Reno kicked at the burnt and battered remains of… something, it was metal and it looked perfect for kicking the burnt Shinra logo across the ruins of the demolished warehouse. "I don't get it," He growled looking around, "I just don't fucking get it! Why steal all these weapons, all this technology just to fucking destroy it?"

"I don't know," Elena said, scanning the broken guns and security droids, all sorts of gear she had been familiar seeing when she was in Shinra, or as she supposed she should say when there was a Shinra. She agreed it didn't make sense, you don't steal things like this just to destroy them. If destroying the tech was the whole point then they should have done it back when they were in the hidden labs and warehouses, moving all this into this warehouse had to have taken more time and effort than it was worth, at least if you were going to blow it up.

"Maybe he didn't destroy it all," Rude said holding his Mako detector, "We know some Materia was stolen from the labs and the mako readings aren't high enough for destroyed Materia."

"Perhaps an attempt to lose our attention," Elena reasoned, "Destroy the junk and leave the good stuff to use or sell?"

"Good stuff," Reno said staring at the remains of a Shinra cloning chamber, "There's plenty of good stuff right here that got blown up, this stuff is worth at least a hundred million on any black market, and that's just the stuff I've been able to identify who know how much this stuff really was, I might be able to make a billion on this stuff, it's hardly worthless. If our man is selling this stuff he just burned a bunch of money, money it would have been easier to leave it where he found it."

"I don't know," Elena said walking towards the car, "I just don't know."

"Where are you going?" Reno asked.

"I need some lunch," Elena answered.

Reno patted his belly, "I think you forgot about the sandwiches," he said.

"You had a sandwich," Elena said, "I'm getting something for myself I'll meet you back at the hotel."

"You're taking the car?" Reno asked.

"You call a cab," Elena said opening the door of the black sedan and stepping inside.


Elena sighed and wondered how she had managed to work with those two for all these years. Rude was tolerable enough with his simply cool demeanor even if could be a little annoying how he'd keep everything to himself and was rather lax about their job. Reno seemed to exist to push her buttons, Elena almost believed she should rip a page out of the dictionary and force him to learn the word professionalism. Shinra was gone but they still had their work cut out for them, more than ever in fact. The world was in chaos and they had caused it, she had been devoted to serving Shinra in the past, now she was determined to make up for the sins of the past. Rufus was funding the WRO with his amassed fortune and sending them on jobs to help the planet. And right now these labs being raided along with all these murders of WRO members was their job. That and helping Reeves with the election in November. Reeves probably wouldn't approve of them interfering with the election but Rufus was determined to keep Reeves as head of the WRO, after all Reeves was determined to fix the planet.

Elena's coffee arrived and she grabbed the cup along with her roast beef sandwich, she grabbed her tray and walked to the tables outside to enjoy the fresh air.


Kayaku sipped his tea, the warm liquid was comforting in this cold damp weather, not that Kayaku minded colder weather, the clean crisp air was an unmatched comfort. The rain from last night had puddled and frozen over. City workers were spreading rock salt of the sidewalk to get rid of the thin sheet of ice that had formed overnight. Kayaku had already watched several people narrowly avoid slipping on the concrete.

The grey skies were strangely comforting to him, somehow it seemed inappropriate that he should enjoy a clear blue sky. Blue skies were for better people, not him. He watched people pass by on the street and sit inside the warm café. He watched as people sipped their coffee and enjoying their lunches. He watched couples talk over their drinks smiling and giving longing glances at each other. Kayaku looked away feeling pressure building in his chest. These people, the ones he'd grown to watch every day, they were living completely different lives from him. They walked into buildings without finding the exits or worry about the potential threats inside. The men and women lived simple lives ignorant of the threats that loomed in the shadows, ignorant of the sacrifice of others. Kayaku envied them and their simple ignorant lives.

The sound of a skidding foot caught his attention, a woman squealed behind him and he turned to see a young blond sliding on a patch of ice, He moved gracefully from his chair catching her by the shoulders. Her tray carrying a cup of coffee and a sandwich few away spilling Kayaku with its hot contents all over him. He ignored the searing pain as he looked at the short haired blond through his dark sunglasses.

