-Alone-
"Welcome to Shinra Corp, pretty cool huh?"
June quirks a brow as she looks over the room Reno called "Shinra Corp", to her it simply looked like a room under the first level of the Healin Lodge, she leans over when a man wearing a lab-coat comes rushing past her.
"The head is reacting again!"
Suddenly from the next room five scientists go rushing back the way the man had come, she rubs her arm, had it already noticed her presence?
"Yeah, the head is the only piece we're having real trouble with," Reno mutters sauntering over to the middle of the room, "every other piece of Jenova seems to be dead, or inactive but this one has an effect on the things around it."
June crosses her arms when he walks past her and to the next room, she follows and he sighs.
"But when you're here, it seems to go within itself, the negative effect it has on the men and women here disappears and they say it goes into a catatonic state." Reno turns to look at her as he grabs to doorknob to another room. "So we're thinking...maybe something about you...or within you causes it to change its behavior.
He pushes the door open to show a small room, the rooms walls were a pale blue-gray color, there was a four-poster bed placed against the wall, a grey dresser and a single metal-rimmed window.
"This," he says walking in, "this is your room."
"My room," she whispers looking it over, the room's cold metallic design did nothing for her comfortablity.
Reno frowns noticing her disappointment, he rushes over saying, "hey don't look so down, since you're gonna be here a while...maybe Shinra'll let you make some changes."
June nods walking over to the bed, she plops onto it giving him a reassuring smile, "it's OK...I've slept in worse places."
He stuff his hands into his pockets with a nod, "you hungry?"
She shakes her head, "no, but when will we begin?"
He smiles walking over to the window, "tomorrow maybe, Shinra doesn't want to put you under any stress, we're still not sure what needs to be done." He turns to her bringing his hand to his head. "But when we do start, we're not going to do anything stupid or that would hurt you, we'd be idiots to do such a thing."
She nods as he moves over to the door, he turns to her saying, "there's a digital tab on the table there, Rude and I are going out...and our numbers in there, just message us if you need anything, except ya'know...those things...message Elena for that."
June cocks her head when he shrugs.
"Well uh, see you June," he mutters waving to her as he leaves the room, he closes the door behind him.
She sighs bringing her legs to her chest, they were being nice enough, but judging on things she'd heard that probably wouldn't last long. She shifts her gaze toward the window only for her vision to assaulted by the harsh metal there.
She closes her eyes muttering, "this room."
It was so cold and empty, it felt more like a prison cell than somewhere to stay.
June crawls to the end of the bed getting to her feet, she places her hands on her hips as she looks over the room, if only she could find her bag, maybe placing some of her things around would make the room seem more welcoming.
On her way inside Rude took her bag, saying something about placing it in her room, but from what she could see, it hadn't made it here.
She goes to the door but on her way she catches sight of her beige duffle bag in the corner, she grabs it tossing it onto the bed, she opens it reaching it and pulling out everything her hand met.
She stares at the various items, her map pad, clothes, hair ornaments, and the plush chocobo.
June takes the chocobo walking it over to the window, she smiles readjusting its wing before placing it into the windowsill, she turns going to her bag again.
"Hm," she mutters taking her digital map pad, she presses her hand into the power-on icon and the map springs up before her.
The dark energy had by now reached Wutai's shores, June sighs tossing the map on the bed, now more than ever she needed to be strong, for everyone in Wutai and everyone else in the world.
It was a good thing that Yuffie had managed to get Godo out of there before things got too bad, but what about everyone else there.
June runs her fingers through her hair with a sigh, she needed to take her mind off of the end of the world business, she goes to her bag deciding that a shower was just the thing to raise her mood.
She yanks out a random assortment of clothes before turning to the room again, at the other end there was a labeled door, she tucks the clothes in her arms walking over to it.
"Bathroom." She mutters looking at the clothes in her arms.
She steps inside grimacing when she runs into a single shower with no curtain nor tub, she leans against the door taking the "room" in, a toilet and sink were squeezed into a tiny corner to her left and on the sink sat a roll of paper towel, and a roll of toilet paper.
She brings her arm up turning the lock on the door, she'd have to make the best of it.
She peels off her clothes before tossing them on the sink and getting into the shower, she bites her lip looking down at the two rusted metal knobs at the bottom of the shower, she bends down grabbing them both and turning them.
Cold water shoots from the shower-head drenching her almost immediately, she quickly grabs the knobs again twisting them this way and that way, trying to warm the water but she only succeeds in making it luke-warm.
"Great," she mutters lowering her head to allow the cool water to run over the back of her head, she hated cold showers but this was the best she felt she could get.
She pulls her wet hair out of her face as she begins to search for a bar of soap, a rag, a luffa, something.
But the only thing she finds is a small pink bar of soap with the imprint of a Chocobo pressed into the top, it was the same soap used at the bar but it seemed to be a mini or travel size. She rubs the soap between her palms thinking of all the things she needed.
"Soap, shampoo, conditioner, a rag and a-."
She pauses when she catches sight of a short grey towel wrapped around the shower-head's nozzle, she sighs saying, "and a new towel."
She lifts her arms pushing her hair back again but this time she continues to rub her fingers into her scalp, trying to clear away as much oil and debris as she could with no shampoo.
As she "washes" her hair, her mind begins to roam and it ends up back at the bar, this shower was so foreign to her, she missed hers back home, the one with annoying squeaky knobs and prickly blue shower mat.
She already missed the sounds of the children rushing up and down the hall, and Marlene's persistant knocking at the bathroom door when she felt June had been showering too long.
She lowers her arms taking the bar of soap to her body, she missed the super expensive white orchid scented body wash Tifa kept in stock for her, and even the drafty window next to the shower.
And she already missed Cloud.
"No June, don't think that way," she whispers trying to push her home-sick thoughts away, "that's not where you belong..."
