Author's Note- FINALLY!! I am able to go on FF.net once again!!! *starts cackling* Stupid computer just had to crash while I was writing, stupid AOL for not letting me on the site and a million other things. *sighs* -_- I swear I think that I'm jinxed or cursed or something like that. Anyways I am so, so, so, so, so, so, so, sorry that I couldn't get this out any sooner. I better stop my rambling. Now on with the ficcy!! ^-^
Pains of the Past
By Tsuki no Tenshi
Chapter six- Unexpected
Warm pastel colors painted the night sky in red, orange, and yellow as the morning sun came up. The cool air of the Corel Mountains circulated throughout the whole morning making it even more pleasant. The birds chirped their cheerful morning song of a new day; the beasts and monsters awoke to hunt for food and the creatures of the sea rose up from the watery depths to greet the sun. It seemed like a normal day to many, but alas, it was not.
A man in all black stood on top of the mountain, his long silver hair flowed gently in the wind like smoke. His pristine face held the look of royalty and would've looked like a fallen angel too if it weren't for the cold bitterness in his eyes. The glowing mako-green eyes glared down at the little camp from its place high up in the mountains and he smirked when he laid his eyes on the tent to his left.
"What shall we do with him mother?"
Let the foolish puppet follow you. It will only be a matter of time before he brings me what I need to be strong again. Then you, my son, will become a God and take over this planet! Jenova let out a shrill laugh through the silver-haired man's mind and he smirked before it turned into a frown.
"Yes mother. But... what about the girl?"
Ah yes, the girl. Jenova spat out. Her time will come but for now let the puppet enjoy the time he has with her so he can suffer when you kill her.
The frown on his face, if possible, grew a little deeper.
"Is it really necessary? She is one of us, is she not?"
My son, she may be one of us but she has betrayed us for those... humans. The ones that have taken over what should rightfully belong to us and she is helping them, stop us from our plans. We have to kill her, we must kill her. Her fate has already been doomed once she joined those weaklings. Jenova said vehemently and then added in with a sickening honey-like voice, And besides, mother knows what's best. But first we must retrieve the keystone. That way we can unlock the powers of the Temple of Ancients to retrieve the black materia. It is critical to our plans my son.
The man closed his eyes and smirked.
"Yes mother." And with that he turned away from the camp below him to walk to the small town of Corel.
~*~*~
Usagi woke to the bright morning sunrays that were able to make their way through the tent. God, whoever said that the sun was a cheery thing to wake up to, were out of their minds! They need to be taken to the mental asylum or shot right away with a gun to the head. The sun is an evil thing to wake up to. Usagi groaned and pulled the pillow over her head so she can continue to rest... only to be taken away by a certain flower girl.
"Good morning sleepy head!" Aeris said with a bright smile on her face.
Usagi glared at Aeris (not that it had much of and effect) before she took the pillow away and put it over her head once more. By Shiva! Just how can Aeris be so cheery in the morning and how does she do it?
Aeris giggled and smiled at the girls' antics before she took the pillow away from Usagi and put it behind her.
"All right, all right, I'm up. Happy now! Just why does Cloud have to make us go early in the morning?" Usagi groaned as she slowly sat up on her sleeping bag, stretch and give out a big yawn.
"Well, we ARE on a mission here." Aeris said, still smiling.
" I know, we are to save the world from it's doomsday from the evil Shin-Ra Inc. before it dies." Usagi said dramatically and stopped to ponder. "But then why are we going on this journey if the headquarters or whatever is at...umm, what was that
place again? Oh yeah Midgar!"
"Cloud has his reasons Usagi, as do the rest of us." Aeris said in a mysterious voice.
Usagi looked at Aeris with a confused look. She could have sworn that Aeris had sounded just like Setsuna with all the mystery voice thing going on. Just then a shadow fell upon their tent. They recognized it to be Cloud's. I mean who else has spiky hair that looks like a chocobo?
"Are you two ready?" Cloud said impatiently from outside the tent.
"Almost!" Aeris replied to him and turned her head to Usagi. "I'll leave so that you can get dressed. But before I do let's check your wound." Aeris said and proceed to take off the torn cloth. Once it was off Aeris was not very surprised to see that most of it was healed and there was only a very small spot of a pink scar.
