Disclaimer: Anything that is not mine, is not mine. The games, the characters, they are not mine. The concept of the story is mine, but the elements added that were not originally mine, are definitely not mine. I hope that's enough disclaimer!

Author's Note: So there's a story behind this chapter. I was supposed to end this differently, but that part got kicked onto the next chapter because Naya told me to! "Missed opportunities" she told me. But they turned out to be REALLY good opportunities! The story is now officially longer than I intend it to be, and you can thank Naya for that!

Thank you derekctomlinson and Yanie for the review!

The heat was sweltering— no— scorching under the high sun and amidst the sands of Costa Del Sol that even Tifa would not dare walk on barefoot. Not in the daylight, anyway. She squinted at the harsh light as she gazed upon the stretch of the cloudless blue skies and the crystal waters as they walked along the shore. Her heart skipped a beat when she felt Cloud's presence right behind her and was easily tamed when Aerith spoke not too far from her.

"Maybe it won't be such a bad idea to check into an inn."

"Can we?" Yuffie moaned. "I'm barely recovering from seasickness, our fight with Sephiroth, and now this heat. Let's take a break!"

"Some water won't be so bad, either," Red added. "My nose is getting dry."

Barret was already scowling, panting, and groaning crassly.

Tifa looked over her shoulder at their leader. "Cloud?"

"We gotta move," he said flatly.

Yuffie groused more loudly. "Please? Please, pretty please?"

"C'mon, Cloud!" Aerith urged.

Cloud sighed and met Tifa's eyes. Tifa shrugged.

"Fine," he said finally. "Let's rest just unti—"

"YAY!" Yuffie was already running around merrily and made Aerith giggle. The latter walked ahead of them.

"I'm heading to the receptionist and check us in before you change your mind!" Aerith added the last bit teasingly and winked at Cloud. Tifa caught Cloud smiling shyly in response as Aerith headed to a small brick house standing close to the taller one with "INN" written on it. Barret and Red followed behind while Yuffie jumped to Aerith's side and hooked her arm with hers.

"So Cloud," Tifa began just as Cloud simultaneously said her name. She giggled while he rubbed the back of his head.

"You go first," Cloud spurred.

"Uhm, I was just thinking, since we're already here…" Tifa pressed her lips and clinched her hands together. "I was thinking that maybe we could hit the beach?"

Cloud raised his eyebrows. "This isn't the date you were talking about, is it?"

Tifa felt her cheeks burn, her left hand curling around her right's middle. "Not really. But it can be if you want to. Besides, this chance might never come around again. I mean—" she reprehended herself to stop stammering. "—well, we already are in Costa Del Sol. How many more times can we actually say that?"

A playful grin danced on Cloud's lips. "Alright, Tifa. I get what you're saying."

Tifa's smile grew. "Great! Well, I guess let's freshen up a bit first, then we'll see each other at the beach?"

Cloud nodded. "Sure. I'll meet you there."

She gave him one last smile before turning around and bounced on her steps as she walked towards the inn. She was finally going to be spending a more relaxed and maybe a little romantic time with Cloud at the honeymoon center of Gaia. Not exactly the most romantic place at this time of the year, but it could be if they were to welcome the evening as they stroll and dip their feet into the small waves of the sea.

She ran through her mind on what she and Cloud could talk about as she chose a bathing suit and a complimenting violet sari to cover herself in the souvenir counter by the receptionist's desk. Maybe she could tell him about what she had been up to after he left Nibelheim, but that would mean telling him about Rufus too. Although it would definitely make an interesting story, she decided that it might not be a good one to bring up to him. Not yet, anyway. Instead, maybe she could ask him about his adventures as a SOLDIER and the friends he had made in his training and his journeys. But she remembered the times when bringing up those memories always lead to catalepsy-like incidents and sombre moments.

As she was changing into her garments for that not-a-date date inside the room Aerith got for the girls, she had decided to simply allow things to simply come by themselves and go with the flow. Aerith must have noticed her beaming and offered her a bright smile.

"Did he finally ask you out?" Aerith asked giddily.

Tifa dipped her chin as she adjusted the strap of her sari around her neck. "Not really. I invited him, but he finally agreed to it!"

