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ENJOY CHAP 4 and REVIEW

MIDGAR: March 6, 2008 1:00 pm

Cloud had taken several days off recovering and laying low while Yuffie and Johnny had collected the cars from Don Corneo the day after the race. Cloud had all three cars stripped of the cosmetic parts for cash then sold the cars for cash. He had made around 80,000 in cash for the three cars plus the 10,000 that Don Corneo had paid him. He told Yuffie to give that money to Cid to compensate for any car that Cid gave him.

Cid had phoned Cloud the day after the race and after Yuffie had taken the money to him and told Cloud that his new ride would be delivered to the safe house. Cloud had sat in the safe house for two days now just thinking about what had transpired between him and Tifa and the possible rematch against Azul.

The back door opened and in walked Cid, Shera, Yuffie and Johnny. The four looked at Cloud who had made a great recovery. "We'll your new ride is out front, it came in a few hours ago. Shera was just checking it out. We didn't tamper with it too much because we don't have the parts to upgrade it too much but we did give it a new paint job, so how about you quit whining in here all day and come check it out." Cid grinned. Cloud smiled and walked out side. Johnny and Yuffie were grinning while Cid and Shera were looking smug.

Cloud walked outside and spotted a black BMW M6 Coupe with a white stripe in the center of the hood on the driver's side and red stripe in the center of the hood on the passenger's side that bent off to the side and traveled on the sides of the doors before meeting up again on the trunk. The rims where at least twenty one inches and were shining in the light. Cloud gasped and nearly fainted from the amazing look of the vehicle.

"Cid I could never accept this…" Cloud whispered as he looked at the vehicle but Cid shook his head.

"Kid you're a close friend and I'm not going to have you owing that jackass anymore than you already do!" Cid grunted as he walked over to the car and opened the door. "Get over hear and check it out!" Cid called Cloud over and sat him into the car. "You're going to drive this car and figure out who really set you up. Then you're going to get out of that debt with Genesis and stick around to show these youngsters what racing is all about, you hear… that's the stipulation for me giving you this car, no skipping town… you gotta problem you better turn to me and Shera first, ya got that?" Cid asked as Cloud smiled and checked out the inside of the vehicle.

"Cloud we care about you and we want you to understand that, so like Cid said no skipping town. If you need someone or something come to us first. We want to help you." Shera smiled as Cloud nodded with a grin.

"Thank you both so much… I promise I'll stick around after this is all over… I won't let you two down… I swear." Cloud promised as Cid slapped his back and laughed.

"We get it, now check out the damn car, that's why we're here… what do ya think?" Cid asked grinning. Cloud looked at the gauges, the shifter and then shook his head with a grin.

"Cid this is perfect it's more than I could ever have imagined… how much did this cost?" Cloud asked finally as Cid laughed

"Like I said, I had a few favors from some old friends so don't worry about the cost. As long as you like it don't ask any questions, got it?" Cid asked as Cloud just grinned and nodded. "Now I bet you can handle Zack or Rufus without much trouble… they'll be much better racers but I doubt their on your level." Cid advised. Cloud nodded and then turned to Yuffie and Johnny.

"I'm heading out, I'll be back a little later, I'm going to look for Rufus." Cloud allowed Cid and Shera to step away before riding off. Cid and the others looked after him grinning.

"He's gonna give 'em hell." Cid grinned as they walked inside he added, "I guess I'll look under your hoods, maybe I can give you a few more ponies."

EDGE: March 6 2008, 5:05 pm

Tifa and Aerith just finished a run to defend Genesis's turf against Lucrecia again and they were now driving towards Tifa's apartment. "Aerith thanks for the help, I have to get back me and Genesis are heading out for dinner tonight, I would love your company if you wouldn't mind?" Tifa asked but Aerith remained silent. "Aerith?" Tifa asked and finally a sigh was heard.

"Things aren't shaking out to well… I just got word from Marlene, she said that Cloud was going to be racing against the Turks in a few days. She said something about Cloud having yet another new car. A BMW M6… I have no clue where he got the money for that but if Cloud does continue racing Sephiroth's going to catch him. I heard from Reno and Rude that Sephiroth is on his way here and to make matters worse presently Kadaj, Loz and Yazoo are still here. I'm just surprised we haven't ran into any of them."

