Chapter Nine: In the Arms of an Angel

Don't own any of Square Enix's characters, only my own! Please enjoy =)

The group sat on the edge of the circular fountain in the middle of Loveless Avenue.

"So, what's your name?" Genesis grinned as he flipped his bangs from his eyes with a red gloved hand.

Kituna grinned back, he was such a flirt! "My friends call me Kit."

He smiled as he stood and offered his arm. "Would you like to join us for the night, Kit?"

She accept his arm and leaned up before saying, "You call me Kituna." He blushed and Angeal and Sephiroth laughed, Sephiroth nudging his friend in the shoulder at the shot down. "So where are you gentlemen going?"

"Angeal, didn't you want to try that one restaurant down in Sector 7 or something?" Genesis asked as he looked around at the other people as they exited the theater.

Kituna clasped her other hand on her hand around his arm and smiled at the three of them. "Lead the way, I'm up for a bite to eat."

Angeal led them down them through alleys and pathways full of people. People who knew the heroes of the Banora Incident, as it was called now. The men covered their faces as best as they could as they cut through a group of women and young girls. Kituna couldn't help giggling when she saw a small teenager recognize Genesis as she studied him further. The red head tentatively stepped in front of them and gasped at their eyes, the Mako glow giving them away.

"You're him, you're Genesis! Missy, it's him! Eeeeeee!" she clapped her hands to her mouth as she jumped up and down shrieking like that as her blond bob-cut friend joined her. And like a match in a room of helium, the whole crowd of women erupted in screams, gasps and OMGs of various degrees of volume. The three men then stopped shielding their faces, which resulted in more excitement, and began running. Kituna giggled the whole time as she was dragged along beside Genesis.

They tried to lose the girls around a bend that led to the station but more women had joined the mob of estrogen. Genesis glanced down at Kituna as she jogged beside him. "Sephiroth, we can lose them but we'll have to carry Kituna." The silver-haired swordsman nodded and Genesis scooped up the surprised Cetra. She smiled and laughed at the men's current situation and wrapped her arms around Genesis' neck as they ran into the shadows of the Slums and dove behind a large heap of concrete and steel. Genesis let Kituna down and peeked above the pile of rubble to see the mob stop and look around before turning up their noses and leaving. He sat against the pile and sighed.

"That was close. I didn't know First Classes got this much attention! I thought Second Class was as good as it was going to get, right Angeal? Remember those twins that snuck into our quarters?"

The other SOLDIER instantly smiled and they both nudged and laughed at the memory while Kituna let go of Genesis' arm and stood up, dusting herself clean. The others rose too and they rejoined the streets of the Slums. Bums lined the piles of trash while tired women hurried home with bags of groceries dodging children as they played. She walked with her arms crossed behind her back and kicking invisible debris with her booted feet. Sephiroth watched her with a small smile as his friends took places on either side of her. They were falling all over her, even though they had just had a whole mob of horny women who worshiped the air the men breathed they were falling for the dark blond before them. He could understand why, or at least why he was attracted to her. It was like an unseen force was driving him toward her, whispering what they could do together, both in and out of the bedroom. She was powerful that was for sure, but just how powerful? Sephiroth certainly didn't want a weak girl who couldn't fend for herself, but he didn't want to be the weak one in the relationship with a woman. She had another power too, besides the physical stamina and swordsmanship. She had the magic of an ancient power that sang the true powers of the land. Her materia was like none he had ever heard of or seen on Gaia. She was shrouded in mystery, as A and as Kituna, and that was what made her the woman he wanted out of thousands. He wanted to know everything about her, everything there was to know, every perfection and beautiful flaw that made her her.

Angeal pointed to a shadowy building with a poorly lit up neon sign where 'Angel's Gate' could barely be made out in red letters. They opened the door and stepped into its more impressive inside where the paint was fresh and the booths clean and secretive. The carpet was dark red and the curtains that kept out the gloomy atmosphere of the Slums were a darker shade of crimson. They were led to a table by a tall brunet who looked like he'd trade his grandmother for a handful of gil and handed menus. Genesis, Angeal and Sephiroth all ordered the House Special for their beverage while Kituna took a Cherry Kiss, one of the more delicate drinks the bar offered.

She mulled over the rest of the menu's items as their waiter went to collect their drinks and pursed her lips. She liked the sound of the Hot Foot, chocobo tossed in a spicy sweet sauce with roasted new potatoes, and it was only for ten gil. Not bad given what the Grand Horn plank steak cost at a whopping 150 gil, considering they were in the Slums and all.

She looked up to see all the men staring at her and she blushed. "Have you all decided what you wanted?" she asked to break the silence.