Aerith sighed heavily and shook her head. "Oh, Cloud…"

"He's probably tired," Tifa quickly said in Cloud's defense. "And I was a little imposing because, you know—" she shrugged and swiveled her sight across the room, "—this is Costa Del Sol and it would be nice to spend the time we have here with him."

Aerith nodded eagerly. "I agree. But I disapprove of you having to ask him instead! How long is he going to wait until he asks you himself!"

"I suppose he'll get his chance." Tifa scanned herself in front of a full-length mirror. "Okay. Showtime."

"Go get him, girl!"

Tifa's stomach twisted the moment she stepped out of their room and along the al fresco hallway of the inn. Noontime had already passed, so the worst of the day's heat was almost over yet not enough to convince her to remove her sandals and bury her feet into the sand. She spotted two empty beach chairs under a wide umbrella and quickly walked there. She sat on one nervously though never fully laying on her back. She would hate for Cloud to see her already so relaxed and waiting for him— it would be less awkward if she appeared to have just gotten there when he does. It may seem silly and unrealistic, but not as unbelievable as still waiting for him forty minutes later.

Around seven men had already asked her if the other chair was taken and seven times did she say "yes, it's taken." One even offered her a drink as if to bribe her into welcoming his amity, but she declined even that over the possibility of her and Cloud sharing a drink together like they were supposed to. She felt irritation at first for being stood up like this, but worry soon took over the longer she waited. She almost rose on her feet at the thought of Cloud getting caught in an unforeseen encounter with an enemy, and it did not help to know that he was fond of venturing and fighting alone, something she had already talked to him about. Over and over she would tell him "you are not alone in this." And she knew he knew that.

She glanced around again, hoping to see a glimpse of his spiky blond hair, calling through all the gods who would listen to please, please bring him here already. She huffed and finally leaned on her back against the seat. Maybe he had forgotten, but how could he when they were only talking about it not two hours ago? Maybe he found something else to do, something he was more willing over spending the time with her. Or maybe there really never was a date. She wanted to cry and stomp her way back to the inn, but she was too tired of being angry and hurt that she would rather enjoy the rest of the sun and the sea and wait it out until the breeze turns cool.

She was frowning on herself when she spotted a familiar long red hair somewhere closer to the shore. She lifted her eyes just as Reno, only in his board shorts, stopped and waved at her. She had only noticed that Rude (still in his suit) was also with him when they both started walking towards her.

"Oi, Tifa!" Reno greeted. Rude pushed his dark glasses up his nose and looked away.

"Hey… Reno," she greeted back, though unsurely by his sudden kindliness.

"What's up? Whatcha doing here all by yourself?"

"Just… enjoying the beach."

Reno cocked an eyebrow and she knew even he could see through her feeble tone. "No friends? No SOLDIER?"

Tifa would retort something sharply by now, but Reno seemed to grow sincerely concerned when his smile slowly fell as he sat on the chair she had been saving for Cloud. Rude glanced around.

Tifa shook her head. "They are resting."

"Well, that's no fun."

"It really had been a tiring few days for us."

Reno nodded, grinning widely. "Oh believe me, I know."

Tifa eyed him suspiciously. "You're not here to fight me or capture me, are you?"

He raised his eyebrows and parted his lips as if surprised. "Oh, ho ho ho, I would never dare! Of course, unless the boss says so. Speaking of which—" he stood, "—we're staying at the President's Villa. Pretty big, very relaxing, and has its own pool and beach. You'll love it there. No, really, trust me, you will. And I'd really hate to leave you here alone."

Tifa blinked. "Where is this coming from?"

Reno tilted his head while Rude shifted on his feet uneasily. "Huh?"

"Well, we're not exactly friends," Tifa replied. Just this morning, he and his partner were chasing her, Barret, and Red around the hallways of the cargo ship, and she didn't know what would happen had they been caught if it wasn't for Rufus who found her instead.

The sudden change wasn't as welcoming because it would take more than an invitation to a villa to convince her. And for all she knew, the villa could be a large fancy bear trap, though she knew Rufus would not let anything happen to her. Not under his watch, anyway.

Reno narrowed his eyes and his smirk grew wider. "That's what you think. We know you're friends with the President."

"Should that mean something?"

"Well, let's just say if you are friends with the President, and let me tell ya, the President has…" He began counting with his fingers on one hand. "Well, he doesn't have a lot of friends. And I'm talking about the real ones. So, if you're friends with the President, that makes you basically untouchable. And I love my job too much to let anything happen to his friends."

