The dawn looked like a muggier, mistier twilight as it broke over the town. Light slowly crept into the windows and trickled down from the roofs and gutters into the streets. Of course, if you were closer to the castle, it sometimes took just a little bit longer for the sun to reach you since you were under those ever-looming towers of the old castle.

And it just so happens that the Restoration Committee found themselves in one such place.

The inside of the room was dark as there was no window to look outside with. But the feeling of the morning and the time of day could still be felt by waking up to the usual sight and feelings. Only it wasn't exactly the usual in Tifa and Leon's room.

She heard the faintest bit of movement that caused her to sleepily open her eyes. The room was dark with only stray bits of light from around the closed door seeping in. From that scant amount of light reflected on the mirror, she could see Leon not beside her on the bed but standing up and dressing himself.

She rolled in place shifting the blanket, ruffling the pillow a bit and letting out a tired morning breath as she did. It was enough to let him know she was awake even though he did not see her.

She looked over and saw Leon was already dressed. She said nothing yet as she curled up further in bed. But he apparently knew she was awake though he did not face her.

"You know what you're doing today?" he asked dryly as he rolled his shoulder into his jacket pulling it over them. Always to the point with him.

"Hm?" she perked up after hearing him "What?" she asked tiredly, but he just repeated it in the same manner as before "Well, I just got up. I hardly know what I'll have for breakfast." she quipped. He continued on with his questioning.

"Bars not open right?" he asked.

"No." she answered. And that seemed to give him an idea of what to expect.

"Hm." he let out before a pause as if acknowledging he heard her before he found the rest of his thoughts "Well..." he said before a longer one gaining her attention and holding it "You don't think you'll be going out to the Great Maw, will you?" he asked another question and like the last one she perked up at it, though this time even more. The great ravine that lay just outside of the castle walls. Nothing dwelled there because nothing could. There was just nothing. The only thing it was a long open space and a winding rocky path to the old castle seemingly on the other side of the world. Her face scrunched up a bit more confused and she lifted her head off of the pillow.

"I don't think so. Why?"

Looking down he fastened his belts and took a long pause "I'll be there today." he said before bringing it back up.

Getting an answer from his sedated her curiosity, and she rested her head back on the pillow "Still looking for those four guys?" she asked. If he had no luck in town then it made sense, he would widen his search.

He stopped in his movements. She saw his shoulders rise and fall from a deep breath and when he exhaled, he responded "You still looking for the one?"

She grinned knocking off more of the sleep on her face "We'll have to see where the day takes me." she said not thinking much of his interest in it. He had been looking for those four, so it was likely just a parallel to their days or so she thought.

"Hm." he grumbled again in acknowledgement and for the first time moved from his spot. Her eyes followed him to see where he went next. He went to the corner where his weapon of choice was resting against the wall. A sword with a blade as wide and long as a person, but with a grip like a revolver, fit with a barrel, hammer, and trigger. And dangling from the black grip was a chain and hanging from it to match the one around his neck was a lion pendant.

He reached up and took ahold of the grip. Her head rose up now even more than before.

"What do you need that for?" she asked, concern now in her voice as she lifted her head up further towards him.

He looked down at the reflection in the blade, and it shined in the darkness of the room, reflecting the small amount of light as if it was one the water.

"Just a feeling." he answered as he walked back now and sat himself at the foot of the bed. He continued to look down at the blade, and she watched him warily. Then he raised it up before him and touched the tip to the floor to let it stand upwards as he held it upside down. His head was bowed, and his hair fell down with it, almost like he was praying to the blade.

"Do you want me to help?" she asked. He turned his head up and looked to her.

"No." he answered, but that didn't seem to fill her with confidence "Don't worry." he said turning his face forward "It's not as bad as it seems." That however, despite how steadfast he sounded did not lessen her worry.

"Maybe it's worse."