"Oh my god," The woman exclaimed, "Thank you for catching me," She grabbed a napkin from the table and began trying to wipe the hot coffee off his face.

"Please," Kayaku said letting go of her, "I'm fine," he assured her taking his seat again and grabbing for his own napkin.

"I am so sorry," she apologized, "That coffee must be hot, and it's all over your suit too."

"It's quite alright," Kayaku assured her, "It's just coffee." He assured her.

"I'm such a klutz," the girl pouted taking the seat across from his, Kayaku cursed and finished cleaning the hot coffee off, "I slipped on a patch of ice."

"You don't need to keep apologizing," he told her.

The girl nodded, "I'm Elena," the girl told him, of course Kayaku already knew that little piece of information.

"Harima," Kayaku said, he wondered if his alias would work or if she already knew who he was. The Turks had been disbanded long ago but he kept himself on guard, he kept up to date on the Turks ever since he left Shinra so he already knew about Elena. But did she know about him? Was she here to kill him?

"Pleased to meet you Harima," Elena said, "And thanks for saving me."

"I just sort of reacted," Kayaku explained sipping his tea, "I didn't know what I was doing until I caught you."

Elena smiled, "Well you're still my hero," she said, "You come here often?"

"Not really," Kayaku said, "I was just taking my lunch break and decided I should try this coffee house since I've passed by it a couple thousand times."

"What do you do for a living?" Elena asked.

Kayaku smirked trying to seem casual, he should assume she was here knowing exactly who he was but that was no reason to break is cover. Most agents in the field panicked and broke their cover after being confronted, it usual led to their death. Lies kept him alive.

"I'm just an accountant," he said trying to sound modest, "I'm skilled with numbers," Kayaku supposed that was true to various extents, all kinds of numbers went into play when you gathered information and killed people. But as a Turk Elena should know all about that.

"I see," she said, "That explains the nice suit and tie."

"What about you?" Kayaku asked, "You're wearing a suit as well."

Elena looked away, "I'm a lawyer, but if you don't mind I don't really want to talk about work," she said sighing.

"That bad?" he asked.

"Let's just say my coworkers are being a pain in my ass," she said, "and I've just been given a pretty difficult case for my firm so I've been kind of exhausted for the last week."

"I see," Kayaku said, "Well unless you're interested on how to file your taxes I'm afraid I don't have much to tell you about work being an accountant is a rather dull."

"Alright," Elena said, "Then it's agreed we won't talk about work."

"Then what should we talk about?" Kayaku asked again sipping his tea, the longer the conversation went the more convinced he was that she had no idea who he was. He supposed it was possible, if she had read his Shinra file it was eight years out of date, his appearance had changed since then and his mako infused eyes were covered by his sunglasses. But assuming she was ignorant of his true identity could be fatal so he kept on his guard, if she did know his identity she was hiding it well and acting very calm.

"Well," she said a light pink blush spreading across her face, "Are you seeing anyone?"

Kayaku almost choked on his tea, "No," he said composing himself, "I'm currently single, a bit of a bold question don't you think."

Elena giggled, "Sorry I don't mean to be rude or informal, but you seem like a charming guy and I haven't had a date in a long time, and I need to get back to work soon."

"I see," Kayaku said, "directness aside I see no harm in seeing you again?" In truth Kayaku saw every reason and all forms of harm in seeing her again, there was no way this could be a coincidence.

Standing Elena smiled, "Here," she said handing him a business card, "Call me." Kayaku took the card as she walked away towards the car. As soon as she had driven away Kayaku holstered the 9mm he'd been holding under the table pointed at her. He looked at her card, phone number and everything, he supposed it was good she didn't ask for a business card of his, he didn't have any. He made a mental note to amend that.

Kayaku sighted and lit up a cigarette. He looked back inside to the normal people meeting in couples. If he was one of them he'd look at this recent encounter fondly, most men dreamed of having a beautiful woman fall into their lap and ask for them to call later giving their phone number. If he was like the people in the café he wouldn't be aiming a gun at her from under the table and would plan on calling her later. If he was one of them he'd think this all coincidence, but as a spy, as a ninja he wasn't allowed to believe in coincidence.