"Looks like most of has healed already." Aeris paused. "We'll be waiting for you outside." And with that the flower girl left.
Usagi rubbed the sleep from her eyes, stretched once more and winced slightly at the small pain that was still there and proceeded to dress in the same clothes she wore yesterday being that those were the only ones she had for now. Usagi sighed. Looks like she'll have to go shopping for more in the next town there. Only Usagi didn't know that the next town she was going to was a rundown place that was burnt down by the Shin-Ra. That and including the next couple of towns. Damn Shin-Ra! How can a girl find a decent place to shop these days in a town without it being burnt and ramshackle down to the ground?
After stuffing the bag into her subspace pocket Usagi groggily made her way to the waiting trio with her weapon in hand while mumbling how waking up early in the morn and leaving was evil. She will have to get back at Cloud for this. But did she really? I mean we're talking about a coldhearted, or lukewarm seeing how Aeris and/or Tifa seemed to bring him out of his cold shell a little, mercenary with a HUGE sword that could slice you in two sheathed on his back. Maybe not and besides, Usagi did NOT have a death wish. Of course, she could always get help from her newfound friends......
Oh yeah, did I tell you what a fine morning it was for Usagi? Of course it only got better when yet another Grangalan cross her path and decided to eat Usagi for breakfast this morning.
"Why me! Why is it always meeeeeeeeeeee!" A defenseless Usagi cried out as she was running away from the snapping jaws of the hungry monster.
Red quickly cast a Fire 2 spell at the monster. It cried out in pain and turned around to face the three who already had their weapons out. Before the others could react the monster opened it wide mouth and a Grangalan Jr. Popped out from it and shot a Silver Wheel at Aeris.
The Flower Girl saw the attack and barely had enough time to dodge it and it cut right across her stomach. Aeris fell down, clutching her semi-large wound. Usagi saw this and she instantly was at Aeris's side and took a Hi-potion she fished out from Aeris' pack onto the wound while Red and Cloud attacked the Grangalan Sr. before more of the annoying things could pop out. Soon the mechanical monster fell down dead, along with its offspring's. (Sorry if the battle scene sucked. I just can't do those things.)
"Aeris, are you all right?" Usagi asked with concern and worry on her face.
Aeris smiled at the younger girl.
"Don't worry Usagi, I'll be fine." Aeris said. Usagi didn't listen as tears started to form in her eyes.
"*sniff* I'm soo sorry! It was all my fault, I was--" Usagi was cut off by Aeris putting a finger on Usagi's lips and a shake of her head.
"Don't blame yourself Usagi. It was my fault because I didn't get out of the way fast enough. Don't worry! I'm sure that a Cure spell will heal it right up." To prove her point Aeris cast a Cure2 spell in her despite her weakened state. The wound closed leaving behind a pink flesh of where the wound used to be.
Cloud and Red walked up to the duo.
"Aeris, are you all right?" Cloud asked.
Aeris smiled brightly at Cloud and giggled.
"Of course silly!" Aeris said as she tried to get up only to be pushed back down by Cloud.
"You're still hurt. We should wait awhile before we go."
Aeris pouted.
"Cloud, I'm perfectly fine now. We should get going as to seeing how you want to find Sephiroth." Aeris said and she got up, grabbed her weapon from the ground and walked down the mountain trail.
Cloud slowly shook his head repressed a sigh.
'Stubborn as always. But I like her better that way.' Cloud thought, smiling and he and the others followed the path Aeris took. Once they were at the bottom, a tunnel that was made in the mountains greeted them. They walked through it and at the other side they found balding middle-aged man resting on the rocky trail.
Cloud walked up to him and the man didn't notice his presence.
"Whew!" The man let out as he tried to catch his breath.
"Excuse me." Aeris said.
The man looked up with surprise written on his face when he saw the four standing in front of him.
"Hey! You're actually talking to me!!"
Cloud looked at the man with annoyance on his face.
"What is it?" he said impatiently. The man ignored and continued with his conversation.
