Hey everyone. This update's been a while in coming, but for good reason. I've been busy looking for work and trying to sell my first real novel, and added to the fact that I've been trying to get some headway in this story before submitting my next chapter and that adds to a bit of a stretch. As you've probably noticed, I'm bringing in a lot of threads at this point, and I've been trying to give some time to each of them. However, only one or two are actually action-orientated and are part of the "main" plotline, and so I've found myself kind of struggling through the other sections. I hope it hasn't made the quality suffer too much. Anyway, here it is.


Aerith cursed her own weakness…but it didn't change the fact that she was next to helpless.

And after what had occurred, she was tired all over again.

Aerith had no idea who their mysterious savior had been, but Krystea hadn't stayed to find out. Aerith was tempted to stay and try and help him, but her astranged sister had taken her out before they could. As it turned out, they had more work cut out for them. Krystea had to dodge several other strange people outside before she had managed to get Aerith into the clear. Luckily, they were mostly preoccupied with the man who had picked a fight, and soon with someone shooting at them. Aerith had no idea if they were friend or foe, and Krystea hadn't waited to find out. Soon, they were running away from the area as fast as they could.

"We need to stay on the move…get off this continent if we can." She had told her. "I don't know what those things are…but the rest of the Turks and any New Shinra agents will be looking for us both."

To that end, Krystea had taken Aerith as far as she possibly could. She pushed herself beyond her previous limits, carrying her about twice as far from the fight zone. She had refused to rest until they were in a position of safety, which at current looked to be off the continent and not anytime soon. Aerith noticed how exhausted Krystea was becoming. Although she didn't know how she had generated the lightning, she still remembered her other abilities to heal, and she used them to keep her on her feet. But one healing wind was about all Aerith could manage in her own bad state. She wished desperately that she could relieve Krystea of her burden by getting on her own feet, but she could only manage a slow walk for now…

At any rate, they finally received a blessing. As Krystea, sweat-soaked and panting, was about to collapse from her running, she happened to spot something. The two ladies had come upon an abandoned truck in the ruined portion of the city. It was mostly rusted and beaten from old accidents, but it had a mako engine, was unlocked, and the keys were in the ignition. Evidently, it had been too much of a piece of junk to try and sell or trade in, but the owner had left it here hoping that someone would steal it in order to collect the insurance. He would be happy because of them, it seemed, because that was exactly what they did.

Now, Aerith was slumped in her own seat, trying to stay awake. After all, it wasn't fair that Krystea had to stay awake and alert for both of them. She was pulling almost all of the weight here, and Aerith was too weak to do anything other than be protected. If Krystea had really been awake for as long as she claimed, and had exerted herself as much as she had, then she knew she wouldn't be able to stay up for much longer…

A tremor cut Aerith out of her thoughts. She could sense it, even though the truck was going full speed down the abandoned roads for the eastern exits out of Midgar. She stiffened slightly, and looked around at the area…making sure it wasn't some attack. However, it wasn't. The tremor faded as soon as it came, and Krystea and Aerith were left unhindered as they continued to drive down the highway. Something about this, however, unnerved the Cetra. She had a feeling that not all was well…and she desired to contact the Planet to find out what… However, it was no use now. She might fall asleep if she tried, tired as she was by now. And she needed to stay alert for Krystea. As it was, the woman at her side slapped herself in the face at thatparticular momentto stay awake.

"I can drive." Aerith called out. "I think I can manage it."

"That's alright. I need someone with experience behind the wheel to get it moving quickly." Krystea answered.

"Where are we going?"

"Like I said…we need to get off this continent."

Aerith hesitated at that, but then spoke up. "I have friends here, in this army. They'll help us. They'll be fair to you…"

Krystea, however, frowned and shook her head. "I can't take that chance anymore. Especially not now that those creatures are part of this. And the Turks will be trying to make sure we don't get back, as will those things we escaped from. Once we're in a safe zone, we can try and call and sort out our case. But right now, I don't trust who's listening. Think about it this way. Those things wanted us specifically…and they had to have known where we were when neither the PPA or the New Shinra did. I'd say that's a big warning sign."