They nodded and place down their menus. Angeal cleared his throat. "So where are you from?"

She thought about all the far off cities in the middle of nowhere and picked one she knew didn't get much Shinra attention. "Dirkna, on the cliffs by the Saphrine Sea."

Genesis grinned at that knowledge but Sephiroth only raised an eyebrow. She was going to ask him about that later.

"What are you doing all the way over here?" Genesis asked.

"Oh, umm, just visiting the big city. I have family here but they don't care where I go or what I do." She finally answered. The waiter deposited their glasses on the table and Kituna thankfully sipped hers, welcoming the bitter and sweet liquid as it washed over her tongue. But they wanted to know more. She rolled her eyes as she closed them when Genesis popped out another question.

"What is your hobby?"

"Dancing." She said with a wink. "What kind of dancing?" he asked with a smile at his buddies. "Well, I'll have to show you won't I?" he choked on his drink slightly and smiled. "That you would. When will this happen?" he asked eagerly.

She nudged his foot gently with hers. "When the mood strikes me, till then you'll just have to be patient."

Angeal gulped a mouthful of his drink. "What do you do for fun?"

"I like to ride my ferno." She replied after a moment's thought. She didn't see what showing Sno to them would harm.

"What's a ferno?" he asked with curious eyes. Wouldn't he like to know? She thought with a giggle.

"It's a creature that's very rare and very dangerous if not tame. And even then it's only safe if the tamer wishes it to be. They stay extremely close to their masters and will protect them at no cost unless the master is weak, some bind themselves to someone's soul or to their family. If they are that close to a particular master they can be found as an object on that person's body or a tattoo like marking." She informed while jiggling her arm for them to see the band around it. It glowed faintly in response and warmed her skin.

"How is it dangerous?" Genesis asked as he looked at it closely.

"It uses a blue fire that burns and freezes, causing excruciating pain to the victim. But it's a very useful form of transport as well as combat. It also has the ability to shape shift if it so pleases, something the master doesn't always control which can tell if the creature shifts so that it doesn't do its master's bidding. In a case such as that, the master is at Death's doorstep just knocking for entrance." She joked, although very serious.

The waiter returned from wherever he had inconveniently disappeared to and yanked his pad and pen from a large pocket on his apron. "What can I get you gentlemen?" he drawled with a bored expression.

Sephiroth and Angeal both ordered the sautéed chocobo and rice and Genesis ordered the cactaur stew, odd choice in Kituna's opinion but she ordered in a happy voice the Hot Foot. When the waiter had copied down their orders he whirled back around to wind through the tables of the half empty room.

Sephiroth nudged Genesis when the waiter was gone. "Going on a diet? Why'd you get cactaur soup? Where's the meat?"

The red coated warrior waved him off. "Not in the mood for cheap meat. Besides, cactaur is very delicious while chocobo meat is a little gamy for my taste." He said matter-of-factly.

Kituna giggled. That or he didn't want a chance at a gay joke to be directed at him! Of course, she noticed none of the men even cracked a joke about it. Maybe because they are trying to impress me now that I am a girl… She thought to herself.

Sephiroth rolled his eyes then turned back to the female at the table. "Can we see your ferno?" he asked. He wanted to know the beast more than ever since it was rare and dangerous and the fact that she was the master of such an elusive creature.

She smiled and looked back down at the simple band. "Sure, after we eat."

Their food was brought out and they ate in silence as the men adored the conscious blond. She wished they would talk some more, wasn't there anything else they wanted to know or did they just want to ogle her? She mentally sighed and wished the absent blond Vice President was there to talk to her. She found herself wondering where he was at now.

How long will the trip take to get to Inuba?

How long would he stay there?

How long until he got back?

She chanced another glance around the small table to find two pairs of Mako blue and one pair of Mako mint green eyes looking at her as they ate. Their eyes didn't move from her. It was either her face or her body and she found herself a little creeped out but then considered all the fun she could have with her new fan boys. She smiled as the thoughts began filling her head and chuckled a bit. All ears were once again on her and eyes alert as to what made her laugh. She cleared her throat and looked up at them.

"Uh, guys? Your staring is a little bit obvious."

They blushed and finished their meal looking at their plates much to the relief of the blond.

When the waiter saw they were finished he hurried over and handed them the bill with a faux smile. Sephiroth pulled out his wallet and paid the man and they exited the building to the stuffy Slums. Kituna sighed at the gloominess of the place and turned to face the SOLDIERs.

"What do you want to do now?"

Angeal immediately piped up before Genesis could say a thing. "You can show us the ferno now!"

