(AN: A little bit darker this chapter. I kid of wanted to demonstrate Shard's skill in a battle situation, so yes there will be some violence. You have been warned.)
Time passes by even when it seems impossible. I never thought I would ever be truly happy somewhere.
I have been at Tifa's bar for a week now, and I truly feel welcome. Tifa showed me how to make certain types of drinks, and I now had quite a few admirers amongst the bars usually crowd due to the nights I played music.
I didn't have a incredible voice in the least, in truth it was very average and a bit deep. It was largely my songs that I wrote that drew people in.
According to Tifa, there was a rumor going around that she had hired a blue haired siren that stole the hearts of weaker men with her sweet song. Business actually went up after that, much to Tifa's amusement.
None of the admirers were really too serious though. They were easily dissuaded by a few small words of disinterest, and no one was ever too crestfallen. Not to mention I was often confused by many concepts of society due to growing up in a laboratory.
Cloud and I got along well also. Neither of us were big talkers which suited us both fine, and we would occasionally spar with our blades. Though I never really used my full strength, not wanting to have him asking questions. And due to the strange injections I received, my eyes did not have the mako glow.
Marlene and Denzel were easily the best part of my day. They saw everything in the most uncomplicated way that I found so comforting. They were content to just be around those they considered friends.
"Shard?" I look up from the glass I was polishing, To see Tifa holding an envelope out to me. Hesitantly, I take it, and find it is a paycheck.
"Tifa this is too much." I say upon seeing the amount is for 95 Gil. Tifa just gives me a stern look.
"It is not too much, you have been working plenty hard, and I did take out some for room and board. Plus you really need to go shopping. You can't patch those clothes forever." I look down at my clothes in confusion. I've had this outfit plenty long, and I liked it.
Tifa gives me a small push towards the door, and I nearly stumble. "Go on; go do a little something for yourself. I don't want to see you back here till you have bought at least one thing."
With a sigh, I pull on my trench coat, and walk out into the streets of Edge.
I frown at many of the shop windows I pass, not understanding what many of the products are for. Sure I understood what the products use was, I just didn't understand why people did. Things like high heels looked uncomfortable, chocolate looked generally unappetizing, and jewelry seemed useless and gaudy.
In the end, I end up with a new journal, some polish for my katanas and violin, Hair scissors, a book of poems, a hairbrush, some drawing pencils, and a drawing pad. Maybe I could fill the walls of my bare room with some drawings?
Looking at the sun, I realize it is getting late. The setting sun sends orange and red light upon the buildings like massive ribbons have been laid over the city. I start to head back to the bar.
When I'm about halfway back, I sense someone following me. Looking back, I see it's a group of five street youths probably each barely about 18.
I don't feel like fighting tonight, and I had left my swords back at the bar anyway. Sure I was skilled in hand to hand, and I had the claw, but honestly I didn't want to be put in the situation.
In the end, it didn't really matter what I wanted as I was eventually cornered by the young men, and they had violence in their eyes. I consider melding into the shadows around me –another one of my "talents"- but decide against it. The last thing I need is a bunch of rumors going around about a vanishing girl.
The most muscled of the group with dark brown hair cracks his knuckles as he speaks. "Alright lady, hand over any cash you got and we may leave ya alone." His cronies laugh as though the brute just said something incredibly funny.
With a roll of my eyes, I casually take out my remaining 20 Gil, and throw it at the feet of the group. They quickly pocket it, but just as I feared, they do not leave.
"That's an awful small amount." The dark haired boy admonishes, as he pulls out a small dagger. "How much you think she'll go for on the market?" He asks one of the cronies, and I frown.
I had heard Edge had an underground human trafficking ring, and to be honest it made me sick to my stomach. The very idea that some people could place their lives above others for the simple purpose of money made me absolutely livid. I now had no qualms about fighting theses men.
I set down my bag against the wall and crack my knuckles, and I swiftly run to the first man, and hit him with my clawed had before he can blink.
A loud crack reverberates off the buildings, and the large man collapses to the ground, dead.
To their credit, the rest of the group moves relatively fast, pulling out small useless weapons, such as daggers, chains, fists, and a decrepit handgun.
The man with the gun fires, and I easily dodge. His aim is atrocious. I dart forward, and incapacitate him with a blindingly fast kick to the knee that sends his leg bending over the opposite way. The skin on the back of his knee splits open as his bone pierces through. I silence his screams with a blow to the head.
The remaining three are absolute shaking now. I glare at them evilly. "Leave." I hiss. "Now." They instantly take off, completely abandoning their friends.
"Cowards!" I spit, and gather my belongings. Walking a bit quickly due to my general agitation from the fight.
Tifa gives me a concerned look as I enter the bar, but doesn't stop me on the way up to my room.
Sometimes I just need to be left alone.
A knock at the my door sounds just as I've finished tapeing my latest drawing on the wall.
"Come in." Tifa walks into my doorway.
"Shard, we have some friends visiting tonight, don't worry their real nice. Just be prepared for some….." Tifa trails off with an amused expression, and I raise a eyebrow questioningly.
"Well, they are an interesting bunch, and well, I thought it would be cool if you met them." She says, her garnet eyes hold no deception, only excitement and kindness.
"Sure." I say, not wanting to disappoint the ever kind Tifa. "I'll meet them…."
I hope I wasn't making a poor choice….
I look up from my book occasionally from my place in the corner to look at Tifa.