Aerith hesitated at that, realizing that Krystea was right. They weren't safe right now. Still…she hated it. She wished that Cloud or Ragnar were here… This had too many unpleasant memories. She had met up with her last family member…but now they were on the run together, just as she used to be with her mother. She only hoped this could work out somehow…and that wherever Cloud and Ragnar were that they could do something to help them before any of these other parties came to them.

Aerith didn't like this… Something inside was telling her that leaving the City now was a bad idea…

However, she shook it off and looked back to Krystea. She couldn't worry about that now. She was right. There was no telling when they'd get attacked again here. They had to get clear. "So what do we do?"

"I'm going to drive this car as hard and far as I can before it breaks down." Krystea answered. "I'm going to try to get us to Kalm…or maybe even the Mythril Mines area. After that, we're going through them and making for Fort Condor, and then to Junon where we can get a boat off of this continent."

Just like old times… Aerith thought to herself.

"There's an easier, faster road there now…which is exactly why I'm not taking it." Krystea continued. "They'll probably be waiting for us there. As it is…I'm sure the Turks will be headed that way unless they're right on our tails, meaning to cut us off. I'd slow down so that they would get more on our tails to keep them from doing so…but I won't take the risk…especially with those creatures after us and their ability to call for New Shinra help."

"We can't run all the way there." Aerith responded. "You'll be exhausted by then."

"I'll do as good as I can." Krystea answered. "In the meantime, try to rest up yourself. When this car does finally go dead…you're going to have to walk."


It was a good thing that Cid Highwind possessed a remote device to open the hatch to his airship. If not…he might have broken it down himself to get to the people inside.

Shortly after the ramp into the main area of the ship opened, a quivering and furious captain of the PPA stormed inside. He was followed by several of the airfield guards. They, however, were nervous as they walked in, fully armed, knowing that they were supposed to encounter the two generals. But as far as Cid was concerned, they had already committed an act worse than treason, and he was ready to force them out if he had too.

"Cloud! Ragnar! Where the #&# are you!" He screamed out as he entered the ship, his heavy footsteps sending metallic echoes throughout the entire airship. There was no reply, and Cid didn't wait for one. Nearly chewing on the end of his cigarette in frustration and rage, he continued to storm in. The soldiers could do nothing but follow a bit nervously. They went deeper into the bowels of the landed airship, with the only noise being Cid's sonic obscenities traveling continuously throughout the hull.

At long last, the Sierra had returned. It wasn't a moment too soon. The leaders of the PPA had been planning on using it to evacuate people once they had learned of the coming disaster. However, that had been a bust. Generals Cloud and Ragnar had taken it shortly after learning about the disaster, and had been gone for two days now doing goodness only knew what. At last, it had landed again…but not at the airfield. It landed in one of the ruined and abandoned parts of the city, ignoring any and all radio hails in the process. Once it had landed, it had powered down and not moved an inch since. However, not willing to waste the time in seeing if it would take off again, Captain Cid had practically stormed the ship just now with the airfield guard to "retake" it.

For a minute or so, the group forced their way deeper into the craft, but revealed nothing. There were no signs of life or activity. Then again, it was only typical. They were mostly in the maintenance and cargo sections early on. The areas with actual life and activity in them didn't show up until later. Still, Cid led them on, not caring if they were hiding out in the cockpit. He'd get them at that point if he had to.

