Tseng walked into Rufus's office, and saw the man sitting solemnly in his chair. Considering the state things currently were in, it wasn't surprising. "How did it go with Cloud?" He asked.
Rufus took in a heavy breath and exhaled. "That bad?" Tseng asked again still standing in front of Rufus's desk.
"Tseng how long have we known each other?" Rufus looked up at the man finally.
"Over 20 years sir," Tseng replied.
"And in all those 20 years, you've become one of my most trusted friends." Rufus said.
"What's wrong Rufus?" Tseng dropped the formalities when Rufus mentioned their friendship.
"I need a friend to drink with." Rufus said pulling out a bottle of whiskey and two shot glasses.
Tseng took a seat. It wasn't often the man had asked him to drink with him. But when it did happen...
"Rufus you're scaring me. What happened between you and Cloud." Tseng said before picking up one of the glasses. "I'll drink with you if you tell me, not as your head Turk but as your trusted friend."
"What do you know of what happened in Nibelhiem Tseng, and Do Not Lie to me." Rufus emphasized the last part. Tseng only lied to Rufus, when he felt it necessary.
"Just that Sephiroth lost his mind when he made contact with Jenova and burnt it to the ground, the only survivors were Miss Lockhart, her teacher, Cloud, and Zack. Miss Lockhart came to Midgar and Cloud and Zack were experimented on for 4 years. Unless you're looking for something else, but I doubt you want random facts about the town. " Tseng said honestly. Rufus looked him in the eye for any sign of deception, then tossed the data disc too him.
"I requested the Turk file on Cloud from the old Archives, there was a bit more on there then even what I thought I might find." Rufus said as Tseng caught the disc.
"I've added to it, but I've never read the whole thing." Tseng admitted. "I didn't have access to it till sometime after your father died, and then we were so caught up in everything else, it seemed pointless. I haven't had a reason to since, why did you look for it. You've never once questioned his loyalty since he signed back up."
"I didn't think you would have known, or you would have told me, but I had to be sure." Rufus said. "Forgive me."
"I still don't know what I need to be forgiving you for." Tseng admitted. "Though if it's bad enough to bring you to drink. I assume Cloud didn't take whatever was in his file well."
"No actually." Rufus snorted. "He look like someone who's been screwed with his whole life. Which is to say he took it like a champ. Myself however not so much."
"Rufus what was on that disc." Tseng finally asked directly.
Rufus sighed and took a moment to collect everything. "The file starts 2 weeks after Cloud was born."
"There isn't any reason that an infant should have a file unless." Tseng started looking at Rufus.
"Unless they were one of my father's many bastard children." Rufus finished.
"Finding out that Cloud is your half brother isn't something that would drive you to drinking. You came to terms with the fact your father had several other children years ago. " Tseng was still looking at Rufus, shot in hand.
"No, I was pretty much expecting that part." Rufus acknowledged. "It's the reason I requested the file."
"Then what was in there that did drive you to drink?" Tseng asked again.
Rufus looked at Tseng then eyed his shot. "Cloud was sent on the mission to Nibelhiem specifically to eliminate him. He was listed as a threat to my father when he enlisted and after Lazard defected they decided to get rid of him."
Tseng took it what he told him then let it sink in. "That would mean that they knew that the mission was going to go south."
"Apparently, my father and Hojo thought introducing Sephiroth to his 'mother' was a good idea. Thought he might find them the promised land. When things didn't go as planned, my father authorized Cloud's use as a test subject, to get him out of the way and find a guide to the promised land at the same time." Rufus told Tseng.
"I never knew, if any of the Turks did, and they had too for that file to exist, it was likely Veld." Tseng admitted.
"Cloud said it didn't bother him because they were both dead, and couldn't do anything to him anymore. He said that he didn't even have memories of his father soil." Rufus said swirling the shot around.
"But you do." Tseng said.
