Chapter Forty-One: Resolve

It had been a beautiful dinner together – Wutaian barbeque again. It was the same place as their first date, but this had not been an especially special occasion. It wasn't any more special than seeing each other any other time, but it was still … special.

Confusing to think about, but that was how they both felt around each other – like each moment was casual … yet amazing.

Amazingly casual?

Zack smiled to himself a little, trying to occupy his wandering thoughts. He tried to focus on anything but the struggle that had been plaguing him for a few months now, and as he turned his head towards the young blond beside him, he knew he was losing to it. It was mostly an enjoyable struggle, one that he wished he could always endure with the boy, but the closer he came to losing, the closer he came to realizing that a great unknown lay behind it.

He was always certain – he was certain of this. Yet he couldn't help but wonder the inevitable 'what if's with something as important as this. It wasn't a matter of the words he would say … it was how he would say it and when he would say it. He had been preparing himself for a while, trying to set up a good time when the mood was lighthearted and when Cloud seemed to be more receptive towards his sap. He had tried, but lost his nerve the moment that the blond would look at him with those expressive eyes and that cute smile …

He could just blurt it, and he had thought about doing this, but thinking about blurting something wasn't exactly blurting it. It would just come out sounding contrived and a little more than awkward.

And he wasn't sure how Cloud would react to it anyway. He couldn't imagine him swooning and so openly declaring his love back to him like people did in the movies. He couldn't imagine him laughing it off, or brushing it aside either. Grasping onto any idea of what would happen when he actually would tell Cloud was damn near impossible, and it was driving him delightfully mad.

"You're being unusually quiet tonight. Is there … something wrong?"

Zack was brought out of his reverie, his eyes opening to a starry night above him and to Cloud propped up on his elbows giving him an inquisitive look. He sat up, grinning sheepishly. "No. Nothing wrong."

"Then what're you thinking about?"

He shrugged and watched as Cloud lowered himself back down onto the grass. After dinner, neither had really felt like going back to the building, so they found a little park to relax in that was nearby the restaurant. It had a few swings and surprisingly a decent patch of grass growing. Even on the upper plates there wasn't much greenery, as the fumes from the mako reactors would tend to make it hard to grow plants even in rich and imported soil.

"I'm thinking about how moogles' pom-poms don't hit their nose when they walk."

Cloud snorted a laugh. "What? Really?"

"No!" Zack laughed as well, but louder, almost forced. "Well, I wasn't thinking about it right now, but I have thought about it before."

"That's so ridiculous. What a waste of mental energy."

"It's not! Think about it. Their pom-poms are so floppy and their noses are so large …"

Cloud was quiet for a moment, and then his face twisted into an unbelievable frown. "I can't believe you just got me to think about that."

Zack laughed again, and eventually it died into nothing. Normally he would run with that and tease Cloud a bit further, but his mind was too busy … running. Apprehension struck him immediately when he realized he still didn't answer Cloud's question properly, but Cloud seemed to have dropped the subject for now.

A strange silence fell over them, and Zack could see Cloud glance over at him every now and then from the corner of his eye. He shifted a little, even made a small sound of discomfort. Zack wasn't sure if that was from the sudden awkwardness or something else.

"Zack?" Cloud's soft voice finally broke the silence. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Why would you say that?" Zack looked at him, trying to right his face into looking neutral. He knew he must have looked a little flustered over his own thoughts.

"You just seem … bothered."

"I'm fine, Cloud," Zack said, knowing that it must not have sounded like he was.

"You would tell me if I did something wrong to upset you, right?"

"Of course I would, but you haven't, so don't worry about it," he said quickly. He really didn't want Cloud to pry a love confession out of him now like this. He was starting to feel a bit irked.

Cloud seemed to have ignored him and fidgeted nervously. "Are you sure? If I did something wrong, just tell me. I'm sorry if I have."

Zack winced at that word and the stressful expression on Cloud's face. "Cloud! Enough," he said firmly. Cloud recoiled, and Zack immediately softened his voice, chuckling. "Everything is okay. Don't worry about it." He smiled and threaded his fingers through Cloud's, giving his hand a tight and reassuring squeeze.

"I'm sorry."

