Usual Disclaimers Apply.
Since this is an AU fic, I took liberties in changing a thing or two in the 'history' of the Wuatai-Shinra war. ^__^
Chapter 7
"Playing with Fire"
Tifa Lockheart hummed a happy tune as she cleaned her bar, excited at the thought of going to Wutai for the festival. God knew that she needed a break. It's been over a year since...
She shook her head. It was strange to refer to someone in the past tense, especially when someone close to you has a little bit of trouble in letting go. She forced her mind to drift to Yuffie, the other female member of AVALANCHE. Keeping in touch with Yuffie, as well as the others were difficult, all busy in rebuilding what they can, and helping in their own area. Her last contact with Yuffie was almost a week ago, confirming that she and Cloud were coming, and asking for Vincent's whereabouts. She thought that the young ninja sounded frustrated, and a bit tired, but Yuffie seemed so distracted it was hard to get a straight answer from her.
"Tifa, please tell me you never knew about this!"
She turned around and looked in surprise at the shocked expression on Cloud Strife's face as he handed her a news article. She scanned the paper and her eyes grew wide as she found the reason for Cloud's reaction. "Oh my god,"
Somewhere not that really that far away, a weary pilot sat in a diner, contemplating either to accept or decline an invitation from a certain ninja when he decided the read three days old paper that was stashed between the wall and the chair. He drank his tea, and promptly spat it out as a certain article caught his eye. The other patrons inside the diner could still hear the string of profanities the pilot let out even when he was already outside at the parking lot. There was an explanation for everything, and Cid Highwind will be damned if he didn't get one for this.
In another place, the mayor's office to be exact, Barret Wallace half listened to his secretary as he droned on and on about little diplomatic issues that usually included either a good luck card, a congratulation note, and all other mundane things until a certain name caught his attention.
"Say that again?"
The secretary blinked as he looked at his notes. "I was saying that I already sent flowers to Lady Yuffie Kisaragi of Wutai, for her engagement. Which reminds me that you still haven't accepted or declined her personal invitation for the festival."
"The brat, engaged?" Barret snorted. /Who would've thought?/
"Uhh, sir... If I may, referring to the next head of Wutai as brat may not be advisable for trade reasons..."
Mayor Wallace ignored his secretary as he scratched his chin with his good arm. "And what kind of fool is she marrying?"
The secretary scanned the report again. "Some guy named Reno Mikagi, not of Wutainese descent in fact..."
He never got a chance to finish his sentence as Barret practically leaped out of his chair. "WHAT?"
The secretary was last seen running out of the office, thankful not to be the receiving end of the mayor's wrath.
Back in Wutai:
Reno sneezed for the fourth time that day, even if he wasn't sick or experiencing any allergic reactions. It's been almost an hour since Elena called, and not that he was worried, but there was something strange the way Rude kept looking at his watch.
"I'm going to look for Elena."
A soft knock stopped Reno from replying as Rude answered the door, and a tired looking Elena walked in.
"Where have you been? Rude was about to look for you."
The blond Turk sighed. "I... I was looking for Yuffie."
"Why?"
She turned to face Rude, her face slightly worried. "After that call I made, Yuffie got into an argument with her father, and... he... he hit her."
Reno looked up from a pile of papers as Cait Sith popped out of the room. "Is she okay?"
"I don't know. I tried to look for her, but... it's like she just disappeared," Elena replied softly, banishing the thoughts of her own so-called childhood.
"Well, I just got a call from Tifa and she told me that she's gonna be here with Cloud by tonight, Tomorrow the latest. I'm sure she'll make Yuffie feel better." Cait Sith commented as he looked at the trio. "I wonder if Vincent's coming? Haven't heard from him in a while..."
"Does AVALANCHE know about the whole arrangement?" Rude asked Elena who shrugged.
"Probably not, Yuffie mentioned something about being too busy to talk to the other members of AVALANCHE..." Elena's expression lightened as a certain memory popped into her head. Reno looked at her in surprise.