"I knew he wasn't a good man, hell I'm not a good man. But I kept thinking that as a kid he cared about me. I wouldn't have survived the WEAPON attack if he hadn't cared." Rufus said closing his eyes. "I always assumed that he turned his back on Lazard the way he did because the man was actually trying to betray him. "
"But now you think differently." Tseng said.
"Now I know if he hadn't chosen to marry my mother, and had married one of his other random women, I'd be in the same position as Cloud or worse. He only needed me because he needed an heir, and if he'd found the promised land he was looking for he wouldn't have even needed that." Rufus spat out.
"Rufus you've never built your self worth on your father, neither one of us has." Tseng told him. "Just because you've found these things out, don't start now. Cloud's right, the man is dead he can't do anything else too you."
"I suppose your right, I knew you'd know just what to say. I still want a drink though." Rufus said throwing back his shot. "I've been rude though, how did your little family reunion go."
"I was right she had no idea." Tseng started. "Bastard never said a word about me to her, and told her our mother died from sickness."
"Maybe I should have a talk with her as well. Finding out how much of a bastard your father is could be a bonding experience, and if she is going to be the next leader of Wutai, it would be good to at least be cordial with her." Rufus said with a sigh.
"You could try, but I doubt she'll speak to you, at least not as the princess or future queen. She despises both roles." Tseng said.
"How did she take your proposal?" Rufus asked Tseng, putting the bottle of whiskey away.
"I haven't been able to speak with her about it." Tseng said, " I imagine knowing what I know of her though, she'll be quite pleased."
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Aerith and Zack walked through the streets of Edge, for the first time alone. Zack smiled, it reminded him of back before everything had gone so wrong. Well not everything, he hadn't met Aerith until after Angeal and Genesis had left, it had been Angeal's fault he had met the girl in the first place, but it still brought him a bit of piece.
"So how do you feel being left behind." Aerith asked honestly.
"I'm fine, it means we get to chill, relax and take care of the kids. They'll come get us when they need us." Zack admitted kicking a stone out of the road.
Aerith still looked troubled, a state she had been in a lot lately. "What's wrong?" Zack finally asked.
"Everyone keeps looking to me for answers, and I simply don't have them. I feel like I should, but I don't, I have a connection to the planet yes, but I don't know everything it does, and even then the planet doesn't know everything." Aerith sighed.
"I'm sorry, I know I've been looking to you for answers too, but you just so much smarter than me." Zack said with a sigh.
"Zack your fairly smart too, you just need to believe in yourself." Aerith smiled at him.
"I love you." He said with a smile.
"I love you too." she replied and gave him a soft kiss.
It wasn't much longer before they arrived at the hospital. They walked straight to the boy's room and smiled when they walked in, Angeal was attempting to read a book to Jadak.
"Aeri-th" Jadak said, having been corrected by his brother over and over again. His smile was bright.
"Hi sweetie." Aerith said moving to the boy's side. "How are you feeling?" She touched her hand to his forehead.
"Better" He said with a grin, and Aerith noticed that the Mako glow in his eyes and died down a bit.
Angeal saw Zack and tried to be a bit more reserved but it was obvious from the look on his face that he was glad Zack was back.
"Do we get to go home with you now?" Angeal ask curiously.
"Jadak has to stay until the doctors say he can go." Zack said softly. "But we'll have a place for both of you then." Zack ruffled the kid's hair.
Angeal's smile fell a bit. "How long does he have to stay?"
Aerith moved so she could see both of them. "He's getting better, soon most likely, but you both have to be brave."
Jadak just nodded. "I'm going to be a hero like Zack, I'll be really brave, and save people too!" the child beamed.
"Hey kid who told you I was a hero." Zack said with a smile.
"Tifa did, she said you were trying to save people." Angeal said, looking up at Zack.
"Did she now." Zack kept the grin on his face. "Well I don't know so much about being a hero, I use to try and be the hero, but I just lost sight of the bigger picture. Now I just try to protect those close to me, and be the very best I can be."
"You kept your promise to come back, so your my hero." The boy said with honesty in his voice.
