By a Fraction of a Degree

A FFVII Fanfiction work by findthetiger129

Rated T for Violence and Language.

I do not own Final Fantasy VII, or any of the characters, trademarks or likenesses from Final Fantasy VII or its spin-offs That honor goes to Square-Enix.

A note of appreciation is in order for Xcomp over on the Lifestream for his/her wonderful translation of "On the Way to a Smile: Case of Nanaki." Check it out sometime along with the rest of the On the Way to a Smile novellas if you have the time.

General Kant and General Nietzsche are original characters.

Does Our Future Still Lead to a Smile? (Interlude)

Chapter 73, Gilligan (Case of Nanaki Phase 2)

August 7th [ ν ] – εуλ 0008

It was early in the afternoon as Nanaki was racing across the the grasslands towards Rocket Town, he caught the scent of a pair of chocobos off in the distance. He slowed to a halt and sniffed the air to get a better idea of their direction when he also caught a few other familiar scents. Cloud… Tifa… and the kids. He was certain now of the identity of the two chocobos he smelled. It seemed the group from Mideel had brought Cloud's birds with them. He ran to the crest of a hill, and upon reaching the summit, he let out a loud roar, heralding his approach before running in the direction of the scent.

As he raced forward, he heard a couple of voices answer the roar with a much less threatening and much more enthusiastic rallying cry. It seemed Zack, Freya, Barret, and Cid had heard him from where they were over in the center of Rocket Town. He picked up the pace, the grass flying by under his paws as he galloped across the plains. Almost in response to the rallying cries of his friends, he felt Gilligan slink back into the darkness. It was only a temporary departure, he knew, but for now, he was simply pleased for the void's absence. It had periodically been rearing its ugly head throughout the last couple of months, whenever it thought Nanaki was at his weakest. The fact that it refused to be satisfied permanently had been a source of no small amount of concern.

As he reached the crest of the next hill he could see Cloud, riding Rudy with Denzel in front of him, while Tifa had Robin and was letting Marlene play with her reins nearby. They were only a short ways out from Rocket Town, and Nanaki could see a small airship was docked near where the Highwind used to make berth. This was the Gainsborough, initially built during the war with Shinra, it was the first airship to run completely on non-mako fuel. Cid had left it with GUARDIAN's main forces in Mideel shortly after its completion, sometime last month. Next to it, still on the ground, and surrounded by cranes and various other equipment, lay the husk of another ship he didn't recognize. There was very little he understood about Cid's fascination with flight and technology, but perhaps the captain would explain himself during their time here. Probably not before the celebration though.

He finally reached Cloud and his entourage as the swordsman led the chocobos towards a small improvised paddock that had been set up near the Gainsborough. Once they were inside, he hopped off of Rudy and reached out to help Denzel off the bird while Tifa did the same with Marlene.

"Cloud, it is good to see you!" Nanaki called out to the man.

Cloud looked up and nodded in greeting. "Are things all right in the canyon?"

"I have not actually been there since after the war ended," Nanaki said. "Over the last two months, I have been traveling."

"I see," Cloud answered.

"There he is!" Nanaki looked up to see a few other people approaching, though he could already tell by their scent that it was Zack and probably Barret. As he had guessed, the two men soon strode into sight around the corner of one of the buildings, the darker-skinned man already wearing a suit, with his usual gunarm temporarily being replaced by a more normal looking hand.

Almost immediately, Marlene walked over to him. "Wow Daddy! You look really nice!"

Barret gave his daughter a proud smile and lifted her up on his shoulder. "Thanks Marlene. How were the chocobos?"

"They run really fast!" Marlene said. "And Tifa let me take the reins for a little just now!"

Barret smiled and then said "Don' ya'll take too long now, the ceremony's gonna be in a couple'a hours, and they'll need their flower girl."

"He's right," Zack said. "It wouldn't do for Cid to be missing part of his wedding party."

Marlene nodded solemnly. "Okay, we'll get ready." Barret let her down and she scampered back to Tifa, who took her by the hand and led her back to the ship.

At that point, Zack knelt down so Nanaki wouldn't have to look up at him. "How was the trip?" he asked.

"It went as well as could be expected," Nanaki replied. "I've seen a lot of things since the war ended."

Zack nodded as Cloud walked over, having finished securing his birds. "I'll be wanting to hear all about it, but for now, why don't we head back towards the launch pad where everyone else is. I know they'll want to see you."

Nanaki nodded. "Certainly."