When he held out a hand, Tifa stared at it for a moment before taking it and was pulled up to her feet. "You fought us a lot of times."

Reno gave her a boyish grin. "Maybe them, but never you," he replied.

There was a running joke among the staff and caretakers of the villa that evolved into an unspoken rule for all Shinra's estates. According to the alleged custom, the whole villa belonged only to Shinra's kin (if that was not obvious already) while the attending staff belonged only to the dark corners of the mansion where the President's eyes would not even catch a glimpse of. He had the tendency to scold helpers and servants over the smallest of things— the cheese was not blended well with his omelet, dust was collecting on his barely-used shelves, and documents written by his ancestors were missing in a vault nobody even knew about. May the heavens have mercy on those whom the President catches in his sight only to be excoriated for the things they might not even have anything to do with.

They assumed that his son, the new President, would behave the same way. Of course, it was a safer guess over risking their decent-paying jobs they had practically sold their souls for, so they stayed out of his sight, almost ghost-like for their invisibility as they fixed everything for him. A few of them would admit that it was a bit sad and lonely especially when his Turks were not around, but it was a necessity for their own monetary survival.

Which was why when Heidegger arrived to pay Rufus a visit, the gardeners, the maids, and the guy cleaning the pool paused from their errands and watched the bulky executive as he plodded inside the house, his breaths growing more ragged as he approached the office. They could only imagine him wondering helplessly which card would the President draw to reproach him with albeit the futility of it because they all knew nobody had something to counter it. They looked at each other the moment he entered the office and shut the door behind him.

"Damn," the pool guy uttered in condolence for Heidegger.

Heidegger forced a smile, though it flew over Rufus' head. The President was sitting on his black velvet chair by his desk, arms propped up from either armrests and hands clamped together under his chin. He peered at Heidegger with a flat look.

"Afternoon, Mr. President," Heidegger greeted with casualness to conceal his stress. "I already have your helicopter ready! We didn't want to waste any more of your time in this place, so I had them prepare it for departure anytime, at your bidding."

"Sephiroth was on board."

Heidegger shifted on his feet and Rufus could see his Adam's apple bobble up and down. "...Yes."

"So was Cloud Strife's AVALANCHE."

"...Yes."

"And I had to hear it from Tseng who was informed about it while we were already in the middle of the sea." Rufus lowered his arms and leaned back on his seat. "You didn't even have the nerve to tell me about this yourself until half of your men were already slain by Sephiroth. Not only did you let them slip through, but you withheld these information from me because you thought your men could 'handle anything.' I'd say you messed up big time, Heidegger."

The other man began to shake then hung his head. Rufus could not say he was not enjoying this. He almost grinned at himself for watching the proud Heidegger humiliated by his own arrogance. If only he had kept AVALANCHE away from the ship and Sephiroth, or had they been more efficient at keeping Sephiroth away, they would not be having this talk right now. It amazed him how Heidegger somehow managed to allow them both on board his ship. Was it actually possible for him to be that incompetent?

"I apologize greatly, Mr. President. I regret these unfortunate events, I truly do. Please be assured that it will not happen again."

"I'm not looking for an apology," Rufus magnified icily. "I'm looking for actions with actual results."

"Yes, Sir."

Rufus turned his chair around to face the tall window behind him, a cue meant for Heidegger to leave the room. He didn't have to look to know that Heidegger would be taking out his outburst on anyone who stood in his way. Thankfully, the villa's staff knew better than to make themselves visible in front of a storming man.

The infinity pool came in full view from his window when he rose from his chair. He sneered as he watched the pool guy take huge steps backward when Heidegger stomped by the pool area as he exited through the gates. His delight immediately simmered down, however, when he saw Reno sauntering in from another side with Tifa in tow and gesturing around like he owned the place.

His phone vibrated on his desk instantly, indicating a notification from Elena. It read "Sir, please be advised that I have nothing to do with Reno's actions."

Immediately, it was followed by a notification from Rude saying "Sir, he made me do it."

Tseng sent a message in response: "What's going on?"