"Don't tell me you're having a secret relationship with one of those losers," He snorted. "Honestly Elena, do you have to copy everything I do?"
Elena scowled as she sat down on the couch. "Idiot. I was just thinking that the way Yuffie talks about Valentine, you'd think that she has a thing for him."
Cait Sith grinned. "Well, she does try to annoy him more than she does the others," He turned to Reno with a sly smile. "Ooooohhhh, Reno's got competition!" He was rewarded with a dark scowl from the Turk. "
"Maybe you should look for her." Elena suggested softly as she looked at Reno, who just stared at her. "Come on, you've spent what... almost a week together..."
"She's paying me to spend time with her." Reno replied bluntly as he could. There was silence, until Cait Sith spoke up.
"Well, guess I'd better check up on the others if they're coming," Without waiting for a reply, he walked back inside his room, leaving the three Turks to themselves.
Back in his office, Lord Godo just stared outside his window until he heard a knock.
"Come in." He turned around and was pleased to see Alec Kitani walking towards him.
"Is everything alright, Lord Godo? You seem upset."
Godo nodded, inviting Alec to come nearer. "I... had a slight argument with Yuffie."
Alec nodded in understanding. "Reno Mikagi?"
"Among other things." Godo replied. "There, there was a specific reason why Shinra wanted Wutai."
His voice was so soft, Alec barely heard him. "Sir?"
"What I'm going to tell you, I tell you because I trust you."
Alec nodded, but kept silent.
"Yuffie's mother had a... certain gift. She could master the use of any materia without any trouble. However, she never really cared for it. She was picked by my father to be my wife when he learned about her capabilities. There was even rumours that her family came from a clan of summoners... they were rumours, but still..." Godo's voice faltered as his gaze traveled to the portrait. "There was also a certain way materia reacted to her. No one could explain it, and like I said, Misao never really cared for materia. Somehow, Shinra found about Misao... and they demanded that I give my wife to them for scientific reasons," Godo continued, voice filled with hate and disgust. "I refused, and the war began."
Alec looked surprised. "That was the cause of the war?"
Godo simply nodded. "I hid Misao, Yuffie was still a child when the war began." He gave a deep sigh. "Until Misao couldn't take it anymore. The destruction of the lands was too much for her, so she tried to fight." Godo stopped for a moment, before continuing. "She never told me what she was planning to do, all I knew was that she tried to summon a kind of attack from the materia that she had. She failed, and died."
"Was she killed?" Alec asked softly.
"No. The council told me that it was the way she used the materia that drained her life. Nobody could give me a descent explanation. No one really knew what happened. When General Sepiroth heard about my wife's death, he proposed a deal."
"Which was?"
"I give them a vial of Yuffie's blood, and they will leave. I... I was too distraught. My wife was dead, Wutai was in shambles, I knew that we could never win.... So, I agreed."
Godo stopped, his face filled with anger, regret and slight fear.
"That is why I will never ever trust anyone who has ever been associated with Shinra. God only knows what they did with my daughter's blood."
Alec looked at Godo, who was still staring at his wife's portrait. "You have nothing to fear, Lord Godo. Shinra will never harm your daughter. I swear it."
If only Godo turned to look at Alec, he would have seen the sinister gleam in his eyes.
*-*-
Tifa looked nervously at Cloud, who was still disturbed by the news that they have received. Cid and Barret already called, also shocked and in disbelief, asking her if she knew anything about it. They all agreed to meet at the outskirt of Wutai, so they can all deal with Yuffie at the same time. Her PHS rang, and Tifa quickly answered it, only to hear static at the end of the line.
"Hello?"
"Tifa? Is... you?" A voice asked.
"Who is this?" Tifa asked louder.
"Tifa, it's Reeve...." Whatever he was going to say was cut off.
Tifa strained her ears to listen. "I can't hear you..."
"Don't say anything, just listen. This isn't a secure line..."
More static.
"Reeve? Speak up, I can't understand you."