"Maybe..." he answered "but maybe not." he reaffirmed his stance and his eyes rolled over to see her still very concerned and looking at him "You don't need to worry." he said again more reassuring this time "I'm just going to train." he revealed "I have to great stronger." he said with a slight inflection in his voice. He identified it as weakness; she did as sensitivity.

"Well," she began "someone's going to have to keep this town together today while you're gone." she said as she threw the blanket up off herself and in landed on him covering him completely. He let out a huff, and the blanket blew before his face. His arm then reached out from under it, and he cast if off of him and remained in place holding the sword into the floor as Tifa got ready for her day.

She walked towards the door and opened it allowing light to fully come into the room from the rest of the house. But she stopped short of walking out only to turn back and see Leon still sitting there with his sword in hand and still within the shadows of the room. This oddity brought concern and curiosity back to her as she looked him over.

"Are you coming out?" she asked.

"I'll be out in a minute." he replied, still looking ahead and not at her. She looked him over curiously and then walked out leaving the door open "You can close the door." he called out in a request. She rolled her eyes and took a half step back and did just as he asked leaving him complete darkness.

She walked away from the door and down the hallways passing several closed doors which were the rooms of everyone else who stayed here, save for the one at the end which was the bathroom.

And after that the room opened up into the main common room and kitchen where she found Cid and Yuffie already up. Cid pouring himself a cup of coffee and Yuffie sitting before a tower of pancake stacked perhaps a bit too high.

"Morning." Tifa greeted them cheerfully and they replied in kind. Yuffie continued to pour more syrup than she needed onto the pancakes drowning them in the sappy sweet nectar.

"You don't need that much." Cid grumbled as he stood over her at the table.

"But I can have all I want!" Yuffie replied optimistically as she poured more and more. Tifa chuckled a bit at their 'argument' as she went deeper into the kitchen to get something herself.

"Too much sugar in it." Cid commented "Might as well have that little guy give you all he's got." he motioned with his cup to the small sugar cup who stood with spoon in hand and lid ready to open.

"You need some sugar in your coffee. It'll taste better." Yuffie said as she finally stopped pouring, but only because there was none left. On que the small sugar cup went to Cid, who moved the coffee cup away.

"I drink it strong and straight." Cid said as the sugar retreated.

"Merlin likes it with sugar." she said matter of factly.

"Merlin ain't here." Cid said "Off on some wizardry something or other." he stated as he swirled his hand and the mug. Then Cid brought the coffee mug to his face and was about to drink from it.

A violent knock suddenly came at the door, so loud and violent that seemingly it shook the house. The chandelier above them swayed at each blow and Cid's arm jerked and coffee began to spill out of the mug and onto his face leaning in to sip it. He lowered it away and turned his face up with a deep cut sneer as the coffee dripped from his face and mug.

"hhmm." he let out a lowly growl as the knocking continued. His head arched towards the door and his eyes were like daggers facing it as the knockings continued. "hhmm." he grumbled more, as hot coffee dripped off his snarling face.

"I'll get it!" Yuffie announced as she hopped off of her seat. She skipped behind Cid who remained grizzled in place, but she hopped gleefully towards the door stopping before it. She leaned from one side and then to the other before leaning forward now and reached for the rustling knob.

Once she grabbed ahold of it, the banging stopped abruptly. She turned the knob as the door went still and opened it to allow light to enter the room through its rectangular orifices. Or it would have had if three people were not standing before the door.

"Whoa!" Yuffie let out elated and her eyes widened as she eyed the one in the center up and down "Oh am I still dreamin'?" she said aloud as she leaned up against the door propping herself up with an elbow 'coolly' "What brings you here this morning?"

The young man in the center didn't seem to register her advances and instead stood there with an overly serious look on his face.

"I'm here to see Tifa." he replied gruffly.

"Well, she's not up yet." Yuffie answered slyly "Butcha know big boy" she began as she rolled her shoulder "if you need to be taken anywhere you can always count on-" as she spoke Seifer looked over her and inside to see the back of a dark figure in the room.

