Chapter 11: Strange, but Familiar.
( Woo... So uh. This is chapter 11. I was going to write it a few days ago, but I drew instead, and be lazy. Uh, Thank you NekoYuffie16 and Precious Fire again! I'm trying to write more and more, but sometimes I just have to draw. Anyways, I don't want to be too serious, because the next story I plan on writing will be uber serious-o. So enjoy this while it lasts, mkay? I got rid of the mini story because it was unprofessional, but I'll write a fun fic later on, after the serious one. Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, but I own the fic, but blah blah whee and birds fly. KTHXBYE)
Tifa and Reno started to heal quickly, but Tifa was able to go back to her apartment, and Reno had to stay. She paid a visit to him, then headed back to her apartment slowly. She shared an elevator ride with a few other people, and made it to her floor, "It's a busy day today." She grabbed her card key and opened the door. Yuffie wasn't in sight, so she must have been in the bathroom. Tifa smiled brightly, looking around, and decided to rest on her bed.
As she plopped herself onto the bed, she sighed and slowly dazed off.
Tifa...
What?
Cloud did that for a purpose.
What?
He loves you.
Leave me alone. I don't care for him.
Someone else is coming for you Tifa.
Who? Tell me.
"Tifa, wake up! You're talking in your sleep again!" Tifa opened her eyes to find Yuffie standing next to her bed, "How are you feeling Yuffie?" Yuffie nods her head, "Well it was just a scratch, it wasn't much, but it healed up quickly. Yourself?" Tifa sat up on the edge of her bed, "A bit sore, but good." Yuffie looked at Tifa with a serious face, "Go visit Vincent." The whole time Yuffie talked to Tifa, she didn't smile once. Tifa shrugged it off, but got up and went to Vincent's office without saying a word or goodbye.
She knocked on his office door and it opened, "Yuffie said I needed to visit you?" Vincent nodded, standing up and pointing his hand to a chair for her to sit in. Tifa sat, and Vincent reseated himself. Tifa sighed and thought to herself, "The mood around ShinRa, doesn't seem energetic. Ever since that attack, I haven't seen a smile or heard a laugh in days. What is happening?"
"Tifa. You might be aware of what's going on. More people are moving about, doing more things." Tifa nodded at Vincent. He sighed and sat on the edge of his chair, "Do you know why this is going on, besides the attack from Cloud?" Tifa shook her head slowly, continued to be silent. "We are preparing for an attack." Tifa shot up from her chair, "What?!" She broke her silence and glared at Vincent. He waved his hand, trying to calm her, "It's been rumors saying that ex-members of other terriost groups, besides AVALANCHE, are going to attack ShinRa once again."
Tifa dropped her dead weight onto her chair again and sighed, "What is going on? What's happening? I can't let this happen." Vincent looked at her with concerned eyes. Tifa sat forward, "More innocent people are going to be killed once again!" As she said that, hundreds of images flew threw her head of death, battle, and of those who are innocent. "Who's in charge of this?" Her eye burned of anger and frustration. "None other than Rufus himself, Tifa. Who else would it have been?" She pushed the chair hard, causing it to hit the wall on the other side of the room as she ran out.
Vincent didn't chase her, but only spoke one word, "Wait." Tifa stopped instantly, not knowing what she was doing. Tifa turned and walked back in slowly, "I knew this would happen to you Tifa. That's why you've been assigned to a small project." She didn't look at him, she didn't look anywhere else, except for the floor, and stayed silent. "You're assignment is to show around our new recruit." She didn't move, or respond in anyway. Vincent called in for the new recruit, and a strange, older looking man walked in slowly, and quietly. Tifa looked up and gave an odd look, "Who... are you?"