Rufus grimaced and looked up from his phone to his window. It was as if Reno sensed his attention because he started to point at every room on the second floor as Tifa's eyes followed his hand and stopped when he reached Rufus' office. Reno waved at him beside a dazed Tifa, his toothy grin growing even wider, a familiar sight every time he thought he successfully impressed a girl.

"Say hi to our boss!" Reno encouraged as he kept motioning big waves with his arm at Rufus.

Tifa blinked and shyly raised her hand up until to her chest then waved slowly at Rufus who was standing by a tall glass window between two clusters of long, off-white curtains. She could not understand Reno's enthusiasm because Rufus sure did not seem too happy to see her there.

"I should head back," Tifa uttered, finding the whole situation uneasy.

Reno dropped his arm and looked at her dolently. "What's the rush?"

"I don't think Ru— I mean, Mr. Shinra wants me here."

"Dilly dally, shilly shally," Reno grumbled and placed a hand on her back, gently pushing her further inside. Tifa would have pulled his arm and thrown him into the pool where he would drown in surprise (literally), but their whole exchange since she left the beach had been so amicable it left no room to doubt the friendliness.

They entered through what would seem to be the dining room. Tifa knew with one look that the furnitures were bespoke because she had never encountered them anywhere, not even from the fanciest stores in Midgar. It was as if the wooden table and chairs were made to fit perfectly in the circular room, and it matched the arch on the wall separating it from the next room. When they walked into the living room, Tifa marvelled at how high the ceiling was where an elaborate chandelier adorned with crystal balls hung and sparkled against the sunlight radiating from the long windows.

"Yeah, that's gotta be the centerpiece of this house," Reno commented as they both gazed at it. "A little impractical if you ask me. Cleaning that thing must be a pain." He sighed and turned to her. "Hungry?"

Tifa narrowed her eyes. "Uhm…"

Reno held up his hands. "Hey, if you think we're gonna put poison in your food, I swear I'll be caught dead first."

Now that only made it all even more suspicious, Tifa thought. But she was a little hungry. "Okay then. What do you got?"

Reno smiled widely. "That's more like it! I'll check with the cook! Wait here!" He began running into the dining room then entering another room which she assumed would be the kitchen.

Now alone, she began to wander around. The first thing she noticed was the lack of photos anywhere. She respected people's preference to keep their personal lives private, but she wondered if all of Shinra's residences lacked traces of their family's moments. A little sad considering that the villa seemed very homely, yet it was not exactly built to be anybody's home.

"I did not expect to see you here, Ms. Lockhart."

Tifa turned around and was met by Tseng's cordial look. He too was in his suit, which was not so bad if he was planning to stay inside the air-conditioned villa.

"I was invited here by Reno." She then rolled her eyes and bounced her head as if she had downplayed her statement. "Well, more like dragged here by him."

"I see."

"But I would gladly leave if I'm not welcome. I'm embarrassed enough as it is."

"I am sure the President won't mind."

"Then, I'll leave."

Tseng chuckled. "You misunderstand. What I meant was the President won't mind having you here."

Tifa bit her lip. No matter how much she reasoned with herself that she was in a safe zone, there was this biting feeling that she was still in the enemy's lair. But the idea was actually dependent on who the enemy was, and Rufus was not exactly an enemy right at that moment. And who was she to doubt Tseng when he had been truthful to her the whole time she knew him?

Leaving and making her way back to the inn was the more preferred choice, but staying to accept their apparent hospitality would create less drama. Besides, she was not ready to face her reality yet that she was stood up by Cloud himself.

Tifa nodded and gestured awkwardly at the white couch. "I'll probably just sit here."

Tseng held out a hand towards the couch. "Please."

Tifa slowly sat and glanced around nervously, deciding right there and then that she would leave once snack time was over.

"I still have a few affairs to attend to, so you will have to excuse me," Tseng said as he began walking towards the front door. "But please, make yourself at home."

"Okay. Thanks," Tifa said back.

Elena rushed in from the front door, blocking Tseng on his way out, and brushed past him towards the living room.

"Elle?" Tifa called.

Elena stopped on her tracks and looked over Tifa, her mouth falling open.

Tifa stood and nodded at her, understanding Elena's shock. She played by Rufus' lies back in Sector Seven and was caught red-handed for who she really was without saying anything. But that did not matter anymore to Tifa. She was just happy to see Elena again.