Cid and Shera's wedding ceremony had been quite impressive. Freya had been nominated to be their maid of honor while Barret had been the best man. They held the ceremony itself on the launch pad, where Shinra No. 26 once stood. Further, as they left the launchpad, several of GUARDIAN's airmen had taken it upon themselves to fly a few of the jets overhead. Right now, everyone was gathered near the Tiny Bronco behind the home of the two newlyweds and Nanaki was walking among the guests, occasionally speaking, but for the most part, content to observe. He was walking across the back yard, when he saw Freya talking to Tanjuu near the table with the drinks, supplied by Tifa no doubt.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Freya was asking urgently. "Didn't you think I'd want to know about this?"

The gunman looked back at his old partner with a tired expression. "I only just found out what it was myself. But they say it shouldn't spread as long as I stay in shape and don't let it get to me." He rubbed a spot on his lower leg absently. "I'm actually more worried about you getting it. As much exposure to mako as you've had…"

"It's not an option," Freya said. "Too many people have caught it already, but I still don't believe it." It was at that point when she had spotted Kunsel approaching with a couple of slices of the wedding cake and so she let out her frustration in a breath. "We'll discuss this later…"

Nanaki continued onward, deciding it best to give the Turks their privacy. Cid and Shera were not that far off and he was hoping to speak to them, though he could feel Gilligan stirring again as he walked. The two of them were standing by the old familiar plane, talking to a couple of the pilots they'd invited over from the airfield. "I tell ya, when we get that baby fixed up it'll be faster than the rest o' GUARDIAN's fleet, no question about it!" Cid was bragging.

"How is that even possible when you found it in a cave?" one of the pilots asked.

Cid grinned. "I have no idea how it got there, but it's got some tech no one's ever seen before. If we can reverse engineer it, we may even have a better way of gettin' into space than ol' Number 26. Now wouldn' that be somethin'?"

The other pilot, a younger man with a military-style haircut nodded. "That would be. We might even be able to make it to the moon if it works."

Cid beamed at that. "I like your style kid, don't lose sight'a that. We'll do it one day. We made it into space, after all!" He looked up at that point to see Nanaki approaching. "Hey there Red! Glad you could make it!"

"It was no trouble," Nanaki seated himself on the ground. "I have been traveling anyway, and it is good to see some familiar faces. I am glad it's for such a happy occasion, though frankly I'm surprised you ever took a mate."

Cid grinned widely and placed an arm around his new bride. "And she's just as cantankerous as I am, isn't that right Shera?"

Shera laughed, bringing a gloved hand to her face to hide a blush. "I don't know about that," she said, "But I'll find some way to civilize you yet." Everyone shared a chuckle at that.

Suddenly, they all heard something that sounded suspiciously like someone clattering to the ground behind the Tiny Bronco. Cid looked up as did the other guests and then walked around the plane to investigate, followed by Zack, who had been talking with Aerith and Marlene a short distance away. Nanaki followed after them and soon came across Yuffie, sitting in a heap by one of the wheels.

Cid shook his head. "Damn it Yuffie, you're a ninja, you oughta know better'n to lose yer balance like that. You could have scratched my plane!"

Yuffie tried to glare at him, but was also struggling not to laugh. "I was just trying to sneak up on you, old man, guess it didn't work." She looked up at Zack. "So, when are we going to go hunt for that materia that cures Geostigma? It's getting too quiet around here."

"As soon as Reeve doesn't need us in Midgar anymore, like I told you," Zack said patiently, reaching out and pulling the ninja to her feet. "We're only here for a short time before we have to get back to work, all right?"

"All right…" Yuffie said with a sigh and Nanaki turned his attention away as he noticed someone else watching in the shadow of the house. Vincent was leaning against one of the walls, observing the goings on with his usual calm disinterest. Seeing that Yuffie's situation did not require any further attention, he padded over to sit next to the man in the red cloak. "How are things with you?" he asked.

Vincent simply shrugged. "I have been spending a lot of time running errands for Reeve. This World Regenesis Organization of his has proven very ambitious."

Nanaki considered that. "I can imagine. Though I expect Zack is quite glad that GUARDIAN no longer has to work directly with Shinra anymore."

"He seems happier about the situation," Vincent said. "There is no further need for GUARDIAN to be at war, and Rocket Oil Industries stands on its own now. I understand they still own significant stock in the company though."

Nanaki grunted in acknowledgement. "I'm sure Barret and Cid will do fine managing the company on their own." The two of them remained quiet for a little while as they watched the goings on around them. There were a lot of thoughts going through Nanaki's mind. One day, each of these people would be gone, he realized. For all that they had given to the world, they would all no longer exist long before he even reached the prime of his own long life. Some of the older members of the group might not even make it to the year when Deneh would awaken from her slumber. At that thought, Giligan made its presence known again.