The man brushed his firey red hair out of his face and scar peered from behind his hair over his left eye, "Me?" He turned to Vincent, "Isn't it polite for a Turk to introduce a mere-recruit?" Vincent nodded, as Tifa stared in awe, "Well, I think it'll be more fun for you guys to just start on your own. Off you go you two." The man walked past Tifa, grinning, as Tifa looked over at Vincent, "Is that who I think it is?" Vincent shrugged, "I knew this project would get that off your mind. Now go!" Tifa gave a pathetic ShinRa salute and headed towards the elevator. The man held the elevator for her and she got in. He pressed for the bottom floor, "Let's start from the bottom. Oh wait. Aren't you supposed to give me the tour? I'm acting like I've never been here before. Let's just not go to floor 67 or 68. Bad memories remain in there. But so do good, but mainly just bad." Tifa just stayed quiet, "Uh..." The elevator stopped and Yuffie was about to step on, "Oh, hi Ti...!" Yuffie then dropped her drink that she was holding in her hand and just stared at the man next to Tifa.
"Yuffie! Messy as always!" The man bent down to grab her cup. "AHEM! My name is Taki Kanzaki! I don't know what you are talking about." Yuffie stepped onto the elevator and pulled Tifa to the side, "Is that...?" Tifa shrugged, "Maybe, maybe not." The elevator zoomed down and Yuffie turned, "Uh... Excuse me." The red headed man turned to Yuffie, "What is it Yuffie?" Yuffie pouted, "I'm Taki!" She turned to Tifa, "Did you tell him who I was?" Tifa shook her head, "No I haven't." Yuffie turned again, "Are you..?" The elevator stopped, "It's our floor. Tifa, want to begin with our tour? Hey Yuf, do you want to join?" Tifa and Yuffie stepped off, "Sure I guess." They walked into ShinRa's huge garage, full of different vehicles.
"Excuse me. But I don't want to start the tour without knowing your name." Tifa stepped forwards. He turned, "You haven't already guessed? Isn't it obvious?" Tifa stepped back and thought, "But it can't be." She looked at Yuffie, then back to him, "It can't be you Red." He grinned, "Get it right. It's Nanaki." Yuffie jumped up, "WHAT IN HOLY MATERIA'S NAME ARE YOU DOING HERE? AND WHY ARE YOU A HUMAN?" She jumped up and down in a fit. Nanaki grinned, "I thank you for the present Yuffie." She stopped jumping and gave him an awkward look, "You mean the package I sent you?" He nodded, "It seems to be an ancient artifact that was known to be non-existent, but in fact, it is a very powerful morphing statue. And well... As you can see, it turned me human. I doubt it's extremely dangerous, and hopefully it won't damage me. I'm still trying to get this walking thing down. I'm a bit wobbly about it."
Tifa then crossed her arms and grinned, "Well... You never answered why you are here." He turned and grinned, "To be here with you guys. I guess I had to put this human body to some use. I didn't expect to go back to AVALANCHE. All I do is sit under the bar counter everyday with nothing to do. Oh doesn't that sound great? I mean I could have gone to Cosmo Canyon, but I decided to come here." Tifa and Yuffie gave a confused look, "But Red... er... Nanaki, you hate ShinRa!" Nanaki nodded, "I hate it with all my heart and soul." Yuffie stomped her foot, "Then what are you doing here?"
Nanaki kept grinning, "Well aren't we supposed to get on with the tour?" Tifa and Yuffie looked at each other, then shrugged, "Whatever you request."
>>
A couple of hours later, they got through the whole building and Yuffie went off to do her own business. Tifa took Nanaki back to her room and they sat down to talk, "So..." Nanaki gave her an odd look, "What is it?" Tifa was trying to think of something to talk about, but her mind went blank, but then Cloud popped into her mind all of a sudden, "Oh! Hey... I know where Cloud is at." Nanaki's sat up in his chair, "Oh really? Do tell." Tifa then thought for a moment, remembering what happened, good times, bad times, the team, and the changes. Everything went through her mind quickly and she rested her head into her arms on the table, "Ugh... Headache." Nanaki leaned over the table, "Tifa?" She looked up, "Oh I'm fine. Sorry about that. Now, about Cloud."
