There were marketplaces to be sure, but they were livelier and more diverse, both in what they sold and who shopped there. There were towns here too, but they were wider and had larger buildings within and around it. Beyond those was a blank wasteland, not a forest separating it from the rest of the world. But beyond the quant little town there was an ever-looming bad memory in the form of a large, abandoned castle. No different than the Old Mansion. There was an open blue sky above them, not one permanently teetering on the horizon making everything gold tinted.

With all of these differences, he was sure of one thing. This place sure wasn't Twilight Town.

And that made him sure of one other thing as well. This was the place where he'd find the man who long eluded him.

Seifer Almasy had come a long way to find this place, though he didn't know it was the place until he got here, but now that he was, he knew it was where he had to be.

Though the others still needed some convincing.

"Yo, Seifer!" Rai came up to his left side "You sure this is the place? I'm just not feeling it y'know." Rai asked looking around as Seifer remained in place, keeping his eyes straight instead of to him "Maybe we took a wrong turn at that whale y'know?" he said as he crossed his arms with each one pointing a different way. Fuu came up on the other side.

"Uncertainty." she said blandly.

"No!" Seifer snapped suddenly keeping a much sterner stance as opposed to his animated companion "This is the place, I know it." he said with conviction before walking forward leaving the two behind at first. Fuu and Rai looked to each other confused at first but then looked to see him still walking forward and they bounded after him, coming to his sides as he stopped again before a crosswalk.

They parted here and instead of the road leading one way, it led to many. A small circular courtyard that had five roads leading from it. And they were standing on one of them, though they were far from the only people on to enter this crowded section, but they were the only ones not moving. Street traffic moved along and around them as if they weren't there. Not only that, but it was a busy street venue with multiple shops and houses littered along the road. The three of them stopped and looked around trying to gauge their next step and a potential target. Though some had an easier time than others.

"Where's the tram at y'know?" Rai asked distracted by everything. Looking around as he scratched his head, but finding no sign of anything along these cobblestone streets "Do they expect everyone to walk everywhere?"

"Unreal." Fuu let out.

"We won't get anywhere by standing here. Come on." Seifer said trudging forward once more. Fuu and Rai followed quickly behind him, and with Seifer taking the lead they went head first into danger.

The first shop they came to was certainly busy, but they were in a hurry with no time to waste. He did not want the trail to go cold nor to lose the element of surprise. He stormed over to the first table and where the customer was being treated to both a good book and a good meal for he was just served a helping of pie.

Ichabod Crane eyed it greedily, but a sudden slam on the table had himself hiding behind his book as Seifer bore down on him with questions. Questions of 'Has he seen anyone' and 'How long he's been here'.

At first glance, given his sudden and overbearing nature, Ichabod thought him of an old bully come to haunt him again. But upon seeing that it was only a young man hardly older than his students, his nose popped up over the book and the rest of his gaunt face followed and even he now overshadowed the young boy, who still did not buckle under him even as Ichabod protruding neck hovered over him. He tugged at his pronounced Adams apple, concerned but not necessarily afraid now, he put the book down and had no time to answer Seifer before the owner, Tiana came and ordered the three out without a bite to eat.

"Tsh. Whatever." Seifer threw his arms up and was imitated by Rai before he walked out.

They left Tiana's Place behind and continued to make their way around the marketplace and the shops trying to weed out one person in a place that contained countless more. But each interaction was as quick, abrupt and unfulfilling as the first. They had just been ordered out of another establishment and without the sign of their quarry. It was just another place to scratch of their list, but they had only been to the marketplace so far. And this world was far greater than Twilight Town.

"Yo, there's too many people here y'know." Rai said hunched over and tired "And this place is so much bigger than Twilight Town!" he said with a heavy sigh.

"Too crowded." Fuu added. Rai then stood back up.

"How we ever gonna find this uh-" Rai droned for a moment trying to recall the name of who they were looking for "Squall guy." he said hopelessly. Seifer had remained surprisingly quiet, but he tensed up upon hearing that name, his open hands by his sides turning into balled fists. Of course, hearing that name only stirred Seifer further.

Squall Leonhart.

Seifer still remembered him all these years later. And he was sure wherever Squall was- which Seifer was certain was here- he remembered him too. The scar on his face seemed to sting as if he was cut open again. But along with that came a fire that burned brightly in his eyes.

"We will." Seifer said grinding his teeth.

"This must be one bad dude." Rai concluded "Musta done something bad if he's come out here to hide from ya."

