[from the perspective of Kira Ruiz...]

The meeting with Rafael Vida was more interesting than I had expected. There were very few people I had awarded with a grant - only artists, musicians, architects and the like. But there was something about his tea house that intrigued me. It was exactly what Wutai needed - an establishment honoring her old traditions, only with a modern twist. What his idea represented to me was beyond commerce. It was a work of art in its own right, a place with unlimited potential to bring art and culture to Tian Tan.

Galas, fashion shows, art openings, music, dancing. Five star chefs, exotic teas and drinks. The best entertainment. My head spun with all the wonderful things we could do together.

I rose from the table and threw down a generous amount of gil. Rafael stood as well.

"I'll schedule a meeting with my team. Can you be at my estate by 11am tomorrow?" I handed him my card. "This is my address and phone number."

"Yes! I'll be there!" he was beaming. "This is so exciting!"

I smiled at his enthusiasm. I wondered if there was ever a time in my life I let my emotions give me away so much. So often I remained controlled and contained. It was a welcome new energy in my life.

"This is only the beginning," I said with my usual aloof simper. "As for now, go ahead and give your two weeks notice. You won't have time to work anymore. I'll happily cover your living expenses. And it may work to our advantage if you lived in one of the guest houses on my property until the pagodas are built."

The look on his face was priceless. I don't think he was expecting this amount of generosity from me. Despite all the things I was doing for Wutai, I knew what the rumors said about me - cold, cunning, calculated bitch. There was some truth to that, but it was only half the story.

"S-sure... I'll give that some consideration."

I liked his caution. He was definitely gaining my respect as a business partner and possibly even a friend.

"Goodnight, Rafael."

"Goodnight, Kira. Again, thank you."

With a quick bow of my head I walked out of Turtle's Paradise. When I got outside, my phone buzzed with a new text message.

"Hey baby - had to leave. Duty calls. Talk soon. x Reno"

Why was I not surprised. Couldn't even believe I let myself feel the pangs of disappointment. And who knew what 'soon' meant to Reno. It could mean he'd show up on my doorstep later that night, or it could mean disappearing for another six months.

I walked along the bridges and narrow paths of the old village. There was a no automobile rule here, so I had to leave my car at the outside of town. It wasn't such a long walk. I used the time to email everyone about the meeting the next morning.

Rafael showed up at my door fifteen minutes early. The guy was definitely growing on me. I invited him in and offered tea and rice cakes. He was delighted.

"Your home is absolutely amazing," he said.

"Thanks. I'm quite proud of it."

"You know, Kira. You're a lot more proper than I imagined you to be."

"Hah! I'll take that as a compliment. But don't let that sense of propriety fool you," I winked. "I was born and bred in the slums."

"Well you could've fooled me. What's the story behind your success?"

There was a knock on my door. We'd have to continue this conversation later...

Ling, my Feng Shui consultant. Kluas, my architect. Nami, my best friend and accountant. We all met regarding the future of the twin pagodas. On the North-East side of town, we would build Tian Tan's first tall buildings. Rafael was ecstatic, and I have to admit so was I.

Rafael insisted that we name them the Biggs' towers. I saw a sentimental and painful gaze in his eyes when he mentioned this. I decided not to pry. But I have to say, I liked the idea of the establishment being associated with 'big.'

Blah blah I won't bore you with the business details, because truth be told that shit bored me too. I only cared about the creative parts and the end product. The gritty legal & logistical details I'd leave to the professionals.

Everyone filed out of my office except for Nami, Rafael, and I.

"Pour me a sake, will ya?" I asked Nami. He did and joined Rafael and I at the meeting table.

"So," Nami said with a mischievous smile. "Tell me the details."

I laughed. "Right," I said. "There's really not that much to tell. I ran into him at Turtle's Paradise, we barely said three sentences to each other, we kissed... then he texted me he had to leave."

"Yea...? And how you doing now?"

"I dunno. I was upset for a bit, but it's not like this is uncommon. I mean, it would've been nice to at least hook up with my own husband. Even if he's just my husband in technical terms these days. I guess, when it really comes down to it, I don't need him. I don't even miss him."

"Maybe it's time you got a divorce."

"For what. Reno and I like our arrangement..." I spoke low through a clenched jaw, stood up and walked to the window with a huff. Arms crossed against my body, I stared out at the green landscape. There was a storm blowing in, everything was dark grey against vibrant green. The wind blew the blades of grass like a ripple of waves, everything was misty and magical.

"Do you...?"

"What would us getting divorced actually accomplish? Will we suddenly stop having this intense fucking attraction to each other? Will he stop randomly showing up in my life? No. It won't change anything. And besides, there're certain things that being Reno's wife does for me in the world. And I know he thinks the same about me."

"Alright, girl," Nami got up and gave me a teasing look. "As long as you're happy, that's all that matters." He opened the door to leave then turned to Rafael. "It was nice meeting you, Rafael."

"You too, Nami."

The room was silent for a minute after Nami left, until Rafael spoke.

"Is your husband a Turk?" he asked.

"He was. I mean I guess he still is, but not in the same sense of what that used to mean."

"I know it was a Turk who dropped the Sector 7 plate."

"Hmm. Yea, it was." The whole topic made me close up, revisit that day when Reno first told me his orders. The day that initiated our distant relationship. "Did you lose someone close to you?"

"Yea. Biggs. My lover."

Ah. So that's what I had seen in his eyes earlier. Why he was so adamant about using that name for his establishment.

"Ah. Biggs. I knew him. Not well, but I knew him."

"You did...?"

"Yea, he was at Tifa's a lot."

"You know Tifa?"

"I bet we share more mutual acquaintances than you think."

"Possibly. What did you do back in Midgar?"

I laughed. An almost malefic cackle. Throaty and amused. I'd been told before it was sexy if not somewhat scary.

"I guess it's time you and I got properly acquainted with each other, Rafael. Are you busy today?"

It was getting darker by the second. My office, once flooded with natural light was now dim and mysterious. The mood was nostalgic, melancholy. But somehow comforting in that bittersweet kind of way.

"Not particularly."

"Come on. I'll make some tea."