"Where on Gaia did you possibly pick up that bad habit of constantly apologizing?" Zack asked earnestly.

Cloud seemed taken aback at first, but then a small smile broke out onto his face. "My mom," he said hesitantly. "She apologizes for everything, even when it isn't her fault. I remember when I was really young, I had this drinking glass with these little pigs on them. It was my favorite glass …" Cloud trailed off for a moment, turning slightly pink in the cheeks when he realized he was smiling rather widely over the thought of his old childhood cup. He shook his head quickly to dismiss it. "A-anyway, I accidently broke it one day and she apologized to me because I broke it. Like it was her fault that I was clumsy with it."

"Little pigs?"

"Shut up," Cloud growled, giving Zack a nudge on the shoulder. "It used to bug me when she would apologize to me like that. I started to remind her to stop when I got older and grew more tired of hearing it out of her mouth every other word."

Zack gave out a single laugh. "You should practice what you preach!"

Cloud's face was terribly red. "But I don't notice when I do it! I just do when she does it …"

"That's so cute," Zack said, giving his hand another squeeze. "I bet your mom is a lovely woman."

Cloud shrugged. "I guess so. She's my mom … I don't really pay attention."

"Bullshit!" Zack was looking at Cloud now, grinning wide. "The look on your face says otherwise. I see that smile."

Cloud glanced at him, catching one look of Zack's grin before turning away again. "Dammit, Zack. Don't tease me."

"I'm not, I l-love it!" He closed his mouth quick, instantly processing what he had just said to make sure that it was what was intended and not some sort of unconscious slip. But when Cloud just sighed and continued on with speaking, he was sure that he didn't say what he truly wanted to say.

"Well … besides you, she's all I have. And even then, I'm not so close with her at the moment …"

"You have Ratcliff and Graves too, don't forget. I know they care about you."

Cloud grew quiet, his eyes just staring up at the stars, but not really looking at any one part of the sky in particular.

"Where is Ratcliff, anyway?"

"On a mission," Cloud said simply.

"You're … all alone in the barracks right now?"

Cloud turned his head quick, a shocked look on his face. When he spoke, his voice came out small. "Alone? You know about Graves?"

Zack must have returned the shocked look, as when their gaze met, Cloud looked even more horrified. "I do. Ratcliff told me a few months back. Before your mission to, uh, Kalm."

Cloud looked away once more, breaking their gaze. "Why didn't you mention it to me?"

"I thought you would bring it up with me eventually."

And other things …

"I just … didn't know how to bring it up. I didn't even know he was gone at first. No one told me."

"We were going to tell you. But …" Zack trailed off. More important matters needed to be brought up at that time, and Graves had been placed on the back burner in his mind. He did feel guilty about it, and maybe Zack just wanted to forget. He had already dealt with Angeal deserting. Zack, too, had breaking points.

"Well, regardless, he's still gone and he's still a big idiot."

Zack chuckled a bit dryly. They were silent again.

"And," Cloud eventually said, sounding more upbeat, "I'm not alone in the barracks. I mean, Kunsel is there and he talks to me. And there are others who chat with me once in a while. I can last until Ratcliff comes back. It should only be a few more days anyway."

"Good. He'll be back before you know it."

Cloud nodded eagerly, but then stopped. "And it's all okay, as long as I know you're here."

Zack suddenly cooed, his thumb beginning to stroke Cloud's hand. "Of course. I'm here for you, Cloud," he said softly.

"I know … thank you," Cloud whispered.

They glanced at each other to share a quick smile, but then brought their attention back to the stars. Zack pointed out a few constellations that he hadn't the faintest idea of what they were called, but made names up as he went along anyway. Cloud caught onto this after Zack spouted off some outlandish name, and he just chuckled and sarcastically went along with it. They began to make up strange names together based on whatever shape the constellations resembled most. What they were doing was cliché, but it was relaxing.

And how cliché he wanted to continue to be in that moment. Right then would have been a good time … it really would have. Their bellies were full of delicious food, the night was clear and nice, their were hands holding tight together …

"Cloud?" His teeth actually started to chatter in excitement; a surge of emotions swarmed from the pit of his stomach up to his chest. Dare it to venture into his throat, to slip between those chattering teeth … he would be accepting that delightful defeat.