"Just listen, I'll explain everything when you get to Wutai, but whatever happens don't hassle Yuffie, got it?"
"Has this got to do with her engagement to Reno?"
"Yes..." Reeve answered through the static. "Listen, don't hassle Yuffie.... dad...."
Tifa was starting to get a headache. "Reeve, I'm sorry... I can't hear you."
"She's.... full...."
"What?"
"I said she's probably not going to be feeling well... problems with her father.... depressed... Reno..."
Tifa groaned trying to make sense of their conversation. She tried to listen, but it seems that the connection has been cut.
"What was that about?" Cloud asked, looking ahead as they rode their Chocobo.
"It was Reeve, I couldn't understand, something to do with Yuffie and Reno."
Cloud remained expressionless.
"He was saying something about Yuffie not feeling well, that we shouldn't hassle her...
some problem with her dad, I don't know, I couldn't hear him properly."
"We should be meeting the others in a few hours. We'll talk about it then,"
Tifa replied, and the rest of their journey was made in relative silence. A few hours later, she was relaxing near the fire, while the rest of AVALANCHE, minus Vincent and Yuffie gathered to talk. Wutai was now an hour away, and they were debating whether to go now or wait until tomorrow.
"I say we go now, the faster we get this cleared up, the sooner I can go!"
Red looked at Barret. "You're not staying for the festival?"
"Foo! I'm not stayin' in a Turk lovin' town."
"You got that right! Let's get this *$#&+ thing cleared up right now!"
Tifa bit her lip as she remembered her conversation with Reeve. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."
Cloud just stood up. "I agree with Barret and Cid. The sooner we can get this cleared up, well..."
Red walked towards Cloud. "True, the news did surprise me, but I also agree with Tifa.
We have to approach this with caution. I'm sure there's a rational explanation for everything."
"There's nothin' rational 'bout getting involved with a Turk!"
Cid was going to agree vocally, but stopped at the look Tifa gave him.
Cloud looked at his team. None of them would be able to sleep anyway until they get everything straight from Yuffie. "Let's go."
It was already late at night, but the streets of Wutai were still busy, people enjoying the night air. Cloud had to admit that Wutai was in better shape than the last time that they were there. Everyone was excited about the festival, and the group traveled in silence, until they came across a group of kids playing near an old temple.
"I told you they were going to get married!"
Another girl nodded. "They're gonna have a baby! Lady Yuffie's gonna have a baby!"
At that, the group immediately came to a halt as a black haired boy continued.
"Mr. Reno's so cool! Did you see the way he was using that stick!"
Another boy nodded in agreement. "I know! I wonder if their baby's gonna be a boy or a girl?"
The girls, of course shouted 'girl!' the boys contradicted. As the little group argued, a woman walked out of the temple and ushered the kids inside. AVALANCHE was silent until Barret spoke up.
"I knew it! I knew there was a reason for this! Bastard probably got the pest pregnant!"
Cid nodded in agreement. "That &%#$ scum!"
Tifa paled as she recalled her conversation with Reeve. "That's what Reeve was trying to tell me!"
Red remained silent as he listened to Tifa. "He was saying something about Yuffie not feeling well, and that she was having problems with her dad..."
"What do we do now?" Red finally asked as they stared at each other.
"We should just stay at the inn. We'll look for Yuffie tomorrow." The group nodded, and each thought what they would do to Reno when they get their hands on him.
=TbC=
Hmmmm, wonder where will I put Vincent in, anyhow... there was a Yuffie page that I saw before, and they mentioned something that in the game, Yuffie didn't get affected by a confusion attack, or something like that. I just used that idea. Speaking of which, whatever that idea is magnum opus, I'd like to see it! Go for it, mate! Good luck with your finals. As a graduate, I can finally say farewell to those icky exams!
Faltering Hues: When can Britney come over? Alec has a deep dark secret!
Thanks for all your comments! Much appreciated. Yuffie will be in the next chapter. Just wanted to get the group together.