"Aerith relax Genesis took care of them and what you heard were rumors, which mean they might not be true, I'm sure Genesis is taking care of everything, just relax." Tifa smiled as she cut off her ICCS and drove into the parking garage with Aerith in tow. When she stepped out of her vehicle Tifa came face to face with a large muscular man with pale blue hair. Behind him were two others a woman with red hair and a scowl and a man who Tifa thought looked like Vincent Valentine with spikier black hair. "Excuse me, you're in my way." Tifa spoke and crossed her arms while the man just grinned.

"We watched your little race and well we thought it was awesome. I would hate to see such a pretty little thing like you hurt in any possible way…" He grinned and went to touch Tifa's face but she swatted his hand away.

"Who the hell are you?" Tifa asked getting ready to fight. Aerith had now come over and stood by Tifa's side.

"My name is Azul and these are my associates, Nero and Rosso… we're looking for a guy named Cloud, we hear this is his hometown." Tifa narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.

"You're bounty hunters?" She asked smugly and Azul laughed.

"Oh no, don't tell me he didn't get away from Kadaj and his gang." Azul faked shock, "seriously though we have a bone to pick with him…" Aerith's phone rang and she looked to the trio before narrowing her eyes and answering. After a few words Aerith hung up and glared at the three individuals.

"I think it's best you find Cloud on your own, we're not snitches." Aerith hissed as Azul just laughed.

"That's good then you and him have nothing in common. You see Cloud set us up a while back… along with every other Restrictors 20 member." Aerith paused and frowned as Azul grinned, "I see he's spoken of us, but did he tell you how after each race he participated in the cops caught every racer but him and to top it off, when he faced me for the number one spot, I discovered that he had been working with the police to bust each of us." Azul shrugged as Tifa gasped and frowned.

"I knew he was a liar!" Tifa yelled at Aerith who frowned.

"Whatever do you mean?" Azul asked interested.

"A year ago he sold us out in the same way." Aerith growled out as Azul grinned.

"Well then how about this, tell him we're looking for him… tell him we have unfinished business from Gongaga." Azul turned and both Rosso and Nero followed him back into the shadows of the parking garage.

"So he's been lying the entire time… he's been selling everyone out… even across the globe…" Tifa shook her head in disgust. "I'm informing Genesis of this and then we should find Kadaj and his gang to set up a deal to hand Cloud over." Tifa instructed as Aerith nodded. "See ya Aerith, take care." Tifa then went into her apartment as Aerith drove from the garage. Unknown to both of them Zack Fair was watching the entire exchange and sighed. He picked up his phone and dialed Barret's number.

"Hey, I need to speak with you tonight, meet me downtown." Zack sighed and hung up before walking over to a dark blue Corvette C6 with a large silver wolf on the hood. He drove from Tifa's apartment and sped back to the meeting point with Barret where he found a red Ford GT parked and waiting outside was Barret Wallace.

"So what do you have to say this time?"

"We need to find Cloud, put the word out that I am willing to race him straight up one on one for the slums and outskirts territories." Zack watched Barret's face and waited for the explosion but it never came. "So you're not flipping out?" Zack asked as Barret shook his head.

"Something seems too fishy about this. I've been acting like a mad man for the past six months but I've finally had a chance to step back and think for a moment. If Cloud sold us out how the hell could he have gotten the race purse if he skipped town?" Barret asked logically as Zack's eyes widened and he hit himself and groaned.

"Why didn't I think of that?"

"Because everyone was so caught up in emotion that they can't stop and think, and when their emotions are gone they tend to forget. Cloud was set up and I say me and you find out who orchestrated the whole thing. My suggestion is we forget the race and you just surrender the slums… they'll be in good hands till we find out who was really behind the whole fiasco a year ago. That way we don't have to go around defending it, if Cloud's got it I doubt many of those newbies will try to mess with him." Barret reasoned as Zack grinned and went a step further.