She drops the bar of soap lowering her head again to allow the water her entire body this time, she sighs watching the water build up at the drain and then disappear, build and drain...build and drain...
The sudden loss of color in the world around her doesn't take her by surprise, the entire room was colorless.
Where am I...it's so...so cold!?
June whimpers covering her ears with her hands, many voices rushed through her mind but she could only pick out a few.
Mama...mama, where are you!?
June shudders, never before had she heard the voice of a child, she tosses her head back looking up at the shower-head, it hurt her to hear such a thing, though it was a reality that children had most likely died in some of the attacks, it wasn't a reality she was ready to deal with.
Slowly the voices began to fade, just as the child was beginning to sound desperate, June turns off the water as color returns to her world, she grabs the grey towel wrapping it around her body, she needed to dry before getting dressed.
June pulls open the bathroom door preparing to sit around and think for awhile but she's met by unexpected visitor's.
"Whoa-ho-ho, hello- there!"
June gasps backing away from Reno and Rude's roaming eyes, Reno held a large paper bag in his hand and Reno held a bag stuffed with toiletries.
"What are you doing in here," June shrieks backing into the wall.
Reno chuckles rubbing the back of his head, "we thought you might be hungry...so we brought some Goblin-stop, he places the bag on the table before turning to her again, his eyes still sweeping over her, "it's my favorite...how many restaurants do you know around here that's run by Goblin's...hm?"
"And you can never have too much of these," Reno mutters bending over to place the bag on the floor, she scowls when he lowers his shades as he stands again.
"Get out!?" She screeches pointing at the door. "NOW!?"
Reno laughs pulling the door open, "you know June...I like seeing you this way...so fiery!"
She groans feeling her face turn hot, Rude nods saying, "doesn't hurt that you're naked either."
"GET- OUT-!"
They rush out of the room and she slams the door shut, she locks the door with a sigh, next time she'd make sure to do that before getting naked in strange places.
She slowly peels away the towel glancing back as she does, she grabs her clothes pulling them on quickly, she didn't know if Reno and Rude were going to be back or if they had a key.
Once done she sits on the bed again listening to noises of the scientists outside the room, she sighs looking at the ugly window again, the skies were only now brightening.
"Now what?"
Cloud brings his glass to his lips, sipping slowly on the beer Barret served him, it had taken a bit of debate but it was done, Cloud wipes the beer covered space under his glass with a napkin, though not without struggle.
He sighs when he hears Barret yelling at someone in the back-round, he could see now why no one wanted to be put on Bar duty, it was boring and a little nerve wrecking, he could hear the sounds of the rest of the groups battles in his ear and with every pained yelp he wanted to leap into action.
He slides the glass across the counter when he's done, he'd never been the one to sit back as the others fought, the front lines were where he preferred to be.
He sighs when he hears Yuffie scream in his ear, the fights were growing progressively tougher and with that their chances of being fatally injured grew.
Cloud brings his fingers to the rim of glass spinning it in a circle on the bar, sadly he would rather have June out there than with the Shinra, it was strange to him not hearing her in his ear in the morning, or when they were apart.
He had grown used to her morning greetings, in which he answered back with mock annoyance
He wanted to stop her, or even go with her but...
He sighs staring at the moist circle that the wet glass had created, but what would that mean, for him and for her, what would he be inadvertently saying.
I don't trust you...
Or, I can't stand to see you go..., he groans pushing that thought away.
What would everyone else think, she wasn't going away forever, she'd do her job and come back, but here he was behaving as it were the last time they'd see each other.
He looks at Barret who slung beers across the counter at the tired MAPT members, part of him wanted to ask to use his cell phone, he just wanted to make sure everything was OK, but he didn't want to go through the third degree that would certainly follow his request.
"Hey...hey Cloud my man, what's wrong!?"
Cloud looks up to see Cait Sith standing on the bar, he shrugs shaking his head, he wanted to say something about it but for some reason he just couldn't, Cait Sith glances back at Barret who now leaned against the sink watching them as well.
"He's worried about June," Barret mutters shaking his head, "I don't like it either Cloud but she is her own person, we can't decide everything for her."
Cloud grimaces, but that wasn't what he wanted to do.
Admittedly, he could be a bit over-bearing when it came to anything that had to do with her, he tried to control her interactions with the world and the world's with her, he knew that sometimes he annoyed her but he was only trying to protect her and himself.
He didn't want to lose anybody else and he knew the world better, June saw everything through rose colored glasses even when situations were bad, he didn't want her to lose that but he didn't want her to get hurt for it.
"Come on Cloud, she'll be OK...she's a tough one," Cait Sith mutters jumping off the counter.
Cloud sighs, "it's not...that."
Well not only that, he could hear her voice in his head, asking him so many questions, and so many he'd ignored. Now he regretted not telling her, not preparing her for the ugly in the world, but back then it was OK, because when ugly reared its head, he was there to chop it off.
"You know Cloud, if you want to go get her...I'm with it," Barret mutters sitting up.
Cloud shakes his head, it wasn't his right, eventually she'd tire of him telling her what to do, this was something that she clearly felt strongly about.
"Damn, I've got to stop thinking this way," he sighs closing his eyes, where did all of this truth come from all of a sudden, where was it when she begged to go with him when the group split up, or when she and Yuffie spent the night in Mideel to help him when he got cocky, or even in her bedroom where they'd made their promise.
He looks at his hand, he'd surely keep it up on his side, and hopefully she did as well.
"Dammit Shera, I'm tryin'!"
Everyone looks up when Cid comes storming down the stairs, his phone, as per usual, glued to his ear.
"I know...but what am I supposed to do, leave here, come there and bring you here as well. Why, so you can annoy me some more!?"
"Seems like Cloud isn't the only one with woman problems," Cait Sith whispers to Barett who nods.
Cloud glares at them before looking away, Cid having heard their comments turns on them his face turning beet red.