Elena turned on her feet, now fully facing Tifa, and smiled. "Hello Ms. Lockhart."

"How have you been?"

"Uh," Elena shifted on her feet, apparently staggered more by Tifa's question. "I've been—"

"Oi, everyone's here!" Reno bellowed as he entered the room with a tray of cold cuts and a bowl of overflowing biscuits. Rude was trailing behind him carrying two buckets of canned beverages. "So where do you want to do this? Here or by the pool?"

"Anywhere," Rude answered.

"Not asking you, partner. I'm asking our special guest."

Everyone looked at Tifa for her answer. Tifa's eyes widened.

"Over here is fine, I guess."

Reno and Rude promptly placed the tray and the buckets on the center table across the couch while Elena discreetly elbowed Reno's side, scoring a wince from him. Tseng took his leave once everyone sat down.

"Is Mr. Shinra joining us?" Tifa asked after the Turks took their own biscuits and cold cuts.

"I doubt it," Reno replied before shoving a whole biscuit into his mouth. "He and Tseng are taking care of our next mission. They're pretty busy."

"Which is?"

"Ah, that's where I tell you that you're asking too many questions," Reno said while chomping. "Maybe we should have a safe word, you know? It'll save us from ruining the fun, keep our hands from each other's necks."

"Great idea, Reno," Elena added sarcastically.

"Banora," Rude offered.

"Okay. Whatever. You're going Banora on your question, Tifa."

"Sorry." Tifa reached for a biscuit and took a bite. It was salty and sweet at the same time from the caramelized sugar coating on one side. She knew the cold cuts would offer more umami.

"Are you enjoying Costa Del Sol?" Elena asked.

"I do, but…" Tifa shrugged and gave her a sad smile. "Something changed it."

"What did?"

"Is that why we saw you alone on the beach?" Reno pressed.

Tifa dipped her head to a side. "Sort of. I was expecting to have company, but…"

"He didn't come," Rude concluded for her.

"Who didn't?" Elena asked.

Reno's eyes widened and his lips parted in a shocking realization. "Strife didn't!"

Tifa bit her lip. "Can I say Banora now?"

"That sonuvabitch!"

Elena's eyes widened at Tifa. "No…" she exhaled.

Tifa took the tips of her hair and curled them by her fingers. "Banora."

Reno raised his hands defensively. "Okay, fine, we'll stay out of that topic. But man! If he only knew what it took us to bring him to Sector Seven just for you, you know?"

Elena waved her arms frantically behind Tifa at Reno to stop. "BANORA! BANORA!" she mouthed.

Tifa narrowed her eyes. "What?"

Reno still seemed oblivious of Tifa's confusion and Elena's warnings of complications. "Yeah. Boss had us look for Strife then sent him to you. Remember that package? Yeah, that was all Boss."

Rude nodded, approving of Reno's job well done for building their boss' reputation to Tifa. Elena knew better, however, and slapped a palm on her forehead for the damage done.

Tifa on the other hand felt her heart stop. Instinctively, she rose from her seat, overwhelmed by this new information she didn't know what to do with.

"Excuse me," she uttered. She hitched a thumb to her right where the staircase leading to the upper floors was without really knowing what she was doing. "Bathroom."

She didn't hear Elena say "It's that way!" when she raced up the stairs with Rufus' office in mind. It was not hard to find it when the hallway only had two doors to choose from with the first one already slightly opened to a dark room.

Rufus was leaning on his desk and deciphering Reno's report when he heard someone barge in through the door. He lifted his eyes with raised eyebrows, ready to admonish the invader of his privacy and was rapidly calmed at the sight of Tifa. She sprinted towards him, jumped on to him and held him in a tight embrace around his neck. His muscles stiffened and his eyes widened.

"Thank you," she whispered and tightened her grip around him.

He was stumped. With Tifa so close to him, Rufus Shinra did not know if he should reciprocate it with another embrace or if he should sit still until she was done. Gestures like this were too common and too casual, and he could barely remember the last time someone even held him. He could only lift his hand and patted her back because how else was he supposed to respond?

"I'm not so sure what you're talking about," he said, trying to sound as solemn as he could.

Tifa pulled away and gazed at him with her ruby eyes, now glassed with tears.

"Reno told me you're the one who sent Cloud to me."

