Cloud: ...*sigh* Neither Liv nor Onna owns any of us, anyway...
Onna: Darn right we don't!
Kenshin: Oro...
Kaoru: *fighting with clone Kaoru*
*****
Destiny's Call - 14
By: Liv (aka LGStrife)
"Okay! Everybody, listen up!" Cloud's voice boomed. Everyone was seated around the Cosmo Candle except him who was standing. "Like Kaoru said, we're gonna split up. And if there are two places I would suspect to be related to Jenova, it'd be the Northern Crater and the Promised Land."
"The snowy fields?!" Cid exclaimed.
Cloud nodded.
"&%& man! It's &%^&ing COLD there!"
"I know. But there's a very big possibility that Jenova is waiting for us near the heart of Planet."
"This planet has a heart?" Sano was weirded out.
"For starters, yes. It's where we fought Sephiroth." Cloud turned to the tall man. "We last saw him draining the very life of Planet. It's just the energy that Jenova needs."
Sephiroth groaned. Somehow, he didn't want to be reminded of the 'stupidity' he had done.
"The Promised Land is also a good source of energy. It's flourished with never-been-touched Mako energy. It's also where we found Sephiroth in his Mako egg."
"What are you getting at, Strife?" Sephiroth asked. "Are you telling them these facts so I would feel sorry?"
"That's not it, Sephiroth." Cloud turned to him. "But I'm glad you asked why."
"I see that my presence is a must."
"These two places are very well related to you. With you in either, we will somehow take a step closer to defeating Jenova."
"Very well, how?"
Cloud shrugged. "Ask yourself, you claimed to be Jenova's son."
Sephiroth snarled. "Bastard."
"Hey!" Tifa interrupted immediately. "This isn't the time for a hero-villain argument." She looked at both men. "So. Cloud." She faced her friend. "What could be Sephiroth's importance in the Northern Crater?"
"Well, I was thinking that he could open the way into the heart of Planet." Cloud continued. "But somehow, that might not be necessary, anymore. As for the Promised Land, the place might react to his presence."
"As to how you explained your hypotheses, my path seems to lead back to the crater." Sephiroth decided.
"I'll try and asked my ancestors for help." Aeris spoke. "I'll be heading for the Promised Land."
"In that case, I'm with her." Zack raised his hand.
"On second thought, the Promised Land seems to need me."
Everyone turned to Sephiroth in confusion.
"But...Sephiroth..." Cloud spoke. "I thought you--"
"If Jenova senses that they are in the Northern Crater, then he will let them enter and meet him." Sephiroth interrupted. "The WEAPONs are also a danger."
"What?! But the WEAPONs are--"
"Jenova is alive." Sephiroth interrupted once more. "If he is alive, there is a big possibility that these WEAPONs are with him."
Cloud silenced. He didn't know what to answer. "...The Promised Land...that's where I'm going."
"I'm coming with you, Cloud!" Tifa stood up.
Cloud nodded. "Who else?"
"There's NO WAY I'm returning to that creepy crater!" Yuffie spoke next.
"So, we have Yuffie with us...would anyone else want to come?" Cloud looked at everybody. Then to the woman in kimono. "Kaoru?"
Kaoru shook her head. "My instincts tell me that I have to go to the crater."
"All right, then. Does that mean Kenshin is coming along?"
"Aa de gozaru." Kenshin nodded. "I can't let anything happen to Kaoru-dono, anymore."
"We're with them!" Sano and Yahiko held each other by the shoulder.
"Cid and I will take good care of them." Vincent said. "The monsters in the crater are vicious."
Sano and Yahiko gulped.
Vincent turned to the boys. "Backing out?"
"Uh, what? Us??" Yahiko shook his head. "No way! We're staying with Busu and Kenshin!"
Kaoru took her weapon and slammed it on Yahiko's head.
"ITAI!" Yahiko rubbed his head while Sano laughed.
Cloud looked at Cait Sith. "Where do you go?"
"I...think I'd like to help them." Cait Sith pointed to Kaoru.
Cloud nodded. *That's very brave of you Cait Sith.* He clapped his hands once. "The party for Northern Crater will leave earlier than my party! It's farther away from the Promised Land. And besides, I still have to fetch other Chocobos."
"Wha??" Yuffie raised an eyebrow. "I don't get it!"
"I'll take the Gold Chocobo to the ranch and come back with our ocean and mountain Chocobos. The Northern Crater party will wait for us in Icicle Inn. Once we arrive, they'll take all the Chocobos they need, two people on one animal. You should also leave two Chocobos for us."
"That doesn't seem to fit your needs." Cid realized.
"I can teach Sephiroth to ski."
"I can fly, thank you." Sephiroth immediately said. A few smirks and giggles were heard. Seriously, the thought of Sephiroth skiing is very funny and impossible.
*****
"Ms. Kaoru!" Marlene knocked on the door. "Ms. Kaoru, I have your lunch!"
"Coming!"
Marlene took steps backward as the door opened. "Tada!" She presented a tray of meal she helped Elmyra do.
"Oh my, that looks delicious." Kaoru bent looking at the tray. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Marlene-chan!"
Marlene giggled once more.
"Kaoru!"
"Huh?" Kaoru stood straight to see Elmyra coming. "What is it, Elmyra-san?"
"I just came to tell you that my friend is coming by 2330H."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh! I'm sorry." Elmyra hit her forehead with her palm. "I meant he would arrive by 11:30 pm. I hope you can wait that long."
"That's near midnight...!"
"Ms. Kaoru," Marlene tugged on her dress again. "It's better than nothing, right?"
Kaoru gave a small smile. "Hai...I guess so..."
*****
"Good luck, Ken."
Kenshin nodded. "Hai! You, too, Kuraudo-san." He was already seated on the Chocobo with Kaoru holding onto his waist.
"Thanks." Cloud, on the other hand, was seated on his Gold Chocobo.
"Kuraudo-san," Kaoru spoke. "Thank you for all the help."
Cloud nodded. "You're welcome."
"Are we all set?" Vincent waddled over to Kenshin on his and Cid's Chocobo. He received a nod. He turned to Cloud. "Strife, take care of yourself."
"You, too."
Vincent gestured for his Chocobo to turn around. "Let's go! Giddy!" Together with his party, they left for Icicle Inn.
Cloud watched them go. Well, it's time for me to leave.
"Giddy!"
- End of Part 14 -
Terms:
1. Northern Crater - Final battle place.
2. The Promised Land - said to be a land that promises endless happiness.
For Cetras only.
Liv: Well, that was rather short.
Cloud: This part is actually the shortest you've written for the story.
Liv: ...praise me?
Cloud: No.
Liv: Damn...
Onna and Kaoru: ^^;;
Kenshin: -_-x;;