"What the hell are you lookin' at," he roars clenching his fists.
Cait Sith bursts into laughter when Cid storms back up the stairs continuing his argument.
Cloud gets to his feet deciding that he'd rather listen to Cid's screaming, than be picked apart by Barret and Cait Sith.
He walks up the stairs and to his bedroom, he didn't want to hear their what-if's or their plans for action, there was nothing that he could do without somehow causing some friction within the group.
He crashes into bed staring at the ceiling, he'd wait for the phone call, surely there would be one.
The next morning, June is awakened by a Shinra Scientist, she sits up looking at the short woman, she looked nothing like what Avalanche described Shinra scientists as, her bright blue eyes sparkled with excitement but her hands shook as if she were afraid.
"Hello there, Miss June. My name is Ranma, and I'm here to escort you to the containment center," the woman says in a high pitched shout.
June winces rubbing her ear, "Ranma huh, nice to meet you."
She nods walking over to the door, June scoots out of bed following her but as she makes it over to the door, the room is covered in grey.
There's no where to run...
June gasps backing away, the voice was becoming angry and biting.
"Miss...Miss are you OK?"
June shakes her head as the world regains color, "yeah...b-, wait why do you keep calling me miss?"
Ranma shrugs, "it's how I was raised I guess."
She presses onward down the hall and June follows, "today we're going to see what makes it tick, we want to study it's reaction to your presence at close quarters...this should be an easy day for everyone."
June nods once they make it to the first room, the one Reno called Shinra Corps.
More scientists moved about the room, furiously tapping their fingers against keyboards and touch-screens.
"Ah, it is you!"
June turns to the source of the voice, the mad scientist from the Nautilus stared up at her, his teeth were bared and his eyes bulged out of his head.
"You are the one who stole my precious gloves, give them back you thief!"
June grimaces folding her hands behind her back, she wasn't wearing them but they were in her room, "I-I don't know what you're talking about..."
He glares at her saying, "don't play stupid with me girl...I remember you well!"
She narrows her eyes at him and he holds his hands out, June glances down at Ranma who watched them in confusion.
"GIVE THEM HERE!"
"I don't have them," she mutters turning away.
"Wait-wait-wait, before we continue...June I'd like for you to meet our head scientist, Mr. Akito Eji," Ranma says stepping between them.
June's blood runs cold, head scientist, she turns to him and he nods.
"We've met," she utters closing her eyes and turning her head away.
"Finally, I've excelled past that harpy Rima and have taken my place at the head of this operation," he says proudly.
Ranma smiles, "he's also my mentor...he's going to be leading our research and experimentation of this phenomenon, his quick thinking and vast knowledge of Jenova and the Lifestream will surely bring us to victory!"
Eji grins up at June now, "do you have my gloves...I will only ask one more time."
June folds her arms looking down, those gloves were half her arsenal, if she lost them she'd be stuck with nothing but bullets, not that a gun wasn't a good weapon but she just preferred her way of using them, there weren't too many people in the world that could fuse their magic with their bullets. Without the gloves she wasn't sure of how well she could protect herself.
She shakes her head, and besides, half the abilities that were now in the gloves she'd put there, there was no way she was putting a Summon Materia in this mad man's hands.
"Sorry, but no," she says shrugging.
He snarls pushing past her and over to a computer to the back of them, "today you are going into the containment chamber with the head of Jenova, already it is reacting to your presence."
Ranma rushes up to a large white door at the head of the room, she points inside saying, "there it is."
June walks over peeking into the small circular window into the room, she gasps.
The head of Jenova was placed on a small metal platform, purple and black energy waves orbtited around it, June looks to Ranma and she smiles.
"It only does this when you're here!"
June cocks her head eyeing Ranma doubtfully, Ranma's excitement was strange to her, especially since nobody knew what this meant.
"So...I'm going in there," June mutters looking into the window again.
Ranma nods saying, "yeah, it's not so bad, I've been in there to get samples...it can make you hallucinate but nothing more."
June snorts, hallucinations were a regular part of her life.
Eji walks over saying, " so shall we begin?"
Ranma moves over to a keypad at the side of the door, she punches in a long procession of numbers and a loud beeping noise sounds in the room.
June backs away when the door begins to open, she could hear the scientists behind her moving away, Eji pushes his hand into her back saying, " well go on girl."
He shoves her into the room, "Ranma...close the door."
Ranma nods saying, "don't worry Miss June, you'll be out of there in no time!"
June backs away as the door slowly closes behind her, she sighs when her back meets it's cold metal, she looks up at the head, nothing had changed.
She slides down the door and onto the floor making sure to keep her eyes on the head, it did not move, and the energy around it didn't change either.
She lays her head against the door preparing for a long day, not that she minded Jenova's inactivity. However, with that comfort came indescribable tension and anxiety.
She couldn't help but wonder, was it watching her, did it feel as cornered as she.
"It has to be a rather boring life," she mutters folding her arms across her lap..
It seemed like forever she sat there watching the head, watching the dark energy around it, she yawns looking away, while she was watching the energy it felt like she had gone to another place, and when she came to again she couldn't remember where. She turns her body away, when were they going to come and get her?.
Waiting...waiting...waiting...
"Ranma, Eji are you guys finished yet!"
Things had been silent for a long time now, she couldn't help but feel a little neglected.
June gets to her feet looking out the window and into the now darkened room, where had everyone gone?
She bites her lip banging at the door, it was all she could do to keep from panicing.
When no one comes she turns to the head again, more energy had built around it, she folds her arms.
"I can't believe this...," she mutters, "...how could they forget me?"
She sighs shaking her head, or maybe she hadn't been forgotten, but purposely left there.
For mother...
June gasps, and like that her anxiety returns, she edges away from Jenova searching the room for the source of the voice.
"What," she whispers, at the top of the room a dense mass of dark energy was building, it was swelling and beginning to run down the walls.