However, he halted as they finally passed into the main corridor. The other soldiers quickly fell in behind him and stopped as well. For a moment, Cid's anger was deflated, and he looked ahead in puzzlement. The main corridor looked like it had seen some action. He could tell that there were several knicks and holes in the floor and walls. What more, there was some red stains on the ground…that appeared to be blood. Last but not least, Cloud and Ragnar's swords were here. He stepped forward on seeing them, moving to the weapons. Event Horizon was collapsed, and Ragnarok was leaning against the wall of the corridor. That confused the captain. Cloud and Ragnar weren't ones to just leave their swords lying around like this…

Tap…tap…

Cid suddenly looked up, as did the other soldiers, and wheeled around to the side. They all soon found themselves looking at a hatched doorway…one of the tool closets. The tapping had come from there. Cid stood up from where he was and walked over to the doorway. He heard a tapping again as he approached. The other soldiers moved in slightly, looking curiously at the area as well. Once Cid arrived, he halted, and after only a short pause he reached out and grasped the handle to the closet. He gave the hatch one quick twist to open it up…

And was immediately ambushed.

One form shot out and seized him around the legs, and immediately began to wrench him to the floor. But as that happened, another form swung down from a ceiling pipe in the closet to give a double-kick to Cid's face. The man let out a cry as the double assault flung him to the ground. No sooner had he landed than the one who had wrenched his legs came up and pinned him to the ground by crossing his arm over his neck. He reared back his fist to punch him. In shock, the soldiers raised their weapons and prepared to fire on the attackers…

When the one who had kicked Cid dropped to the ground and froze, as his companion did a moment later. Both of themformed looks of surprise.

"Cid?" Cloud asked with a confused expression.

"Would you get off me you spiky headed $#&!"

Immediately, Cloud sprung back off of Cid, and got back to his feet. Ragnar himself paled a bit, hearing Cid's sudden burst of rage. Evidently, they had made him even madder at them than before. He actually recoiled a little as Cloud backed up into him. Cid himself coughed and hacked, and then began to grumble angrily as he started to clambor back onto his feet. The other soldiers looked over the two men for a moment, but then they recognized them. Once they did, they immediately pulled their arms back and were at ease.

"Sorry, Cid." Ragnar lamely apologized as he began to sweat. "We thought you were one of the Turks…"

Cid, having just gotten back on two feet, wheeled around and gave a look that could kill.

"Do I look like a damn Turk to you!"

Cloud, however, was more casual, and not as embarrassed and hesitant as Ragnar. He gave a shrug. "Hey, how were we supposed to know who it was? The Turks shoved us in there, and we figured they'd be opening it up only to shoot us. We had to get in the first hit."

Cid continued to grumble, and glared at the two of them. "First it's the crazy resurrection quest…and now you two say the Turks are back. I don't suppose they were the ones who stole my Sierra in the first place? Or was it pink elephants this time? Or leprechauns?"

However, this only served to puzzle Cloud and Ragnar. The two turned to each other with a confused look, and then looked back to Cid.

"You mean…they aren't here?"

"Nobody's here except you two assholes shoved in that closet!" Cid spat back. However, after having said that, he hesitated a moment. A bit of his anger subsided as he developed a thoughtful look. "Then again…I doubt you two were dumb enough to lock yourselves in there… And you couldn't have landed this thing from in there…"

Cloud looked around the area a bit. However, seeing no hints, he turned back to Cid. "Where are we, anyway?"

"Where do ya' think?" Cid retorted as he began to fish for another cigarette, now that his anger had somewhat retarded. "Yer back in Midgar, of course, which you never should have left in the first place…"

On hearing this, however, the two men ignored Cid and turned back to each other.

"Midgar? Why would we be there? Why did they want to go here?" Ragnar asked. "All they had to do was take Aerith back to base."

"I don't know, but that gives us some advantage." Cloud answered. "So long as they're here, they're still on our territory."

"Would you two start makin' some sense?" Cid suddenly outburst. "Did you two just say Aerith? What do the Turks have to do with her body? What have you been doing for two days?"

The two men turned and faced the captain again. Both hesitated for a moment, and looked to each other again. After that, however, they turned back to Cid, and Ragnar managed a smile.