"Tsc. Yeah." Seifer said with a smirk, one crooked and leaning to one side to run parallel beneath the scar on his face "We'll find him." Seifer said his focus unwavering "He's here somewhere. Whether he's running away or hiding all this time it won't do him any good. Not this time." he said as he began to walk forward again, his head moving around as he did. They all took in the view of their surroundings as they did, Seifer making sure to see that Squall didn't slip into a shop to hide or blend into the crowd to fade away. He scanned around and then stopped suddenly, snapping his head back so hard he could have broken it and double backing to where what he last saw "Whoaa." he let out as if taken by surprise, but still sounded coolly, his head falling back as his body jolted and then eased back.

"Seifer? What is it?!" Rai let out alarmed as he and Fuu jumped to his side. Fuu ready for a fight "Is it the guy?!" he asked punching one hand into his other open palm before putting both up.

"No." Seifer answered. But that didn't mean it wasn't worth his time.

Tifa walked down the street. A basket tucked under her arm, it's handle hanging around her forearm as she walked. The glasses inside of it though empty still shifted slightly with each step she made though she could hardly hear that given by all the commotion being made in the marketplace.

But their sounds diminished and were replaced with her own along with the rattling of the glasses in her basket the farther she got away. After a brief stop at the shop for breakfast Seventh Heaven was only a few blocks down and then a turn, but she had enough time to stop and pick up something for breakfast. She packed the neatly packed sandwich into the basket making sure it wouldn't dirty the glasses and continued on. Which was fortunate because she would be stopped again.

Though not by her own decision.

"Hey beautiful!" a voice called out, sounding cool and suave or at least trying very hard to be. She kept walking "Come on girl, don't be like that." he called disappointed, but no less trying to be cool. It was at that moment that she realized that having left the marketplace behind it was only her on the street. Or rather her and someone else. She stopped in place and stalled a moment before she turned halfway around to see not one, not two, but three teenagers looking at her. Though the one at the head of the group seemed to be the one that eyed her with the most interest.

"I'm sorry." she apologized, not really needing to but was somewhat taken back "Were you taking to me?"

The boy in the front stepped forward, standing tall by his own standards, but still below her, hardly reaching up to the bottom of her neck so she had no choice but to look down at him. Some blonde strands of hair edge out from under his black cap and a few fell before his eyes which watched her. A blue vest that only covered his chest exposing his flat stomach and a white coat with no sleeves. A bit over or under dressed depending on who you asked, Tifa supposed. But the most distinct thing wasn't what he wore but what he bore; a distinct scar going from right and trailing down between his eyes. And the cocky smile he had implied he bore it proudly. It seemed familiar though she'd never seen him before.

"Of course, I was beautiful. You're the only one here worthy talking too." he said, his voice full of himself, but he spoke flattery to her. "And pretty woman like you shouldn't be out here all by yourself."

Tifa couldn't help but chuckle aloud, though her bright smile made him perk up more "Oh that's very sweet of you." she complimented him as well "But I can handle myself." she said halfway about to turn before he rushed to speak again, stopping her.

"Let me at least escort you to where you're going!" he insisted with an outstretched arm though he did not take hold of her. She stopped halfway through her turn.

"I'm just going to work." she said reassuringly comforting him and nodding off down the street, though admittedly she was slightly amused by his antics.

"A working woman." he grinned "I like that. Shows your strong qualities to go with your features."

"Well, thank you for noticing." she said overly flattered, but also just trying to keep this moving along.

"Just trying to keep everything in line."

"We have people for that." she paused with a small smirk mixing into her smile as if about to reveal some secret though it was anything but that "In fact I'm a part of it; The Radiant Garden Restoration Committee."

"Well things certainly are radiant here." he said looking her up and down "But where I'm from we call it the Disciplinary Committee. And I'm the head of it." he proclaimed proudly with a thumb to his chest. Tifa thought perhaps he was too young or too brash to be part of such things, but different worlds had different rules after all, so she did not question it. But in doing so it led him to ask another question "That where you're heading now?" he asked.

"No, this is my other job."

He whistled "A double shift. No wonder everything's so right here" he complimented and looked her over once again "Well my lady, I can't let you go alone. Let me walk with you at least."

"You sound like you're a knight." she said, and the boy's excitement grew at that, reminding him of a long-held childhood dream he had. At the same time, it stirred the same in Tifa. That of a hero coming to rescue her "What's your name?" she asked curiously. She knew many people in this world, yet he was new to her. Which just raised more questions of why he was here.