Oh. So that was what all of this was about. Rufus scoffed and straightened himself on his feet. "I simply did it to return the hospitality you showed me while I was in Sector Seven."

Tifa shook her head and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "You don't realize how much it means to me."

Rufus clenched his jaw and swallowed down whatever had caused his breath to hitch. He forced a smirk. "What else can I say other than you're welcome?"

Tifa sniffed and coughed a laugh. A rare, genuine laugh. It clenched in his chest.

"You've been so kind to me," she said, eyes drifting down as if in search for better ways to say it, but her words were more than enough to make him plant his feet more firmly on the floor in order to steady himself. "I know we have been enemies, and I still find it very difficult to forgive and forget everything Shinra had done. I still feel angry about everything."

"I know."

She lifted her eyes at his reply. "And at this point forward, I know we will still fight each other."

"Maybe."

"But you did everything to make it easier for me."

That was it. Whatever was being clenched inside him was pouncing through the walls and splitting a deep crack, and he had to remedy it with a deep breath.

"Why do you do it?" she asked.

"Do what?"

Tifa's eyebrows knitted upward. "You already forgot, or are you trying to forget?"

"I barely did anything."

"I used to think they barely mattered, too," she said, though her admission did little help him strengthen his fort. "But now I realized how much you have really helped me— you didn't stop me from doing my missions, you helped me hide from the guards on your ship, and most of all, you brought Cloud back to me."

He stared at her, palms still gripping along the edge of his desk, bracing for what could come next.

"Does my happiness matter to you that much?"

Rufus never realized how much energy he would have to spend to restrain himself from pulling her close to him again to answer her question. He figured that it must have taken just as much as what was necessary for armies to defend their kingdoms to make sure his walls still stood as something stronger was trying to break free from his fort. He armed himself with what Tseng had told him in that cargo ship and used it to fight whatever it was with a sneer instead.

"You tend to overthink things, as usual," he scoffed.

Her eyes widened. "Oh." She clutched herself around her arms and lowered her head just as her cheeks flushed. "I must be, then."

He won, he told himself. He was able to hold it back and stop her from coaxing it out. But he realized that the cost of his victory was her downfall, and he hated it.

"I'm sorry, this is embarrassing," she said in between strained laughters. She tightened her lips together and looked up at his eyes again. "I just thought— I—" she took a deep breath, "—I think I better just keep it civil with you, then."

And there came his downfall. Rufus nodded like it was the only answer he was waiting for. "I think it's better that way."

Tifa nodded repeatedly. "I'm sorry for barging in." She gave him one last look before turning around for the door. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Shinra."

Rufus nodded. "Ms. Lockhart."

There was a split second of hesitation before Tifa disappeared through the door, and that image rippled backward to the moment she entered and held him to herself then slowly fading away. He exhaled heavily and raked his fingers through his hair as he hung his head.

Cloud had been glancing over at Tifa since they left Costa Del Sol. She would always return it with a smile, understanding that he still felt guilty for leaving her alone at the beach. But what she was really keeping from him, from everyone, was that it had stopped being the issue long ago and she was ready to start on a clean slate. For Cloud anyway.

They were treading through Gongaga's high stalk field with Aerith cursing at herself for her choice of dress to wear for their journey.

"I'm not doing great, either," Tifa condoled. The hard and rough stalks were slapping on her bare abs and arms leaving itchy streak marks on her skin.

Yuffie was already scratching her rashed belly. "Not exactly our best decision."

Cloud suddenly held up a hand to halt them when voices emerged just beyond the field. Following the sound, he walked and disappeared through a cluster of stalks. Tifa quietly followed behind.

It took only a few steps for her to emerge from the stalks and to a dirt road that led to two turns. Cloud was staring ahead with a permanent frown and, peeking through the stalks, Tifa realized he was looking at Reno and Rude.

"Okay, so, really, who do you like?" Reno asked.

Rude shifted on his feet and looked away, his arms folded against his chest. "... Tifa."

Both Cloud and Tifa raised their eyebrows at his reply.

Reno sighed and shook his head. "Wow. That's a tough one."

Rude cleared his throat. "I know. But, the President."

"Hm? What about him?"

"Well… you know."

There was a pause. Then Reno exhaled loudly, annoyed. "They are polite to each other, aren't they?"