"Cid…we did it."

The man merely frowned. "Did what?"

"We followed the legend that was brought to us yesterday morning." Cloud continued, although he didn't smile. After all…there wasn't much to smile about at the moment in his eyes. "We found that Crystal Stone…found it and used it. Aerith came back from the dead."

Cid merely frowned and snorted. "Bullsh't. Now what have you been doing with my Sierra?"

Ragnar immediately shook his head in earnest. "We're not kidding, Cid. She's alive again. I talked to her."

Cid jammed his cigarette in his mouth and fished for his lighter. "Look, you little wiseasses, I ain't in the mood for cranks. I'm too damn tired and I'm too damn pissed. Now start making some damn sense about this Turks and what you've been doin' with the Sierra or I'm gonna…"

"Cid."

This single word cut the man off. It wasn't enough to make him break composure, but it was cold and firm…just like Cloud could be in his most serious moments. The man turned his head to the ex-mercenary, and Cloud glared back with a steely gaze of perfect seriousness.

"…Do you think I'm the kind of guy who would joke about anything, much less this?"

Cid glared at him a moment. However, Cloud's face didn't change. It stayed as hard and firm as stone. He turned his head over to Ragnar next. The youth was far more eager and earnest, but he too was unchanging, and his eyes showed no lie in them. Cid looked back to Cloud, and then back to Ragnar again. He saw their faces…sawhow firm they were...They looked as dead serious as they were before a fight. And he began to realize at this that they weren't breaking down, and that Cloud wasn't joking around. He never lied about anything. As Cid continued to look them over, seeing them stay constant…his own angry look began to fade. His eyes slowly began to widen, and his jaw slackened…until the cigarette fell out of it. He didn't bother finishing looking for the lighter.

"I'll be damned… You two ain't jokin', are you?"

"That's what we've been telling you." Ragnar responded.

For once, the gruff, surly man lost his rough edge. He suddenly let out a chuckle, and his eyes began to light up as a smile started to spread over his face. He had known Aerith the shortest out of all of them, but even he had bonded to her in the short time they had been together. The man had to stifle his own tears with the rest of them when Sephiroth struck. And yet now…unsuperstitious as he was…seeing the light glowing in Cloud and Ragnar's faces…he realized they weren't lying, and realized the truth…

"Well…I don't believe it…" Cid breathlessly announced. Immediately, the theft of the Sierra was forgotten, unbelievable as it seemed for Cid to forget that sort of thing. He drew himself up again. "Well, what're we standin' around here for? Where is she? Screw the damn evacuation…we're goin' out drinkin' tonight and we ain't stoppin' until dawn…"

However, on hearing this, Cloud grew darker, and bowed his head slightly. Ragnar himself grew a bit grim. After all…he realized he had failed. He had promised he'd protect Aerith, and he hadn't. Now, he didn't know where she was or what had befallen her. He didn't even know where the Turks were. Ruefully, he began to open his mouth to explain…

"We have a problem, sirs."

Cloud, Ragnar, and Cid turned to who had spoken, and saw one of the soldiers. They had gone mostly unnoticed until now after lowering their arms, but while they had been talking they hadn't noticed that one of them had received a page on the radio, forwarding a message that had been relayed through the camp to the higher officers, in this case Ragnar and Cloud now that they were found. Ragnar was actually surprised by that comment. The soldier had taken the words right out of his mouth… At any rate, the man walked forward to them, holding the walkie-talkie out as if the announcement would come from it.

"We've got an unidentified car that just jumped one of the military roadblocks."

Cid heard this, and immediately frowned. "Well, why didn't the road tacks take care of it?"

"Because it wasn't going in that direction." The man replied. "It was breaking out of the camp. We managed to catch a picture of them as they sped off. Two women who looked like twins, except one was wearing a white robe and the other a dark suit."

Ragnar immediately wheeled around to Cloud. "That's them. It has to be."