"I just passed a guy in a black cloak back there. I just tried to tell him that it's dangerous up ahead, and he ignored me!" he said with annoyance.
Cloud felt his jaws harden and his eyes narrowed slightly when he turned to the rest.
"Sephiroth..."
"There was a black-cloaked guy here, too?" Aeris said.
"We'd best hurry on." Red said and Cloud nodded and he walked up the trail.
Usagi just stood there pondering. Just who was this Sephiroth? This was the third time that name was mentioned and the group seemed to have an underlying hatred and fear for this man. Usagi sighed. She wished she knew what was going on. Oh well, she'll have to wait to hear that part of the story later.
Usagi broke out of her thoughts when the old man talked to her.
"Hey! You do know that your friends left, right? But if I were you I'd tell them to go back right now if you know what's good for you." he said.
Usagi looked up and indeed that they had indeed leave. Usagi panicked.
"H-hey! Wait for me!" Usagi cried out as she struggled to climb the rocks and catch up to her group.
"Wait! I thought I told you that it is dangerous-- Oh forget it. Young kids these days." He said and shook his head in dismay as he went on mumbling about something.
Usagi ran up the trail and slowed down to a walk when she neared Cloud and the others who were standing on the top of the trail staring at something before them. Curious, Usagi walked up to them to be greeted by the sight of the Mako reactor in its full glory. Usagi gaped at it with her mouth in a 'o' shape. Never in her life had she seen something like this before.
Cloud glanced at her and slightly chuckled at the expression on Usagi's face before looking at the reactor again.
"What is that?" Usagi said in awe as she continued to stare at the reactor.
"That, Usagi, is a Mako reactor. That's what draining the planet of its life." Cloud said and started to go down the narrow stairs.
Oh, so that's what the Shin-Ra used to take out the Mako. Usagi took a good look at it one more time before descending the stairs with the rest. In front, their feet were greeted by the rickety train tracks of Corel. They warily continued on the roller coaster like tracks seeing as to how Cloud plummeted from the weakened tracks a couple of times. Luckily he was quick and grabbed the support bars before he fell to his death.
Cloud stopped.
"What's the matter Cloud?" Aeris asked.
Cloud said nothing, as he looked at the fork in the road...train tracks in this case.
Usagi squinted her eyes from the sun glare. She saw that the tracks that led down silhouetted two... three figures.
They looked familiar... Usagi looked closer. Big chunky muscled man with a gun-arm... Usagi perked up when she knew who was there. But wait, how did they get there so fast? Ah well, that question could be answered later.
"Barret, Tifa, Yuffie!" Usagi cried out gleefully and she ran down the tracks.
The three looked up to see who called out their names and looked up to see Usagi waving happily at them.
"Hey Usagi!" Tifa called out and waved at the younger girl with a smile on her face.
Usagi laughed and ran towards them. But her excitement was short lived when she slipped on a piece of wood that was laying on the tracks and was sent tumbling down the rest of the way.
"Ah! Watch out!" Yuffie cried out and she, Barret, and Tifa jumped out of the way before they were knocked down like pins in the bowling alley. Usagi rolled past them and crashed into the raised bridge landing upside down. The gang ran over to her to find her swirly-eyed and confused.
"Are you all right Usagi?" Yuffie asked the bunny.
"Ooooooooo..... looky! Staaaaaaaaaarrrrrssss. Pretty, pretty stars." Usagi said dazed before she was rendered unconscious.
Yuffie sweat dropped. "I guess not."
Barret turned to Cloud with a scowl on his face.
"'Bout time ya got yer spiky-ass here. We gonna hafta cross this bridge here to go to Corel. But some @#$%ing idiot raised the bridge and now we're stuck here since the controls are on the other side." Barret said.
Cloud looked up and saw a small porter potty looking shack that was used in the olden days.
"The shack is here. (Tsuki- ^^;;)" Cloud said and he looked at Barret.
"We'll meet up with you guys later. Oh and take Usagi with you. She'll need to see someone for that bump." Cloud said and with that he took off as Barret took Usagi in his arms. A few minutes later Cloud, along with Aeris and Red were on the other side to where the controls to the bridge were and operated the switch to the bridge, causing it to lower down for the others to cross.