They talked for about an hour, and a knock on Tifa's door slithered through the room, "Yes? Come in!" The door opened and a merry, bouncy Cait Sith came inside. Nanaki and Tifa aimed their eyes on the plush, "Oh hello Cait Sith!" Tifa smiled as Cait bounced towards the table. Cait Sith jumped off top of the plush's head and turned to Nanaki, "Welcome Nanaki! Nice to see another ex-member of AVALANCHE join." He grinned, "Basically half of the team is here. Only three members remain at the bar, while one is in prison." Cait nodded and turned to his plush. The moogle handed the cat an envelope, "Here you are Nanaki." Nanaki took the envelope, and inside contained his new job, room number, and other information, "Thanks Cait." The cat nodded and jumped on top of the plush's head, "Goodbye." Cait Sith then started to bounce out of the room, nearly bumping into Yuffie as she strolled in, "Hello you two."
"Hey Yuf." Tifa smiled and Nanaki waved. Yuffie grabbed a chair, turned it around, and straddled it, "So what'choo guys upto?" Yuffie listened intently. "Just talking," Tifa informed her. She nodded and looked at them boredly. There was a knocking at the door and all of them turned their head to see whom it was. Tifa got up and the door opened, finding no one there, but finding a note. She grabbed it and walked back inside, sighing at what it said.
"What does it say Tifa?" Yuffie looked at Tifa as she threw the piece of paper onto the ground, "Another meeting. It'll be in half an hour. I'm tired of all this commotion going on. It's not good." Nanaki gave a puzzled look, "What is going on anyways?" Yuffie looked at Nanaki, "You didn't hear what Vincent said earlier?" Nanaki thought for a moment, "Oh yea... The terriost threat. But isn't AVALANCHE a bit weaker now, considering that most of their members are here now?" Tifa looked at Nanaki with a sad look in her eyes, and she got up, leaving the two behind without a goodbye.
"Tifa?" Nanaki stood up and Yuffie grabbed Nanaki's arm, "Don't. She's sensitive about the subject. Just let her be." Nanaki sighed and looked at the door, then back to Yuffie.
On her way out, Tifa spotted Tseng, walking towards the elevators. She ran her way up the hall and caught up, "Hey Tseng!" Tseng looked over his shoulder as she ran up to him and he gave a cheerful smile, "Hello Lockheart. Heading towards the meeting?" She nodded and sighed, "I hate meetings."
"Doesn't everyone?" Tseng pressed the button and waited for an elevator, "How come you are leaving 30 minutes early?" Tifa blushed, looking at the ground, remembering her rude exit. Tseng rose an eyebrow and smiled, "Would you like to get some coffee?" Tifa looked at the elevator as it arrived, then to Tseng, "Are you sure? You're always busy." Tseng got a disappointed look, "Everyone says that, but they just catch me during my busy moments. Let's go." They stepped into the elevator and Tifa leaned against the bar inside the elevator and looked out of the glass. Tseng pressed the button for the cafeteria and stepped back, straightening his tie and fixing his coat.
The whole trip there, it stayed silent, but once they got off the elevator, Elena was getting on. She spotted Tseng and Tifa and quickly made her way into the elevator without saying anything as they made there way out. Elena pressed a button to close the door over and over and once it did, it took off quickly. Tifa looked at Tseng, "Hey, wasn't that..?" Tseng cut her off, "The coffee is on me." He turned and smiled at her, "You can get whatever you want." Tifa gave a puzzled look and turned to the menu.
>
Elena went up to level 55 and walked to her room, throwing down a bag she was holding and she fell onto her bed, sobbing, "I hate her. I hate Tifa. I'm going to kill her. I swear on holy materia, I'm going to kill her." She sat up and wiped her tears and looked at the bag. She slowly walked over and grabbed the bag, sitting back down on her bed, clutching it close to her. She opened it and pulled out a crumbled picture of her and Tseng. It was a young picture, for when she first joined. She was young and energetic and he was stern and serious. She then sobbed and threw her bag across the room, "I will kill her..."