"Seifer Almasy. This is Fuu and Rai." he said pointing over each one of his shoulders to introduce them.

"My names Tifa Lockhart." she said finishing the introductions "And if you want Seifer you can come with me," she lowered herself, mimicking a slight bow before him before she came back up again "though I don't think I can allow you entry." she giggled playfully coming back up "Given your age and all."

"I'm more mature than I look." Seifer said in a cocky voice puffing his chest out to make himself appear larger "But I'll gladly accept my lady's request." he said as he walked forward and Tifa's head moved with him, and her body began to turn as well until he took his place beside her, and they continued down her path. Him thinking he set them on the path again.

The two walked side by side as the other two mimicked them from behind, though hardly said a word.

"So, if you work here, you live here too, right?" he asked.

"Naturally." she answered.

"Well, I'm a bit new here myself." he said confirming Tifa's initial suspicion before he paused "I'm here looking for someone." he paused again, longer this time and his voice seemed to drop now to become less standoffish. It was more serious "Maybe you know him." She stopped in place, and the two faced each other.

"I suppose I may know who they are, or at least have the means to find out." she admitted "Who is it?"

Seifer's energy came back now, stronger than before.

"He's a big, tall guy." he almost yelled raising his arm high above his head and even hers "Kinda stern and quiet, a real stick in the mud." he said lowering it. She nodded "has a scar across his face." And with that said a glossy reflection came over Tifa's eyes. Just as she recognized the scar this boy had, she felt she knew who he was talking about. The perfect picture was forming in her mind, from everything he had just described to her. She knew this man very well for he was someone important to her "His name is Squall Leonhart." he finished, and her expectation became slightly muddied before disappearing entirely. She looked partly confused though she kept her eyes on him "Ring any bells?" he then asked.

Tifa remained silent as she stood there mulling over all he had said and described. He studied her closely and waited in anticipation.

"You know," she paused "I think I know who you're talking about." she said, somewhat surprised herself. The boy's eyes widened.

"Really?! Where'd you see him?!" he stepped forward and tensed up as if ready to fight, the other two did the same.

"I mean," she paused only briefly to get words to match her thoughts and feelings "I know someone who looks like that, but I don't know his name."

"That's gotta be him!" he said determined clenching his fists "Where is he?!"

"He's a customer at my bar sometimes." she said "That's the only times I've ever seen him."

"Then that's where I gotta be! Sorry Tifa, but I can't let him get away!" he said determined "Not this time!"

"What'd he do that was so bad?" she asked concerned. Seifer said nothing but dropped his shoulders and stood rigidly. Slowly he brought one hand up in between his eyes and traced the scar there.

"He left me something to remember him by, but I gave him one in return" he dropped his hand clenching it into a fist "But it's not over, not till I find him and finish what we started."

"I'm sorry." she said her voice apologetic even though she did nothing wrong. It was clear Seifer had come a long way and that he had been through so much already "I'll help you find him if I can. And if this guy is the same one that did this to you. He's got no right to be in my place." Seifer grinned when she said that.

"See." he said looking up to her and over her shoulder a smirk back on his face "You get things, I can tell."

Back at the Restoration Committee Headquarters, Leon stood in the large open space, one that tripled for the living room, meeting room, and kitchen. Unbeknownst to him was that there was a group here looking for him. He, of course, couldn't have known that. For he had his own group he was looking for. Though not the same one.

There was talk in the town of two separate pairs of troublemakers: two sets of two. One was of two raggedy con men who were known to parade around town harmlessly, until they swindled good people out of their own money. The other was of two mercenaries who were known to take any job for any price-though that price had to be great it was noted. And now these two problems had combined into one and now there were four out there all working together. But if they were together hopefully, it would make for an easier find.

Silently, Leon stood over the table, offering himself no relief by sitting there. He looked upon the files of the four, reading it over and over. About their appearance, the worlds they came from, why they were here, what they had done and what he might expect. Anything that would be about them that was known was in this file, courtesy of Cid and Tron. He looked over the names at the top of each one Honest John, Gideon, Gonzorgo, Roderigo.

He gave the last page one last look before he shut the file completely and set it on the table. Then he moved out of the room and through the door and into town to go find them.