Since this is an AU fic, I took liberties in changing a thing or two in the 'history' of the Wuatai-Shinra war. ^__^
Chapter 7
"Playing with Fire"
Tifa Lockheart hummed a happy tune as she cleaned her bar, excited at the thought of going to Wutai for the festival. God knew that she needed a break. It's been over a year since...
She shook her head. It was strange to refer to someone in the past tense, especially when someone close to you has a little bit of trouble in letting go. She forced her mind to drift to Yuffie, the other female member of AVALANCHE. Keeping in touch with Yuffie, as well as the others were difficult, all busy in rebuilding what they can, and helping in their own area. Her last contact with Yuffie was almost a week ago, confirming that she and Cloud were coming, and asking for Vincent's whereabouts. She thought that the young ninja sounded frustrated, and a bit tired, but Yuffie seemed so distracted it was hard to get a straight answer from her.
"Tifa, please tell me you never knew about this!"
She turned around and looked in surprise at the shocked expression on Cloud Strife's face as he handed her a news article. She scanned the paper and her eyes grew wide as she found the reason for Cloud's reaction. "Oh my god,"
Somewhere not that really that far away, a weary pilot sat in a diner, contemplating either to accept or decline an invitation from a certain ninja when he decided the read three days old paper that was stashed between the wall and the chair. He drank his tea, and promptly spat it out as a certain article caught his eye. The other patrons inside the diner could still hear the string of profanities the pilot let out even when he was already outside at the parking lot. There was an explanation for everything, and Cid Highwind will be damned if he didn't get one for this.
In another place, the mayor's office to be exact, Barret Wallace half listened to his secretary as he droned on and on about little diplomatic issues that usually included either a good luck card, a congratulation note, and all other mundane things until a certain name caught his attention.
"Say that again?"
The secretary blinked as he looked at his notes. "I was saying that I already sent flowers to Lady Yuffie Kisaragi of Wutai, for her engagement. Which reminds me that you still haven't accepted or declined her personal invitation for the festival."
"The brat, engaged?" Barret snorted. /Who would've thought?/
"Uhh, sir... If I may, referring to the next head of Wutai as brat may not be advisable for trade reasons..."
Mayor Wallace ignored his secretary as he scratched his chin with his good arm. "And what kind of fool is she marrying?"
The secretary scanned the report again. "Some guy named Reno Mikagi, not of Wutainese descent in fact..."
He never got a chance to finish his sentence as Barret practically leaped out of his chair. "WHAT?"
The secretary was last seen running out of the office, thankful not to be the receiving end of the mayor's wrath.
Back in Wutai:
Reno sneezed for the fourth time that day, even if he wasn't sick or experiencing any allergic reactions. It's been almost an hour since Elena called, and not that he was worried, but there was something strange the way Rude kept looking at his watch.
"I'm going to look for Elena."
A soft knock stopped Reno from replying as Rude answered the door, and a tired looking Elena walked in.
"Where have you been? Rude was about to look for you."
The blond Turk sighed. "I... I was looking for Yuffie."
"Why?"
She turned to face Rude, her face slightly worried. "After that call I made, Yuffie got into an argument with her father, and... he... he hit her."
Reno looked up from a pile of papers as Cait Sith popped out of the room. "Is she okay?"
"I don't know. I tried to look for her, but... it's like she just disappeared," Elena replied softly, banishing the thoughts of her own so-called childhood.
"Well, I just got a call from Tifa and she told me that she's gonna be here with Cloud by tonight, Tomorrow the latest. I'm sure she'll make Yuffie feel better." Cait Sith commented as he looked at the trio. "I wonder if Vincent's coming? Haven't heard from him in a while..."
"Does AVALANCHE know about the whole arrangement?" Rude asked Elena who shrugged.
"Probably not, Yuffie mentioned something about being too busy to talk to the other members of AVALANCHE..." Elena's expression lightened as a certain memory popped into her head. Reno looked at her in surprise.