Zack just wanted to cry.
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Cloud stood on the Shera with Cid.
"So your honestly not mad that we've left you out of most of the meetings?" Cloud asked the pilot.
"Ah hell no, I'm more than happy to be a glorified taxi driver this time around." Cid said taking a drag off his cigarette. "My body just ain't what she was. I couldn't walk for weeks after Omega, the adrenalin wore off and I just seized up. I knew then I was done, figured it was time for you young'ns to pick up the slack. No I'm happy enough to take you where you wanna go, just don't ask me to pick up the lance again."
"Well we've got plenty of places to go if you're willing to take us." Cloud acknowledged.
"I know time is key, and the Shera is the fastest damn thing on the planet. Just try not to get her blown up like last time. I've gotten really attached." Cid said glancing back over to Cloud.
"Well first on my list is Lucrecia's cave. So I think she'll be safe." Cloud laughed lightly.
"Well damn, what's Vinny think of that?" Cid said looking back out at the city. The setting sun was a nice backdrop in Edge.
"No idea, you know how he is. Sephiroth on the other hand is nervous as he can get." Cloud said.
"Now that's another thing, I can't imagine him nervous, and even being around him I can't hardly believe it. " Cid said taking another long drag. " And you're like his best bud or something. Thought I was going crazy myself at first."
"I don't know how to explain it, after I came to terms with the fact I knew he wasn't going to try and kill us all again, we just clicked. He's so much like me it's painful to watch sometimes. " Cloud said with a sigh.
"Yah know, someone once told me your soul mate isn't always a lover, sometimes it can be a good friend. Look at me and Shera, I wouldn't consider marrying her for nothing, but I don't know what I'd do without her either. Nobody else would put up with my shit. Just don't tell her I said that." Cid smirked a bit.
"That's what you think we are?" Cloud looked up surprised, something so philosophical seemed just, off coming from the pilot's mouth.
"All I know is it seems your whole lives have been intertwined. You work together better than anyone else I've ever seen. When you added in the limit break thing and your past life, I'd say it's an idea to keep in mind." Cid smoke the last of his cigarette and put it out.
"I suppose it is worth at least thinking about." Cloud acknowledged. "Though I should probably go and get some rest soon. Tomorrow is a long day."
"What time ya wanna depart?" Cid asked.
"8am, if that's alright with you." Cloud said looked to the man before he left.
"She'll be ready." Cid said patting the side of the ship, as Cloud waved goodbye to the man.
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Tseng stood outside the apartment Rufus had arranged for Yuffie and Nanaki, it was a bit later but he was sure she would still be up. He knocked on the door, and he listened but heard nothing, just before the door swung open.
"Tseng!" Yuffie said partially surprised.
"Do you have time to talk now?" Tseng asked politely.
"I do, but Nanaki is here, I don't mind him knowing, but I didn't want to tell anyone, without asking first." Yuffie said biting her bottom lip nervously.
"Tell who you like, if you accept my proposal, it will become common knowledge anyway." Tseng said, voice calm and cool.
"Proposal?!" Yuffie looked stunned.
"Not a marriage proposal." Tseng couldn't help it and he laughed at the girl a bit. "A proposal as in a deal."
Yuffie just looked indignant. "Well it wouldn't be the first time, I'd heard of siblings getting married. Still disturbs me though."
Yuffie just realized he was still standing in the hall and moved to let him in.
"Hello Tseng of the Turks." Nanaki greeted from his place on the floor.
"Hello Nanaki, nice to see you again." Tseng said returning the greeting.
"You seem awfully interested in our princess lately" Nanaki said trying to gauge the situation. He was worried that the interest stemmed from her upcoming title.
"Its alright." Yuffie said leading Tseng to a seat then sitting herself.
"I can explain if you like." Tseng said looking to Yuffie.
Yuffie bit her lip again thinking over his suggestion. "I don't know, I just, it's a lot to take in ok?"
"It's alright." Tseng said leaning over placing a hand on the trembling girl.