"Tifa!" he identified her immediately and barged inside the house pushing past Yuffie as Fuu and Rai followed. Seeing this Cid snarled some more as these three had barged inside and headed straight for Tifa with her back turned.

Tifa for her part, naturally perked up at the sound of her name being called and when she turned around found with both hands around her coffee mug who it was; Seifer Fuu and Rai with at the head.

"Tifa!" he shouted again loudly as he was right before her.

"Ah!" she shrieked as she flinched, instinctively lashed out her right fist hitting him right in the face with a blow so hard he fell back into Fuu and Rai who tried to catch him but were hardly able to stand up themselves from his sudden fall and the force behind it. Tifa then shrieked putting a hand over her mouth that she just used to hit him.

"Seifer!" Fuu let out.

"You got hit hard y'know?" Rai stated as if he didn't fell it, limp in their grip his head falling back further... only find Yuffie staring down at him.

"Are you alright handsome?" she asked looking down at him with wide eyes that took all of him in before blinking.

Seifer groaned and stirred before rolling his head up to look down at Tifa looking very stunned as she looked down at him.

"Ah." he brought a hand up to rub his face and then flung himself up and back to his feet, pushing himself off the other two for extra help. As he got back up Tifa came forward, her hand outstretched towards him.

"Are you alright?" she asked "I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

"Naw." he shrugged and grinned again cutting off her apology "I woulda done the same thing." he winced "Strongest hit I've ever taken, though." he forced a chuckle "And that's saying a lot." Still trying to fight through some pain managed to lighten Tifa's demeanor and warmed at his. "So, you ready for today?" he asked.

"Today?" she repeated.

"Todays the day." he said determined punching his fist into the other open palm "The day I finally find this guy." he paused "And you said you'd help." he pointed to her.

A smile came over her face as he sounded more confident "I did say that didn't I." she paused "Well, let me just finish this." she raised the mug in her hand "I'll get the flyers and we'll take them into town. We can even stop for breakfast if you haven't had it already."

"Sounds better by the minute." Seifer said "Almost like a date." he said. Tifa would have said something to retort to that before Cid did.

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out." Cid let out gruffly as he wiped his face. Seifer then bladed his body towards him and Tifa knowing the trouble he's gotten himself in quickly stepped between the two.

"Don't worry about him." she cooed down to Seifer softening him a bit "He's grumpy without his coffee in the morning."

"Tsc." he let out "I can see that." he said looking over to Cid and the brown stains on his shirt and face "Your mouths right there, old man. Don't run it." Cid's snarl deepened, but Tifa looked back to him and bit her lips with an exaggerated nod. Taking the hint but not liking it one bit, he snorted and backed off.

And then Tifa did just as she said. She finished her coffee, picked up the flyers she made for him last night and the numerous copies as well. She made her way towards the door. Seifer sidestepped in front of her to open it for her, bowing to let her through. She let out an amused chuckle and then walked through followed by the other three.

No sooner had the door slammed shut and they left that all the noise left with them.

"Ha." Cid let out grumpily as Yuffie went up to the window and pressed her face against it to see them walk away, focusing on Seifer specifically. Strangely though even though they were outside, and she couldn't hear their voices she still felt she could hear their footsteps even as they rounded a corner and left her sight.

"Hm?" she let out confused. Turning around she saw that Leon had entered almost immediately after they had left "Mornin!" she chirped.

Leon looked around the room "Where'd she run off to?" he asked.

"Off with some uppity young guy." Cid answered "Why? You jealous?" he cocked his head sideways towards him.

"I thought he was hot!" Yuffie exclaimed popping up next to Leon. He just groaned and rolled his eyes "They said they were gonna put flyers up all over town."