Now. He could do it now. It could be so gently slipped in between the breeze and the sound of the bugs buzzing in the night. Hell, even between a few stray car horns that honked in the distance – he didn't care. All sounds would stop for what he wanted to say … save for the thump of his heart.

He heard a soft moan beside him, and he turned his head, narrowing his eyes in the dull light of the streetlamp to see Cloud with his free hand pressed against his forehead. "Cloud?" He shifted even closer to him when Cloud didn't respond to him at first. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Cloud said, his voice thick with uncertainty. "Just got a little dizzy." He pulled his hand down, blinking hard a few times as it looked as though he was waiting for his vision to adjust to his surroundings.

"Did you tilt your head back too far?"

"I think so," he said slowly.

"That can happen looking up at the stars sometimes … or when you're next to me," he said in a singsong voice. He laughed until he realized that Cloud wasn't laughing with him. He sat up a little on his elbows, watching him intently. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah."

Zack just nodded and lowered back down, his fingers linking between Cloud's once more. Cloud gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, so he relaxed. They were in silence for a bit and only stroked each other's skin beneath their thumbs. But Cloud's eventually stopped its movement, and his grip on Zack's hand loosened. Zack looked back over to him and saw that he was having trouble keeping his eyes open.

"Wanna head back?"

Cloud's eyes shot open and he spoke quickly, like he hadn't missed a beat. "Sure."

"Are you gonna stay the night?" Zack said, smiling wide.

"I can …" Cloud returned the smile, just as widely.

"Think you have enough energy to … you know. Play with me a bit?" Zack said, his tone very coy.

"Depends," Cloud said, returning the tone just as coyly.

"Well, let's get back then." Zack stood up and arched his back, cracking it in a few places. He sighed with content.

Cloud followed his lead and got to his feet, but wobbled and let out a noise of surprise.

Zack grabbed hold of his shoulders, steadying him. When that didn't seem to work fast enough, he pulled Cloud against his chest. "Steady, now! Maybe we were staring up at the stars for too long."

Cloud stood still for a moment, but pulled away from Zack's body, looking around in a bit of a daze. "I feel like I was just in a car." Cloud frowned at Zack's worried expression and he smirked sarcastically. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna vomit on you if that's what you're thinking."

Zack tittered. "Well, I was gonna call a cab, but now I'm not so sure what to do. Maybe we should just walk back if you're feeling motion sickness right now. Unless you're too dizzy …?"

"It'll be late by the time we get back if we walk. We won't have time to … you know." Cloud bit his bottom lip, looking away when a piqued interest appeared on Zack's face.

But it died quickly when Cloud wobbled once more as he started to release his hold on the boy. "I know, Cloud. But I'd rather you be comfortable and happy. Besides, it's a nice night out, right?"

"It is …"

"Let's walk then. Are you good to go?" He studied Cloud's movements carefully as he began to take a few steps on his own.

"I'm okay, it's gone now. I just have to focus on something stationary."

"Is that the trick?"

Cloud chuckled dryly, shrugging his shoulders. "There really is no trick."

Zack ushered him forward when he seemed stable enough and they began to head back towards the Shin-Ra building for the night on foot. They would be getting in late, but there might be enough time to at least get a little kissing in before they slept. Cloud did seem rather tired now.

And maybe Zack would have enough time to tell Cloud how he felt. Curled up together in a cool room but under a thick blanket, pressed against each other for extra warmth and comfort … hands roaming but going no where … it could be a good time to do it.

Cloud reached down and slipped his hand in Zack's as they walked together. He smiled sweetly.

Zack's nerve was lost in that smile again.

There was something so peaceful about Nibelheim that made it scream that it was anything but. An underlying feeling of morbidity tainted the overlying feeling of serenity, and years of secrecy lay hidden behind friendly faces. Good mornings and how are yous seemed to be forced out of the townspeople with fear scratching behind their eyes, trying to break free and warn those who dare look into them; who dare raise questions about those feelings.

And it wasn't until the shrouded shadow of the Shin-Ra mansion came into view did these feelings finally attach themselves to something solid. No longer was there any doubt that that morbidity could have been only a fleeting whim in a paranoid mind.

