Hmmm, not many people seem to like this story. I really hope that changes soon. :)

Yay! I'm done failing my exams so I can write more! lol jks

Enjoy the chapter.

Elmyra watched Aerith sitting nervously in the modest room. Elmyra shook her head. She turned around to Cid, who was standing behind her. The ducklings (from here on, instead of typing Cloud, Tifa and Zack, I'm gonna call them the ducklings) stood beside him.

"How can you accuse my daughter of such a thing?" she hissed, enraged. Tifa placed a hand on her shoulder. "How can you say she killed that man??" Cid's face didn't change.

"I'm not saying anything," he muttered. "The evidence is." Elmyra closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the sickening feeling she had when she first saw the video coming back all over again.

"If Aerith says that isn't her," she said. "Then I believe her." She opened her eyes to him. "But you don't." Cid sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I told you, I'm not saying anything." Elmyra frowned.

"Why?" she asked. She studied him carefully, making Cid a little uneasy.

"I just think there's more to this than a murder case," he said. Elmyra sighed softly, looking back at Aerith.

"So you'll let me take her home?" Cid nodded. A wave of confusion hit the ducklings.

"You've asked bail for Aerith?" Tifa said, stunned. Cid closed his eyes.

"I've talked it out with the director," he said quietly. "And she's allowed to go home." He looked back at Elmyra. "But ONLY under close supervision." Elmyra beamed.

"I'll keep an eye on her," she promised. She looked back at her daughter. "Can she come home now?" Cid shook his head. He turned around to Cloud.

"Bring him in." Cloud nodded and left the room. Cid watched him.

"We just need the witness to officially identify her first," he said. "And I'm sorry, but you have to leave for this." He looked back at her. Elmyra exhaled sadly, but nodded, understanding. She looked at Tifa, taking her hand.

"Look out for her, okay?" Tifa smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Mrs Gainsborough. I promise." Elmyra smiled warmly and stroked her cheek. She shot a glance at Cid and left, passing Cloud as he and Reno came in.

Cid walked over and took it from there. Cloud, Tifa and Zack followed him as he led Reno into the room.

Aerith looked up at them as they came in, but stayed calm. Reno took a seat in front of her, staring at her with nervous eyes.

There was a long moment of silence, until Cid took a step forward.

"Aerith," he said softly. She turned her head slightly to look at him. He smiled. "Do you know who this man is?"

Aerith closed her eyes and shook her head.

"No." Reno continued to stare at her. Cid chuckled lightly.

"This is Reno," he said, his voice still staying gently. The ducklings exchanged a look. Aerith looked up at the young man in front of her. Cid continued to smile as he leaned in closer to her.

"He's the witness who saw you run out of the hotel." Aerith's blood froze at the revelation on why she was there. She looked up at Cid.

"He saw me running?" she said hoarsely. Cid nodded, turning to Reno.

"You saw this girl, right?" he said. Reno didn't take his eyes off Aerith. "Is this her?" Reno stayed silent for a moment, but slowly nodded. Aerith's eyes widened.

"No…" she whispered, shaking her head. "No…I swear, I've never seen you before!"

Reno just kept staring. Cid watched him.

"Are you sure?" he asked in a loud voice. Reno nodded again.

"You've got those green eyes," he muttered. "And I never forget a face." Aerith shook her head hard.

"No! I've never seen you before!" She covered her face with her hands. Tifa rushed to her side.

"Shh…" Tifa said softly, wrapping her arms around her. "It's okay. C'mon, I'll take you home…" Cid pushed Tifa off, much to her surprise.

"Cid?" she began. He held out his hand for Aerith to take. He smiled at her.

"It's okay now," he said. "That was all I needed." Aerith's face didn't light up in anyway at his words. She placed her hand in his palm and he pulled her to her feet, but did not let go. Aerith frowned.

"What are you doing?" she asked. Cid frowned, examining her hand closely.

Something was wrong.

Cid quickly snapped out of it, grinning.

Nothing," he said. He stepped aside so she could go to the door, Tifa following her. She gave Cid a strange look and went out, closing the door behind her.

"Boss," Zack said, facing him. "What is it?" Cid pushed Cloud and Zack out.

"I'll tell you later about it," he muttered under his breath. Zack looked over at Reno still sitting quietly at the table.

"Got it, boss," Zack said. He grabbed Cloud's arm and dragged him with him. "C'mon, Probie." Cloud shot Cid a glance, but followed. Cid closed the door. He looked back at Reno, who hadn't moved.

"Something wrong?" Reno closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind.

"That girl…" he muttered. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to think. "I don't know, but there was something about her… something that didn't feel right…" Cid went over to him, curious.

"What do you mean?" Reno emitted an exhausted sigh.

"There's just something…" he said. He looked at Cid. "I'm sorry, I don't make any sense…" Cid shook his head. He held out his hand to him.

"No, it's fine," he said as Reno shook it. "That was all we need from you." Reno nodded. Cid opened the door for him and he walked out. Cid closed it once again, holding onto the handle. He slowly let go, staring at his hand.

