I'm not getting a phone and that's the end of it."

"Okay. Jeeze. Take it up with Cloud." Tifa said.

"What is that noise?" Marlene asked as the roar of engines shook the windows.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was the Highwind." Tifa said, abandoning the job of cleaning the tables and walking towards the door curiously. Vincent followed.

"What is he doing?" Tifa asked staring at the Highwind that was hovering a good 200 feet above them.

"I'd rather not know." Vincent said.

"I just hope he doesn't wreck anything."

"It's Yuffie!" Marlene said, grinning and waving as someone jumped out.

"Who's that with her?" Tifa asked, shielding her eyes with her hand as the two figures fell from the airship.

"No idea." Vincent said as the two girls landed in front of them.

"Yuffie? Why didn't you call and tell us you were coming?" Tifa asked.

"Didn't know I was until about 10 minutes ago. This is Kade." Yuffie explained.

"Move." Vincent said.

"Huh?" Everyone stared at him.

"Move." Vincent repeated as they all looked up to see a motorcycle and rider come flying out of the Highwind.

Yuffie's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. "I told her not to do anything stupid!"

"Who is that?" Tifa asked.

"Give you one guess." Vincent said darkly as he watched the motorcycle hit the ground and heard tires squeal as it streaked forwards. It came within a few feet from them and stopped the rider balancing it with both legs and pulling off their helmet.

"What's up?"

R&R