For mother!
The darkness slowly made its way toward her, blocking out any semblance of light in the room, June bangs her fist against the door again.
"Somebody, Ranma...Eji, let me out!"
The darkness falls onto the floor spreading in a cloud of wispy smoke, June turns to the door banging again but this time she's met with a grinning Eji.
"One more time girl, my gloves."
June gasps, for gloves, all of this for gloves.
She pulls at the door saying, "please...let me out!"
He cackles falling into the door, "my gloves and you get out."
June whimpers when she feels the cold wispy smoke wrapping around her ankles, she throws herself against the door saying, "their in my room...please...please let me out!"
He folds his arms saying, "I begged once as well...do you remember that...on the Nautilus."
June presses against the glass trying to squeeze herself into the smallest position possible, Eji grins, "I will go and find the gloves...you get out once I find them."
June gasps. "No, no don't leave me here!"
"Ah girl don't take this so personally." He mutters walking away. "Many have been harmed in the name of science."
June whimpers backing away from the door and into the shadowy darkness, there was nowhere to run anymore.
For mother ha-ha-ha...
June turns to Jenova who had almost been completely blocked out by the darkness.
"Why is this happening," she whispers stumbling over to it, she reaches for the head but a spark of energy pushes her away, June falls into the door with a groan.
She pulls her legs against her body hiding her face, there was nothing she could do but wait, and hope that Eji wouldn't leave her there.
"Leave a message."
Cloud grunts closing Cid's phone, he'd never realized just how annoying his voice-mail greeting was, it didn't seem so at first but when he called the phone repeatedly hearing him say those words had become like a slap in the face.
Cloud looks toward the window, he could quickly make the trip to the Healin Lodge to see what was wrong, or if she wanted to come home.
He gets out of bed tossing Cid's phone on the dresser, he didn't care what anyone thought anymore, he didn't want June to get hurt for his hang-ups.
He puts on his shades walking out of the room and downstairs, Yuffie sat at the bar with Vincent, Cloud pauses at the edge of the stairs when they look at him.
"Where ya goin, Cloud," Yuffie asks getting to her feet.
Cloud looks down shaking his head, so much for not caring, Yuffie sighs falling against the bar.
"I miss June!"
Cloud looks at her as she blows her bangs out of her face, "she was the only one who'd be silly with me...don't get me wrong Vince I like you...but...you're kind of stiff."
Cloud rubs the back of his head saying, "do you want me...to...go see about her?"
Yuffie grins saying, "would you...hey how about I go with you!?"
Cloud stiffens when she grabs his arm, that was never his plan, he wanted to check on her himself but if he could turn it into a Yuffie related thing, nobody could accuse him of anything.
"I-I-"
"He should go alone, Yuffie."
Yuffie waves her hand dismissively at Vincent who sighs looking away, Cloud looks at Vincent who now watched him from the corner of his eye.
"If you ever want to get on with your life, you'd go there and force her home."
Cloud looks down folding his arms, he couldn't force her anywhere, and besides what did Vincent know, he couldn't convince the one he cared about out of that cave so who was he to speak.
"Please Cloud," Yuffie moans twisting her body back and forth.
"Come on," he mutters ignoring Vincent's searing glances.
Yuffie rushes out of the bar past him, Cloud sighs looking at Vincent, "what did you mean by that...that I'll never get on with my life if I don't force her home."
Vincent narrows his eyes at the bottles lined up behind on the bar, "you care for her, don't you?"
Cloud shrugs a shoulder saying, "I care for all of the group."
Vincent laughs bitterly, "you know what I mean."
Cloud lowers his gaze shrugging his shoulder again, he didn't know how to say it aloud or even how to truly admit it to himself, it seemed to him like the feelings had just come rushing in, at the thought of her leaving he could feel that empty part of him again, the part he'd managed to push away.
"For some time, everyone around you has tried to fill the void within you...but we could not, Aerith did not...and Tifa cannot. You are not the blame for that, we cannot force ourselves to love someone."
Cloud glares at Vincent now, "what do you mean?"
Vincent turns to him saying, "don't pretend that you don't know Tifa's feelings for you, their the very thing that keeps you away."
Cloud grimaces, was it that obvious?
"You love Tifa, but more as a friend than anything else. I think for a long time you confused those feelings, when it was quite simple. Nothing would keep you away from the one you love, not even your own demons. I believe that's part of the reason you have trouble admitting whatever it is your feeling for June, you feel guilty for not returning Tifa's feelings. That is understandable but for your own happiness, you'd go get her and tell her because she doesn't believe that you care for her that much...maybe it's your defense mechanism against her that's caused that," Vincent mutters turning back to the bar.
"S-she knows...that I...th-"
"That she annoys you, that you now feel some sense of responsibility toward her...and she doesn't think it's fueled by your heart," Vincent sighs.
"I...what am I supposed to do," Cloud utters dropping his guard.
"Go to her, tell her before it's too late."
Too late, what does that mean," Cloud breathes moving toward the door, Vincent gets to his feet walking over to the stairs.
"That isn't important, you telling her the truth is."
Cloud watches him as he disappears upstairs, he wanted to know if Vincent knew something that he didn't but there was no use prying with Vincent, he didn't talk unless he wanted to.
"Cloud, come on!"
Cloud looks toward the door sighing, why did he invite Yuffie along?
"Miss June...Miss...please...wake up."
June moans turning toward the source of the voice, Ranma stood above her wearing a sympathetic smile, "are you OK, Miss."
June narrows her eyes feeling annoyance well up within her, she wanted scream at the girl, and shake her but her better judgment kept her hands at her side.
"No, I'm not OK...why'd you leave me here," June whispers getting to her feet.
Ranma sighs saying, "we didn't mean to...Professor Eji told us that he'd take care of you...and that he wanted to have time alone to come up with his own hypothesis."