Sephiroth agreed with a nod while Genesis was about to protest. Kituna clapped her hands in front of her. "Alright! Two to one, sorry Gen." she sang before leading them into a secluded circle of rubble and turning back to them. "Okay, stay back though guys, I don't know if she'll take kindly to you at first or not. She's been used for protection the last couple times I called her."

Once the men were a safe distance away she closed her eyes and rubbed her right index finger along the band. It glowed, increasing brightness until it was like a tiny star and then it shot up and formed a fox like creature and landed between them. She shown like moonlight on fresh snow and her eyes glowed like twin embers. She sniffed the air around the men carefully before turning her massive head to her master. Kituna nodded with a smile and the fox stepped forward for the men to reach out to her if they wanted.

"You can pet her." Kituna offered as she stepped forward to stroke the fox's soft furred shoulder. "Her name is Sno."

Sno was as tall as a Behemoth with a similar build, although much softer and much more deadly. Sephiroth cautiously reached up to stroke her muzzle as the other two petted her other shoulder and back. She stared at them blandly but her tail slightly wagged. The slight movement made her master smile warmly and grip her neck fur as she pulled herself up onto her back and pulled each of the others on one by one. "Why don't we go for a ride?" she smiled over her shoulder and mentally connected with the ferno beneath her to rise to the skies.

The creature's eyes blazed and a red aura emanated from her body as she crouched and blue flames engulfed her paws and she sprung into the air. She climbed invisible stairs to towards the stars. Kituna whooped and spread her arms wide as Sephiroth wrapped his arms around her waist in fear of falling off and Angeal let out a shocked noise as they climbed higher and higher.

After a while she commanded Sno to level off and the ferno began galloping along the skyline far above the ground. Kituna turned to look at the warrior wrapped around her waist and giggled at their fear. "Come on guys! She won't let you fall, I'll be sure to catch you before you hit the ground." she assured them while she laughed at the irony. These men, in a different life, flew across the skies daily at this height and higher with their wing from their experimental births. The thought brought unexpected sadness. They would still have the effects of those experiments undoubtedly and still fly the skies. She just hoped they weren't angels of death but angels of justice in this new life.

She finally brought them down to another secluded area of the Slums although somewhat deeper in than where they had lifted off. She called Sno back into the form of the band and they all fell to their feet and stretched their cramped leg muscles. Kituna danced around them like a fairy and grinned. "Wasn't that exhilarating guys? I wish I could do that all day!" she giggled then came to a stop in front of Genesis. "Hey, I know where we can go next! Can we visit the Church?" she cocked her head to the side and batted her eyelashes.

Genesis wanted that dance and didn't think a church was where he wanted to be with her per say but reluctantly nodded with a small smile as she clapped her hands and jumped up and down again. He liked that a lot too. He let her guide them through the dark Slums. They passed piles of junk and wreckage as well as row upon row of ramshackle houses unlike the trimmer ones by the Market where the richer people of Sector 7 lived. She spun in a circle when they came to the steps of the surprisingly white building. It was beautiful although it still showed signs of the Slums wear and tear with the crumbled towers and holes in the roof.

Kituna pushed open the oak double doors and smiled up at the moonlight shining in from the hole in the high ceiling. The hole wasn't that bad but the small circle of dirt was still there as a result. She ran toward it as the men filed in in awe. She knelt and gently stroked one of the yellow flowers and smiled happily as it responded. Grow. She willed the blossom. It swayed gently in answer.

Sephiroth knelt beside her, careful of the delicate plants. "Flowers grow in Midgar? I thought nothing grew in Midgar, especially not flowers." he whispered. His eyes were wide as the girl beside him touched each flower and he felt them respond in some weird energy plane. The sensation was so strange and foreign that he wanted more. More of it, more of her, but Genesis pulled up behind them.

"Kituna, how about that dance now?"

"Silly, we're in a church! Don't you like the flowers?" she giggled at his disappointed frown.

"They're great and exotic, but I was really excited to see your hobby, you know?" he hugged her from behind. He smiled as she burst out laughing and weakly trying to get him off.

"Let go Gen! Let go!" she smiled as she twisted and wiggled in his arms.

Sephiroth stood and frowned. Genesis was rather bold, apparently that was his nature. Sephiroth was more secluded himself, but he knew Kituna. Really knew her, or at least her secret as A he corrected himself as she hadn't really told him anything about herself. But he wanted to know her, Genesis just wanted that damn dance and he only knew what else, at least which order he wanted the 'else' to happen in. The general sighed and headed out of the church with Angeal as Genesis chased the blonde by the pews and out onto the street. When the SOLDIER finally caught her he hoisted her up and let her rest her arms on his chest and shoulders as he looked up into her violet eyes. She smiled down at him.