~*~*~
A small groan left the small girls lips followed by a 'Where am I?' Usagi's eyes slowly fluttered open and she rapidly blinked them from the bright glare that filled her vision. Her head was pounding as if there were a pair of jackhammers working inside her skull. Usagi's hand went over her forehead as she slowly sat up the old springy bed.
'Uggh! I hope that this will be the last time I get hit in the head. Anymore might cause me to lose my memory.'
But little did Usagi know that she was going to be a prey to another predator. In the shadows of the room it crept up to the unsuspecting Usagi. The dark hid its form as it swiftly made its way closer and closer and closer to the smaller girl until...
"BOO!!!"
Usagi let out a terrified scream and fell down on the opposite side of her predator while entangled in the dirty linen and blanket that covered her when she was knocked out. Finally Usagi was able to detangle herself from the mess and glared at Yuffie who was currently rolling on the floor and clutching her sides from laughter.
"YUFFIE-CHAN! That was meeeaaaaann!"
"D-d-d-demo! *Hee, hee, hee* You should've seen * ahhaha!* the look *snort* on your *heh, heh,* face! BAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"
Usagi just stuck her tongue out at Yuffie who didn't notice since she was having a hard time trying to control her laughter. Then a light voice was heard through the doorway of the room.
"Yuffie, is Usagi still-- Oh!" Tifa looked at scene before her and chuckled a little. Yuffie was still laughing like a maniac while Usagi was blowing a raspberry at the younger girl. The two never took any notice of Tifa, well Yuffie didn't, Usagi was the only one that did once the older women cleared her throat, trying to cover up her laughter.
"Are you all right, Usagi?"
Usagi nodded and smiled trying to hide the wince from the pain that her head was emitting. It had only been a few says since she had met this strange group and already she felt like she was a burden and was slowing them down from their mission.
Tifa smiled with relief.
"Let's go. Cloud just called and he said to meet us at the Ropeway soon. Barret's waiting for him at the entrance of the city."
Usagi hopped up off the floor and followed Tifa out of the dingy inn. When they were three-fourth of their way to the Ropeway, a certain person yelled at them to wait.
"Waaaaaaaiit!! I sooo don't want to be left behind!! Oh come on, wait for me!" Yuffie cried out when she finally realized that she was all alone.
Huffing and puffing Yuffie followed them to the Ropeway where Barret, was already waiting with his arms folded across his chest.
A few minutes later Aeris and Red showed up but no Cloud and Barret's patience was wearing thin.
"God dammit! Where the Hell is that spiky-headed ass at!" Barret roared.
As if on cue, Cloud walked over to the group with a sheepish look on his face.
"Erm, uh, yeah. Sorry that I took so long. I um... *mumble, mumble*"
Apparently, Barret just happened to hear his mumble, looked at Cloud with a shocked face before he laughed out loud.
"How the $%&king hell can ya get lost when there's big sign over there dat says, 'Gold Saucer'!?"
All the girls started to giggled at Cloud and his face turned red from embarrassment. Red just swung his tail back and forth, also trying to cover up his amusement by coughing a little.
"Let's just skip this subject!" Cloud said as he tried to gather up his pride.
"Yesh! What's up yer pants. Sure, sure, whatever Spike." Barret said when he saw Cloud glaring at him and turned toward the tram.
Cloud mumbled an inaudible 'Thank you' as he sighed with relief.
"So what's up with those people back there?" He asked.
They all saw Barret's fist clench and unclench and so on as his body shook with anger. His eyes glazed as he remember that event four years ago.
"My hometown used to be around here." He finally said after five minutes.
Usagi looked at Barret with confusion written on her face.
"What do you mean 'used to be'? It's still here now... isn't it?" she asked.
Barret let out a slight sigh. "It ain't here no more. Heard it got buried... in just four years."
"But how could all those people say those horrible things!" Aeris exclaimed.
"An' it's my fault. ALL my fault." Barret mumbled to himself as he remembered that pain-filled memory. The older man took in deep breaths before he faced them. Words of his story came out of his mouth and the others listened attentively not one word came out as he did. All too absorbed into the tale as he told his pain. (Tsuki- You guys should all know it.)
