I Promise.......

Chapter 21

Cloud sighed, he knew he shouldn't even be asking Tifa, it wasn't the right time. He felt that even though the time was not right it was interfering with his ability to be leader. He was going to ask her and if they were nothing more than friends he would be happy…I guess. If they were something more he didn't know, probably happy relieved worried all mixed up together. Once he finds out the answer he was sure he would be able to function fully as a leader and no longer get side-tracked with thoughts about his life.

On top of that they had to return with Reeve and needed to take Yuffie with them, since she knew where he was. Just then Tifa walked in, " Hey Cloud!" Cloud smiled, " Tifa, I have a very important question for you...I need you to answer honestly and if you feel uncomfortable talking about it then I understand." Tifa nodded her head and waited for what he was going to ask. " Tifa I ne---" Just Cloud's luck somebody waltzed right in when he was about to ask a very important question. " Cloud!"

It was none other than Red. " Yes, Red?" Cloud said with irritation in his voice. " Remember when you said as soon as Yuffie makes up her mind we go, well she has decided to come." " That's good." " But Vincent has to come with us." Cloud raised an eyebrow, " Don't ask me…" " Does Vincent know?" Red shook his head, " Aright, we head out." Red left and Cloud sighed. He got up from his chair and glanced back at Tifa, " I'll have to ask you later okay, Tifa?" " Sure…one question though…what am I and the others to do?" " Back us up when we call for you." She nodded her head and watched him leave.

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Reeve was tired, he had been listening to the guard outside of his door and was grateful that Yuffie had escaped….too bad I couldn't have gotten out either. Then he looked at his injuries, I would have slowed her down and anyways She probably knew that and anyways I guess she didn't want to injure me any more. Reeve sighed, suddenly he heard footsteps. Jet walked through followed by Colantel and Kayabusa. Colantel stepped forward and glared at him…as though he was just a doll to be stabbed and let the pain out. " You helped her did you not?" Colantel had no emotion evident in his voice, like he ever did though. Reeve stared at them not willing to talk, Colantel smiled…

"Shall I let you know what torture we made her suffer with? Shall we let you know how we violated her mind, body? To know that your usual spunky friend in now nothing more that a shell?" Reeve glowered at the man that stood before him. " I already know, for that is the only way to make yourself feel superior…making others feel your pain and making them under go things that would make their once free spirited selves like you? I've known it for years, ever since I heard of you I knew it because you envy those that are free, spirited and still have their innocence and Youth just like your dear Jade. " Jade just walked in, she heard the last part and screamed a scream so loud and horrible it sounded not human, but an monster in pain.

She charged forward towards Reeve with a blade drawn. It had been years since someone last reminded her of it, she charged forward towards him. Her blade was two inches away from his face but Colantel had grabbed her waist and held her close to him. " Shhh…it is in the past now, do not worry I am here for you for all eternity. Remember he is dead now, I killed him when I walked in your house." Jade nodded her head..." I remember……."

Flashback

Colantel had been walking the streets looking for potentials to join his search to find young Yuffie. He was walking through the slums, when he heard a high-pitched scream followed by loud protests of shouts and sobs. He raced towards where the sound was coming from. Something told him he was running out of time, that he had to find that person soon. He came upon the house with blood all over the walls and floor. The floor showed blood in a straight area leading to a room. He knew it was a trail of blood, that someone had been dragged.

He came into the room and found Jade, she was on the ground half-clothed. Blood was all around her, he noticed the bathroom door was closed and the light was on. He walked quickly and quietly over to Jade picking her up and putting her on the bed. He motioned her to stay quiet and sit where he had put her. Colantel was blinded with the pain of seeing someone violated and taken her happiness and joy away , he walked towards the door and waited for the man known as Mark to come out. Oh, he did and the moment he did Colantel knocked him unconscious. He made the man suffer five days of torture, horrible torture. Then he left him dead, allowing him to sit and bathe in his own blood. That was the day he truly hated, he had the madness flowing through his veins. That was when he became beyond corruption. Jade decided to join Colantel and ever since then Jade, Jet and Him made up the crew. Until Kayabusa came along.

End of Flashback

Colantel glared murderously at Reeve, " I suggest you try your best to not bring up past events or you will face the same thing I put Mark through." Reeve just smiled and watched them leave, Jet took one last glance at Reeve and shook his head. " Jade, wait." Jade turned around and stared at him, " I warn you watch your back…" Jade walked over and slapped him across the face, " Why should I? Don't threaten me again." " I am not threatening you, just letting you know that Mark has been brought back to life.

Before Hojo died he found Mark, he was going to use him for testing but he escaped. So Hojo injected the Jenova cells in himself. Ever since then Mark has been lost, he probably knows where you are and is going to come back and finish his job….enjoy your time while you can." Jade shook her head, " I shan't be told lies." " How can you be so sure they aren't lies?" Jade bit her lower lip, and went to outside where Colantel was waiting for her outside of the cell door. " Do not fear Jade, for if he is alive I promise I will return him back to where he belongs."

Jade smiled weakly and gave him a hug. Not many knew about their relationship. And that was how they liked it, personal only they knew about each other and nothing else mattered. He sighed, wondering what path he would have chosen had he not known about Yuffie and her necklace. He knew Jade would not have minded him kissing Yuffie, it was simply to crack her confidence and get the answer they needed. They walked along the path hand-in-hand. Colantel suddenly stopped, their stood before them a shadow of someone. " Who said they were lies?" Jade screamed, she couldn't believe who stood before her.