Cloud turned to him. "How can you be so sure?"

"You saw how much that new one looks like Aerith." Ragnar answered. "And what are the odds that one twin wearing a white robe would be running around with the other in a dark suit?"

"That still wouldn't explain what they were doing there." Cloud answered. "What about the other Turks? Why weren't they with her? And why didn't they just take the helicopter?"

"You mean the helicopter outside?"

The two men froze again, and wheeled around to Cid. The Captain bent down and plucked his cigarette off the ground, and put it in his mouth again.

"There was some fancy Shinra helicopter outside. We figured that it had been abandoned. But if you said the Turks were involved…"

Ragnar, however, wasn't listening anymore. He turned back to Cloud again. "So they stole the Sierra and they used their helicopter? I thought they were going to blow up the airship anyway? Why did they take both here, especially knowing they'd be found out?"

"I don't know, but standing around here isn't going to find it out." Cloud retorted. "That does sound like Aerith and that new Turk. We better head after them before they get too far."

Ragnar gave an immediate nod, and then turned back over to Cid. His face began to grow anxious, and he was nervous about what he was going to say next. "Cid…I understand that you may not really be too happy with us right now…but I've still got to ask if we can borrow-"

"Forget it." Cid cut off. "Even if I wasn't still pissed at you for stealin', not borrowin', it…we need it to get people out of Midgar."

Ragnar's eyes widened a little at that, and he reared back his head and slapped his palm against his skull. "Damnit…of course. I forgot all about that… The eruption is still going to happen in two days."

"Forget the Sierra." Cloud answered. "We're on land now. We'll make better time with Fenrir." With that, the ex-mercenary stepped forward, pushing back Cid and making for the exit without another word. As he did, he reached out and grabbed Ragnar by the shoulder, motioning him onward. Ragnar snapped out of it and looked to him as he did this. But at that point…he became torn. Wasn't he supposed to stick around here and help with the evacuation? He was the leader and everything. It would make more sense. And last time he had been gone during a critical point the army had suffered for it. But then again…finding Aerith was important too. He had made a promise to her. What more…if they could find her, then the evacuation wouldn't even be necessary. In a way, doing this would be taking care of the people in Midgar. He finally sighed and turned to Cid.

"Keep up with the evacuation. We'll be back as soon as we can."

Cid opened his mouth to protest, but he was already too late. Ragnar had turned and rushed off after Cloud. The Captain shut his mouth again and glared at the two, and then with a mutter and a curse shook his head as he reached back into his pocket for his lighter.


Denzel assumed he never managed to fall asleep…because he heard the door when it opened.

The boy's eyes immediately opened, and he turned to his doorway. Although his room was dark, the outside lights were on, casting a rectangular ring around his entrance. He saw no change in the light right away, but he did hear the door downstairs. After that, he heard a voice that made him nervous. It was Tifa. She was dismissing the guard that she left to watch the house, which meant that she was coming in for the rest of the night. However, something else soon happened that made him even more so. He began to hear her come up the stairs…

The boy froze, and closed his eyes again, pretending to be asleep. He didn't hear anything from Azure, but he hoped that the boy would stay down. He swallowed and waited as he heard the footsteps make their way up…and then heard them make their way through the hallway next…and sounded like they were coming right for his room. Denzel held his breath and hoped for the best…

Moments later, the dark room was filled with electric yellow light as the door opened. A dark silhouette of female shape moved into it.

"Denzel, wake up."

The boy opened his eyes a moment later, seeing that his worst fears had come true. Tifa was back, and she was standing in the doorway to his room. From here, she couldn't see who was on the other side of his bed, but he still was nervous about her being there. At any rate, he knew he had to act normal in order to keep her from suspecting anything. He turned on his bed and looked to her. Moments later, he was temporarily blinded as Tifa turned on the lights to his room, filling the entire area with electric light.