Cloud's eye twitched. "What the hell are they talking about?"

"He must be talking about us," Tifa quickly said, saving herself from a longer conversation.

"No, I mean it's stupid. Why are they talking about who they like?"

Tifa let out a breath. "Yeah. Funny, right."

"Are you gonna blame me for what happened in Costa Del Sol, too?" Reno challenged. "Remember partner, you were also in on it."

"He's not happy," Rude added.

Reno huffed and raised his eyes to the sky. "Well, yeah. Obviously."

"Up all night. Drinks. Keeps himself busy."

"What's new?"

"More than usual."

Reno shrugged. "It'll pass." He swung his head towards Rude and grinned. "Is that what she's doing to you?"

Even from where she stood, Tifa could see color spread around Rude's face. He remained silent.

"Wait." Reno faced him. "Doesn't Elena like you?"

Rude shook his head. "No. She likes Tseng."

"But Tseng has, well, he likes the Ancient doesn't he?"

"Idiots!" Elena suddenly yelled somewhere behind Cloud. "If you're gonna talk about who likes who, you gotta do it right! Tseng is different!"

Reno and Rude turned to her, their easygoing disposition quickly turning hostile at the sight of Cloud. "Oi! What are you doing here?"

Elena gasped, now only realizing that she was standing by her enemy. She ran to Reno and Rude's side just as Tifa emerged from the stalks. Reno's eyes strayed from Cloud to Tifa then back to Cloud and smirked.

"I see now," Reno said, voice glazed in oil. "Sorry, pumpkins. We gotta stop you right here. Orders are orders."

"You better tell boss," Rude advised Elena. She nodded and ran to the left road.

"Remember, partner— don't go easy on them. Not even on the girls!"

But that was only for show, Tifa thought, when Rude disarmed her and Reno cast a Sleep spell. She woke up just when the battle had finished with Reno and Rude fleeing while Cloud and Barret attempted to run after their trail. Aerith was kneeling beside her with a bottle of Remedy in hand while Yuffie was yelling after them. No bruise, no blister, nothing was left on her as a testimony of their battle.

She was, well, unharmed.

Elena was still catching her breath when she arrived at an empty room by the Gongaga reactor where Tseng and Rufus were waiting with a limp, bloodied man who was tightly bound on a chair by thick metal chains. It was a small room, dank with the smell of steam, molds, and mud, lit only by a dangling lightbulb by the ceiling only a foot high from Rufus' head.

Tseng was standing behind the man and lifted his gaze to Elena while Rufus spun to face her with a blank look. The latter leaned his ear closer to her when she approached him.

"Shiva is here," she whispered.

Rufus huffed as he and Tseng returned to the beaten man.

"This little talk we're having tires me," Rufus daunted, glowering at the man with cold eyes. "I'm beginning to wonder how many of your nails must we nip out?"

Tseng violently pulled the man's head by his hair and the man wheezed thickly, his swollen eyes could barely open.

Rufus traipsed towards the man and held the photo in question— that of Tifa, alone in Costa Del Sol.

"Who sent you to take this?" Rufus pressed.

The man was heaving laboriously. He made choking sounds in his throat and rasped, "Ki… kill…"

Rufus narrowed his eyes and lowered himself closer to the man. "What was that?"

"Kill… me… first…"

"But that would be too easy," Rufus taunted. "Do you even know where you are?"

The man was heaving and glaring at him.

"Take a guess."

The man clenched his jaws and said nothing.

"Can't talk, is it? Fine." Rufus straightened himself up and pinched his mouth, the bulb casting strong shadows under his eyes. "I think you'll like this part. We just brought you home to Gongaga."

The man began to shake and moan.

Rufus smirked. "I believe you have friends living not too far from here, don't they?"

"Nng… nno…"

"Now that I have become familiar with Gus, Tito, and Marla especially, who knows, maybe I can return the favor if you answer my question now."

The man closed his eyes, a tear ran along his cheek. "Us…"

"You?"

"A… VALANCHE…"

Rufus narrowed his eyes and stiffened his posture.

"Long… live… Fuhito…"

Rufus sighed deeply, looked at Tseng, and nodded. And with one swing of his fist, Tseng knocked the man out.

Author's Note: So the part that was kicked out is the Gold Saucer part, which will be on the next chapter!