"Let's work with him then, that way we can stay close and help him out, he's got a few guys on his tail from his time in Gongaga. Seems they made their way to Midgar and turned Tifa and Aerith against him. We may need to protect him." Zack grinned as Barret laughed.

"But who's going to protect us?" He asked as Zack shuddered.

"We can always just pray… right?" Zack asked as he and Barret hopped into their rides. "Hey, I'm going to ask around for Cloud's whereabouts, he's gonna need a new safe house, Tifa and Aerith may try to turn him in to Kadaj and his gang so be on the look out." Zack drove off and Barret peeled out in the opposite direction.

MIDGAR: March 7, 2008 11:30 am

Cloud, Yuffie and Johnny were driving through the streets when Zack and Barret turned behind them. Cloud frowned and turned down a less active street and the other cars followed him. He jumped out of the car and marched over to Zack with a frown in place. "What the hell Zack, what's going on? I heard what you're trying to do and I want an explanation." Cloud demanded as Zack jumped out and checked out Cloud's ride.

"I have to say that is nice!" Zack grinned and passed Cloud and looked at the car for a moment and grinned, "BMW M6 coupe… I bet Cid got this for you didn't he?" Zack asked and continued without getting an answer. "Anyhow, I need to speak to you privately." Zack pulled Cloud to the side as Johnny and Yuffie looked at each other confused.

"Zack I heard you're surrendering the slums to me, why?!" Cloud asked as Zack sighed.

"When this is all over I'll just get them back anyway. Look last night Azul from Gongaga met up with Tifa and Aerith… he said some very unsettling things about you working with the cops to bust the Restrictors 20." Cloud sighed and shook his head at Zack's words and spoke.

"I didn't know the woman was with the police, she was helping me and I wanted to get my car back so I didn't asked questions… I never went to check on the racers I defeated so I didn't find out until she busted Azul right in front of me. She did give me the keys to my car to give me a chance to escape so I don't know what's going on." Cloud sighed. Zack nodded and turned to Barret and waved.

"I didn't tell Barret because he believes you were set up." Zack said finally and Cloud nodded.

"Yuffie, Cid and Shera believe the same." Cloud added and Zack sighed.

"How come I'm the last to come up with this?" Zack asked as Cloud shook his head. Zack frowned and balled up his fists.

"It had to be Genesis." Zack frowned but Cloud laughed.

"Yeah right, Genesis is the reason I race, he practically owns me, every car I drove was his and if he wanted me out the way he'd just stop giving me cars." Cloud explained but Zack shook his head and sighed.

"You have very little faith in how much people respect you," Zack looked at the BMW and grinned, "Genesis doesn't own that… all I'm saying is this Cloud, you were huge before you left and I'm sure if he had taken everything from you, someone would have happily taken you under their wing. You have friends, you know… me, Cid, Shera, Barret, Tifa, Aerith, Lucrecia… we were and still are your friends… even though some of them want to kill you… but that's besides the point. We would have been there for you and I think that's what Genesis was afraid of. He knew you were getting too big and it was only a matter of time before you went after him… the student has to surpass the teacher someday." Zack patted Cloud's shoulder and walked back to the others to let Cloud think about what he had just said. Cloud looked down and frowned before following after Zack.

"Hey!" Cloud called as Zack turned. "what you said about Azul… did he have any others with him?"

"Yeah two, a guy and girl… I didn't see what they were driving so we have to be on the look out. I set up a new safe house large enough for us all." Zack grinned as he went to get into his car.

"What do you mean large enough for us all?" Cloud asked

"Hey, with all that's going down you're gonna need two more wingmen who have a tad bit more experience… no offense Yuffie, Johnny. We need to move everything from the other safe house you guys were in earlier… I overheard Tifa wanting to contact Kadaj and turn you in. Follow us to the new hideout and we'll exchange ICCS frequencies there." Zack called out as he revved his engine and both he and Barret peeled out with Johnny Cloud and Yuffie behind them.