"Come on, sweetie." Tifa told him as she walked into the room, making her way toward his closet. "We've got to go right now."

Denzel winced a moment as his eyes adjusted, but he also looked up in confusion. "Go…? Go where?"

"I'll tell you when we get there." Tifa responded as she reached his closet. She looked inside for a moment, and a second later came out with Denzel's backpack. "We just can't stay home right now. Get up and get dressed. We're only going to pack a few clothes, and then we're going to move." After saying that, Tifa began to look through the closet again over Denzel's things. As she did, however…Denzel managed to catch her sighing once. "…Don't know how I'm going to be able to rebuild after this…"

Denzel hesitated a moment in bed. He wasn't sure what to do. If he got up, he'd be leaving Azure. At least from here, he could try and ward Tifa off if she got too close. Yet he saw her moving fast and earnestly now. She wasn't in the mood to waste time. If he didn't get up, she might get upset with him soon… He puzzled for a moment about what to do.

Unfortunately…someone made a decision for him.

"…Hey Denzel, is that Marlene?"

Denzel paled. He turned his head around to confirm it, and saw what had happened. The boy had guessed by now that Azure didn't have much experience with real life or common sense. And as a result…he had dumbly shown himself. His head was now perking over the edge of Denzel's mattress, looking up and around at what had woke him up.

However, what happened next truly confused him.

Tifa heard the voice and turned her head to it, instantly letting her eyes rest on the silver-haired, pale-green-eyed boy. When Denzel saw this…Tifa suddenly changed. Her eyesenlarged, and the pupils shrank. The color on her face seemed to fade for a moment. Her hands, loose before now, suddenly tightened into fists. Mostly, however, her expression turned into one of sudden surprise…and fear.

"What are you doing here?" She nearly yelled at Azure.

On hearing this, and seeing the change come over Tifa, Azure suddenly changed as well. His face too went white, and filled with fear. Denzel turned to him, but before he could say or do anything, the boy reached up and flung his hood back over his head. After that, he turned and scrambled out of his sleeping bag. He scurried away from Tifa…but he forgot that he was indoors now. There was nowhere to run. He instead went to the corner, and once he was trapped there, he wrapped his arms around himself and cowered, hiding his face from the woman.

Denzel's face immediately creased with concern. He threw off his covers and stepped out of the bed, toward Azure's side.

"Don't get near him, Denzel!"

The boy turned around and looked back to Tifa after she made that cry. It was almost frantic. To his surprise, Tifa was tensing up, looking like she was getting ready for a fight. She kept her eyes focused on Azure, but her face was sweating. He could see that she was nervous and scared. She was inching her way over to Denzel at the moment as best she could, and looked to be ready to react at the slightest wrong move.

"Come here…back away from him…"

Denzel was stunned. He turned his head back over to Azure. Right now…he looked to be the most pitiful, harmless creature that Denzel had ever seen. He was quivering in a ball, trying to hide in his own oversized clothes. The boy couldn't be sure…but he almost thought he heard weeping from him. He looked back to Tifa. She was still scared, yet at the same time looking ready to attack Azure at any moment. Denzel didn't understand. Tifa was always nice to orphan boys and girls. He knew that some people would be scared or mean to homeless children and people, but Tifa was never one of them. Why was she suddenly acting this way around Denzel?

The boy realized he had to make a choice. Tifa was coming closer. Normally, he'd obey what she said without hesitation. But he had already identified too much with this boy. And he saw how scared and helpless he was. He had been that way many times before when he was on the street. And he hadn't lived with Tifa and Marlene for so long without having some of their kindness rub off on him. He looked back to Tifa one more time, his own expression turning anxious and nervous, and then finally made his choice.

He turned his back on Tifa and began to walk over to the cringing boy.