"Eji," June mutters pushing out of the room.
"Yes."
June looks up to see the man standing before her wearing the same sick grin from the night before but this time, he also wore her gloves.
"I thought you said that if I gave you the gloves...you'd let me out," she says moving closer to him.
Eji grins saying, "girl what are you talking about...Ranma take her to her room while I analyze Jenova please...it seems that her hallucinations have taken over her mind."
June cocks her head as if to hear him better, he smiles rolling his hand as small block of ice appears in his fist, he juggles it as he walks past her and toward the containment chamber.
June watches the ice blocks steady path into the air and back into his fist feeling anger build in the pit of her stomach, it felt as if he was taunting her.
"Come Miss," Ranma mutters taking June's arm, June shakes her head.
"But he-"
The door behind them bursts open, Reno steps in with a grin.
"June you'll be happy to know that Cloud is here to visit you," he says folding his arms.
June pulls away from Ranma her eyes wide, "Cloud...but...but why?"
Reno shrugs saying, "maybe he doesn't trust us...but he's outside right now-," he gasps when June rushes down the hall to her bedroom, "June!"
June tears through the clothes in the corner of her room, searching furiously for something that would make her look less...abused.
She glances at the mirror in the corner of the room, grimacing when she catches sight of her pasty reflection, she groans pushing even deeper into the pile of clothes.
"Where is she, you big stupid turkey!"
June gasps, Yuffie!
She pulls a dress out of the pile rushing into the bathroom, she could hear loud crashes coming from Shinra Corps and the screams of Eji, she grins pulling her dress down a little more slowly, why not make him suffer a bit?
Cloud folds his arms watching as Yuffie rips into the Shinra computers, Reno tried to restrain her but she easily pushes him aside, he looks to Cloud who narrows his eyes saying, "where is she?"
"Right here!"
Cloud turns to June who rushes to him in a cloud of toothpaste and raspberry perfume, she wraps her arms around his torso burying her face in his chest, Reno sighs when Yuffie moves away from the computers and over to June and Cloud.
"Missed me, huh?"
Cloud sighs when she peeks up at him her green eyes shining with their usual mischievous gleam, she smiles when he looks at Yuffie as if asking for help.
Yuffie folds her arms saying, "yeah he missed you, he'd been trying to call you all day!"
Cloud stiffens when June grabs his hands pulling them around her, "then hug me like you miss me!"
She cocks her head looking up at him with a challenging sort of smirk, Yuffie laughs pulling June into a hug, "I will!"
June gasps for air as Yuffie yanks her closer, she tries to get a hand between them but it was near impossible.
"We were so worried about you," Yuffie cries above June's gasps for air.
Reno comes over eyeing Cloud with an air of annoyance, "see she's alright, we're taking good care of her."
Cloud glares at him and Reno sighs.
June pulls away from Yuffie saying, "you guys came to check on me, well I'm fine."
Cloud looks her over, she looked fine to him, she wore a red-orange lace dress that he'd never seen before and her hair loose to cascade in waves down her back, in fact she looked more than fine.
He quirks a brow when Eji walks over to stand next to June, June cuts her eyes his way when Eji places his hand against her lower back, she folds her arms casting her eyes downward.
"She's been such a good subje-, I mean good girl, very cooperative," he says grinning up at her.
June ignores his words walking over to Cloud again, she leans over folding her arms, "so you thought you'd have to save the day again, huh?"
"I-I-"
"He just wanted to share with you all the squishy feelings he has for you June," Yuffie says patting Cloud on the back..
June glances at Yuffie and then turns her attention back to Cloud, squishy feelings?
If there was anything June knew about Cloud, it was that he had no squishy feelings, just the instinct to protect, it had been drilled into him.
"I wish," she whispers standing up straight.
And if even he did, now was definitely not the time to be thinking of "squishy" feelings, she had too much of a burden to bare, and to fall victim to her own feelings would mean certain death for everyone of Gaia.
She rubs her arm, so she'd keep her feelings to herself, though it would be hard if he kept popping up everywhere.
"Well Cloud, you clearly wanted to speak with her today...so...go on," Yuffie says pushing him closer to June.
Cloud glares at her and she sighs, "well then take it outside."
June takes Cloud's arm saying, "you wanted to talk to me," he lowers his gaze nodding, she smiles leading him upstairs and toward the ramps outside.
Once they make it far enough away not to be heard June pulls herself onto the railing of the ramp watching him with a small smile, Cloud moves to the other side eyeing the ramps bottom silently.
June sighs looking up at the grey sky, "it's going to rain...I can smell it."
Cloud nods looking at the sky as well, on the outside he tried to project an air of relaxation and nonchalance but inside he was dying, did he bore her so much that she resorted to talking about the weather.
"I love it when it rains," she mutters closing her eyes when a cool breeze pushes past them.
"It's January...so...it may turn into snow," Cloud mutters folding his arms.
June gasps looking at him, "snow...wow...I've never seen snow...Tifa told me that it's been a strange year with the weather, this would be the first snow of the season."
She pushes herself to her feet saying, "I've seen people sledding and...having snow ball fights," she laughs waving her arms, "in the movies of course."
She rushes over to him and he pulls back slightly, "what's it like?"
Cloud shrugs, "cold...really cold...like ice but soft."
June turns away saying, "oh so it's like...hm...I wish I had my gloves...then maybe I could try to get a true feel of it."
Cloud holds his hand out saying, "look."
June turns to him, he held a hard block of ice, he closes his hand around it casting a fire spell and then ice again. He opens his hand to show a small pile of white powdery ice.
She places her fingers in the pile smiling when it begins to melt away from her fingers, "just like you described it," she mutters.
She pulls her hand away saying, " so really Cloud, what did you come here for, not to talk about the weather I'm sure."
He looks at the Healin Lodge saying, "I've been calling all day...what were you doing?"
