Hello

Hello!!

Well now…part seven, huh? Pretty bloody good!! Never thought I'd draw it out this long, but here I am!! And many more parts to come, I'd imagine…who knows?

Well anyway, I'll start now, cos there's not much else to say, except to watch out for OOC-ness…of course, my biggest fans and friends should already know to expect that from me. It's a Wannon-chan trait, I'm afraid…can't be helped.

~ Wannon-chan ~

Boredom, Babysitting and Parades.

Reno had recovered from his injuries, but that still wasn't going to stop Tseng.

"Reno, you're staying here! No more arguing!" Tseng barked. It was a Wednesday afternoon, and everyone, including the new President, Rufus (Who had also recovered from his poisoning) was situated in Tseng's office.

"But! But!" Reno protested. Tseng shook his head, his ebony hair catching the light streaming in through the window, causing Reno to gasp in delight.

"No, Reno! Now that's enough!…what are you looking at?" he asked warily. Reno was known to get rather feisty when feeling frisky, and Tseng found himself keeping an eye on the redhead. Said redhead was looking at him, a lovesick expression on his face.

"So pretty…" he whispered. Tseng blushed, as Rufus, Rude and Elena giggled.

"Reno…stop it. Stop it now." He commanded, before being pounced upon.

"Grrr…" Reno growled, gnawing on a button. Tseng's eyes widened.

"Nooo! Reno, why the buttons? Why the buttons?!" he moaned. Rufus chuckled.

"He certainly lights up this place…" he commented. Tseng frowned.

"Well, I'm going to ignore you, Reno. I have a mission briefing to do," he said huffily. Reno uttered another growl, and continued gnawing. Tseng cleared his throat, and began the briefing from his position on the floor.

"Well, we have to intercept Cloud and Co…they've left Midgar, and should be heading after Sephiroth, who has been spotted heading towards Junon Harbor. We need to try and encourage them to pursue him, we can use them to lead us to the Promised Land," he said, as Reno spat out a button, and moved onto the next one, causing Rude to snort. Rufus sighed.

"Well, as usual, I'll be staying here…I'll keep my eye on Reno, Tseng. He can be my servant for today!" he said. Reno's head snapped up, pulling Tseng's button with it.

"Didja say servant?!" he exclaimed. Rufus shook his head.

"No, Reno…I said bodyguard. Now continue chewing," he said. Reno grinned, and obliged, much to Tseng's disgust. Elena frowned.

"So…I'm a Turk now?" she queried. Tseng nodded.

"Yes, from now on, you will be helping out Reno and Rude. But Reno is staying here." He said. Reno frowned at him.

"Whaddabout Rufus' parade? I don't wanna miss that!" he muttered around the button. Tseng smiled.

"Well, you can come with Rufus later, alright?" he said. Reno nodded, and resumed his gnawing. There was silence after that, punctuated only by the frustrated noises Reno made. Rude laughed suddenly.

"…Reno, wouldn't it be easier to just undo the buttons normally?" he asked. Reno looked up at his 'brother' with a grin.

"Hmm…good idea!" he said, deftly undoing the buttons, much to everyone's amusement. The shirtless Tseng yelped in surprise, and hugged Reno close, to hide his bare chest. Reno grinned.

"Good, this is good…thanks, Rude!" he said. Rude shrugged.

"…Uh, you're welcome?" he said. Rufus laughed.

"Well, as entertaining as this is, I have duties to perform…I'll see you all later." he said, excusing himself. Rude and Elena also excused themselves, leaving Tseng and Reno alone.

"Even better…" Reno mumbled.

~ * ~

An hour later, everyone except Rufus was crowded around the helipad.

"Tseng, Rude, Elena. Good luck…I'll see you all at the parade!" Reno said cheerfully. Tseng gave Reno a quick kiss.

"You better behave yourself, Reno…no practical jokes are to be played on Rufus, you hear me?" he said. Reno pouted.

"How am I gonna amuse myself then?" he asked. Tseng shrugged.

"Don't know. Just stay out of trouble," he commanded, before hopping into the chopper with Rude and Elena. Reno sighed, waving goodbye as the helicopter flew off.

