Saria: Damn I hope I finish this before I leave.
Tori: All of us hope that.
SA: So we've come up with a solution! (pulls out a roll of duct tape)
Zas: (grabs a chair) If you don't write, we're going to tape you to your chair!
PS: Realizing how much Japanese I would be using if I were to write it out and knowing how tedious it can be to skip to the translation it can be, all Japanese (Wutaian) shall be written in Italics instead.
zzzzzzzzzz
Shelke
She had not drank very much, only a couple of mouthfuls but all around her the world tipped and tilted. A giggle escaped her for no reason as she struggled to screw the cap onto the bottle then rolled back on her bed. It was surprising how… good the alcohol made her feel. She felt better than she had for a long time! But what was a long time?
Shelke blinked as she tried to remember but found her memories of DeepGround to be foggy and mute, not the excruciating experience that she had stripped herself of emotion in order to bear.
It didn't matter though, not at that moment. Her bed was so comfortable right then and everything felt right with the world! Relaxing as she buried her head into her pillow, Shelke was surprised as whispers reached her ears.
That's right! She was trying to relax so she could hear the Planet! And it was there, just as Rachas said.
Focusing was impossible at that moment but Shelke found she didn't care as she relaxed further and released her hold on her body. It was surprisingly simple right at that moment.
She drifted along on the Lifestream like that, uncaring of where she was going; only knowing that she was no longer weighted down. And the green stream of life flowed and whispered, thoughts reaching out to her from across the sea of time and space. Most of it was nonsense to her but one thread did finally catch her attention and she followed it.
The soul she found had some Cetra blood, not enough to stay completely whole but enough that she could meet her.
"Mom…" Shelke murmured as she was embraced by one of the few people she knew loved her without a doubt, even if she had left her behind.
"Shelke," whispered the voice she just barely remembered and Shelke was aware of the tears that had begun to flow.
Normal
It seemed Shelke had finally found a way to relax since I felt her call to the LifeStream and allowed herself to drift a bit, not going far. I did keep track of her though in case she needed help but decided against entering her room. If she could only relax in private then it wasn't my place as her teacher to disturb her.
Shalua had decided to visit her mother's grave for the brief time we were here, she seemed authentically hurt that Shelke didn't want to go either.
The Turks all remained on the airship and little by little their presence was starting to bother me less. I didn't trust them though, to some extent they had to know about what happened to Zack and Cloud in Nibelheim and with the exception of Cissnei none of them did anything until it was far too late.
My friends and I were all outside the airship, enjoying the sunshine and cold air. Nanaki was allowing Aiden to ride around on his back with Cait Sith, the robotic cat helping my son to balance. Vincent and I watched the scene carefully, mindful of the crew as they fueled the airship. Cid and Shera on the other hand had headed straight to Rocket Town to spread the news of their engagement. Before he had left, Cid had made it a point to declare that in his absence, Nanaki was in charge.
My guess was that he did that as a way of thumbing his nose at me for forcing him to practice with chopsticks. He still couldn't pick up food over half the time and those times when he could, he dropped it four out of five times.
"What do you think is happening in Wutai?" I finally asked Vincent the question that had haunted me since Yuffie's call.
Vincent shrugged as Nanaki ambled past us. "Any number of things. My best suggestion would be to be observant and ready to hear out any concerns of the council. Assure them that they will be in charge of the site."
I sighed as once again I started to review the new manners and terms that Tseng had drilled me on.
"We'll know soon enough what is expected," Nanaki stated as he circled around to us. "Provided that we depart immediately after the fueling is complete, we'll arrive in Wutai late tonight so most likely you will meet the council tomorrow."
I nodded then glanced at Aiden who had been very fussy for a while now, even while still atop Nanaki's back. "Do you want me to take him?"
"He's fine," Nanaki reassured.
"But don't you find that a bit… Insulting?"
"Will you find giving a piggy back ride to Zack and Aeris's child insulting?" Nanaki smiled faintly in amusement at me as he made that statement.
"No." Nanaki was right and I also realized that I might have been a bit insulting right then.