"Don't tell me you're having a secret relationship with one of those losers," He snorted. "Honestly Elena, do you have to copy everything I do?"
Elena scowled as she sat down on the couch. "Idiot. I was just thinking that the way Yuffie talks about Valentine, you'd think that she has a thing for him."
Cait Sith grinned. "Well, she does try to annoy him more than she does the others," He turned to Reno with a sly smile. "Ooooohhhh, Reno's got competition!" He was rewarded with a dark scowl from the Turk. "
"Maybe you should look for her." Elena suggested softly as she looked at Reno, who just stared at her. "Come on, you've spent what... almost a week together..."
"She's paying me to spend time with her." Reno replied bluntly as he could. There was silence, until Cait Sith spoke up.
"Well, guess I'd better check up on the others if they're coming," Without waiting for a reply, he walked back inside his room, leaving the three Turks to themselves.
Back in his office, Lord Godo just stared outside his window until he heard a knock.
"Come in." He turned around and was pleased to see Alec Kitani walking towards him.
"Is everything alright, Lord Godo? You seem upset."
Godo nodded, inviting Alec to come nearer. "I... had a slight argument with Yuffie."
Alec nodded in understanding. "Reno Mikagi?"
"Among other things." Godo replied. "There, there was a specific reason why Shinra wanted Wutai."
His voice was so soft, Alec barely heard him. "Sir?"
"What I'm going to tell you, I tell you because I trust you."
Alec nodded, but kept silent.
"Yuffie's mother had a... certain gift. She could master the use of any materia without any trouble. However, she never really cared for it. She was picked by my father to be my wife when he learned about her capabilities. There was even rumours that her family came from a clan of summoners... they were rumours, but still..." Godo's voice faltered as his gaze traveled to the portrait. "There was also a certain way materia reacted to her. No one could explain it, and like I said, Misao never really cared for materia. Somehow, Shinra found about Misao... and they demanded that I give my wife to them for scientific reasons," Godo continued, voice filled with hate and disgust. "I refused, and the war began."
Alec looked surprised. "That was the cause of the war?"
Godo simply nodded. "I hid Misao, Yuffie was still a child when the war began." He gave a deep sigh. "Until Misao couldn't take it anymore. The destruction of the lands was too much for her, so she tried to fight." Godo stopped for a moment, before continuing. "She never told me what she was planning to do, all I knew was that she tried to summon a kind of attack from the materia that she had. She failed, and died."
"Was she killed?" Alec asked softly.
"No. The council told me that it was the way she used the materia that drained her life. Nobody could give me a descent explanation. No one really knew what happened. When General Sepiroth heard about my wife's death, he proposed a deal."
"Which was?"
"I give them a vial of Yuffie's blood, and they will leave. I... I was too distraught. My wife was dead, Wutai was in shambles, I knew that we could never win.... So, I agreed."
Godo stopped, his face filled with anger, regret and slight fear.
"That is why I will never ever trust anyone who has ever been associated with Shinra. God only knows what they did with my daughter's blood."
Alec looked at Godo, who was still staring at his wife's portrait. "You have nothing to fear, Lord Godo. Shinra will never harm your daughter. I swear it."
If only Godo turned to look at Alec, he would have seen the sinister gleam in his eyes.
*-*-
Tifa looked nervously at Cloud, who was still disturbed by the news that they have received. Cid and Barret already called, also shocked and in disbelief, asking her if she knew anything about it. They all agreed to meet at the outskirt of Wutai, so they can all deal with Yuffie at the same time. Her PHS rang, and Tifa quickly answered it, only to hear static at the end of the line.
"Hello?"
"Tifa? Is... you?" A voice asked.
"Who is this?" Tifa asked louder.
"Tifa, it's Reeve...." Whatever he was going to say was cut off.
Tifa strained her ears to listen. "I can't hear you..."
"Don't say anything, just listen. This isn't a secure line..."
More static.
"Reeve? Speak up, I can't understand you."