EDGE: Tifa's apartment March 7, 2008 6:00 pm

"Aerith I have no clue where he is but I can tell you this, the old safe house Genesis set up is empty and not to mention word on the street is that Zack gave Cloud his territory." Tifa sighed in anger. Aerith's voice came on the other side and answered her friend.

"I've checked Zack's safe house and it's empty, they've must have gotten a new one." Aerith explained and Tifa's growl could be heard on the other line.

"That just goes to show Cloud did set us up… I'm going to wring his neck when I see him again." Tifa growled. Since their kiss she had been more prone to wanting to commit violent acts against a particular spiky haired blonde. Aerith sighed in surrender and spoke.

"Let's just rest, Genesis needs him so let him use him to get these territories… Cloud will come to Genesis sooner or later." Aerith hung up and Tifa closed her phone. She put the phone down on her table. She was about to go take a shower when her phone rang. She looked at the caller I.D. and frowned. "Aerith?" Tifa asked into the phone as her friend spoke.

"Yeah, guess what, Cloud is scheduled to run against Rude and Reno tonight around 10, we should head out and check it out if that's fine with you." Aerith suggested, "We'll follow them after the race is over, deal?" Aerith asked into the phone. Tifa grinned and agreed.

"Later Tifa."

"Later Aerith."

MIDGAR: March 7, 2008 10:00 pm

Cloud was now heading from Cid and Shera's home to the start of the race after filling them in about the change of address and the reasons for it. Zack and Barret drove up on Cloud's left as he entered the downtown district where Rude and Reno awaited him. The crowd had grown and once again cheers could be heard for him as he pulled up to the starting line. Barret and Zack pulled beside him and then Rude and Reno pulled up in two silver Aston Martin DB9's while their third racer, Elena pulled up to the line in a silver Porsche Cayman. Cloud revved the engine and stopped as Reno rolled his window down. Cloud looked to his right and rolled his window down and faced Reno.

"Hey, thanks for leaving… Tifa sure was heartbroken, I mean she even let me and Rude get a piece of that ass right after Shinra finished off in her mouth!" Reno laughed as Cloud's eyes flashed with anger. He rolled his window back up and stared forward coldly. Reno could still be heard laughing as the race girl started the countdown to the start.

The moment she finished the signal to start Cloud hit the gas and peeled out. Zack's corvette accelerated faster and jumped out in front of Cloud and then he began to speak on the ICCS, "Cloud I'll be your drafter and Barret…" Zack trailed off as Barret used his car to slam into Rude's DB9 causing it to crash into a building, "Well he'll be your muscle, he'll clear the way if you need him to." Zack grinned. Elena was allowing Reno to draft behind her and once the cars finally made it to a straight away onto the highway, Reno shot in front of her and cut off Zack and Cloud before zooming onto the highway. Cloud shifted into his final gear and looked at the speedometer and grinned as he pulled from behind Zack and blasted forward with a burst of nitrous. His car's top speed zoomed up to 175 MPH as he caught up with Reno who was in awe before he hit his gas and nitrous. The two racers zipped through traffic barely missing each car as they passed on the shoulder and swerved between cars. Cloud came to the exit and took it before Reno could and hit his brakes. Reno hadn't expected Cloud to slow down and instead of ramming him from behind, Reno panicked and swerved off to his right.

Reno's car let off sparks as he drove along the wall of the highway support wall before he got back onto the road to follow after Cloud pissed that his car's right side now looked like crap. Cloud grinned and took the necessary right that was on the map before drifting around an oncoming car. "I thought these people should be in bed by now!" Cloud growled as he gained control of his vehicle but not before Reno zoomed past him, along with Zack.

"Come on Cloud, Barret took both Elena and Rude out of the race at the cost of his ride, don't you dare let one Turk beat the two of us!" Zack yelled over his com to Cloud. Cloud hit his gas and checked the map before grinning. He drove off the road and into the construction site for Shinra's newest developmental research building.

Reno was out ahead laughing his head off as he realized he only had several more miles till the finish and all he had to do was hold Zack off and the win was his. Just as Reno was checking his rearview mirror for Zack's C6 he was hit from the side hard and his car spun out widely causing him to wreck. Zack slowed down and held a finger out his window to mock Reno as he drove to the finish line.