The rustling of grass announced Shalua's approach and we turned to see her walking towards us. Though she still looked a bit downtrodden, she definitely seemed to be in better spirits.
"I ran into Shera on the way back," she informed us as she nodded to Nanaki as he passed her. "She and Cid should be here soon."
"How drunk is Cid?" I asked plainly.
"Rachas," Nanaki scolded lightly. Neither Vincent nor Shalua looked ready to defend or back me up.
"I just want to know if he'll be sober when we arrive in Wutai!"
"We can make him stay on the ship tonight," Vincent assured me as he reached down and plucked Aiden off of Nanaki's back. Aiden made a face and continued to fuss despite being in his godfather's arms.
Sighing, I reached out and took the baby from Vincent, bouncing him slightly on my shoulder but he didn't calm down. Glancing at my watch, I almost struck myself. We adults could deal with the changing times well enough, but Aiden was a baby and I had forgotten that he really needed regular naps and bedtimes. It was past his bedtime now in Edge and I hadn't even put him down for a nap yet!
"Sorry baby," I murmured to him gently before looking up to the others. "I need to put him down for a nap."
Cait Sith jumped off of Nanaki's back and followed me into the ship while everyone else kept an eye out for Cid and Shera.
Aiden fussed and started to cry as I entered our cabin then settled him on my bed and changed him into a warm set of pajamas. As was normal though, he calmed down as I settled him into the portable crib we obtained for him. He was so tired that his eyes closed almost the moment I pulled his blanket over him instead of waiting for his cat doll and for me to sing.
I tucked to doll in next to him in case he woke up soon before leaving. Though I was tired also, I was going to put off sleep for several hours so that I could at least attempt to keep a normal schedule in Wutai.
Faint buzzing from the engines filled the air as I walked back towards the cargo bay where the main ramp outside was located and a lurch announced takeoff. Groaning, I turned at the next intersection and headed for the cockpit instead.
Cid wasn't present in the cockpit though just about everyone else was. Even Tseng and Nunchaku were present.
"Heading for Wutai already?" I asked Shera as I entered.
"Yes, Vincent assured us that you were on board so we decided to get going."
"How's Cid?"
Shera thought for a moment then smiled. "He's actually quite well. Declared he was hungry and headed to the galley to make something."
"Alright, thanks." The fact that Shera was here and not in the galley assured me that Cid was sober enough to cook, so he was sober enough for more chopstick practice.
It took less than a minute to walk to the galley from the cockpit and I was surprised to find Martial Arts was clambering about the kitchen along with Cid. The pilot had decided that a can of beans would be a good meal and was heating them in a small pot while the Turk was making several sandwiches.
"Do you have any horseradish?" the larger man asked Cid as he searched through one of the cabinets.
"Don't know, ain't no cook. Wha'd'ya want it for?"
Martial Arts just gave him a flat look in response.
Feeling generous at the moment, I called out to the power and used to open the fridge where I remembered seeing some horseradish the day before. Both men froze as it floated out and then set itself in front of Martial Arts.
"Damn it Rachas!" Cid yelled as he turned to glare at me once he finally seemed to register what had happened. "Don't do that freaky shit without warning!"
"Pale isn't a good color for you," I teased lightly then glanced at Martial Arts who had just grabbed the horseradish bottle and was keenly examining it. "Good to see you're making something you can practice eating with chopsticks."
"What?!" Cid growled as he glanced at his pot. "Damn, haven't added the pig yet! What do they eat in Wutai anyway?"
"We've been there before, don't you remember?"
Cid stared at me in raw horror. "Ya mean that wasn't because o' any special occasion?"
Martial Arts had finally set the bottle down and now stared at Cid. "Did they serve anything weird?"
"Grass tea, this shit called dingo or whatever, and way too much rice!"
"That is all very normal," I advised Cid which earned me another swear. "You might encounter so… abnormal cuisine there this time though."
Cid groaned then glared at me. "So why can't I stay on the Shera?"
I grinned as I stated, "Because you're the Captain."