"Vincent," he said at last. "Do you ever feel afraid?"

"Of what?" A pair of red eyes looked directly at him.

"Of loss, perhaps…" Nanaki guessed, flicking his tail in slight agitation.

Vincent considered before answering curtly "No."

At that point, their conversation was interrupted when over by the table they saw that Shera was sitting down, apparently in pain. Cid was next to her and as they both watched, Nanaki distinctly heard him say "It's all right Shera, don't overdo it." The woman nodded and he saw her grimace as she gripped her right hand. That was when Nanaki noticed that she looked a little paler than normal and that Cid was gently working to pull back her glove to reveal that underneath it was wrapped in a bandage with black residue on it.

September 25th [ ν ] – εуλ 0008

As the summer drew to a close, Nanaki had been traveling a long time. He had occasionally hitched a ride on the GUARDIAN transports going back and forth between Mideel and Rocket Town or the ships that were plying the seas between Costa Del Sol and Junon. Mostly, he had just observed, preferring to watch as the world got back on its feet around him, though it was still highly unsteady. He'd seen Reeve a time or two when he'd come close to Kalm, and occasionally he'd see the others, but for the most part, he simply traveled. Midgar, it seemed had started having more and more cases of the Stigma, enough so that many people had started leaving it for other towns, due to the belief that mako exposure was the cause. Some of them had started a settlement near the edge of the city.

Other changes had occurred too. Tifa was building another floor onto Seventh Heaven that she intended to use for living space, and several of GUARDIAN's other leaders were no longer actively involved in relief efforts, instead helping Reeve with security matters where his own volunteers were insufficient, and taking missions to deal with monster problems or assist travelers. He'd already encountered Kunsel out near the Northern Crater with a team of the younger troopers and SOLDIERs, apparently on a mission to help deal with some local trouble on behalf of Icicle Inn.

Today though, he had been wandering along the edge of the swamp when he'd happened along the trail of what seemed to be a particularly large Midgar Zolom. He had continued a little farther along the trail when he encountered Zack, leaning against the side of the corpse of the beast in question, the Buster Sword in his hand. He didn't seem hurt, but he did look relieved that he was no longer facing it. "Zack?" he called out, hurrying closer.

The swordsman looked up at his approaching friend and dropped to a sitting position wiping some sweat off his face as he did so. "Hey Nanaki. Where have you been?" he asked with his usual grin.

"Around," Nanaki replied. "I did not realize you were out this way."

"Well, a village to the north reported having trouble with this big guy here and I decided to take the job," Zack gestured to the Zolom he was leaning against, "I considered asking Cloud to come with me, but he was busy, and I didn't think it'd be that big a deal."

"What's he doing?" Nanaki asked curiously.

"Well, you know that joke we have about Strife Delivery Service?" Zack began. "Turns out he actually enjoyed the travel and I told him if he wanted to go into business for himself, he didn't need my permission. The couriers in Widblain aren't that reliable anyway." He grinned. "I'm glad, to be honest. He needed to get out and do some things on his own for a change. Live a little, you know?" He reached for his water canteen and took a drink from it, before replacing the container at his hip.

"And you don't worry that he might disappear one day?" Nanaki asked curiously, taking a seat next to him.

"Well, I'm not terribly worried. Every single time he's gone wandering, in the Lifestream or out, he's always come back." He looked up at the clear blue sky thoughtfully and then back at his red-furred companion. "Or… is that not what you meant?"

Nanaki rested his head on his paws as he contemplated how he was going to answer the question. "Sometimes…" he began. "I think I find myself worrying about loss."

Zack's expression turned curious. "What kind of loss? You mean like death? I guess we all think about it at some point."

Nanaki sighed through his nose. "Sometimes it occurs to me that if I live out my normal lifespan, most of you humans will be long gone before I even come close to returning to the planet."

Zack gave him a rather perplexed look. "Well, won't there be other people you'll be able to make friends with?" He frowned, considering for a moment before speaking again. "This is really bothering you, isn't it?"

Nanaki nodded. "This fear is a conundrum I haven't really found a solution for."

Zack stood up, lifting the Buster Sword from where he'd thrust it into the ground. "I'm not sure if this'll help, after all, even I know that one day, something will have to happen. We'll get old, or there'll be something that comes up, but…" he swung the sword around in a circle one handed before securing it on his back, "Bugenhagen said when we first met him that when our energy leaves us, it goes back into the Lifestream to become part of something else living on the Planet. If you think about it that way, have we ever really left? What we shared as friends still happened right? As long as you keep those thoughts and feelings close, our memories haven't truly died, have they?"