( Woo... So uh. This is chapter 11. I was going to write it a few days ago, but I drew instead, and be lazy. Uh, Thank you NekoYuffie16 and Precious Fire again! I'm trying to write more and more, but sometimes I just have to draw. Anyways, I don't want to be too serious, because the next story I plan on writing will be uber serious-o. So enjoy this while it lasts, mkay? I got rid of the mini story because it was unprofessional, but I'll write a fun fic later on, after the serious one. Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, but I own the fic, but blah blah whee and birds fly. KTHXBYE)
Tifa and Reno started to heal quickly, but Tifa was able to go back to her apartment, and Reno had to stay. She paid a visit to him, then headed back to her apartment slowly. She shared an elevator ride with a few other people, and made it to her floor, "It's a busy day today." She grabbed her card key and opened the door. Yuffie wasn't in sight, so she must have been in the bathroom. Tifa smiled brightly, looking around, and decided to rest on her bed.
As she plopped herself onto the bed, she sighed and slowly dazed off.
Tifa...
What?
Cloud did that for a purpose.
What?
He loves you.
Leave me alone. I don't care for him.
Someone else is coming for you Tifa.
Who? Tell me.
"Tifa, wake up! You're talking in your sleep again!" Tifa opened her eyes to find Yuffie standing next to her bed, "How are you feeling Yuffie?" Yuffie nods her head, "Well it was just a scratch, it wasn't much, but it healed up quickly. Yourself?" Tifa sat up on the edge of her bed, "A bit sore, but good." Yuffie looked at Tifa with a serious face, "Go visit Vincent." The whole time Yuffie talked to Tifa, she didn't smile once. Tifa shrugged it off, but got up and went to Vincent's office without saying a word or goodbye.
She knocked on his office door and it opened, "Yuffie said I needed to visit you?" Vincent nodded, standing up and pointing his hand to a chair for her to sit in. Tifa sat, and Vincent reseated himself. Tifa sighed and thought to herself, "The mood around ShinRa, doesn't seem energetic. Ever since that attack, I haven't seen a smile or heard a laugh in days. What is happening?"
"Tifa. You might be aware of what's going on. More people are moving about, doing more things." Tifa nodded at Vincent. He sighed and sat on the edge of his chair, "Do you know why this is going on, besides the attack from Cloud?" Tifa shook her head slowly, continued to be silent. "We are preparing for an attack." Tifa shot up from her chair, "What?!" She broke her silence and glared at Vincent. He waved his hand, trying to calm her, "It's been rumors saying that ex-members of other terriost groups, besides AVALANCHE, are going to attack ShinRa once again."
Tifa dropped her dead weight onto her chair again and sighed, "What is going on? What's happening? I can't let this happen." Vincent looked at her with concerned eyes. Tifa sat forward, "More innocent people are going to be killed once again!" As she said that, hundreds of images flew threw her head of death, battle, and of those who are innocent. "Who's in charge of this?" Her eye burned of anger and frustration. "None other than Rufus himself, Tifa. Who else would it have been?" She pushed the chair hard, causing it to hit the wall on the other side of the room as she ran out.
Vincent didn't chase her, but only spoke one word, "Wait." Tifa stopped instantly, not knowing what she was doing. Tifa turned and walked back in slowly, "I knew this would happen to you Tifa. That's why you've been assigned to a small project." She didn't look at him, she didn't look anywhere else, except for the floor, and stayed silent. "You're assignment is to show around our new recruit." She didn't move, or respond in anyway. Vincent called in for the new recruit, and a strange, older looking man walked in slowly, and quietly. Tifa looked up and gave an odd look, "Who... are you?"