"Hmm…what to do? I know! I'll go see Rufus!" he said happily, rushing off to the president's office.

~ * ~

Tseng nodded to the other two Turks.

"I just heard that Cloud and his bunch just crossed the marshes on a Chocobo…they should be coming through the Mythril Mine any time now. Get into your positions!" he said. Rude and Elena saluted, and ran inside. Tseng grinned.

And now I wait…hopefully things go as planned, but if they don't, that's what I'm here for.

~ * ~

Rude saw a blonde head appear from around the corner. The blonde's eyes narrowed upon seeing him there, and looked ready to go another way.

"Just a second!" Rude called. Cloud raised an eyebrow. The fire-red beast next to him glared through his good eye at Rude.

"…I hoped I'd never see you again…" he said. Rude smirked.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked. The blonde shrugged.

"From the Turks, right?" he asked.

"Well, if you know, then this won't take long. It's difficult to explain what the Turks do…" Rude began.

"Kidnapping, right?" Cloud queried. Rude shrugged again.

"To put it negatively…you could say that…But that's not all there is to it, anymore." He said, before launching into his explanation.

"……"

"……" he tried, but he couldn't quite explain. Elena chose that moment to announce herself.

"Sir! It's all right, Rude! I know you don't like speeches, so don't force it!" she cried from above. Rude looked up at her, as did everyone else.

"…Then Elena, explain." He said. Elena smiled down at him, and nodded. She looked at the rebels before her.

"I'm the newest member of the Turks, Elena. Thanks to what you did to Reno, we're short of people." She began, looking thoughtful.

"…Although, because of that, I got promoted to the Turks…In any case, our job is to find out where Sephiroth is headed. And to try and stop you every step of the way. Wait a minute, it's the other way around…You're the ones that are getting in our way." She babbled. Rude shook his head.

Good job, Elena…Tseng will come in now, I know it…he thought, looking towards the cave entrance. Sure enough, he entered a minute later.

"…Elena. You talk too much." He said, and Rude grinned at him.

"Mr. Tseng!?" Elena exclaimed. Tseng nodded.

"No need to tell them about our orders." He said. Elena hung her head.

"Sorry…Tseng." She said slowly. Tseng shrugged.

"I thought I gave you other orders. Now go. Don't forget to file your report." He said, signaling their dismissal. Elena grinned.

"Oh! Right! Very well, Rude and I will go after Sephiroth, who's heading for Junon Harbor!" she said cheerfully, saluting. Tseng looked exasperated.

"…Elena. You don't seem to understand." He said. Elena's face fell.

"Oh! I'm, I'm sorry…" she said.

"…Go. Don't let Sephiroth get away." He commanded.

"Yes sir!" Rude and Elena chorused, saluting in unison. Elena rushed off, while Rude paused just before the mouth of the cave.

"…Reno said he wanted to see you after the injuries you gave him healed. He wants to show his affection for you all…with a new weapon." He said, turning and walking slowly away. Tseng sighed.

"Well, then…" he began, catching a glimpse of pink. "Aeris…Long time no see. Looks like you got away from the Shinra for a while, now that Sephiroth reappeared."

"…so what are you saying? That I should be grateful to Sephiroth?" she asked. Tseng frowned at her.

"No…" he began, but changed the subject. "Well, I won't be seeing too much of you, so take care." He said. Aeris frowned in confusion.

"…strange, hearing that from you." She commented.

"Well then, stay out of Shinra's way." He said, and casually stalked out to the waiting helicopter, Elena and Rude were already inside.

"Well?" Elena asked. Tseng smiled.

"Mission successful."

~ * ~

Reno peered around the doorframe, and saw Rufus sitting with his feet on the desk admiring his image in a glass. A mischievous grin painted itself on his face.

Hmm, what can I do? I'm sooo bored!…hey, I could scare him! But how…? He thought. He decided the good old 'boo' would do, leaping into the room.

"BOO!" he yelled, sending Rufus tumbling backward off his chair and to the floor. Reno let out a peal of laughter, running from the room.