It was no secret that strange things happened in that mansion. Even young children in Midgar knew of old folklore full of immoral experiments and grotesque beings screaming in the night coming from that place. Even as the building itself withered with time, the stories stood as strong as the bones that it was built with, and neither child, woman nor man would dispute its reputation. Even the ones that lived nearby cast nary a glance at it, as though it and its legacy wasn't even there. Or perhaps it was that fear trying to look the other way.

Nibelheim was certainly creeping Ratcliff out.

They searched the town for Graves, having asked around to those who were willing to share any bit of information. A few of the townspeople seemed coerced with their responses to the men, almost as though they were afraid to even delve into their memory with the dread that they might remember something repressed about the town. Those friendly smiles were offered up as apologies when their memories of Graves failed them, and they went back to their lives of living with their backs to that mansion.

Regrouping and brainstorming was next on the agenda for the men, and even with the ominous building sitting back in the corner of the town, Ratcliff was starting to feel a bit more confident with the whole situation. It had been twelve days since their search began, and already the team had exceeded their orders by two. Luxiere and Haskin were now more desperate than eager, so an extension was requested and granted. But if each stone was turned and nothing was produced, they would return and Graves would most likely be declared KIA.

Ratcliff would be relieved, yet sad, and Cloud would probably be the same. The whole situation would still be the same as before …

The team broke off for a bit when their options dwindled down. Shops were searched and households were approached, but they couldn't seem to find any scrap of information that would lead them to their target. There wasn't much to do now but to take a bit of a break and wait things out.

For Ratcliff, at least.

He was finding himself participating less and less as the days went on, and the glances he received from the two in charge suggested that they noticed, but he didn't care. He couldn't care. He would be insane for his heart to be in this even a small fraction. Perhaps he would be reprimanded or even demoted, but at this point he would much rather deal with that than what could happen if they ran across Graves. Ratcliff wouldn't fight Graves, but Graves would fight for his freedom, and that was something he didn't want to even think about.

Those good mornings turned into good afternoons and the morning haze was gone now. It made the town seem a lot less creepy, so Ratcliff decided to poke around a bit on his own. He knew Cloud was from Nibelheim, but the boy never really spoke much of the place. It seemed like a town that Cloud would be from – quiet and reserved – and so Ratcliff began to play his own guessing game with trying to figure out what house could possibly have been his.

He narrowed it down to a few. One of which was a quaint house down a path to the right of the town. It was a cute little house that he for sure thought would be his, but when a family with dark hair came walking out, he knew that wasn't it. So he pressed on with his own little game, trying to pass the time.

He came upon the water tower in the center of town where a little brown puppy was yipping playfully at a young woman who was walking past. She seemed to stop when she spotted Ratcliff and peered at him intently for a moment, but then frowned to herself after she stared at him long enough, and then entered a large two-story house across from the water tower with a sigh.

The little puppy ran up to him, but then ran away in its own game, as though it wanted Ratcliff to join and chase it. He laughed and watched it run back and forth, trying to rile him up and get him as excited as it was, but it eventually realized Ratcliff wasn't going to give. So it trotted up to him and plopped down at his feet seriously. There was no way he could resist.

He removed his helmet and kneeled down, scratching at the puppy's belly once it was exposed in a very shameless act of submissiveness, and he praised it for doing nothing particularly praise-worthy. It was just too cute to ignore, so after a few minutes he stood, despite the puppy's whine of disapproval. And then a bark of disapproval. And then it started to run around in frantic and excited circles when a door opened behind him.

"Cloud? Honey?"

Ratcliff turned quickly, nearly dropping his helmet from his hands at not only the voice, but the name that was spoken. "P-pardon?"

A petite blonde woman stood before him, the door to a small house on the end of the row open behind her. "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were my son. You two look very similar from behind. And he always would pet that puppy when he walked by it."

He could hardly believe his eyes and ears. "No, ma'am," he said slowly, "I'm not Cloud, but I do know him, yeah."

Her face lit up with a motherly smile. "You do?"

Ratcliff nodded. "We're in the same unit."

"Is he here with you?"