"Good." Leon answered, and he walked away from them, but when he did a rattling accompanied him. Yuffie eyes widened as did Cid's when he turned around to see him heading towards the door with the Gunblade in his hand.

"Now what are you doing with that thing?" he asked as Leon paused towards the door.

"Just a feeling." he answered repeating what he had said before and closed the door behind him.

He saw Tifa and... the people she was with. It was more than one this time. However, many there were he saw them walk down left so he cut right immediately putting him out of their path on his way to the ravine. But he stopped short before turning the corner before getting there. Because already he saw a flyer posted on the stone wall next to the path. It read like a missing person's report of which they thankfully had less now that this world was Radiant Garden and not Hollow Bastion. Onstead of 'Missing' written on the top it read 'Wanted' in big bold red letters. Under it was the name he recognized and beneath it a list of features that may have well been a mirror for him to look at.

He took a few moments more to look at it before exhaling, lashing his hand out to rip it off the wall and crumble it up.

"So, if you can just put some of them up, I'd appreciate it." Tifa said to Tiana over the counter.

"Oh absolutely!" Tiana beamed taking a few "You know people are always looking at the menu outside. I'm sure more than a few prying eyes would see this too." she said as she began to read it over herself "Say," her eyes widened "sounds kinda familiar" she then looked up to her slyly "dontcha think?"

"I thought the same," Tifa admitted "but it's not."

Tiana looked at her before turning back down to look it over "Alright, if you say so." she shrugged "I'll make sure to put em up."

"Thank you very much." Tifa thanked her before leaving the restaurant. She found Seifer outside with his group. Rai had just tapped a flyer to a small trash can. This trash can, however, had eyes and the flyer was placed over them. Tifa quickly snatched the flyer off of him as Wall-E looked around confused and she looked for a better spot to put it.

"Alright." she let out getting their attention "Come on. Onto the next spot!" she said excitedly as they began to walk off, feeling very much like a chaperone at the moment with all the youths with her. They were going to a different part of town and as it turns out someone was coming into this part as well.

Droning dimly and dumbly with slow lumbering steps and a big club resting on his shoulder was a big brown bear, singing aloud a song to himself. Peering under his hat took notice of the four of them as their paths crossed.

"Oh-uh." Brer Bear stammered breaking from the verse of the song to look down at them "How do you do?" he asked politely picking up his hat for extra emphasis.

They, however, didn't seem to notice him or his greeting since Seifer was boasting at the moment and they kept walking by as if he wasn't there.

Of course, every world has its own rules and normalcies. And from his it was customary to ask a passerby 'How do you do?' And for them to respond. 'Fine how are you?' So, when he didn't hear that as a reply, even one as slow as him took notice. And when he got none, he stumbled to a halt and turned back to see them walking away from him.

"H-hey!" he let out as he turned go back to go back the way he came and followed them. He moved rather quickly if not clumsily on his feet to catch up to them and when they heard loud thunderous steps behind them. They turned around and Tifa was stunned as Brer Bear came to a sudden stop before them even as the others beneath her put on a brave face. Brer Bear however towered over all of them and while he wasn't angry yet, he certainly looked confused and offended "I says to yous" he said in a thick drawl and pointed to them "How do you do?" he quoted himself "An' you's didn't say 'fine how're you?'"

In reply to that Seifer puffed his chest up and came forward.

"So? Keep it moving." he said moving forward to step and shoved Brer Bear. But he was just that, a bear. And Seifer was a boy and much smaller by comparison. So, when he shoved him, he just felt a tuff of fur move from his hand. But there was another unintended side effect.

"Oh!" Brer Bear let out from the shove that jostled his head and his hat fell off of his head and right onto Seifers. Brer Bear reached up to touch his hat but found his head naked and when he looked down, he found not Seifer's black cap but an overgrown red one on his head. A toothy snarl overtook Brer Bears face "Dat's my hat!" he growled angrily as he lunged his hand down and snatched his hat off his head. But in doing so he also took off Seifers hat with him and knocked him down further.