Edge
It took a while to write a complete report on all that had occurred in the time since AVALANCHE's victory and Shinra's fall but Scarlet was intent to complete it as thoroughly and quickly as she could. She made sure to include every crime AVALANCHE had committed, every new law they had pressed to have instated, and every fine, audit, and strike they were accountable for.
She made sure to cover the details on the new city that was being built and the alternative energy research that was going on. Also included were the details on the pools the Ancients were making that could heal Geostigma.
It was with supreme vindication that she sent the large report; it ran over thirty pages in length! By and far, it was the longest piece she had ever written. As an executive at Shinra, when she had received such long reports she had always had a secretary or underling read through and give her an overview. She felt very proud of this particular article though.
Scarlet didn't know how long it would take for a response to come but she hoped it would be soon.
Normal
"Are you even looking at my fingers?"
"Either I lookit yur fingers or my food, not both," Cid grumbled as he tried again to correct his grip. Currently he kept trying to get used to using his thumb as a lever for the chopsticks when his urge was to use his index finger. At this point he was alternating fixing his eyes on my fingers, his, then his food. We were not having much success.
"Maybe I should make you a pair of beginner's chopsticks," I grumbled and Cid's head swiveled in my direction.
"Ya can make something ta make this easier? Well bring it!"
"Cid, those aren't appropriate-"
"Don't care! Make this easier!"
Shrugging, I grabbed a napkin and folded it into a small rectangle then looked around for a rubber band.
"Can I at least getta fork and eat some'a my pork n' beans 'fore it gets cold?"
"Fine." Cid was always worse to deal with when he was hungry.
It took a few minutes to locate a rubber band then I grabbed Cid's chopsticks, wedged the napkin into where Cid's thumb should go then wrapped the rubber band around and sticks and napkin. The other pilot glanced up and stared at the contraption I presented him with several seconds later then took them and picked at his leftover food.
"Easy now… Why couldn't we do this at the get go?" The chopsticks were easily maneuvered by the other now as he finally began to grab bits of food with the utensils.
"Because I don't think you want to do this in Wutai."
"Why the fuck not?"
The door swung open then and Elena entered the galley along with Tseng. Suddenly very aware of the embarrassing utensils, I tried to move myself to block them from the sight of the Wutaian man but Cid had other plans.
"Hey! Got them easy now!" he called out to Tseng as he waved the chopsticks.
I don't think anyone had ever seen Tseng come so close to losing a laugh as Tseng did the moment that his eye caught on what I had done to the sticks. Thankfully Cid didn't notice but Elena did and she was quick to drag Tseng to the kitchen counter where she tried to offer the quaking man a glass of water.
"Gonna use this in Wutai," Cid announced and I regretted even further making the device. "How'd ya know how ta do this?"
"Its how I first learned to hold chopsticks…"
"Pretty smart!"
"I was five!" But Cid wasn't listening anymore and Tseng had begun to choke on the water he was drinking.
"Gotta show this ta Shera!" Cid then grabbed his plate and left and I didn't try to stop him.
"Laugh it up," I snapped at Tseng. "At least he can use them like that."
Elena glanced over from where she was patting Tseng's back and shrugged.
"Do you even want him to be seen with those?" The dark Turk asked once he had regained control of himself.
"If the council finds it as humorous as you just did then they won't ever take him seriously. I just hope I can separate myself from him enough so that it doesn't reflect upon me."
"What was so funny?" Elena asked. "The tied chopsticks were bad?"
"It's something you do for small children. VERY small children that are having difficulties," Tseng explained then glanced at me again. "For a gaij- a non-Wutaian to learn at five is highly irregular. Little wonder you have no difficulties with hashi."
Tseng emphasized the last word to remind me that soon I would have to switch to the mannerisms of Wutai and I couldn't break form except in private.
Elena rolled her eyes and shrugged then sat at one of the tables.
"I thought Martial Arts brought sandwiches for you all."
"He did, we just wanted something to drink," Elena replied as Tseng refilled his glass and sat at the table himself. Both seemed a bit tired and I realized we hadn't given them any sort of quarters or beds.
"Where are you guys sleeping?" I finally asked.