The man brushed his firey red hair out of his face and scar peered from behind his hair over his left eye, "Me?" He turned to Vincent, "Isn't it polite for a Turk to introduce a mere-recruit?" Vincent nodded, as Tifa stared in awe, "Well, I think it'll be more fun for you guys to just start on your own. Off you go you two." The man walked past Tifa, grinning, as Tifa looked over at Vincent, "Is that who I think it is?" Vincent shrugged, "I knew this project would get that off your mind. Now go!" Tifa gave a pathetic ShinRa salute and headed towards the elevator. The man held the elevator for her and she got in. He pressed for the bottom floor, "Let's start from the bottom. Oh wait. Aren't you supposed to give me the tour? I'm acting like I've never been here before. Let's just not go to floor 67 or 68. Bad memories remain in there. But so do good, but mainly just bad." Tifa just stayed quiet, "Uh..." The elevator stopped and Yuffie was about to step on, "Oh, hi Ti...!" Yuffie then dropped her drink that she was holding in her hand and just stared at the man next to Tifa.
"Yuffie! Messy as always!" The man bent down to grab her cup. "AHEM! My name is Taki Kanzaki! I don't know what you are talking about." Yuffie stepped onto the elevator and pulled Tifa to the side, "Is that...?" Tifa shrugged, "Maybe, maybe not." The elevator zoomed down and Yuffie turned, "Uh... Excuse me." The red headed man turned to Yuffie, "What is it Yuffie?" Yuffie pouted, "I'm Taki!" She turned to Tifa, "Did you tell him who I was?" Tifa shook her head, "No I haven't." Yuffie turned again, "Are you..?" The elevator stopped, "It's our floor. Tifa, want to begin with our tour? Hey Yuf, do you want to join?" Tifa and Yuffie stepped off, "Sure I guess." They walked into ShinRa's huge garage, full of different vehicles.
"Excuse me. But I don't want to start the tour without knowing your name." Tifa stepped forwards. He turned, "You haven't already guessed? Isn't it obvious?" Tifa stepped back and thought, "But it can't be." She looked at Yuffie, then back to him, "It can't be you Red." He grinned, "Get it right. It's Nanaki." Yuffie jumped up, "WHAT IN HOLY MATERIA'S NAME ARE YOU DOING HERE? AND WHY ARE YOU A HUMAN?" She jumped up and down in a fit. Nanaki grinned, "I thank you for the present Yuffie." She stopped jumping and gave him an awkward look, "You mean the package I sent you?" He nodded, "It seems to be an ancient artifact that was known to be non-existent, but in fact, it is a very powerful morphing statue. And well... As you can see, it turned me human. I doubt it's extremely dangerous, and hopefully it won't damage me. I'm still trying to get this walking thing down. I'm a bit wobbly about it."
Tifa then crossed her arms and grinned, "Well... You never answered why you are here." He turned and grinned, "To be here with you guys. I guess I had to put this human body to some use. I didn't expect to go back to AVALANCHE. All I do is sit under the bar counter everyday with nothing to do. Oh doesn't that sound great? I mean I could have gone to Cosmo Canyon, but I decided to come here." Tifa and Yuffie gave a confused look, "But Red... er... Nanaki, you hate ShinRa!" Nanaki nodded, "I hate it with all my heart and soul." Yuffie stomped her foot, "Then what are you doing here?"
Nanaki kept grinning, "Well aren't we supposed to get on with the tour?" Tifa and Yuffie looked at each other, then shrugged, "Whatever you request."
>>
A couple of hours later, they got through the whole building and Yuffie went off to do her own business. Tifa took Nanaki back to her room and they sat down to talk, "So..." Nanaki gave her an odd look, "What is it?" Tifa was trying to think of something to talk about, but her mind went blank, but then Cloud popped into her mind all of a sudden, "Oh! Hey... I know where Cloud is at." Nanaki's sat up in his chair, "Oh really? Do tell." Tifa then thought for a moment, remembering what happened, good times, bad times, the team, and the changes. Everything went through her mind quickly and she rested her head into her arms on the table, "Ugh... Headache." Nanaki leaned over the table, "Tifa?" She looked up, "Oh I'm fine. Sorry about that. Now, about Cloud."
