Chapter Seven

Elena stared at the door where Tseng had just been.

'I don't...' she shook her head. 'I don't understand.'

Her voice was tiny and hurt sounding. Reno shifted uncomfortably. His plan had worked, so why didn't he feel good? Why did he feel... guilty?

'Lena,' he went and stood beside her, gently putting his hand on her shoulder. She burst into noisy sobs, throwing her arms around him.

'I' sniff 'love' snort 'him, Reno.'

Wrinkling his nose slightly as he felt Elena use his shirt as a tissue, Reno nodded. 'I know,' he said, quietly. 'I'll go talk to him, okay?'

'Uh, maybe I should go,' Rude broke in, looking alarmed, but Reno shook his head.

'I'll go,' he said decisively.

'Thank you, Reno, ' said Elena, smiling tearily at him. 'You're a great friend, you know that?'

Reno rolled his eyes. 'Nyeh,' he muttered, heading towards the door.

He went to Tseng's office and knocked softly on the door.

'Come in.' Tseng's voice was emotionless.

Reno went in, timidly. 'Hey, boss,' he said, trying to sound cheerful. He frowned, surprised. 'Whatcha doing?'

Tseng was sitting on his desk, staring out the window. 'I'm just thinking,' he said, not looking at Reno.

Reno cleared his throat. 'Um, Lena seems pretty upset, Tseng.'

The Wutain man nodded. 'Yeah, I know.'

Reno stood, awkwardly. 'Are you, uh, okay?'

Tseng turned to look at him. To the redhead's surprise, there was a smile on his face. 'I'm fine,' he said.

Reno calculated how long it was since Tseng had walked from the office, wondering if he'd had time to get drunk in the small interlude. But it had been all of two minutes. Even Reno wasn't that skilled.

'Erm, Tseng? You do know you just broke your girlfriend's heart, right?'

Tseng laughed. 'It's okay,' he said.

For the first time, Reno wondered if maybe he actually was better for Elena than Tseng.

'Tseng, man, that's pretty harsh.'

Tseng opened his drawer. From it, he withdrew a small, velvet colored box. Reno swallowed hard.

'Since I've been with Elena... I've never been quite sure that we're... on the same path, you know? I wasn't sure that I was the one for Elena.' He laughed. 'I mean, when we got together, I think she had a crush on you, Reno!'

You gotta be kidding me. 'Really,' said Reno, his voice flat.

Tseng laughed. 'I know. You'd make an awful couple, right?' He grew serious again. 'But today, I realised something, when I saw those pictures. I love Elena, and I want to be with her. And... I think she wants to be with me.' He shuddered. 'I'd even go through the Wutain wedding ceremony for her.'

Reno stared at him. 'You'd risk looking like Rude... for her?'

Tseng smiled and nodded. 'I love her,' he said, simply.

Reno shook his head. Wow.

'Could you send her in?' said Tseng. 'I have something I need to ask her.' He was grinning broadly.

Wordlessly, Reno returned to the office, where a very runny Elena was draped over a very uncomfortable looking Rude's shoulder.

'Lena... Tseng's in his office,' he told her, softly.

She shivered, then nodded. 'O-okay,' she said, using Rude's sleeve to wipe her nose. Looking like a kicked dog, she slunk out the door.

Reno sat down, hard, on his chair. 'Rude... I've had an epiphany.'

Rude wasn't entirely sure Reno knew what the word meant, so was kind of nervous to ask. 'You have?'

Reno nodded. 'I... I don't love Elena.'

Rude's eyes widened. That was not what he was expecting to hear. 'You don't?'

'No! I mean, I'd still do her, 'cause she's hot and blonde, and it would piss Tseng off, but...' he shook his head, looking dazed. 'I'm not in love with her.'

Rude could have told him that a long time ago, but he figured this was a breakthrough for his friend, so he should be nice to him. 'Wow, are you okay?'

Reno nodded. 'Yeah, I think I am!' He sounded surprised. 'I feel... good! I mean, I've been after Elena for so long, I've been neglecting the women of Midgar! There's a whole city of girls out there!'

Lucky girls, thought Rude. Aloud, he said 'Exactly.'

Reno jumped up, and was doing a little 'back in the game' dance, when the door opened, and Elena and Tseng entered. Both were beaming broadly. Elena held up her hand, then shrieked something unintelligible.

Reno was well versed in shrieking woman speak, being the only boy in his family. 'You're engaged! That's amazing!'

Elena burst into tears as Reno hugged her. Rude grunted at Tseng, who nodded back, clearing his throat, and trying to appear manly. After a moment though, they hugged, setting Elena off again.

'This calls for celebration,' said Tseng. 'Let's take the rest of the day off, and head to the bar!'

'Alright!' cheered Reno.

'Reno, why don't you go and get the car, and Elena, you go and.. ahem, wash your face,' suggested Tseng. Both nodded, Elena giving him a wet kiss before she went. Rude moved towards the door too, but Tseng stopped him.

'Erm, Rude?'

The tall man looked at his boss. 'Mm?'

'I, um. Ahem. You know about the Wutain wedding ceremony? How they, erm, remove your hair?'

Rude nodded.

'I, erm, was just wondering.' Tseng pulled the door shut, then leaned in closer to the bald man. 'What do you use to get your head so shiny?'

A/N- the next chapter is the last! Will Tseng and Elena tie the knot? Is Reno really over Elena? What does Rude use to keep his head shiny? All will be revealed... Please review XD