Reno looked at what had hit him and gasped as a support beam lay in the road. He looked up and in the research building Rufus had just begun to build Cloud stood outside his car and waved before dropping some nails down below. Reno panicked and jumped back into his car as the nails slammed into his ride. "Damn Strife!" Reno cursed and waited for a few moments in the silence. "Whew it's over." Reno grinned and then Cloud's BMW roared above Reno's car out from the building landing on the front end of Reno's Aston Martin. Cloud's car looked relatively unharmed despite the front bumper damage from ramming the support beam off the five story building in progress. Cloud stepped out of his car and waved at Reno and examined the DB9.

"I think you should wash it more." Cloud grinned and got back into his ride and reversed so that he could roll his window down and look at Reno again, "Oh by the way, when I race you again, I'll go easy, I can't wait to sell your car off for cash… It's really going to make my day." Cloud grinned as he drove off to the finish line where Zack awaited along with a large crowd.

"Took you long enough, I heard that Tifa comment and it wasn't true… she's been with Genesis since you left." Zack said as Cloud frowned. "Well at least she's in a monogamous relationship." Zack reasoned and turned to check out those in the crowd. Before he saw anyone he spotted Tifa's Carrera GT and Aerith's Z06. "Cloud unless you want to play with Tifa again, we better head out, I think they're coming this way." Zack warned and hopped into his ride and Cloud did that same, "Yuffie phoned me and said she picked up Barret, come on let's get out of here so they don't follow us to the new safe house. The fewer who know about it, the better." Zack added

Tifa and Aerith drove after the two and caught up almost instantly, "Cloud, I see you moved from the safe house so where do you lie your head these days?" Tifa asked as her voice echoed in through Cloud's speakers.

"How'd you get my frequency?" Cloud asked

"Genesis owned the car you had before so he knows… sad you weren't smart enough to change it."

"Cloud you mean to tell me you kept the same frequency?" Zack asked interrupting the two.

"Yeah, I just didn't think."

"You've been doing a lot of that as of late." Aerith added and then Zack laughed.

"I think you said that wrong… If he hasn't done any thinking how can he do a lot of it?" Zack grinned and earned a chuckled from Cloud while both women saw nothing funny about the situation.

"Shut up Zack." Aerith shouted and he sighed.

"If this is about me standing you up that one time, I'm sorry!" Zack sighed and she growled into the ICCS. "I would have loved to take you to dinner but I didn't have the cash so I had to do a quick race and that turned into an "outrun the cops" moment so sorry!" Zack sighed into the ICCS, "besides it was over a year ago."

"We want to have a word with the liar, not you Zack." Aerith shouted. Cloud had finally had enough and pulled over. Zack gasped and drifted in a full 180 and drove in front of Cloud.

"Don't leave the car it's suicide!" Zack gasped. Aerith and Tifa pulled up behind him and got out. Tifa marched up to Cloud once he was clear of his car and slapped him. Zack hissed for Cloud and then after Tifa slapped him she punched him in his face. Zack jumped out and pulled her away to allow Cloud to recover.

Aerith looked shocked for a moment before speaking, "You deserved it! We met Azul and he told us the truth about how you set them up for the cops!" Aerith yelled as Cloud frowned and wiped the blood from his lip.

"I'm going to explain this to you one more time… I was in Gongaga looking to race, I met Azul he cheated me out of my car and then some lady named Shalua Rui comes and helps me get a ride and from there I go through the top 20 racers and I had no clue she was a cop until she busted Azul right in front of me. I had no clue to what was happening! I was just looking to do the one thing I'm good at and that's race cars! I have nothing in my life but that! No family, barely any friends and no real job… I drive cars for a living, I repeat I had no clue that woman was a cop. I guess she was interested in me or pitied me because she gave me my keys to my car and told me to run then I had to outrun everyone police officer in Gongaga and Kadaj and his crew. I'm tired of explaining myself to you two everyday. If you really believe that I would sell you out then you never knew me at all." Cloud finished coldly and got back into his car, leaving Tifa and Aerith shocked. Zack had stepped back into his ride and backed up to allow Cloud to pass and then followed. He made sure that Tifa and Aerith hadn't decided to follow them by checking his mirror. They were still standing in the street contemplating Cloud's words. Aerith went to say something but Tifa stopped her. "Just head back to Edge." Tifa spoke as Cloud's final words hit her hard

"If you really believe that I would sell you out then you never knew me at all." Tifa was knocked back into reality when her phone rang and Genesis was on the other side.