"The cargo bay." Elena's voice lacked humor right then and her disdain was apparent, but she also seemed to realize that she was a Turk and this was something that came with the job. "Can't believe how all those people in Corel acted!"
Maybe I was wrong about Elena seeming to mature and coming to understand what being a Turk meant, especially in the eyes of the rest of the world.
"Elena," Tseng stated her name flatly and stared at her.
"Come on! It wasn't like we destroyed their town, that was all Scarlet!"
I glared coldly at Elena before rising and marching out of the galley. Maybe she hadn't been a part of the destruction of Corel, but she had knowingly joined the Turks and they were not innocent bystanders by a long shot.
Feeling seriously tired now, I stopped by one of the crew who I knew got along well with Nunchaku and instructed him to find either a cabin or a crew quarter where the Turks could sleep before heading back to my cabin.
Aiden was still asleep as I lay down on my bunk and tucked myself in for a nap.
Lifestream
Minerva stared out at her Planet, trying to figure out where the Calamity had situated herself and her offspring. The Calamity was clinging to the shadows now as her powers grew weaker and weaker as the healing pools washed her stain from existence but Minerva doubted that after 2000 years that this being was content to finally pass from existence.
'What are you planning?' the beautiful Goddess thought as she swept her mind over the Planet, feeling for anything that could signal Jenova's presence.
She had been willing to wait years to choose a suitable Cetra to bring to Gaia that would have the knowledge to help the heroes. There was no time for that now though. Though echoes of life were not revealing what was to come to her and it was impossible prepare her forces in a favorable fashion without that knowledge.
'No more children until she is truly gone,' had been her promise to herself when she had brought Rachas from the other planet. It was too late now to bring any others until after Jenova was gone, not enough time for them to train and become proficient in their powers!
Or was there another way…
Normal
Shalua woke me up right before we arrived in Wutai because she thought that Shelke might need a bit of a boost in regards to the healing energy therapy. Shelke informed us that she was fine except for the aching of her body.
It seemed strange that she was aching all over and I had a small tub taken to the cargo bay and filled any way so that we could give her that boost.
"You finally touched the Lifestream earlier," I stated as I sent energy into the water.
Shelke didn't answer immediately and opted to just stare at the wall before her.
"Glad to know that you learned to relax. Did you see or learn anything?"
Once again Shelke just stared at the wall then blinked slightly. "My mother didn't lie."
"Didn't lie about what?"
"…Seeing her again…"
Shelke refused to talk after that and I didn't push. I did check her body through the energy of the Planet though and found that there was nothing to worry about. Whatever was going on, she was not in any danger.
Aiden woke up as the Shera was setting down in Wutai as I checked on him in the cabin. He was still very tired and fussy so I simply changed his diaper and settled him back into his crib then left, extracting a promise from Shera that she would keep her eye on him while I was out.
It was early night when we disembarked from the Shera just outside of Wutai, Tseng refusing to leave the airship while Vincent stood by my side along with Shalua. Yuffie and Kunsel were the first to come from the town and they were quickly followed by a large crowd of people that you could easily see came from all walks of life.
"Keep your head up, eyes forward, and do not acknowledge anyone unless I introduce you," Yuffie instructed hurriedly.
"Why are there so many people?" Shalua asked as she glanced at the quickly forming crowd.
"Kunsel told someone of your intended visit and the news spread fairly quickly."
I groaned then glanced at Kunsel who simply blinked at us, obviously not yet having the time to pick up on Wutaian. "Really Kunsel, you told?"
The Turk-like former SOLDIER gave a sheepish grin that reminded me a bit of Zack. "Didn't think it would spread like this!"
"Never underestimate a chain for gossip," Vincent stated in his low tones as his eyes scanned the crowd. "We should get moving."
"Remember, from this point on try to only speak Wutaian and practice the manners!" Yuffie ordered before turning towards her home town, the tide of people parting quickly to allow her and the rest of our party to pass.
The people of Wutai kind of scared me in those first few moments due to how silent they were as we walked past. Each person maintained a distance that could be viewed as respectful, not pushing. There were no shouts, calls, or demands of when the pool would be built or finished.