They talked for about an hour, and a knock on Tifa's door slithered through the room, "Yes? Come in!" The door opened and a merry, bouncy Cait Sith came inside. Nanaki and Tifa aimed their eyes on the plush, "Oh hello Cait Sith!" Tifa smiled as Cait bounced towards the table. Cait Sith jumped off top of the plush's head and turned to Nanaki, "Welcome Nanaki! Nice to see another ex-member of AVALANCHE join." He grinned, "Basically half of the team is here. Only three members remain at the bar, while one is in prison." Cait nodded and turned to his plush. The moogle handed the cat an envelope, "Here you are Nanaki." Nanaki took the envelope, and inside contained his new job, room number, and other information, "Thanks Cait." The cat nodded and jumped on top of the plush's head, "Goodbye." Cait Sith then started to bounce out of the room, nearly bumping into Yuffie as she strolled in, "Hello you two."
"Hey Yuf." Tifa smiled and Nanaki waved. Yuffie grabbed a chair, turned it around, and straddled it, "So what'choo guys upto?" Yuffie listened intently. "Just talking," Tifa informed her. She nodded and looked at them boredly. There was a knocking at the door and all of them turned their head to see whom it was. Tifa got up and the door opened, finding no one there, but finding a note. She grabbed it and walked back inside, sighing at what it said.
"What does it say Tifa?" Yuffie looked at Tifa as she threw the piece of paper onto the ground, "Another meeting. It'll be in half an hour. I'm tired of all this commotion going on. It's not good." Nanaki gave a puzzled look, "What is going on anyways?" Yuffie looked at Nanaki, "You didn't hear what Vincent said earlier?" Nanaki thought for a moment, "Oh yea... The terriost threat. But isn't AVALANCHE a bit weaker now, considering that most of their members are here now?" Tifa looked at Nanaki with a sad look in her eyes, and she got up, leaving the two behind without a goodbye.
"Tifa?" Nanaki stood up and Yuffie grabbed Nanaki's arm, "Don't. She's sensitive about the subject. Just let her be." Nanaki sighed and looked at the door, then back to Yuffie.
On her way out, Tifa spotted Tseng, walking towards the elevators. She ran her way up the hall and caught up, "Hey Tseng!" Tseng looked over his shoulder as she ran up to him and he gave a cheerful smile, "Hello Lockheart. Heading towards the meeting?" She nodded and sighed, "I hate meetings."
"Doesn't everyone?" Tseng pressed the button and waited for an elevator, "How come you are leaving 30 minutes early?" Tifa blushed, looking at the ground, remembering her rude exit. Tseng rose an eyebrow and smiled, "Would you like to get some coffee?" Tifa looked at the elevator as it arrived, then to Tseng, "Are you sure? You're always busy." Tseng got a disappointed look, "Everyone says that, but they just catch me during my busy moments. Let's go." They stepped into the elevator and Tifa leaned against the bar inside the elevator and looked out of the glass. Tseng pressed the button for the cafeteria and stepped back, straightening his tie and fixing his coat.
The whole trip there, it stayed silent, but once they got off the elevator, Elena was getting on. She spotted Tseng and Tifa and quickly made her way into the elevator without saying anything as they made there way out. Elena pressed a button to close the door over and over and once it did, it took off quickly. Tifa looked at Tseng, "Hey, wasn't that..?" Tseng cut her off, "The coffee is on me." He turned and smiled at her, "You can get whatever you want." Tifa gave a puzzled look and turned to the menu.
>
Elena went up to level 55 and walked to her room, throwing down a bag she was holding and she fell onto her bed, sobbing, "I hate her. I hate Tifa. I'm going to kill her. I swear on holy materia, I'm going to kill her." She sat up and wiped her tears and looked at the bag. She slowly walked over and grabbed the bag, sitting back down on her bed, clutching it close to her. She opened it and pulled out a crumbled picture of her and Tseng. It was a young picture, for when she first joined. She was young and energetic and he was stern and serious. She then sobbed and threw her bag across the room, "I will kill her..."