June scratches her cheek looking away, what could she say that wouldn't set him off on a vendetta against Eji and her staying at the lodge, she couldn't leave but he wouldn't understand that.
"Well...I was sleeping so-."
"You're lying."
June turns to him and he walks over to her, he grabs her arm pulling her closer, "do you want to know how I know?"
June nods looking down, he leans downward saying, "first, you try to stall for time...and you do anything that you can to hide your eyes...you never look at me head on when you're lying...or hiding something."
She bites her lip trying to pull away but he holds her in place, "don't lie to me, why you would want to lie to me...I don't know, but whatever it is...let me help you."
June shakes her head, nobody could help her, not anymore.
"Cloud, really it's nothing." She mutters pulling away. "You're always so worried about me, over nothing."
He frowns when she begins to laugh, there was nothing funny in his opinion, he nods saying, "so if you're not doing anything...then you won't mind me coming here every day."
June shrugs a shoulder, "I wouldn't..."
It wouldn't change anything.
"But, we both know that that's not possible. You have travel for MAPT," she says leaning against the railing.
"So, there are many members in MAPT and I'm always privy to the going's on in the group," he says leaning against the railing next to her.
"But why Cloud," she mutters.
He shrugs a shoulder, "I don't like being lied to."
"So, you feel like you're going to catch me in something," she mutters smiling when looks at her raising his brows. "Well then I welcome you to try."
She sits up when he nods, Cloud coming to see her every day would be a blessing and a curse, on one hand she'd love seeing him all the time but on the other, she felt his presence would only slow her down and confuse her further.
She turns to the lodge saying, "ready to go?"
He sighs when she begins to walk ahead of him, he sits up saying, "one more thing."
She turns to him folding her arms across her stomach, he rubs the back of his head muttering, "that party...in Junon...isn't it soon?"
June nods saying, "um...in about three weeks I think." She brings her hand to her chin thinking it over. "Yeah, on a Sunday actually, the 26th...weird day for a party."
He nods saying, "yeah."
June shrugs turning to leave again but Cloud pulls her back, she places her hand over his saying, "is there something bothering you."
He clears his throat shifting his gaze from her to the ramp and back to her again, "I...wanted to know...i-if...you...you want to go...with...with me."
"To the party in Junon," June breathes excitedly.
He ducks his head muttering in a strange language she'd never heard, it sounded something like English but she wasn't sure.
June smiles saying, "hey, calm down...I'll go with you, but what happened to it being stupid and your not having time to do such silly things."
"I've changed my mind, it doesn't seem as stupid," he whispers letting her arm go.
June sniggers scratching her cheek, it felt great having him ask her, and a little embarrassing, she wanted to ask him, 'is this a date!?'
"So you're coming to get me, right," she says folding her arms behind her body.
He nods and she giggles grabbing his arm, she pulls him toward the lodge saying, "this is going to be so much fun!"
Once they make it back inside June breaks away from Cloud much to his disappointment, she folds her arms saying, "so the 26th...when will you be coming?"
He shrugs saying, "depends...but most likely at night."
She smiles, "OK, can't wait."
Yuffie grins mischievously, "what are you guys gonna do on the 26th?"
June glances at Cloud who shakes his head saying, "none of your business."
"So you guys are done?" Reno asks watching Yuffie and Cloud warily. "Because I think Eji's getting restless."
"We don't care," Yuffie says waving her shuriken in his face.
"You guys seriously are messing things up here, think of it this way." Reno mutters. "The sooner you leave, the sooner she comes home."
June sighs feeling a knot grow in her throat, it was true, the sooner they left the sooner she could start making her way back to the Lifestream.
"June, are you sure you don't want to come home now," Cloud mutters close to her ear.
She nods saying, "don't worry about me."
He sighs glancing back at Yuffie who watched June apprehensively, June grabs Cloud's hands saying, "Sunday."
He nods saying, "Yuffie come on."
June drops his hands as he and Yuffie walk out of the room, Eji sighs saying, "finally we can get to work."
June groans rubbing her arm, now the want to go back to the bar was beginning to resurface, and the further Cloud and Yuffie moved away from her the more she began to feel alone, Reno smiles saying, "well...I'll go then."
She sighs when he follows Cloud and Yuffie out, and Reno's leaving her was the icing on the cake, she at least felt that he had her best interest in mind.
Ranma rushes over saying, "let's share with you our findings."
June follows them over to a large computer, Ranma points to a small number chart saying, "look, this is the amount of movement that came from Jenova over the night."
June looks at the numbers, from 0 to 10, they rose and fell.
"What does this mean?"
"Usually, when we study Jenova's activity the numbers are way higher, so high that our computers end up malfunctioning, your presence in the chamber changed that, our theory is that when you're inside Jenova goes into a sort of defensive mode," Ranma says tapping on the screen, another chart appears showing much larger numbers. "It closes within itself, going into a meditative state, in which it conserves energy whereas when you're not here it's constantly releasing it."
June nods saying, "ah OK.".
"Now we have to figure out what you have that makes Jenova fear you so, maybe it's your bodies chemical composition, maybe it's something within your biological makeup but Jenova fears you, this is for sure."
Eji walks over to the door of the containment chamber, "in evolution living things steadily grow to build defenses against natural predators, think of the Chocobo...thousands of years ago Chocobo's could not fly...but due their being the grass of the animal kingdom they had to evolve to be able to survive for years to come. It would seem that Jenova has evolved, and rather quickly, to defend against your presence."
He grins saying, "so...you're going back in and this time...we're going to change the settings of the chamber to build a high stress situation for Jenova, we want to see how it lashes out."
June gasps, that plan sounded deliberately harmful to her.
"Well, if we're going to do that...can I have my gloves back," she mutters holding her hands out for them.
He cackles saying, "you mean my gloves...no...we don't need you harming the other subject."