"RENO!" Rufus yelled from his place on the floor. Reno hid in a corner of another room, giggling like a madman. Unfortunately that was what gave his hiding place away. Rufus walked into the room, a smirk on his face. And it wasn't your regular Rufus-smirk, either. This one was a truly evil smirk. Reno ceased his giggles and cowered in fear. Rufus' hands reached out for him.

"Rufus? What are you doing, huh?…what are you doing?!" he asked, panicked. Rufus picked him up and dragged him, kicking and screaming to the cells, locking him inside, along with another annoyance of the workplace, Reeve.

"Now Reeve, you are hereby sentenced to baby-sit Reno, until it's time for my parade. Have fun, boys…" he said, before walking off, cackling evilly.

Reno looked at Reeve.

Reeve looked at Reno.

"So what are you in here for?" Reeve inquired. Reno grinned.

"I spooked the Prez…jumped into his office and yelled 'BOO!'…he fell off his chair. Highly undignified, you know…" he said with a grin. "How about you? What did you do?" he asked. Reeve hung his head.

"I put yellow food coloring in the water cooler…" he said. Reno giggled.

"Hey, that's a good one!!" he cried. Reeve smiled shyly.

"You think so?" he asked. Reno nodded, and the two began to discuss their favourite topic…the perfect practical joke.

~ * ~

::A few hours later::

"Well boys…learned your lesson?" Rufus inquired, as he opened the cell door. He was met with identical disturbing grins.

"Oh, yes…we're so very sorry…" Reno said in a strange voice. Rufus frowned.

"Uh…good. Come now, Reno…we have a parade to get to!" he commanded, and Reno bounced out after the young President, but not before winking at Reeve.

~ * ~

Rufus and Reno arrived at Junon a few minutes later, and the two parted ways. Reno headed for the closest bar, while Rufus made his way to the car he would be riding in.

The parade will be starting any minute now…wonder if that spunky blonde warrior will show up? What was his name again? Cloud… he thought, as he hopped into the car. He could already hear the parade music playing, and felt a surge of pride. He felt liberated.

I'm finally free of my father, and now I can do things…my way. These will be the best years of my life. I can finally begin to live! He thought.

"Are you ready, sir?" the driver queried, and Rufus nodded absently. The car began to drive, surrounded with Shinra soldiers, all marching to the tune of his song. He saw the people gathered to watch as he passed through, and stood up, waving to them. The car came to a halt at the end of the parade route, and Rufus leapt out of the car, walking over to talk to Heidegger. There were a bunch of soldiers gathered in front of him, and he noticed a commander ushering a group of soldiers in late, and frowned.

One of those soldiers looks familiar…those eyes…he thought.

"Good! We made it!…Oh! President Rufus!" the commander said, noticing Rufus's presence. He turned to the obviously unruly mob.

"Hey! Line up and shut up! Don't make a move!" he told them. Rufus sighed, and directed his attention to the portly man beside him, flicking his hair unconsciously in the process.

"How's the job?…what happened to the Airship?" he asked. Heidegger looked nervous.

"The long-rage airship is still being prepared. It should be ready in three more days. Gya haa haa!" he said. Rufus scowled.

"Even the Air Force's Gelnika?" he asked. Heidegger looked even more nervous, not meeting Rufus's angry stare.

"…Gya haa haa!" he laughed. Rufus's eyes narrowed further.

"Stop that stupid horse laugh. Things are different from when father was in charge." He snapped. Heidegger looked shocked.

"Gya…" he said. Rufus raised an eyebrow.

"Is the ship ready?" he asked. Heidegger looked at his feet.

"Yes sir, we'll get it ready quickly." He said. Rufus sighed, and clambered inside the large elevator-type vehicle, which takes you up to the highest level of Junon.

Incompetent fool…why my father hired these people, I'll never know…

~ * ~

Rude was in his favourite bar, gambling and drinking with all the other barflies. He was the only Turk there, Tseng and Elena had gone to the other, and Rude figured Reno must be there, too. He saw a Shinra soldier enter the bar, and glanced at him suspiciously.

Those eyes look very familiar…he thought. The soldier approached him, and he gave him a grin, of sorts.

"Mm…? You too? Than take your mask off and come here. That's our rule." He said, knowing that the soldier would politely decline.

It's that Cloud guy…I know it is…he thought.