Nanaki was perplexed, Yuffie was obviously nervous, but Tseng was being kinder then Nanaki had ever seen him.
Tseng turned to Nanaki and started to explain. "My given name at birth was Prince Tseng Kisaragi, I'm Yuffie's older brother."
"Her older brother?" Nanaki questioned, but his mind was racing. "Why did you wait till now to tell her?"
"For many reasons. The events surrounding my departure are very dark, I didn't wish to burden her, plus my current loyalties would have made things simply awkward until a few years ago." Tseng explained. "I chose now, because she would have found out about me soon enough, and what happened. That and I believe I have a way for her to avoid an unwanted marriage."
"What do you intent to take the crown instead?" Nanaki asked, though it was obvious he thought it was unlikely, or it would be for the wrong reasons.
"No, they would never accept a dishonored prince as their ruler, even if I had any aspirations of ruling left in me." Tseng explained
"Then what do you have in mind?" Yuffie asked, she was very anxious to get this silly marriage thing behind her.
"They think your unfit to rule alone because you're a woman, this is traditionally solved through marriage- but not always" Tseng said. "I paid attention to my royal history lessons as a child."
Yuffie looked a little sheepish at that.
"Don't worry about it, even if you had been a little more attentive I doubt they would have told you." Tseng stated. "Your husband is meant to fulfill the role of advisor, it doesn't necessarily have to be the other way around. If you have a proper male advisor appointed at the time of your coronation then the marriage rule is negated. It's not an option Godo ever favored, but I imagine he's not in much of a position to do anything. You will still be expected to eventually marry, and your husband would then assume the role. You do need an heir after all in the eyes of the Wutian people."
Yuffie let out the breath she was holding as Tseng spoke and looked up at him. "So I still have to be Queen, but I don't have to get married. But who would they accept as my advisor?"
"Yuffie, you'll be a great Queen, you have a very kind heart, and the people will love you. You may even be able to change her, turn her to a brighter future, much like Rufus as done with Shinra. Your exactly the fresh air the country needs. And it's not a sentence to never have a life again. You will have to server her first, but you'll still be able to get out, travel and see the world. " Tseng comforted the girl. "And I would offer myself as your adviser, they won't except me to rule, but I should be suitable enough as your adviser, and there wouldn't be any pressure for you to just marry me anyway. "
"What about here, Shinra?" Yuffie asked.
"I wouldn't have to be at your side constantly. The advisor role is just a formality anyway, your perfectly capable of ruling on your own. I would of course be available whenever you actually need me." Tseng said offering the girl a rare smile
Yuffie just wiped the tears starting to form in her eyes, "Is this how you act with the others? Rufus, Elena, Rude and Reno? If so I'm kinda jealous, being nice suits you. "
"I always did care you know." Tseng said to her. "I kept an eye on you. I about died when I found out you had gotten mixed up with Cloud the first time. Also don't tell him this but, the only reason I let Zack see Aerith was because of the way he treated you during the war."
Yuffie couldn't help herself and let out a small yawn. "Sorry" she said a little embarrassed.
"It's alright, its late and you have an early morning." Tseng said then looked to Nanaki who had been silently listening. "You better make sure she makes it back in one piece."
"I shall do my best to assure her safety, with or without your words. However, I do think you make a rather good big brother." Nanaki said without moving his head to look at Tseng.
Nanaki's approval meant more to him then he thought it should have but he just took it and moved on anyway.
"Goodnight," He said heading for the door.
"Goodnight Tseng," Yuffie said with a tired smile
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I think I like Tseng when he's not in business mode, I agree with Yuffie it suits him well. Anyway this chapter and the next one deals with wrapping up events in Edge before they all split up to accomplish their personal missions. The keyboard and mouse has shipped and should be here soon :).
Anyway as always pls Review. I feed them to my muse and it makes them grow big and strong .
Edit: Chapters 19-21 edited. Mostly typing, spelling errors, but I did fix the inconsistencies with where Yuffie was staying.