"Afraid not, ma'am." He couldn't help but chuckle at the disappointed look that crossed her face; it looked just like one that Cloud would make. "He's doing well, if that's any consolation, yeah."

"A little. Better consolation than what his other friend gave me."

"Other friend?"

"Some big fellow …" She trailed off for just a brief moment before her face lit up once again with whatever thought that came to mind. "Casey! How could I forget a name like that?"

Ratcliff felt the color drain from him. "Casey … you've met him?"

She only smiled at him. "Come inside, dear," she said after a few moments. She stepped back, ushering him into her home. "By the look on your face, he's probably the reason why you're here."

She had introduced herself as Cinnamon-Rose, and was very flattered when Ratcliff said how much he loved her name. He was always fond of unique names such as this woman's and Cloud's, and maybe just a little bit jealous. He never did like his own name.

She was even more flattered when he told her how much he loved the rose tea with the cinnamon. He thought it was a cute little trademark.

It suddenly struck him that he was in Cloud's home the moment he saw pictures of the boy on the walls, and he was admittedly overwhelmed with an odd excitement. It almost made him forget the reason why he was actually there.

Cloud never spoke much of his mother, but whatever information he would let on about her was enough to invoke a strong enough mental image of her based on the things he said and the way he himself was. She was exactly how Ratcliff pictured her to be, if not even more beautiful and sweeter.

She served him a sandwich which he was very thankful for. He hadn't realized how hungry he was and how little he ate while on this mission. He didn't have much of an appetite from his nerves.

"He never did come back for that sandwich."

Ratcliff looked up from his lunch, lifting an eyebrow at her. "Pardon?"

She laughed. "Not that exact sandwich, don't worry. But I found your friend in one of the stores here with not enough money to buy something to eat. So I invited him for lunch."

"You're awfully trusting, ma'am. He can be a mindless brute."

"Casey? No, I could tell he's a nice man. Just a little rough around the edges."

Ratcliff scoffed, shrugging his shoulders. "To put it one way, yeah."

"If he's friends with my Cloud, then he must be a good person."

He frowned in thought, then eventually nodded. "I suppose you have a good point."

"My son may be shy, but he has a gentle spirit, and I firmly believe that he will attract those of similar spirits."

Ratcliff thought of Graves, of Elici, and he thought of Zack. Elici and Zack were amazing people, and even Graves had a good side to him deep down. But Ratcliff himself … he couldn't even protect Cloud from the one bad spirit that did manage to find the boy. If his mother knew the horrors that her son had went through, Ratcliff wondered if she would be still standing there smiling so kindly at him.

"You're right, yeah. H-he has some good friends," was all he could say.

"But your friend," she said after a moment's pause, "he was looking for someone here a few months ago. In that mansion."

He swallowed hard. "Did he … find that person?"

"I don't know. He said he would come back to tell me all about my son, but he never returned. I even wrapped up his sandwich for him for when he did."

"Never returned?"

"Not to my home at least. He might've had more important things to do than to entertain a worried mother with stories of her only son." She smiled a bit sadly, glancing out the window in front of the sink in the kitchen. She was looking at the mansion.

"You never saw him leave the mansion? Or the town? Never?"

"Well, it wasn't like I was waiting on the edge of my seat for him to return, watching for him every minute around every corner. But I kept an eye out for him here and there for a few days."

"T-that mansion … why did he go in there exactly?"

"I saw someone going in and out, and he was hoping it was the person he was looking for."

"And that was … a few months ago?"

She nodded.

A silence formed between them, and Cinnamon-Rose looked as though she didn't know why. Ratcliff wasn't even sure why … what she had just said didn't mean anything. She could have just missed seeing Graves leave …

She suddenly sighed and then spoke, her voice very soft. It was so soft that Ratcliff couldn't hear her at first. "The reactor …"

"Pardon?"

She finally spoke up. "I never saw your friend leaving the mansion. I did see others after that. Well, one figure left … carrying something."

Ratcliff stared at her for a moment, feeling his face drain of color. "Or … someone?"

She nodded solemnly. "Heading up the mountain."

There was a crackling sound in Ratcliff's ear and it caused him to jump, startling the woman as well. Haskin's voice came over the radio headset he was wearing.