"Bu-."
He grabs her arms pulling her over to the chamber, "don't worry girl...I'll try not to forget you this time."
Ranma sighs saying, "Miss June please understand, we must find out what makes you a natural predator to Jenova...please this could save many lives."
Eji pushes her into the chamber and she falls into Jenova's platform, she pushes away saying, "please...I don't want to do this anymore..."
He closes the chamber saying, "calm down...it will all be over soon, " he closes the chamber with a laugh.
June glares up at him through the window, how could someone be so mean so deliberately, yes they had their moments on the Nautilus but that was months ago, she shudders feeling a burst of cool air to her back, it was probably the shadow energy from the day before.
"Have fun," he whispers walking away.
June turns to look at Jenova when the sounds of the scientist outside fade away, if she was some sort of natural predator to Jenova, why couldn't she touch it.
"Hold on Miss June, its about to get cold!"
June looks up when the lights in the room dim and a loud whirring noise begins around her, in seconds the room is freezing cold, June wraps her arms around her body, she whimpers when the temperature drops again by at least 15 degrees.
"Are you OK Miss June!?"
As June goes to answer her Eji cuts in.
"Now go forward, try to touch Jenova."
June shakes her head saying, "I can't."
"Try!"
June pushes herself to her feet and the cold immediately works it's way into her bones, she slowly makes her way over to the platform Jenova sat on, she looks back at the door to the chamber before reaching out toward the head, she squeezes her eyes shut waiting for the shock to come but it doesn't, June's hand lands right on the top of the head.
"Ha-ha-ha girl, this is amazing...it all makes sense now!"
June pulls away from the head saying, "can I come out now?"
The room suddenly warms and the door behind her bursts open, Ranma rushes in saying, "Miss June you did it!"
June folds her arms looking at Jenova, "did what?"
"You touched it without any retaliation from Jenova, we cannot do that without some sort of protection-"
Eji rushes in pushing Ranma aside, "girl...it all makes sense...Jenova's meditative state is so that it may build strength to fight you back, so that means if we're going to launch Jenova into space-."
"You need me to go, so that it doesn't affect the ship," she mutters shaking her head.
He nods and she sighs.
It seemed things were working in her favor, she bites her lip closing her eyes, whatever that meant.
"Of course, you're not the only one going, we have a whole program in the works, each piece is being sent into space separately so that they cannot link up again," Ranma says leading them out of the chamber. "Each ship is equipped with an escape pod, not only are we shipping Jenova into space, but the ships are set to explode after an hour of being in orbit."
June gasps, the thought being space junk didn't sound fun.
"We can put you into training immediately if you want...but...we'd love to keep testing to see what is it that makes you so different," Ranma says clasping her hands together.
June folds her arms, well she didn't want them to keep testing, if they did they might find whatever piece of the Lifestream that she held that she wasn't supposed to have, it could cause even more trouble for her.
"Well we already have a game plan, I don't want to go into that chamber...I'm not going into that chamber again, I'll tell Shinra myself." She mutters walking toward the exit. "and Eji..."
He sneers when she turns to him, she jerks her head toward her room saying, "I'd suggest you put my gloves back into my room, I'm going to talk to Shinra now and I'll mention it to him." He goes to protest but she holds up her hand silencing him, "and if that doesn't scare you, I'm going call Yuffie back here...and she'll scare you."
"B-but Miss...this could save many, these tests could prove that we as humans are evolving, this could give the masses hope, that Jenova can never hurt anyone again and that we're all growing stronger...Miss please."
June turns to Ranma who still held her hands together, she sighs, she could see the genuine care in Ranma's eyes, but she knew that no matter how much she wanted to help her, it wouldn't be a smart thing to do.
"Listen Ranma, I wish I could help you but I can't." June mutters walking over to her. "Being someone's test toy isn't fun...and to be honest, your mentor scares me."
Ranma looks at Eji who turns away folding his arms, she sighs when June leaves the room, "how unfortunate...she was the perfect person to do this with, what now sir."
She looks up at Eji who trembled in anger, "Sir?"
"A person such as that, should not be allowed to leave," he whispers angrily.
Ranma glances at the door, "what do you mean?"
"Someone who is clearly different, clearly holds some sort of power. Did you see her eyes, they glow as a soldiers would and Jenova fears her...we cannot let her go...not without testing her capabilites."
"Professor...I-I don't know about this..."
Ranma put her hand to his shoulder but he yanks away saying, "this is the reason you failed the academy...no vision...no drive."
"But professor we cannot study someone who doesn't want to be studied," she mutters turning away.
"Yes we can, she won't know...don't worry about it."
Eji walks into the containment chamber leaving Ranma to her thoughts.
"So you did it, great!"
June smiles when Reno holds his hand up to her, she slaps her hand against his laughing when he jumps away in surprise.
"Why would you ask me to do it if you didn't think that I would," she says from behind her hand.
"You're Cloud's friend...or should I say...main squeeze-thing-person, I didn't really think you'd do it," he mutters rubbing his head.
"Main squeeze?" June mutters scratching her cheek. "what's that?"
Reno folds his arms eyeing her apprehensively, June sniggers saying, "really!"
"You're his girlfriend right," he asks leaning toward her, June backs away as he begins edging toward her.
"No-no-no," she says shaking her head and her hands, this seems to make Reno very happy, he grins saying, "so you're single?"
June moves further away from him looking to Shinra for help but both he and Rude watched with amusement, Reno wraps his arm around her waist saying, "we'd be quite the couple."
June sighs slouching over, the group bursts into laughter, she looks up at them with a smile.
It seemed that the energy in the Healin Lodge had soared upon her "good news", Jenova would soon be extradited from the planet and everyone would be able to go back to their normal lives.
Just seeing everybody this way made her resolve stronger, she'd be able to help Reno and Cloud live to fight on another day.