Vincent sat at the bar window, staring at the full moon outside, sipping his beer thoughtlessly. He heard approaching footsteps and turned his head to see Cid. He watched as his old friend sat himself in the opposite chair and helped himself to a beer. He sighed contently and leaned back on his chair, staring through the window. Vincent continued to watch for a long moment.

"So you let the girl go home?" he said finally. Cid nodded, not looking at him. "And the director agreed on your decision?" Cid choked on his beer.

"…you could say that…" Vincent uttered a soft chuckle and sipped his drink.

"You think she's really telling the truth, don't you Cid?" he said. Cid still didn't look over at him, but sighed.

"Something's just a little off about this case," he mumbled. "But I can't put my finger on it yet…" He glanced at Vincent. "Some things don't add up." Vincent raised an eyebrow, slightly interested. Cid stared down at his hand.

"You said there were traces of her blood on the murder weapon, right?"

Vincent nodded. Cid tightened his hand into a fist, frowning slightly.

"And you're absolutely sure it's her DNA?"

"Yuffie did the tests over twice, and we're certain." Cid lifted his gaze back at the starry night sky outside.

"Then it doesn't make any sense…"

"What doesn't?" Cid looked over at him, raising his hand.

"There are no traces of any injuries on her hands." Vincent frowned.

"What?"

"Her hands… they're flawless. No cuts, no bruises." Vincent set down his bottle and stared at it.

"The blood might not have necessarily been from her hands," he muttered. His eyes drifted up to Cid. He took a plastic bag with a photograph inside out of his pocket, placing it on the table in front of Cid. "And even if it did, it might have healed already." Cid picked up the photograph.

It was a picture of Aerith.

"That was found in Kadaj's pocket," Vincent said. "It looked like they planned to meet up with him for something." He sipped his beer. "Have you found Sephiroth yet?" Cid nodded, examining the picture.

"Cloud's got an address. We'll get him tomorrow morning." He frowned. "It still doesn't make sense. I mean, why would there be blood on the handle if her hand wasn't bleeding?" Vincent sighed.

"You believe what she told you, don't you?" Cid placed the photo facedown on the table.

"Why would someone lie about something like this when all the evidence points to them, anyway?" he asked. "What would they have to gain?" Vincent sat back.

"You believe her," he said, sipping his drink. Cid rubbed his forehead roughly.

"She really doesn't seem to know what happened at all. She doesn't seem like the munipulative kind."

"That's what you said about your third wife…" Vincent remarked. Cid let out a scoff.

"I'm serious, Vince." Vincent glanced at him.

"You think she might have some kind of psychological disorder? A split personality?" Cid closed his eyes.

"That's one of the reasons I don't want to send her to jail yet. I just wanna see what might happen." Vincent shook his head, sighing.

"You can't defend this girl just because of your gut feeling," he told him. "Not in this case, not when everything else points to her. " Cid shrugged, leaning back. He exhaled deeply, truly exhausted.

"I just don't know…"

Green eyes scanned through the newspaper article, worry lines creasing on her smooth forehead. The people around the bar were staring at her, but she didn't notice. She was completely absorbed into the article.

Teenager Murdered In Hotel

The body of a teenager boy was found on the floor in the Midgar Hotel late last Tuesday night. The police have concluded that the murderer has been identified through DNA samples found at the crime scene, a video footage and an eye witness.

The green eyes came across the picture that looked exactly like herself.

Aerith Gainsborough, a nurse at Midgar Children's Hospital was arrested and is free on bail. Her history with the young boy, a member of an elite Mafia gang, is unknown, but she has had contact before with the gang leader, Sephiroth.

Anger pumped through her veins as she torn her eyes away from the article.

"Those stupid cops…" she muttered through her clenched teeth. The people in the bar around her stared at her, a little afraid. She ignored them, folding up the paper neatly. Her cell phone began to ring. She opened it and pressed it to her ear.

"Hello?" A rough female voice with a strong New York accent came.

"Evenin', sweetheart." She rolled her eyes, recognizing the voice.

"Hello Scarlett," she muttered dully.

"Read this week's paper, yet?"

"Yes, I have." She paused for a moment, sighing. "And is Sephiroth still going to see me or what?" The woman on the other line cackled.

"After what you did? I doubt it." She sighed again, a smile crawling onto her lips.

"Not even to find out what Kadaj died for?" The line fell silent.

"Tomorrow mornin', behind the hotel," Scarlett said. "Wait for me at the restaurant near 143 Maple Street." She picked up a pen withh her left hand and jotted down the address quickly.

"Okay."

"But wait… you'd be in jail or close supervision by then, wouldn't cha?" Scarlet was mocking her, but she still smiled.

"Oh, don't worry," she said in the same silky voice as Scarlet. "I'll be there. Alone." At that, she hung up. She glanced down at the paper again, sighing sadly.

"You have to do what you have to do," she muttered to herself. She took out the file from her pocket, staring at it. "And I have to bring that bastard to justice." She put it away, zipping it securely in her jacket.

"No matter what I have to do, I will finish what I came to do."