Sure enough, the soldier left as quickly as possible.

Knew it! Well, at least we know our plan is working…

~ * ~

Reno glanced over at his lover, grinning happily.

"And then I yelled 'BOO' and he fell off his chair! Hee hee! Only then Rufus got all psycho on me and chucked my bony ass in one of the cells, with Reeve. You know what he did? Stuck yellow food coloring in the water cooler! Oh, I've missed you, Tsengy…" he babbled. Tseng smiled, kissing his cheek softly.

"Missed you too…but I told you to leave Rufus alone!" he said. Reno smirked.

"You didn't really expect me to obey that, did you?" he asked sweetly. Tseng sighed.

"I guess I should have known better…" he said slowly. Reno laughed.

"Damn straight!" he said. Elena giggled.

"You know, once you get used to seeing you two together, you're actually really cute…" she said. Reno grinned at her.

"Gee, thanks…you're pretty cute yerself…for a woman." He said, and Elena blushed. She was about to respond when she saw a Shinra soldier enter.

Hmm…odd-looking eyes…she thought. Reno and Tseng caught her puzzled glance, and looked too. The soldier approached them, and all three Turks gave the familiar man a scowl.

"The minute you think the job's boring, you guys start messing around." Elena said with a sigh.

"The President's safety is secure because we're here." Reno said, and Tseng nodded.

"Stay outta this." He said icily. The soldiers eyes widened, and he hurried from the bar. The three Turks shared a look.

"That was Cloud Strife…" Tseng said. Reno grinned.

"Sure as hell was! Heh, least the plan is going as planned…" he said. Elena nodded.

"Well that's always a good thing…" she said, before they resumed their drinking.

~ * ~

Rufus waited outside the door, listening for his announcement.

"President Rufus…has now arrived!" the voice said, and Rufus entered through the door, Heidegger in tow, to see more Shinra soldiers.

And Cloud is here, too…I'm positive it's him…I remember those eyes…he thought, looking directly at Cloud, whose eyes wavered.

The commander began to jump up and down, waving his arms.

"This is it!! Junon Military Reception---! Do it right---Do it with enthusiasm---! Ready---!" he shouted, before shouting out commands. All the soldiers but one began to do as he asked, and in perfect unison. Cloud was the exception. He just couldn't do anything right. They would turn left, he would turn right. They would raise their weapons in the air, he would stick it outwards. And the entire time, he had his eyes trained on Rufus.

Eventually they finished, and Rufus smirked.

"Well done. Keep up the good work for Shinra Inc." he said, eyes locked with Cloud's. He whispered something into the ear of Heidegger, handing him a Hp plus Materia to give to Cloud. Heidegger waddled over to Cloud, grinning hugely.

"Gya haa ha…!! Here's a special bonus for you!! A token of the President's kindness! Don't forget it!" he said gleefully, before returning to Rufus's side.

"Once the word gets out that Sephiroth's here, Cloud and his friends will show up, too." Rufus said, still looking at Cloud, who was beginning to look nervous.

"We'll crush them as soon as we find them!" Heidegger boasted. Rufus sneered.

"We can't have them get in our way." He said.

"Leave it up to me, sir! Gya haa ha" Heidegger said gruffly. Rufus shot him an exasperated look.

"I thought I told you to stop that stupid laugh…" he said icily. Heidegger looked scared.

"Gya…" he said, and Rufus stalked inside the cargo ship, thoughts racing.

Come on, Cloud…follow me.

End of Part Seven.

Look out for Part Eight: Seasickness and Sephiroth.

Success! Je suis fini!

Next part shall be…THE EIGHTH PART!! MUAHAHAHA!!

I wanna say a big THANKYOU! To all those who have reviewed this. 'Specially Casey Crystal!! Thanks a lot! ::grins::

Like I've said before…I have no idea…now…of when this will end. Or even if it will end.

OH NO! NOT THE NEVERENDING STORY!! …I hated those movies…so long & boring…

OH NO! Y'all don't think that about this series do you?! WAAGH! Tell me when I should bury this darn thing, so I don't go overboard and take a little swim with the sharks while wrapped in rump steak, mmmkay?! It's hazardous to my health!

~ Wannon-chan ~