"Ratcliff, what's your position?"

Cinnamon-Rose frowned and looked out the window. Their eyes met and she nodded her head towards a figure that moved past.

"One-story house on the corner, across from the water tower." He scrambled to his feet, giving Cloud's mother a respectful nod. She only gave him a worried look in return.

"Report your findings to me at once."

Ratcliff muttered a half-hearted 'sir' to Haskin and exited the home, catching the sad sigh that Cinnamon-Rose gave as he left. His heart twisted in his chest, for more than one reason. He couldn't bear to look back at her and see the disappointed look that was surely on her face. Even if he could stay and speak with her about her son, it would only be lies.

"What have you found?"

Ratcliff stopped in front of Haskin as the man rounded the path, and he peered nervously into his eyes. "Sir," he said, clearing the tremor away from his throat, "I haven't found much, yeah."

Haskin lifted an eyebrow very subtly on his face.

He glanced to the side of the house, seeing a collection of footprints near one of the kitchen windows in the dirt. Ratcliff turned his head back, forcing himself to continue. "Just that … Graves was seen entering the Shin-Ra mansion a few months back."

"By whom?"

"B-by the woman who lives in this house, sir."

"What exact date?"

"Unknown, sir."

"Approximately how long ago, then?"

Cinnamon-Rose cut them off. "Three months."

They both looked over to her as she stood in the doorway, her hand clutched to her bosom. She was glancing around, perhaps looking to see if her son was around by any stroke of luck.

"Ma'am?" Haskin turned towards her, waiting for her to continue.

"It was three months ago." Her eyes glanced over to Ratcliff and she smiled a little. "But I think I saw him leaving the town not shortly after." Her eyes went back to Haskin and locked on. "He headed south, through the front entrance of the town."

"Are you absolutely certain?"

"It looked like him, but I'm not entirely sure."

Ratcliff wanted to stop her from speaking, to cut her off and warn her that lying to Shin-Ra was like lying to the devil. Unknown chaos lay deep within false words.

"Thank you, ma'am." Haskin turned and started to walk off. "Ratcliff, come with me."

Ratcliff hesitated for a moment, looking over at Cinnamon-Rose. She only smiled.

Haskin continued walking towards the entrance of the town, simply barking another order to follow, and so he did.

They reached the entrance where Luxiere and Pawn were standing by an abandoned truck near a building. Weeds and wild plants grew from beneath the vehicle, winding around the tires and reaching towards the sunlight. A layer of dust coated the truck – evidence that it hadn't been moved in quite some time. Pawn was wrestling with the door handle and finally got it open, a loud creak coming from the old hinges.

Luxiere immediately poked his head in, rummaging around inside the cab for a minute. He emerged a moment later, dusting his hands off with a grimace, nodding to both Haskin and Ratcliff who stood watching in silence. "There's a lot of dust," Luxiere said, glancing back inside, "but most of it is actually sand. It's definitely a vehicle from Corel."

"He was seen by one of the townspeople a few months back leaving from the mansion through the entrance of the town," Haskin said, taking a glance inside himself. "If this was his truck, why would he leave it if he left through this way? Can we be sure it's even his?"

"I think it's his truck. Take a look at this." Luxiere tossed an item to Ratcliff and he caught it, nearly dropping it.

It was a pack of cigarettes.

"His brand?"

Ratcliff nodded slowly.

Haskin pulled himself out of the truck with a frown and shut the door. "We have two leads. The mansion, and every place else we've already checked that's south from here."

Luxiere rubbed the back of his neck with a soft growl in thought. "None of this makes sense. The only other place that's left on this continent that we haven't checked is Rocket Town, but that's through Mt. Nibel." He was quiet for a minute, glancing between each of his men. "First thing's first. I'll have to get clearance from HQ to check in the mansion. Can't just go barging in there."

They finished inspecting the truck, only coming across abandoned jugs of water and a bag full of moldy food. There was nothing else in there that would prove that it was Graves'. But by the look on the faces of the two in charge, there was no need for any more proof.

The two stepped off to the side, discussing the best course of action for finding their target. Luxiere decided to contact headquarters for clearance. They left Pawn and Ratcliff standing next to the abandoned truck, so Ratcliff began pacing.