"Denzel, no!" Tifa called out to him. But for once, Denzel ignored her. He continued to walk over to Azure, who didn't respond or even acknowledge that he was there. Tifa held a moment, looking like she was debating whether or not to run over and snatch Denzel away from Azure. But for now, she held, uneasily looking at them both for two very different reasons. The room went silent as Denzel arrived at the boy's side. Only his shallow sounds, indeed sounding like sobs as he cringed like a cornered animal, came from him. Seeing him like this, Denzel wondered how Tifa could be so afraid of him. He looked so harmless now…

Slowly, the boy bent down next to his side. After a pause, he reached out and put his hand on Azure's back. The boy didn't react, just continued to cry. Denzel uncertainly looked back to Tifa, and then turned back to the boy.

"…It's alright, Azure." He finally managed to speak. Then, in spite of Tifa's opening reaction, he spoke more reassuringly. "Tifa's nice. She helps orphan kids. She's not going to hurt you."

Tifa held, but continued to look ready to attack or make a move on Denzel. But for now, she was scared of what the boy would do, it seemed. Azure sniffed once or twice, and Denzel saw his head shake from beneath his hood.

"She…she hates me…"

Tifa stiffened a bit at that, but said nothing else. Denzel continued to look anxiously at Azure as he sniffed again and continued.

"All adults look like her when they hate me… When I tried begging like the other kids did, they chased me off and threw things at me. They called me a monster… They pull their own kids away and scream at me… One man had a gun. He did this to me…"

Though he was still cringing, Azure managed to reach out and grab one of his loose pant legs. Until now, all he had taken off was his outer coat and shoes, leaving on the rest of his baggy, dirty clothing. But now, as he grabbed it and pulled back, he exposed it for Denzel and Tifa alike to see. Denzel's eyes widened, and even Tifa, primed as she was to attack, let out a small gasp.

A bloody wound was bound up with mostly dirty cloth. It had stopped bleeding somehow, although from the look of the grotesque scab it had to have cracked and oozed several times. It was clearly infected, and very much so. Denzel knew nothing about serious injuries, but if he did, he would have been shocked that Azure was able to walk, or that a fever from his infection hadn't crippled him. As it was, he hadn't even suspected the injury until now.

"She wants to hurt me…just like they all want to hurt me…" Azure moaned, still keeping his head turned away.

Denzel uneasily looked back to Tifa. After seeing Azure's injury, and hearing how he was talking, she seemed to have held again, but she still looked nervous and ready for a fight. The boy wasn't sure what to do. He uneasily looked between the two of them for a moment, trying to think. But in the end, he finally turned back to Tifa.

"Azure's not a stranger or a criminal, Tifa." He started. "He's someone I met looking around in our garbage. I knew that if you were here and you saw him doing that, you'd make him something to eat. I was just trying to do the same thing. But after he ate, it was getting dark out, and he was going to sleep in the alley, and I didn't want him to. So I said he could stay here the night. I know I should have asked you…but I didn't think you'd mind."

The boy turned back to his new friend afterward, and tried to reassure him, in the same voice he did before. "Tifa was just surprised when she saw you, Azure. She's really a nice person. She wouldn't do any of that stuff to you. She just didn't know if you had broken into my room or not. Don't be scared."

Denzel turned back to Tifa again after this. "I'm sorry if I did the wrong thing…but I didn't want to let him sleep outside on his own. If you're mad, you should be mad at me. I'm the one who let him in. But he was starving, and look at him now. He's hurt. He's a boy like me and the other kids who had the Geostigma. Everyone else is afraid of him. He doesn't have anywhere to go. Please let him stay."