"It seems Cloud is gaining territory faster than expected. I just got a call that Lucrecia and Vincent have decided to race Cloud as soon as he finishes off Rufus and claims the downtown district. I have an assignment for you to handle. Lucrecia is dangerous and is very, very, very good, I need you to make sure she losses, because my sources tell me she's only going to run against Cloud if he puts all three territories up for grabs. I want you to challenge Lucrecia the same day and race in my name… that way she has to beat you and Cloud and if either you or Cloud win, I get the residential area. Take care Tifa." Genesis hung up abruptly and Tifa shook her head in confusion. She went back to her car and sat down as her memories of what happened a year ago returned.

FLASHBACK

The moment Cloud pulled to the starting line, Tifa was grinning like a cat, her best friend and most likely the best racer next to Genesis Rhapsodos, was about to run against the other top three racers in the city. The money on the race was huge and the winner would be set for life. Tifa ran over to Cloud's car and leaned down

"Cloud will this be another victory?" She grinned and looked over, "I highly doubt that Aerith is going to go down easy. I have no clue what Tseng is capable of but Lucrecia has a lot of experience and with the added fact the course is tricky, the Audi's handling is going to be a plus for her." she went to encouraging to warning but Cloud just grinned. As he went to speak, he and Tifa locked eyes for a moment. She blushed while he just looked ahead and smiled.

"Tifa, I have something to tell you after the race… win or lose." Cloud turned back to her and she looked a little shocked. Tifa frowned in confusion but smiled. She nodded and leaned into the car and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Cloud's eyes widened as Tifa blushed and spoke.

"For luck, there's a lot of money on this so don't go soft." Tifa grinned as she went to the front of the cars and raised her hands. Tonight she could feel would be different, she and Cloud were making progress in their relationship. Ever since they moved here together from Nibelheim years ago as orphans they were close. As Tifa did the countdown she couldn't help but watch his cocky but sexy grin as he watched her movements waiting for the signal. When she gave it he was the first to go as if he could tell her body's every motion and react to it instantly.

"Good luck Cloud…" Tifa whispered as the four zoomed down the street.

END FLASHBACK

Tifa shook her head and sighed heavily before an earlier memory came to the surface this one just months after Cloud began street racing many years ago.

FLASHBACK

"Cloud, you're getting better and better after each race… soon you'll be famous and you'll forget about me." Tifa sighed sadly and Cloud laughed.

"Yeah, right, Tifa you and I have gone through too much, I'm not forgetting about you anytime soon." Cloud grinned.

"But you'll get so famous and then all these women will like you and they'll make you get rid of me." Tifa pouted and again Cloud laughed.

"Well I'll make you my girl so you can tell them to get lost!" Cloud smiled and then paled once he said the words. Tifa looked at him shocked and instantly he tried to correct himself. "I mean… I"

"Cloud, I don't think that I'd… um… I… you're my best friend and I don't want to ruin that." Tifa explained and Cloud nodded.

"I didn't mean it like that, I'm sorry, I just want to make sure you know you're my number one friend and I won't ever put anyone above you, I promise!"

"Are you sure?" Tifa asked and Cloud smiled.

"Tifa… you know me better than anyone ever will… do you really even have to ask?" Cloud questioned and Tifa smiled with a blush in her cheeks.

"I guess you're right, we do know each other well uh?" Tifa asked as she laid her head on her best friend's shoulder.

"Of course, that's what makes us such great friends." Cloud added.

END FLASHBACK

Tifa closed her eyes in pain and held in her tears. She shook her head and started her car and left to her apartment.