"Eerie," Shalua murmured as I bit my own tongue to keep my own comment silent.
Entering the village did not make the situation any better due to a large number of people linings the streets. The only clear areas were the bridges we crossed while in route to the palace until we reached the street that the main entrance was situated on. A number of men in intricate armor kept the civilians off the street and greeted us as we approached.
"Godo-sama has been anticipating your arrival," one of the men stated as he stepped aside to allow our party to pass. "Please proceed straight to the Pagoda."
"Arigato gozaimasu," I murmured quietly with a slight bow before stepping past him after Yuffie. Vincent, Shalua, and Kunsel passed without difficulty as well.
Seeing the street was clear, I glanced at Kunsel again. "How's your arm?"
The former SOLDIER winced slightly and glanced at the appendage that hung at his side. "I still can't move it very well. I think my days with broadswords are officially over at this point."
"He's doing ok with shuriken at this point but I think a kama might be his best weapon," Yuffie explained. "He's doing great at escaping traps and ropes though."
Kunsel grinned as we continued towards the Pagoda that currently glowed in the light of a number of torches. "I don't think the instructors particularly care for me but they tolerate me. You'll have to tell us about the trip you guys have had thus far."
"It'll have to wait," Vincent told him as we rapidly approached the entrance to the Pagoda.
"Remember, bow deeply," Yuffie murmured as the doors began to open. "They don't expect you to prostrate yourself but they do anticipate formality and respect due to those who are higher than you."
I nodded in understanding then glanced at Vincent to see he understood. Shalua gave no indication she had but I trusted her to do something if she saw both Vincent and me doing it.
The inside of the Pagoda was well lit and as we entered the room, many eyes turned towards us, some focusing on Yuffie, some on Vincent, a number on Shalua, and a few on me. It took everything I had to bow my head slightly and not return the stares as Godo came into view at the head of the room.
"Your Imperial Majesty," Yuffie stated with a deep bow and each of our group repeated the gesture to Godo who barely inclined his head towards us.
Silence reigned for a moment and though we were able to straighten ourselves up, I made it a point to not turn my head or look Godo in the face. What I could see in my peripheral vision though was enough to alert me to the fact that all those gathered here were in formal regalia and I was keenly aware of the fact that our party was severely underdressed in comparison. Not even Yuffie had dressed up.
Godo finally spoke as the silence became strained and tense.
"We have heard that you wish to bring something to our land that you feel may serve Wutai well. We look forward to hearing of this during our formal meeting tomorrow morning."
Godo rose then and all bowed to him as he departed before the noblemen and councilors took their turn to depart.
"That was a bit awkward," Shalua stated quietly as she watched the last of the robed men leave.
"It'll get worse," I promised before turning to Yuffie. "So, we're heading back to the Shera now?"
Yuffie nodded her head vigorously. "Yeah, can't stand another minute of those stuffy shirts! Do you guys have pancake mix by any chance?"
Kunsel and I laughed as we finally departed the shrine.
"We do have a problem though," Vincent stated as we continued our trek, the streets still full of people. "They obviously intend for this to be a formal meeting and I don't believe any of us are prepared for that."
I groaned as I realized Vincent was correct in this thought as Yuffie's eyes went wide.
"I don't think any of us packed for any formal gatherings," Shalua pointed out as Yuffie grinned slightly.
"You guys want to make a good impression, so why not wear kimonos?"
"Where?" I asked as I scanned the surrounding shops. "We don't have much time to buy or rent any and I don't know much about wearing one."
"Yeah, they're a pain to wear," Yuffie admitted. "But I know where we can get some unlike formal Western clothing and it won't cost you a thing!"
Kunsel snorted in laughter as we left the town and headed for the airship.
Aiden was sleeping again when we arrived and I was unsurprised. Shelke had also gone to bed as had a number of the crew. Nunchaku was still on duty but the rest of the Turks had headed to their newly assigned cabin.
Everyone was awake early the next morning, especially a cranky Aiden. Traveling the way we had was wearing on him already despite the fact that he didn't have any duties. The main reason for that was that everyone was forgetting that he couldn't stay up the way the rest of us did.