"Just listen, I'll explain everything when you get to Wutai, but whatever happens don't hassle Yuffie, got it?"
"Has this got to do with her engagement to Reno?"
"Yes..." Reeve answered through the static. "Listen, don't hassle Yuffie.... dad...."
Tifa was starting to get a headache. "Reeve, I'm sorry... I can't hear you."
"She's.... full...."
"What?"
"I said she's probably not going to be feeling well... problems with her father.... depressed... Reno..."
Tifa groaned trying to make sense of their conversation. She tried to listen, but it seems that the connection has been cut.
"What was that about?" Cloud asked, looking ahead as they rode their Chocobo.
"It was Reeve, I couldn't understand, something to do with Yuffie and Reno."
Cloud remained expressionless.
"He was saying something about Yuffie not feeling well, that we shouldn't hassle her...
some problem with her dad, I don't know, I couldn't hear him properly."
"We should be meeting the others in a few hours. We'll talk about it then,"
Tifa replied, and the rest of their journey was made in relative silence. A few hours later, she was relaxing near the fire, while the rest of AVALANCHE, minus Vincent and Yuffie gathered to talk. Wutai was now an hour away, and they were debating whether to go now or wait until tomorrow.
"I say we go now, the faster we get this cleared up, the sooner I can go!"
Red looked at Barret. "You're not staying for the festival?"
"Foo! I'm not stayin' in a Turk lovin' town."
"You got that right! Let's get this *$#&+ thing cleared up right now!"
Tifa bit her lip as she remembered her conversation with Reeve. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."
Cloud just stood up. "I agree with Barret and Cid. The sooner we can get this cleared up, well..."
Red walked towards Cloud. "True, the news did surprise me, but I also agree with Tifa.
We have to approach this with caution. I'm sure there's a rational explanation for everything."
"There's nothin' rational 'bout getting involved with a Turk!"
Cid was going to agree vocally, but stopped at the look Tifa gave him.
Cloud looked at his team. None of them would be able to sleep anyway until they get everything straight from Yuffie. "Let's go."
It was already late at night, but the streets of Wutai were still busy, people enjoying the night air. Cloud had to admit that Wutai was in better shape than the last time that they were there. Everyone was excited about the festival, and the group traveled in silence, until they came across a group of kids playing near an old temple.
"I told you they were going to get married!"
Another girl nodded. "They're gonna have a baby! Lady Yuffie's gonna have a baby!"
At that, the group immediately came to a halt as a black haired boy continued.
"Mr. Reno's so cool! Did you see the way he was using that stick!"
Another boy nodded in agreement. "I know! I wonder if their baby's gonna be a boy or a girl?"
The girls, of course shouted 'girl!' the boys contradicted. As the little group argued, a woman walked out of the temple and ushered the kids inside. AVALANCHE was silent until Barret spoke up.
"I knew it! I knew there was a reason for this! Bastard probably got the pest pregnant!"
Cid nodded in agreement. "That &%#$ scum!"
Tifa paled as she recalled her conversation with Reeve. "That's what Reeve was trying to tell me!"
Red remained silent as he listened to Tifa. "He was saying something about Yuffie not feeling well, and that she was having problems with her dad..."
"What do we do now?" Red finally asked as they stared at each other.
"We should just stay at the inn. We'll look for Yuffie tomorrow." The group nodded, and each thought what they would do to Reno when they get their hands on him.
=TbC=
Hmmmm, wonder where will I put Vincent in, anyhow... there was a Yuffie page that I saw before, and they mentioned something that in the game, Yuffie didn't get affected by a confusion attack, or something like that. I just used that idea. Speaking of which, whatever that idea is magnum opus, I'd like to see it! Go for it, mate! Good luck with your finals. As a graduate, I can finally say farewell to those icky exams!
Faltering Hues: When can Britney come over? Alec has a deep dark secret!
Thanks for all your comments! Much appreciated. Yuffie will be in the next chapter. Just wanted to get the group together.