"You caught me! I guess I'll have to give you that dance now, huh?" she said in a fake sad voice with a grin.

Genesis' face lit up and he set her down. They walked back to the Shinra building and went up to their rooms. Kituna hugged Angeal and Sephiroth good night and warned Genesis as he opened his apartment's door. "Only a short dance, I need to get to sleep too, you know."

He bowed and gestured her in with a smile. She grinned and skipped into the room finding it exactly like her own only with some personal touches from the SOLDIER. Picture frames lined the walls in some places while various décor accents populated the tables and corners. She giggled when Genesis wrapped his arms around her middle and she turned around before grabbing the collar of his coat and leading him to one of the cream chairs and shoving him in it.

She slowly turned, sliding her hands along her body from her thighs to her stomach up to her shoulders and finally above her head and then she slowly wiggled down while her arms wrung the air above her and then she rose and stalked over to the seated SOLDIER with a smirk. Her hands splayed across his chest and she brought her face close to his and slid her body against his, watching his emotions play across his face before twisting into his lap and out again and stroking his jaw as she circled the chair. His mouth was open slightly and his eyes followed her wherever she went. Kituna straddled him in his chair and ran her hands through his spiky hair as she pressed herself into him. She could feel him want her but she wasn't giving it up tonight. She leaned down to where their noses slightly touched and smiled sweetly before pushing away and standing. He reached out to grab her but he only grabbed air as she spun away towards the door.

"Told you it would be short." She winked.

"That wasn't a full dance…that was a tease!" Genesis begged as he struggled to stand.

The Cetra wagged a finger at him. "Now, now, I might give you more on a later date, maybe even something to brag about, but right now I have to get to sleep."

Genesis rushed to block her path with his arm. "You can sleep here if you want." He suggested as he leaned close to her face, one hand gently stroking her jaw.

She giggled and ducked under his arm. "Patience, Gen, is a gift that I'm forcing on you." She blew him a kiss. "Good night and sweet dreams."

Genesis watched her leave his apartment and touched his chest. They'll be of you. He thought with a smile as he took of his coat and got ready for bed with a hot shower that couldn't match the heat that scorched through his body for the blond young girl. As he lay in bed her face came to his mind's eye. She smiled and beckoned him through a field of yellow flowers like the ones at the church she liked so much. He reached for her but she was always just out of reach, no matter how hard he tried. My Goddess.

080

Sephiroth was waiting for Kituna as she exited Genesis' apartment shortly after Angeal and him had been subtly excused from the rest of the night's activities, much to his surprise. She saw him and smiled.

"Good, I was hoping you'd still be out here. So how did I do? Do you think they liked me?" she giggled.

"That might be an understatement." But he smiled. The Cetra feigned shock. "Are you…jealous? Ha, Sephy, you're still my favorite of the trio." She winked. "We should be heading to bed though; I guess I'll see you guys when we're all men again for training or briefing or whatever Lazard has planned."

The general nodded and she followed him back to his apartment. "Good night, Seph." She leaned up and kissed him lightly on the cheek before heading into her own apartment. Sephiroth looked back to find her gone. He brushed the spot where her lips had brushed his cheek and smiled.

As the SOLDIER closed his eyes he saw Kituna laying on top of him as they shared a happy laugh and he held her tightly to him. He never wanted to let her go. He didn't even want to share her with his friends, not even as a friend. He wanted her in his arms forever.

080

Rufus grumbled as they assessed the site for the reactor as foundations were dug and placed. He scanned the area, empty of life and color except the gray-brown of the infertile rocky soil and cliff sides. It was the typical place for a reactor to mine Mako from the Planet's core, no one would dare venture out here and come across the experiments that were bound to happen here later. Just like what had happened in Nebilheim. And the whole world knew the results of Hojo's and Hollander's 'research'. And Kituna was alone with them all although at least they were in Midgar now according to his brother's message he had just opened earlier that morning. He paced irritably, impatient to get back to base so he could check on all of them.

Finally his father patted him on the shoulder and smiled at his son. "I'm so glad we can bond over important matters like this Rufus. You are the world to me."

The blond Vice President scoffed. "The world is the world to you. I'll see ya'll back at the chopper. Elena, you come with me and Veld." As the leader of the Turks and the female Turk followed him Rufus typed a short message in his phone. The leader noticed and commented jokingly. "Hey, what's with the frequent short messages boss? Got a girlfriend or someone special? Ha ha."

The annoyed Vice President grunted. "Not particularly. Just doing business calls, making sure everything goes according to plan." He replied as he thought of a group of certain SOLDIER First Class operatives.

Please review! I'd love to know what you think =3