At Seventh Heaven Tifa busied herself at the counter wiping it down or tidying it up. She ran her hand with a rag in it along the countertop. Her eyes rolled up to see that though they were closed, three people idle among the dim and smoky bar she owned. She watched them silently as they each took up a part of the room.

Fuu hardly said one word to her the entire time. She to match her words, moved the least and seemed content with just standing there to move her head and take in the sights. Far beyond her being just shy or even quiet, she seemed to make no noise at all.

Rai was a little more adventurous, if not curios as well, doing enough to make up for the others. He bent over, putting his hands on his knees as he peered ever closer to the pictures on the wall which hung directly before his face. His head flopped from one side and then the other as he inspected the rectangular frames at different angles. But it seemed either it gave him too much information or too little to take in at once. He reached in to poke at it with his finger to inspect it further, yet when he so much as nicked it, the picture flopped to one side. He scrambled away like a frightened mouse, but Tifa had met mice with better resolve than him. He then scrambled to put it back up thought it seemed he couldn't manage that.

She adorned a small smile at his attempts. Her eyes then flashed over to Seifer who stood more stoically than Fuu, and more idle than Rai. His arms were crossed in the center of the room as he awaited his long-lost foe. Her smile diminished when she saw him standing there. A sense of pity coming over her. There were countless people who lost this world when it was destroyed and though Seifer still seemed to have his, his own memory of loss seemed to haunt him.

Though she did not see it, the only thing he would look at besides the closed door was to her. Another scramble on the wall was heard and she saw Rai now had himself holding his arms out far from his body as he tried to steady two off centered pictures.

"Here." she said putting the rag down "Let me help you." her voice carried through the dank empty and very large and open room as she passed through the counter and went over to him. He remained against the wall. Siefer turned to watch Tifa moved as Fuu's eyes turned to watch as well.

Reaching his side as he stretched himself to his limit, she reached out to grab the picture in his outstretched right palm. He let out a relieved 'phew' as she steadied it against the wall. Siefer and Fuu moved over to join them as she walked over to do the same with the other picture Rai still held.

"Who's this?" Seifer then asked. Tifa turned to see him looking at a picture; one of a group of people "This your Disciplinary Committee?" he asked.

"Restoration Committee." she corrected as she steadied the other picture.

"Hmph." he let out as if amused by the 'softer' title as he dubbed it. The picture he looked at was a one of everyone in the Restoration Committee, well mostly everyone. There were the older men, Cid and Merlin in the back, beneath them Yuffie was jumping up into the frame next to Aerith and Tifa opposite her. The only one who wasn't there was the one taking the picture. The man Tifa knew very well. Her 'hero.'

"Hmmm." Rai leaned in again putting a hand to his chin, doing his own thorough inspection of the picture she just put back up for him "And who's this?" he pointed to the picture making sure not to touch it this time.

Tifa leaned in beside him. His finger was put on the aged duck in the picture who leaned on his cane with one hand and handed her the deed with the other.

"That's my boss. It's a picture of when I got this place." she told. The same person who took the picture of the Restoration Committee took this one.

"I see." he said introspectively, as if he had come to some grand conclusion "And who's this?" he asked moving his finger ever so slightly, now pointing to the figure who was getting handed the deed.

Tifa paused "That's me." she told flatly. He seemed surprised by the reveal, and in his silent outburst Tifa's eyes scanned over to Seifer who remained looking at her group picture.

"You look good in this picture." he complimented "Course it doesn't beat the real deal." he turned to her, and she offered him a complementary smile. He then looked around "So this place is all yours?" he asked.

"That's right." she answered happily with a nod.

"And you're certain he'll be here?" he asked clenching his fist.

"We'll see." Tifa said as she closed the distance between them "But when he does come, he won't be alone."

"Tsch." Seifer let out "I guess he finally learned how to make some friends."

"He's a loner?"

Siefer went quiet at first sparing a long hard stare at her before turning it away "He only had one friend last time." he admitted.

She knelt down to face him as she placed her hands on his shoulders trying to sooth and coddle him.

"I'll take you to him and if this is him, we'll take care of it. Together." she cemented with a nod. He did as well "And don't worry." she said "I won't let him hurt you again." he said, like she was the one who was going to protect him now, like she was the hero who was going to save someone. Seifer starred into her eyes, for as long as they were close. Then all of a sudden, the door opened, and everyone flinched. Tifa snapped her head around to see people entering. So, it was time to do her part. Which for now was just her job.

"Wait here." she said standing back up before she walked off ready for a day's work. Though it would be even more today.