Shera took my son right as I finished fixing his bottle and had selected a jar of baby food so that he could get used to her. Though I sat nearby, he cried for several minutes and refused to eat at first. He seemed to calm down somewhat right when it was time for those of us attending the meeting today to depart.
Shelke and the Turks were not difficult to locate and I approached each in turn.
"Make sure to practice your meditation today," I instructed Shelke. "I know you made contact the other day so just try to repeat that but don't let the LifeStream carry you away. You might get lost."
Shelke stared at me in a semi-flat manner before replying, "Very well then Rachas Kaze."
"Why don't you just call me Rachas?" I groaned before looking to the Turks. "And I'm trusting you guys against my better judgment to aid Nanaki, Cait Sith, and Cid in defending the Shera, crew, and water against all threats."
Nunchaku shrugged slightly while the rest of the Turks remained impassive.
Once again Yuffie led the way into the town and once again the streets were alive with activity though this time a number of the people looked to be attempting to go about their daily lives.
Our first stop that morning was the palace where Shalua, Yuffie, and I were promptly separated from Kunsel and Vincent so that we could get dressed in "appropriate clothing".
"This is our private collection of kimonos!" Yuffie told us as we were pushed into a room that had a number of the formal robe-like dresses hanging on stands. "We don't bring them out often, my mom being the last to wear any of them."
"Isn't this insensitive?" I asked as my eyes wandered over one that I identified as a Kuro Tomesode. "They have your family crest and everything."
"Easily covered," Yuffie informed me as she pointed out a Furisode for herself and several servants removed it to a dressing room. "You guys should pick one quick so we can get moving!"
Shalua moved a bit farther down the hall to stare at a Furisode that was red and black with gold flowers on it.
"Shalua, I think we're both a bit old for Furisode," I informed her as I glanced down at the design at the bottom of the Tomesode.
"How is 23 old?" the WRO scientist asked.
"Furisode aren't worn much beyond the 20 birthday and never after marriage. We might not be married, but we're definitely a bit old for Furisode."
"What makes this a Furisode?" Shalua asked but Yuffie waved away her question and signaled to the servants to take the kimono and it's obi to the dressing room.
"The long sleeves," I replied as Yuffie tried to drag me over to a Furisode that was emerald green with various flowers in shades of yellow, white, and red. "And 26 is definitely too old for a Furisode."
"Fine! Be uptight!" Yuffie finally relented and nodded towards to Tomesode that I had been looking at.
The three of us were then escorted to the dressing rooms where our normal clothes were taken. The juban and tabi went on first followed by the kimono which was then pulled up so that it was ankle length and not dragging on the floor and tied up using the koshi-himo belt and the date-jima belt. The obi were then wrapped firmly around our waists then and I couldn't see it as the bows in the back were made.
Walking proved to be more difficult than I had thought it would be and I was forced to take very small steps due to me not wanting to upset the kimono. I didn't even want to consider how difficult seiza was going to be while dressed like this.
Vincent and Kunsel both were dressed in grey hakama, black kimono, black haori, and white tabi. They simultaneously looked handsome and hilarious, especially Kunsel who pulled slightly at his hakama.
"This feels like a skirt," he informed us as we headed for the exit then did a double take at Yuffie. "You look great."
Yuffie smiled brightly then as she took Kunsel's arm after slipping on her sandals by the entry way.
The Pagoda had a fair amount of activity that day in the form of several priests bustling about, one of whom opened the door for our party.
Many of the council already seemed to be present, including Godo. He looked like he wanted to come talk to us but the rules of formal etiquette demanded that he stay back, act as the formal lord.
Unbidden, the memory of him jumping around during a food fight with his daughter during AVALANCHE's first visit to Wutai came to me and I quickly raised a hand to cover a smile and suppressed a laugh.
"What's so funny?" Shalua whispered.
"Just remembering our first visit, a certain meal in particular that got very… fun."
Both Yuffie and Kunsel were instantly fighting smiles of their own while Vincent remained as impassive as ever.