A messy mat of dirty blond hair was shown to the world. He reached up to feel what wasn't there, but his hand only ruffled his hair further. Looking up he saw under Brer Bear's red one was his black one.

"Hey!" he snapped and lunged forward at the bear, but Tifa sidestepped him planting a foot between the two and her body followed.

"How do you do?" she asked abruptly to Brer Bear.

Taken by surprise the anger melted away to confusion as he brought a finger to his lips to ponder aloud "Oh-uhh" he droned "Fine howa you-" he then pointed with his finger.

"How you come on?" she asked slower, now that she got his attention.

"Aww." he smacked his lips "Preddy good sure as ya born."

"Good." Tifa bobbed before him "But you see," she then pointed "you have my friend's hat on as well."

"Hm?" Brer Bear let out as his eyes rolled up to the top of his head, but he could not see what sat there. He reached a hand up to grab his hat and raised his head up to look. And when he did the black one that was inside of it fell onto his face. "Oh!" he let out under the darkness of it. He put his hat back on before he moved to take the smaller hat, stretching the inside between two fingers. "How's you put this on your head if it's so small?" he asked.

Tifa then stretched out her hand agreeably. Brer bear looked to it innocently with no traces of anger left in his face and slapped his hand onto it passing the hat onto her. Though perhaps too forcefully she did not budge when he did so.

She brought it back to her and looked to him agreeably "Thank you." she said sweetly. Brer Bear blinked at her "But we have to be going now."

"Buh bye now." he waved and then brought his club over his shoulder turned around and walked down the road, continuing from the verse in the song he left off on. Tifa remained in place though she began spinning the hat around her outstretched finger.

A grunt escaped from beside her and she looked down to see Seifer next to her, seemingly trying to hide his face with his hair. "Thanks." he said gruffly.

"Don't mention it." she said looking down at him. A small playful grin on her face. Seifer looked up to her now, a hint of embarrassment or apprehension on his face.

"Hm? What is it?"

"Nothing" the grin widened on one side "I think I like you this way." she said bringing her hand down to ruffle his hair further.

"Daw- what are you doing?" he asked as he was lowered under her palm. She then laughed retracting her hand.

"I haven't seen your hair. It's a nice head full of it." she said ruffing it further. He grunted as she did, so she said looking down at him and offering the hat.

"Hm." he let out as he took it and placed it snuggly back on his head "Thanks." he said again. Rai then stepped forward and peered forward to take a look at Brer Bear walking away "You sure know how to handle these guys."

Tifa suppressed a chuckle, thinking that she had to handle these three at all times "It's a gift." she said "Comes in handy with the Committee and at the bar."

"Woah!" Rai let out as he watched Brer Bear walking away "You see that club? I bet he'd be good at Struggle." he let out.

"Just cause he has one doesn't mean he knows how to swing it." Seifer said arrogantly.

Tifa's head titled to the side curiously and her hair fell with it "Struggle?" she asked.

Seifer turned to her "A sport from back home. And you're looking at the champ." he pounded a fist to his chest

"Is that so?"

"Who else would it be." he smirked "Maybe I'll bring the sport here. Give you a show."

"We'll see." she smiled, and they continued down the road as he continued to explain the fundamentals of the sport.

Among the rocky, uneven trails of the Gret Maw, Leon found the solidarity he needed at that moment. He unleashed a ball of fire, and it incinerated a rock before him. The smoldering spot where the boulder once stood was good to him, but he bore no smile or pleasant disposition. He instead turned his attention to a trail of several large rocks. Kicking off the ground, he sprinted forward and ran between them all slashing his sword at all of them and by the time he reached the other end all of them were cut cleanly in half.

Another good outcome, but he wasn't there yet. Pivoting off his feet he turned over and began shooting it rapid fire at all the large rocks before him. He seemed to let out an endless burst quickly and when he finally finished, he let the sword remain at his side. He was finished for now, since there were no more large protruding rocks for him to shoot. He had taken them all out in quick succession. But there was more he could do.