She seems genuinely excited to see her friends again. She's moving about the bar straightening things needlessly in that way of hers that I have learned means either she's nervous or excited. Though every once in a while she looks towards the stairs and frowns, clearly wanting Cloud to be down her instead of locked in his office.
Cloud had been excited to sees his friends again, that much I could tell. But he seemed so haunted most of the time that I figured it was hard for him to focus on his own commitments.
Just then the bar door flies open, hitting the wall with a thud that causes me to jump.
"Yo, Teef's!" Shouts a large black man with a gun arm, that causes me to think of my claw. Tifa smiles hugely and embraces the man fondly.
"Barrett!" She greets happily, and I cant help but feel out of place. It's at that moment the man notices me. He frowns in thought.
"Whos blue girl?" He asks, bordering on rudness, and Tifa smacks his arm.
"This is Shard East. She's my new employee and friend." She introduces me, and Barrett nods to me in greeting.
"Well, nice meetin ya and all, but where's my little girl Teef's?"
"Probably scared her off with all the damm noise you're makin!" I turn, seeing the new speaker is a tall blonde man with slicked back hair held back with goggles, with a cigarette in his mouth and spear in hand.
"Cant you be nice to anyone old man?" A girl says as she walks in the door.
I observe the energetic looking girl. She's clearly Wutai, what with her tan skin and ninja attire. Her hair is black and cut short, held back by a headband. Her outfit is almost non existent with her short shorts and tank top, but she is clearly a warrior with the massive shruiken on her back.
The man with the cigarette glares at the ninja. "Stop calling me a Fucking old man, brat!" The ninja simply sticks out her tongue.
I notice that Barrett and Tifa took the moment to make their escape up the stairs, leaving me alone with the two strangers who were now giving me curious looks.
The man with the cigarette looks at me for a moment with narrowed eyes before removing the cancerous stick from his mouth.
"So, who the hell are you?" The ninja smacks the mans arm, and the man glares at her.
"What the hell brat!" He exclaims, rubbing the arm. The ninja crosses her arms impatiently.
"Are you completely socially retarded? You can't just say crap anytime you want!" The man grumbles something that sounds a lot like "You mean like you do?" But the ninja just ignores him, bouncing over to me.
"Sorry about Cid, he's just a grouch all the time." The man in question frowns, blowing out a cloud of smoke.
"I'm Yuffie! Greatest ninja in all of Wutai!" I raise a brow at her title, and the man named Cid rolls his eyes.
"I'm Shard. Shard East."
"The hell kind of name is that?" Cid asks, and I shrug.
"My name I suppose." And Yuffie grins.
"Well I think it's a cool name! Kind of mysterious or something! By the way your hair is awesome. Why is it blue? It would be so cool if I had blue hair! But then people would probably confuse us as sisters or something, though you're a lot taller and I…." Yuffie babbles on while bouncing ever so slightly on the balls of her feet.
Cid is rubbing his temples as she continues to talk, and to be honest, its beginning to irritate me too.
"Yuffie, do try not to overwhelm people." I look to the door, and to my shock, a massive red animal with a flaming tail is standing in the doorway. Yuffie squeals so loud it causes my ears to ring, and latches onto the animal in a hug.
"Red!" She says excitedly, and the animal chuckles.
"Yes child, it is I." Cid glances at the creature called Red with a nod.
"Good to see ya Red." Red prys himself out of Yuffie's grasp, and looks over at me. I watch curiously as he stands so that he is but a foot in front of me.
He sniffs and I see his eyes become deep with thought before a civil expression comes on his features.
"Hello, I am Nanaki or Red." I cock my head to the side.
"Which name would you prefer I address you?" A small smile comes to the creatures lips.
"I have grown accustom to both, but Nanaki was the name I was born with." I nod thoughtfully.
"Then I shall address you as Nanaki. I am Shard East." Nanaki Smiles and bows his head in greeting.
"A pleasure to meet you Miss East." Nanaki says, and Cid stubs out his cigarette on the table.
"Not on my tables Cid!" The man in question jumps at the sound of Tifa's rebuff, who had come down the stairs with Cloud and Barrett just in time to see Cid stab out the cigarette.
We all chuckle at Cid's expense. He glares at us all. "The hell you laughing at!" He demands, but I can tell by the slight color in his cheeks that he's embarrassed.
Yuffie then tackles both Cloud and Tifa with hugs, and Barrett yanks her off, holding her in the air by the strap fir her weapon much to our amusement and the Ninjas protests.
When Yuffie does manage to wiggle lose, she glares at all of us, before her look becomes confused.
"Wasn't Vince supposed to be here by now? Maybe we should look for him?" She says in concern.
"No need. I am here." A deep monotone voice says, and we all turn at the same time to view the speaker.
The man is tall with long black messy hair that looks like it hadn't been cared for in a while. He wears a tattered red cape with a high collar that covers his mouth with multiple buckles, and he wears black leather clothes underneath. His red eyes are piercing, and his skin is as white as a sheet.
But the thing that strikes me most about him is the gleaming golden claw….
I feel my heart speed up as I rest my eyes on it and all the blood rushes out of my face. My breaths become almost none existent, and my limbs feel cold.
My book falls out of my hands and I close my eyes as though that would stop the horrifying reality from settling in my mind.
I was not the only one.
(AN: OH NO'S! How will Shard deal with this? Sorry bout the cliffy, but I made this chapter extra long to make up for it.