Tifa looked at Barret with a look of compassion and understanding. Now she knew what had happened to Barret when he came to her Seventh Heaven bar that one day. It was dark that one day in Sector 7 section of Midgar. Darker than usual and everyone who lived there knew it was night, a time when crime and murder and other evil deeds was at its peek. He came in all covered in sooth looking confused
and angry. The babe in his arms was crying for it was hungry and wanted some food. Barret had scared some of the customers away but Tifa, Jessie, Bigs and Wedge who were working late at that time felt sympathy for the man, so they took him in and helped the poor man. And in turn he became like a father to Tifa and a guardian-like figure to the others and promised a way to stop the Shin-Ra.
After Barret told his story, the others continued to stay silent until the man in the ticket booth yelled at them.
"Hey everyone! If you guys want to go to the Gold Saucer then hurry up and get on the tram!"
"Dyne was my best friend. We was close ever since we was kids..."Barret said solemnly and bowed his head. Usagi, went over to Barret and put a hand on one of his shoulders. When he looked up at her, Usagi gave him a reassuring simile. In turn, he smirked and gathered his confidence and boarded the tram.
Aeris and Red both said nothing before they too, followed Barret inside. But they both felt sympathy for the man who had lost almost everything.
Yuffie 'harrumphed' and said, "I'm not sympathizing with Barret. He never should have trusted Shin-Ra Inc..."
Usagi looked at her friend with surprise on her face.
"Demo Yuffie, wasn't that a little bit mean? I mean he lost almost everything in this place."
"Yeah , well I MAY be sorry for him... if he wasn't a big meanie to me." Yuffie declared and went into the awaiting transportation along with Usagi.
Cloud stared at Tifa. She had not moved for a very long time and she had a faraway look in her eyes. Cloud was beginning to worry about his childhood friend.
Tifa stared down to the ground and into nothing as she was deep in thought about the Shin-Ra, her hometown, Nibelheim, Sephiroth...Tifa shivered slightly at the last thought. She never took any notice of Cloud walk up to her until he softly spoke her name.
"Tifa..."
Tifa snapped out of her reverie and she saw Cloud's mako blue eyes stare intently at her. Tifa blushed and bowed her head to try and hide it.
"...Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I am.... just thinking about some things after Barret told his story, that's all." Tifa forced a small smile on her face, not wanting Cloud to worry about her.
"About the Shin-Ra?"
Tifa nodded her head once.
"Yeah, the Shin-Ra, Sephiroth, everything." Tifa said softly and she lifted her head towards the clear blue sky.
"I know what you mean. Barret... his home town was taken away just like ours, only his didn't have Sephiroth there burning and killing everybody on sight."
"Cloud..." Tifa hesitated.
"Yeah?"
"I... no, never mind."
Silence filled the air between them only to be broken by the shrill whistle that came from the tram.
".........We better go on." Tifa said and as soon as the two boarded the doors behind them closed as the engines of the tram began to start.
~*~*~
A big yawn escaped Usagi's lips as the blue carrier moved through the sky. The ride was a long one and Usagi's eyes were half-closed, and her head was nodding as she desperately tried not to fall asleep. Unfortunately for her, she did after about another minute or so.
But it was short-lived when a firework decided to whiz past her window.
"What was that!?" Usagi exclaimed, wide-eyed and now fully awake.
"Look out the window and see." Aeris said with a smile.
Usagi did as Aeris said and what she saw had amazed her.
"Sugoi! Is that THE Gold Saucer?" Usagi asked as she stared at the scene before her with wide eyes, barely taking everything in as she saw the sight. The Gold Saucer was beautiful all right. The night sky was filled with fireworks as they burst into the air and exploded with and array of colors and designs, each different from the last. Children laughing could be heard all over the place in the Wonder Square, people of many ages screamed on the roller coaster rides in the Speed Square; the chocobos warked as their jockeys urged them to go faster in the race in the Chocobo Square; moans and eerie could be heard coming from the Ghost motel in the Ghost Square; sounds of battle could be heard coming form the Battle Square; laughter crying could be heard too from the audience in the Event Sqaure. All of this coming from the amusement park excited Usagi, filling her with and irrepressible amount of joy.