"I have to get stronger." he said aloud gripping it tighter. Taking a step forward he wandered deeper into the mountains, to continue hi straining and become just that.

Stronger.

Back in town Tifa, Seifer, Fuu and Rai had moved on to the harbor. It was the home to numerous ships. Whether by rockets or sail, they all were lined up against each other. It was also the entry point to the world and with so many people coming through it wasn't surprising that some unscrupulous characters would get through as well. But so far everyone seemed very appropriating.

"Thank you!" Tifa said happily as she passed off some more flyers. She then turned around and expected to see Seifer fawning at her, Rai fumbling over his feet and Fuu just standing there. But she saw none of them. Her initial thought was that they had gone ahead or at least around the corner without. To get a head start on the flyers, but she knew just as easily, it could be to get themselves into trouble.

They had turned the corner together, but Tifa was alone now, but hearing around the corner further she could hear a conversation going on. And something seemed off about it.

"Come here my lad. Come here." an oily voice coerced, and she could feel hands waving along with them. He sounded pleasant, but something seemed off about it. It was immediately followed by another lower yet lively voice.

"Yes, my boy right this way. Right this way." he jostled more in a friendly fashion.

"I'm not a boy." she heard Seifer now his voice disgruntled and standoffish.

"Oohhh." the other voices droned together.

"A boy who needs to prove himself a man." said the first voice.

"Yes indeed. And what better than the challenge?" the second voice suggested.

"Yes, the challenge." the first voice agreed. As Tifa made her way around the corner, the voices got louder.

"I'll take whatever challenge you got." Seifer stated confidently.

"Yeah, he ain't afriad of nuthin, ya know." Rai then chimed in.

"Champion." Fuu added.

"Good." the second voice dragged the word "Then merely step right this way."

Tifa turned the corner now to see Seifer Fuu and Rai's back to him. Before them on each side were four figures. Two at the front on each side were opened armed, bowed down and leading the way pointing up a gang plank for them. One was a sly looking fox and the other a great pink behemoth. And at each of their sides were two bumbling stragglers: a cat with the fox and a clueless man with the other one. And as the three passed them the two mutes on the outer ends moved in and hidden behind their backs were two mallets.

Tifa's eyes widened as she recognized these four. Not because she had met them before, but from the file she read about them. Without hesitation she leapt forward into action.

"Yes, yes." Gonzorgo said greedily as the three stepped aboard the gangway. Honest John did the same until he saw a flash of black appear behind his purple clad compatriot.

"Look out!" he shouted and ducked himself. Gonzorgo however was too slow and only turned around to be punched in the face. His body barreled down like a bowling ball hitting Honest John as they fell into the street. A shriek was let out, but not from their silent companions bumbled to their sides and tried to get them to their feet only for them to be swatted away once they were on them again. And once the four got to them, they looked to Tifa who stood ready for more against them. Seifer, Fuu and Rai quickly lined up alongside her.

The four lined up against the others.

"What's this?" Seifer asked standing beside Tifa.

"Four troublemakers" Tifa said as her eyes grilled down each one "We've been looking for them." she said. Well Leon was, she knew that. And he hadn't found them yet but with them here before her now, she couldn't let them get away.

"Troublemakers? Us?" Honest John said "Certainly not me."

"Not, we." Gonzorgo agreed patting his chest.

"Doesn't seem that way." Seifer said rolling his arms "I knew they were up to something."

"Yeah, we were just doing an investigation, ya know." Rai said but Tifa rolled her eyes before settling them back onto the other four.

"So, you gonna come quietly?" Tifa asked.

"Quietly? For something we did not do?" Gonzorgo pleaded then all at once Gideon produced his hammer and swung it attempted to scare them off but only managed to hit him on the foot. He cried and then brought it up to hold. Rodrigo then stepped up with his own mallet, which was just as large, but he wielded just as clumsily.