"So you're joining the space program, Tseng is one of the Shinra operatives going...he'll teach you everything you need to know," Shinra says leaning back in his seat.
June nods but Elena cuts in before anymore could be said.
"Wait, aren't you guys a little curious as to why this is happening this way, how is this girl so special that Jenova doesn't harm her!"
June rubs her arm when everyone turns to her, Shinra shakes his head saying, "I've learned my lesson about being too curious...if it works, it works."
Reno and Rude murmur in agreement and Elena sighs, she turns leaving the lodge but Tseng quickly takes her place.
He lights himself a cigarette putting it between his lips, he eyes June up and down taking a long pull, he grabs it again taking it out, "so I get to have this little lady on my arm over the next few days...this'll be fun."
"Whoa there be careful Tseng, that's Reno's new obsession," Rude mutters nodding toward Reno who still held June.
"Hey, don't put us out there like that, we're still in the early stages," Reno says smiling at her.
June sighs pulling away, this causes everyone to laugh again, she smiles looking toward the window, it had begun to rain.
She groans, so much for snow.
It would have been her first and her last, June wipes at her burning eyes as she turns to the window, she takes a deep breath. The smell of rain was always so nice to her, even if it was just the smell of dirt and whatever else the earth held.
"I can't wait to begin," she mutters to them.
To her, the quicker she saved the world the quicker everyone could do this, just relax and be happy. The darkness gone and the Sephiroth's evil no more.
"So-."
Cloud flicks his finger against the digital map before him flipping it over to the side of Junon, he grabs his glass of water from his night-stand chugging it down as he continues to eye the map.
"SO-."
He glances at Yuffie who sat at the end of the bed, she wore a jokerish grin and her hands were at his arm steadily slapping him.
He sighs looking at the map again, he would not give her the satisfaction of seeing him break, she had a lesson to learn.
"SO-."
The energy wasn't anywhere near Junon, the city was comfortably nestled between Edge and Fort Condor, and neither of those places were in immediate danger either.
Yuffie bites her lip pushing onward, she refused to be ignored.
She crawls closer to him on the bed now slapping him on the shoulder, Cloud sighs eyeing the ceiling as he tries to calm himself.
"Cloud, I'm not going anywhere until you tell me something!"
He looks at her and she grins, "do you have a flier for that party in Junon?"
Yuffie raises a brow eyeing him with a healthy amount of confusion, "um...I did but June had it last."
Cloud stands up walking out of his room and down the hall toward June's, Yuffie follows closely behind him.
Cloud walks into the room pausing to look about, Yuffie crashes on the bed still watching him with a smile.
"Trying to remember the good times," Yuffie says deciding to poke him out of his shell.
He sighs walking over to the shelf against the wall, he just wanted to find the flier and get out of the room, it still belonged to June so technically this was trespassing.
Yuffie folds her arms over her stomach watching him nonchalantly, she'd been in the room countless times with June so "trespassing" didn't really bother her.
"Why do you need the flier," she asks turning onto her side, Cloud ignores her continuing his visual search of the room.
Yuffie sighs looking at the stand next to the bed, she quirks a brow when she catches sight of a brightly colored paper on the top of it, she sits up grabbing the paper.
"Come and celebrate with us," Yuffie mutters reading the flier, "January 26th."
Cloud turns to her in time to see her jokerish grin returning, she hops off the bed saying, "you're going!"
Cloud snatches the flier away turning away from her to look at it, it didn't say much of what they'd have there but there was a side note that read: in association with the Gold Saucer.
"Well I guess she's going to have fun," Cloud mutters walking out of the room again, Yuffie gasps following him.
"That's what you guys were talking about, you're taking June to the-."
Cloud turns on her and she covers her mouth, "Yuffie, go away."
She grabs his arm saying, "you...you're taking her on a-."
"Yuffie!"
Yuffie covers her mouth again nodding, Cloud turns about to go his room but Yuffie grabs his arm pulling him into her room, she slams the door shut before locking it. She rushes over to him pulling his ear-piece out and before doing her own.
Cloud sighs when she tosses them aside putting her hands to her hips, "so you finally admit it," she sings sitting on her bed.
"Admit what," he mutters folding his arms.
"That you like her," she says smiling.
Cloud clears his throat deciding not to give her a true answer, Yuffie sighs saying, "finally, you've been holding it in for a long time."
"How would you know," he mutters glaring at her.
She shrugs saying, "it's your behavior toward her and when she's around, you're just a whole lot more...responsive."
Cloud turns away walking over to the window, he had no idea that he'd been so obvious, how could everyone else see what he tried so hard not to.
"So what are you planning at the party, some dancing...some flirting..some kissing," she whispers edging toward the end of the bed.
Cloud rubs the back of his head, he hadn't really thought of any of that, he just wanted to take her and show her around, for the first time he wanted to take the lead.
Yuffie quirks a brow waiting for him to answer but he remains silent, "so...you're not sure...hm."
Cloud shrugs and shoulder and Yuffie laughs, she stands up on her bed saying, "then let me help you!"
Cloud turns to her and she nods, "I can guide you through the date...with these," she jumps off the bed grabbing their ear-pieces.
"No, I don't need your help." Cloud mutters shaking his head. "And besides, everybody'll hear."
Yuffie sighs saying, "you do need my help...you don't know what a good date is...when's the last time you went on a date Cloud...was it...the Gold Saucer with-."
"That doesn't matter," he grunts walking toward the door.
"Fine then, but be prepared to fail. June and I talked a lot about our choices in guys...having me in your ear is guaranteed success," she says slapping one of the communicators in his hand.
Cloud looks down at it doubtfully
"Don't worry about it Cloud, I have connections...I can fix these so that only we can hear and communicate between them," Yuffie says smiling.
Cloud grunts walking out of the room past her, she winks at him saying, "just you wait...it's gonna work!"
Next: The S.S.P