"M-Mr. Ratcliff, w-we'll be fine, even if we don't complete the m-mission," Pawn said quietly, watching as the man walked back and forth aimlessly.

"It's not us I'm worried about, yeah."

They were both silent for a bit, save for the sound of Ratcliff's boots shuffling against the dirt and Luxiere and Haskin muttering a little ways off.

"Do you have a phone?"

Pawn looked up from the ground where he usually had his eyes cast, and he gave the man a curious look.

"A cell phone. Can I borrow it? It'll only be for a second, yeah."

Pawn nodded and fished around in his pocket for his phone and then almost nervously passed it over. Ratcliff took it and started to dial a number after a moment's thought. He walked off around a corner when the two in charge weren't looking.

A minute or so passed and Pawn was beginning to wonder who was going to come back first, but it was Luxiere and Haskin who did with solemn faces. Ratcliff then emerged from around the corner rather quickly, stuffing his hand into his pocket to most likely hide the phone. He himself had not a solemn face, but a distraught one.

"They won't give us clearance to search in the mansion," Luxiere said, sighing a large and defeated sigh as Ratcliff finally joined them.

Each man was silent for a while.

"Where'd you go?" Haskin said, peering Ratcliff over.

"I had to piss," Ratcliff said simply. He looked off to the mansion, averting Haskin's gaze, and he watched as a shadow was cast over the building from above. His eyes trailed up to Mt. Nibel; to the mako reactor that sat atop.

They were silent again.

"What about Rocket Town?" Haskin eventually said.

"Nope."

"Then anywhere else?"

Ratcliff looked over to Haskin, whose eyes were where Ratcliff's had been. He turned his head, meeting Ratcliff's gaze.

Luxiere just shook his head. "We're to stay at the inn and then meet the transport here at 0600 to head back to Midgar."

"Mission failed," Haskin said dejectedly, his eyes not leaving Ratcliff's.

"Yeah," Luxiere said, just the same. "Mission failed."

Ratcliff looked away when the phone vibrated in his pocket.

… To be continued in Chapter Forty-Two: Graves.

Ending Author's Note: I mentioned "Even as the building itself withered with time, the stories stood as strong as the bones that it was built with …" which some of you might have thought that expression to be literal, especially since we all know about the Shinra mansion and the things that go on in there. However, 'bones' is a term used in the housing market to describe houses that are built solid. Rather, the phrase "good bones" refers to houses that have good foundations and all around quality structures. So when I said that it stood strong with the bones it was built with, that really meant that it was just built strong. XD A house made out of literal bones? Now that would just be strange.

LOL at Ratcliff nearly fanboying over being in Cloud's house. XD

So, like, I've been struggling to write with these new graveyard shifts and adjusting back to work and such. It's really hard after being off for a whole year and having all that free time I had to do whatever I wanted with suddenly sucked up. Four days passed by one of these past weeks, and I realized that I didn't even have a chance to open Malady and write! So don't kill me, but I'm gonna skip another week and update in three weeks again. Luckily I was momentarily struck with inspiration yesterday morning and got things mapped out for chapter forty-four rather quickly. Forty-three is nearly done. :3

I love you guys, you know that? I just thought I'd say it. :D

Oh, lol, take a look at this: http: / lady-yuna7. deviantart. com/ art/ Malady-s-OC-OOC-180802475

lady-yuna7 and I ended up in a weird discussion over MSN about what my OCs would be like if they were horribly out of character. Ratcliff would be all RAWR and srs, Graves would be flaming gay (LOL), Elici would be like a lax, apathetic stoner, and Mejia would be a chicken wuss. Just a funny little gag fan-art for you to chuckle over. Thank you, lady-yuna7. You are quite disturbing at times, and I love you for it. :D

Tuesday, October 26th! Be here, yes? :3 The title alone should pique your interests.

OH! Forgot to mention! I have a new one-shot out. It's called "Unpredictable" and it's a SephirothxReno PWP. My very first porno without plot fic. It's a gift ficcie for Tifa-Amy-Lockheart. Give it a read if you are in the mood for shameless smut. :D