"Well, looks like their lookin' for a fight." Seifer said stepping up. No sooner had he said it had he rushed them his coat flapping as he did, making it seem as if he had wings.

Suddenly a black shape overtook him, and he thought it was his shadow before he looked to see Tifa. He smirked at her, and they came at them together.

Later that evening back at The Restoration Committee Headquarters it was only Cid and Yuffie inside.

Cid cleaned off the last of the dishes in the sink before sliding it off to the side to let it dry on its own. He walked away from the sink leaving the counter behind as he passed Yuffie at the table.

Then all at once a loud slam was heard from behind, and the house shook again. They two taken by surprise turned to see Seifer walking into the room triumphantly it seemed. Fuu and Rai were by his side each one holding onto boxes of pizza.

"Are you back here?!" Cid shouted at them.

"With food!" Yuffie hopped up and down.

"Tsh. Pipe down old man. I'm just here to celebrate." Seifer snapped.

"Celebrate on your own time! At your own place." Cid said as he stormed over to him.

"It's alright Cid." a lighter more delighted voice let out at the door. Cid's head swung up to see Tifa entering holding onto bags filled with bottles of sparkling soda "I invited him here."

"Yeah! Some of us work to keep these streets safe old man." Cid's fists were balled, and he would have swung at this kid if Yuffie hadn't popped before him.

"What trouble you get into? Nuthin you couldn't handle I bet."

"Tah. Nothing at all!"

"Far from it." Tifa said as she walked in and placed the soda down on the counter "We were looking for these guys for a while. Leon's going to thank you."

"Hm?" Seifer perked up looking over to her "Leon?" he questioned having heard the name for the first time.

"He's part of the committee too." she told as Fuu and Rai did the same beside Tifa and opened some of the boxes.

"Haven't seen him." Seifer said "Clearly he doesn't work as hard as you."

"Actually, he's the hardest worker." Tifa corrected as she took an extra cheesy slice of pizza and put it onto a plate that was sitting there.

"I just cleaned those!" Cid protested.

"So, what happened?" Yuffie asked Seifer getting close to him.

"Hm." Seifer let confidently. He then tugged at his coat and jumped up onto the table landing on it with a hard thud and shaking it. Yuffie let out a gasp entranced by him as everyone else looked to him as well.

"Let me tell you how it went!"

It was sundown long ago and the only thing close to resembling light were the lanterns about the street. Floating in the darkness and lighting up the area around them.

Leon followed the path they made welcoming whatever light there was. It got darker earlier in the mountains and there was even less to be seen than here, though light extending out from the houses helped even more. He was alone on his walk back tonight. His feet clipped clopped against the cobblestones as he walked them echoing distantly to let them know no one else was around. Occasionally there was the odd shadow that moved about a home or perhaps one that went out abruptly, casting itself onto the street, but he paid it no mind. His mind being on what he had accomplished that day and what he was preparing for. What would be waiting for him.

Would it be tomorrow or the day after? He knew he could not hide from this forever. Not when they were so close. After all this time.

He rounded a corner and there he saw much to his surprise the brightest house in the entire town. It also just so happens to be his destination.

The Committee Headquarters was ablaze with lights and from the way they were plastered on the ground outside there more people inside than usual and they were very lively.

He moved even more cautiously over to the door, still blackened out between the two bright windows. He stalled before the door to listen and feel what was going on inside. There was certainly a lot of shouting, but not in a distressing way. But a fun boisterous way. There was the smell of fresh but pizza trickling out as well. There was a fury of voices all at once. Some laughter followed. He recognized several of the voices; Tifa, Yuffie and Cid's. There were a few he didn't recall and then there was one he hadn't heard in a long time. He tensed up when the youthful boy's voice let out.

"Oh, you should have seen me!" he boasted.