"Be formal," he whispered tightly as Shalua stared at Yuffie and Kunsel's expressions.
"I think I might want to hear what happened later."
Godo chose to begin the meeting several minutes later as he took his position at the head of the room. Though Yuffie was technically supposed to be seated next as the Princess, she opted to sit with us as an Ambassador instead. The lot of us waited until all the council had seated themselves on the various cushions around the room in seiza before we moved towards the seats obviously meant for us.
I was never more jealous of men than I was at that moment as I stiffly knelt into seiza, the obi helping to insure my back remained straight. Thankfully the kimono I wore only got slightly crinkled and was easily straightened out with a discreet tug.
Silence remained for a few minutes longer and I became increasingly aware of the fact that the eyes of the council were weighing and measuring each of us in turn, trying to determine what they could based solely on our appearances.
Godo finally broke the silence. "Honorable council, before us are emissaries from the East who approach us about building a pool for healing the dark infection on our sacred lands. To them we extend an invitation to speak their case."
Yuffie opened her mouth, obviously intent to speak until I reached out with the power and gently suggested she wait a moment. I began to speak as she hesitated.
"We mean to offer the possibility to the people of Wutai," I began and noticed a number of the council stiffen. "Should the pool be allowed on these blessed lands, it will belong to Wutai. We only ask that it be free to the people who need it."
"Pretty words but I remember an offer that seemed good at first," one of the older councilors cut in. He received several disapproving looks but also a few nods. "Tell us why you are different from Shinra and their demons of battle! Why would you give something away that you could hold over our heads and demand our compliance?"
"How do we know this will work at all? What merit do you have to give us reason to believe?" one of the younger men added to the first.
It took me a moment to mentally translate everything though I did understand in total what they were asking. It seemed insulting to have to explain the intent we had. Yuffie did act insulted and spoke up first.
"AVALANCHE fought against Shinra to start with, opposing them and the harm to Gaia they caused! This one witnessed their deeds and selflessness and courage! Not once have they made demands that were not for the good of the Planet and the people."
Reaching over I tapped Yuffie's wrist to signal for her to stop, using it as an opportunity to shift a bit since my legs were starting to ache a bit due to being in seiza. It was great to see Yuffie was passionate about this but the initial task of convincing the council should fall on me and Shalua as the one who wished to build the pool and the WRO representative respectively.
"I have witnessed some of the… deeds of AVALANCHE," Shalua started, her Wutaian a bit broken with her using the English words when she didn't know the Wutaian one. "Each member is a good person and are… devoted to the Planet."
"You would be?" one of the councilors asked.
"Shalua Rui." I fired a glance at her and she adjusted her introduction. "I am Rui Shalua, Representative of the WRO."
The eyes of the councilor then focused on me and I took that as my cue to introduce myself formally.
Giving a slight bow, I said my greeting. "My name is Kaze Rachas. Pleased to meet you for the first time."
"My name is Valentine Vincent." Beside me Vincent offered his own small bow, posture perfect and face as impassive as ever.
Through the power I felt the thoughts and feelings of the council. Some were already impressed with our diversity and willingness to adhere to their customs. Many were more suspicious than ever though.
This was going to take some serious time.
The Airship Shera
Shelke shut the door to her cabin as a cry from the baby that belonged to Rachas Kaze reached her ears. Though the woman named Shera was doing her best to calm him down, the former specimen called Nanaki believed the child was having some sort of separation anxiety due to being apart from his mother. Considering how Rachas Kaze always seemed to have the child within her sight, Shelke believed it to be possible.
Sitting on her bed, she closed her eyes and tried to open her mind in meditation, trying to force herself to remember how easily it had come with the help of the drink. No matter how much she focused though, how hard she pushed, there seemed to be no response from the LifeStream. All she really became aware of was how much her feet were hurting.
Groaning, Shelke reached down and tugged off her shoes, her feet almost instantly feeling better once they were free but still Shelke couldn't find the power.
It had helped before, so maybe it would help again until she could do this on her own.
Yanking open her desk drawer, Shelke pulled out the bottle of burning fluid and prepared herself to drink the burning, stinging concoction again.