Nanaki considered his thoughts. Gilligan seemed to still lie at the edge of his consciousness. "I suppose it is something to consider."

Zack shrugged. "Don't know if it's the answer you wanted or not, but if you think about it, doesn't the possibility of losing it make those memories and feelings even more precious?"

October 10th [ ν ] – εуλ 0008

"And you call it Gilligan?" The question was curious and yet humorous at the same time.

"I thought that if I gave it a name I could confront it," Nanaki admitted. He and Vincent stood on a plateau in the Nibel Mountains where they had encountered each other a short time ago.

"You've given it a name, you think you've identified what it is, and yet it still terrifies you," the red cloaked gunman was cleaning Cerberus as he spoke. "That loneliness you feel. Instead of worrying about it, try to imagine that you'll have children one day."

Nanaki considered this as he looked down at Nibelheim in the valley below. "I don't know if I can imagine that, even when Deneh awakens."

"Then how about this," Vincent said. "Visit the hotspring near the lodge once a year, and I will be there to listen to what you have seen, even if I have no interest in it."

Nanaki considered this proposal and, instead of Gilligan's open maw, he saw Vincent's grim face.

"You seem to have relaxed," Vincent observed.

"Even one day though, won't you leave too?"

"I can't," Vincent said. "As long as Chaos's duty is unfulfilled I am immortal. Whether that is fortunate, or unfortunate for me." Nanaki considered this for a while. In a way, it seemed Vincent had decided to live in loneliness. Maybe that was why he didn't fear it, and even though he had mellowed somewhat following his ordeal with Deepground, it still seemed terribly sad to him. Certainly, Nanaki would outlive the others, but when compared to Vincent's fate, he wasn't sure he knew how that would end.

"Then, while I'm still alive, make sure we can meet every so often to talk,' he said.

Vincent turned to look at him. "Just once a year. Though please pardon me if you want to meet more often than that." He looked away and Nanaki suddenly noticed he was shaking, at which point he heard soft laughter. "Gilligan," he chuckled. "Of all the things to name it."

After a moment, Nanaki joined him, their laughter ringing out over the mountains.

The Case of…?: Fragmented File #4

October 11th [ ν ] – εуλ 0008

It was late in the evening when the small infiltration unit reached the building in which the Junon military prison block was housed. The lead man walked cautiously towards one of the rear doors, a rifle grasped in his hands. If the intel they had was correct, then this should be the right one. He reached into his pocket, retrieving the carefully forged keycard they had paid a fortune to acquire and slid it through the card-reader. After a moment, the door clicked open, and the man motioned that his fellow conspirators follow him inside.

They crept along the hallway, until they reached the cell block and that was when they encountered their first guard. The trooper was patrolling along the hallway, his rifle at his side, and as he rounded the corner, the leader of the infiltration team raised his gun and fired. The man dropped, and soon the team was hurrying faster. They had to get to the cell they were aiming for before the rest of the guards caught on to the emergency. Shortly after this, they encountered three more guards, and dealt with them in a similar fashion, before continuing up some stairs and dispatching two more. At long last, the unit reached a pair of cells side by side, and the leader of the team tapped on the bars of the first cell. Out of the shadows came a woman, her hair rather disheveled from prison life in a rumpled jumpsuit. "Who are you?" she asked.

"Miss Scarlet," the man said. "We are here on behalf of Generals Kant and Nietzsche. Rufus has gone too soft for our tastes."

"Is that so?" another voice called out from the adjacent cell and a rotund man with a dark beard came into view. "And what's in it for us?"

"The chance to build a new company, even greater than Shinra, and more powerful," one of the other soldiers said.

"Kya-ha-ha…" Scarlet laughed her trademark laugh. "Sounds like things are getting interesting again."

"In that case," the trooper said. "The two of you might want to back away from the cell doors. We've got explosives at the ready."

Heidegger let loose a laugh of his own. "Gya-ha-ha… excellent."

It's been a crazy couple of weeks. Week before last, I was traveling and this week I'm traveling again. Not only that but I've had a bit of a big life-changing event this week, since my boyfriend has asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes, which means he is now my fiance, but this has created no small amount of distractions on top of being on a family vacation. Welcome distractions for me, but not necessarily to those who want to read my fic. I'm sure we all want the rest of the fic to be really good, so I hope you understand that I need the extra time. Sorry for the wait. ^^;

Though due to having had less time to write this week than I had anticipated, I am going to call another catch-up week for next week. Chapters will resume midnight Thursday September 19th/Friday September 20th.

Next time, we'll be checking in with Rufus and the Turks in 'Case of Shinra, Phase 2'

See you in a couple of weeks!