His hand then stirred and gripped his Gunblade tighter bringing it closer to his side. His head was down, and he let out a breath trying to ease himself. His raised his head up ready for what was coming. It seems it would not come tomorrow or the day after, but now. But he had been preparing for this the entire day. He was ready. He had to be.

What he wasn't ready for was the door to open suddenly. Or who was standing there; a face he'd never seen before.

Rai had opened the door suddenly having heard something outside.

Leon stared blankly down at him and if it was possible, Rai starred even more blankly up. The two starred on at each other in silence pondering what exactly the other was doing there.

"Yo this is a private residence, ya know." Rai said.

"I live here." Leon replied dryly.

"I aint' never seen you here before, ya know."

"That's a double negative." Leon droned at him.

"Huh?" he let out cluelessly. Rai paused to mull over what he said.

"I'm coming in." Leon said and he pushed himself in further finally entering. Rai tried to stop him but couldn't and stumbled back in doing so.

His entrance was the catalyst for fun it seemed. Silence followed after Rai's fall. Looking up Leon saw everyone was in the middle of eating, drinking and enjoying themselves. But now they all sat or stood silently starring at him.

"Yo! We got another troublemaker, ya know." Rai let out from the floor.

"Intruder." Fuu pointed. Seifer for all his usual blustering was completely silent. Instead, he just stood there, his body went tense and still, flexing as he stood there. But his eyes otherwise went wide and seemed to take up even more of his face. His mouth opened not to say something but in be agape in shock.

Whatever stillness he had was made up for by Tifa. She hopped up from her seat with a bubbly enthusiasm that was heard easily through the silence of the room.

She then pranced over towards Leon with a plate of half-eaten pizza in one hand. She stopped before him, leaning to one side and the other seemingly unable to contain herself as she looked him over. His eyes rolled over to her as the rest of him remained standing off against everyone else.

"You'll never guess what we're celebrating." she giggled to him.

"Since I'll never guess." he said turning to her his eyes rolled over to Seifer. He paused to see him still glaring at him in shock, and he turned back to Tifa "Why don't you just tell me." he said.

"Oh, that's no fun." she said as he walked away, and she followed him to the counter "You can put that away you won't need it." she said pointing to his weapon. No one seemed to catch on to what was going on. Seifer's glare followed Leon to the counter, anger growing inside of him.

"That a hint?" he said as he flipped one of the boxes open and took a slice out and began to eat it. He remained looking to everyone else in the room as Tifa stood on his side facing him.

"Well, if you must know" she put her hands to her hips as he chewed "today we apprehended those four fugitives you so tiredly looking for." she said matter of factly.

"Is that right?" he asked chewing "We?" he then asked.

"Yep." she said peppily "Me and-"

"Squall!" Seifer then shouted out. Tifa shuddered as she saw him lunge forward and plant himself opposite of them on the other side of the counter. Leon hadn't stirred though he was silent.

"Squall?" Tifa repeated as she looked to Tifa "No, Seifer this is Leon. He's the one-"

"Get away from him! He's bad news!" he warned. Rai and Fuu scurried to Seifer as Cid and Yuffie watched on with the same look as Tifa. Concern and confusion. Tifa looked to Leon who looked more serious than ever.

"There's nothing bad." she assured Seifer "He's-"

"Still have the Gunblade I see." Seifer then said. Tifa stalled. He was right. That was the name of Leon's signature weapons. Seifer never mentioned that before. But how did he..

"That's right." Leon answered as he brought it up and flung it over his shoulder "And I see your just as loud as ever."

Tifa's eyes widened as she looked to him looking just as shocked as Seifer had when he first entered. Cid and Yuffie joined her with the same daunting expression as everyone went as silent as a graveyard. Everyone's eyes widening to come to the same harrowing conclusion.

The joy and laughter as replaced with pure shock and confusion. Dread took over the room taking its place.