Tifa hesitated afterward. What Denzel had meant by that last portion is what he assumed to be true for this boy…that people in the neighborhood remembered that he had been under the control of Kadaj's gang. Denzel didn't remember it, but he had too. He had heard later, although Cloud and Tifa had tried to keep this from him, that his eyes had turned pale green and serpentine during that time. Since then, some people thought he, as well as the other kids who had been controlled, were some sort of monsters. Occasionally they were chased off…but on very rare occasions people attacked them, in the manner that Azure had described. Of course, Denzel had never heard of any kid treated so badly, and actually having been shot…

Denzel had no idea what was going on in Tifa's mind. Were he to see, he would see a wide array of conflicting thoughts and memories running through her head. His words had made her pause and rethink the situation, but had also made things more complicated.Many nameless fears were rolled over in her mind. However, in the end, she tried to strip all of these things away, and just see the situation for what it was. When that happened, she at last saw a miserable, poor, injured, and scared-to-death child cringing in her room in absolute terror of her.

Tifa was a practical woman who had seen her share of danger. But she was also kinder than most people. There weren't many people in Midgar, or the world for that matter, that would see a dirty child on the streets who was probably used to stealing from people who pitied him and would take him in and raise him as their own son. When she was able to see this child for what he was…not for what she feared he was…that kindness began to be aroused again. Many thoughts continued to go through her mind, with many possibilities for the various decisions. Part of her was reluctant. Part was still afraid.Part of it planned on as to what to do if she went with one decision or another. This was a risk, it seemed. Yet in the end, the deciding factor was still what her own eyes saw. Denzel interceding on behalf of this boy…and the pitiful creature himself worn out by fear and hate. And in the end…one thought stood out in her mind.

If I hadn't taken in Cloud that day in Sector Seven…would he have turned into another mindless Sephiroth clone?

Tifa swallowed once, and then slowly let her hands relaxed. Her face softened, and lost much of its obvious fear. She was still very afraid and nervous, but she forced herself to look calm. She tried to arouse her natural sympathy. Once she had composed herself enough…she managed to slowly make her body walk forward, up to Denzel's side. Denzel saw this as a good sign, and figured that Tifa was finally breaking down, and understood that Azure was just another orphan like him. He turned back to his friend as Tifa continued to walk, until she was right next to them both. Once there, she slowly managed to bend down and take a position similar to Denzel's. After licking her lips once…she reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"…It's alright. No one is going to hurt you or chase you away."

The boy continued to cringe, although he lessened somewhat. Tifa hesitated and swallowed again, and then spoke out once more. This time, she was consciously forcing herself to talk more soothingly and reassuringly.

"I'm sorry I acted that way. Please don't be scared. I won't hurt you. You're safe here. No one is going to do anything to you."

The boy held a bit longer, still crying. But slowly, the sounds of his tears began to dry up. He sniffled once or twice. Then, he slowly pulled his head out and uneasily turned it behind him. Denzel saw Tifa stiffen when she saw his face, but she forced it down again. His eyes were red and puffy, and his cheeks soaked with his tears.

"…Really?" He finally asked.

Tifa gave a nod. "Really."

"You aren't afraid of me?"

Denzel saw Tifa pause a moment, but then shook her head and looked pleasant. "No. I'm not. What was your name again?"

The boy sniffled and rubbed his eyes with the sleeve of his inner shirt. "…Azure."

"Alright, Azure…" Tifa responded, still being soft but with more firmness. She turned to Denzel soon afterward. "Denzel…finish packing your things. We're going to take Azure to the doctor in Kalm to have his leg looked at."

Denzel responded with a look of puzzlement. "But isn't the hospital just four blocks away?"

Tifa hesitated again. "…They're out…tonight, Denzel. They closed. We have to head out of Midgar to see one."

The boy paused, but finally gave a nod. "Alright."

Tifa turned to Azure next, and hesitated once again. "…Azure, why don't you keep your hood on for now when we go outside? It's kind of cold…"

The boy wiped his eyes again, and then nodded. "Alright."

Tifa nodded to that as well. Afterward, she turned and looked up to Denzel again. Now that his friend had recovered, he was going to his closet to finish what Tifa had started. She looked at him a moment, but then called out with one other instruction.

"Um…Denzel? If Cloud comes by when you're with Azure…don't let him see him. He might overreact like I did…"


To be continued...