"Mm-hmm. It's the biggest and the only amusement park that is here in Gaia. Lots of people come here to play or stay here for vacation." Tifa said.
"This is so cool! I want to go on the rides here! Even better: play the videogames!!!" Usagi cried as she jumped in the air.
"Unfortunately, we don't have any time for fun and games. We came here to see if Sephiroth passed this place before." Cloud said with indifference.
"We can't play here!" Usagi exclaimed in horror.
"Aww, c'mon, Cloud! I'm sure that a little break could do us good!" Aeris said.
"Yeah! Loosen up a little why doncha!" Yuffie exclaimed.
"No, we already had our 'little break at Costa del Sol, when we really should have been looking for Sephiroth." Cloud said.
"I know but then it was ruined by Hojo. So pretty, pretty please, Cloud!" Tifa said.
"With a cherry on top!" Usagi finished.
I am NOT giving in to them!
Cloud shook his head no.
"Please!" All the girls exclaimed.
Cloud crossed his arms across his chest and stood his ground. ....Until he was hit wave after wave of puppy dogs eyes.
Oh no! Not the eyes! I am not giving in, I am not giving in, I am not giving in.
Lips quivered.
C'mon Cloud, ya gotta stay strong and focus on the mission here.
Eyes watered.
No! I am not... giv... ing... INNNNN!!!
Eyes became larger than usual and a few tears spilled.
Cloud sighed with defeat. "Fine, fine, we can have some fun here.
Wussy!
The girls all did a high five in the air and when the door to the tram opened, the four females of the group rushed out to the entrance gate.
Red looked at Cloud with sympathy before he too, walked out.
"Heh, the almighty SOLDIER fell prey to 'The Eyes'." Barret scoffed and smirked at the defeated Cloud.
"Hey! You try resisting it, I know that you can't either especially when Marlene does it to you when she wants something!" Cloud glared at the older man.
"Alright, Alright! Damn man, I don' think that anybody could resist those weapons that every female uses. If any guy could then they'd have my respect."
"Just your respect?"
"Yes, my respect. I ain't gonna give any of my stuff aways after you won the last pool. I wuz f%*#ing near gil-less that time."
"Sure, whatever." Cloud said as they stepped up at the attendant to pay their fee.
"Hey what are you going to do when you find Dyne?"
"Gotta 'pologize to him after all these years." Barret mumbled.
The attendant looked at them with fear in her eyes.
"D-D-Dyne!?"
Barret looked at her suspiciously.
"Yeah.... Do you know him?" Cloud asked the lady.
The women feverishly shook her head no.
"You know sumthin', don't you? Tell me where I can find him!" Barret yelled.
"I-I-I-I'm s-sorry, sir b-but there's no one named Dyne h-here." she stammered.
"Then why did you say his name, huh?" Barret asked, his temper rising.
"Whoa! Barret, calm down. She says she doesn't know so let's just go. the others are probably getting tired of waiting for us."
Barret mumbled a 'Fine' before the two went into the station.
"About time you got here you slowpokes!" Aeris said and put her hands on her hips and tried to frown to emphasize her impatience but it came out more of a smile instead.
Cloud rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry."
"Oh wow! Let's have fun guys! I know that this isn't the right time to do this..." Cloud gave her a 'Gee, you think look' "...but come one, Barret, cheer up!"
"...I ain't in no cheery mood. So 'jes leave me alone." Barret grumbled.
Aeris' face dropped a little.
"Really? That's too bad." Then she went over to Cloud and grabbed his arm. Cloud looked at Aeris with surprise. "Let's go!"
Tifa felt a surge of jealousy course through her before she shook it away and went over to Aeris.
"Wasn't that a little harsh, Aeris?" Tifa whispered.
"Just act normal when this happens." Aeris whispered back.
Tifa raised one eyebrow.
"...You think so?" She whispered dubiously.
Aeris just smiled. "Of course! We're gonna play..."
"So PLAY!" Barret yelled and mumbled angrily to himself "Don't forget we're after Sephiroth!"
The he turned and heavily walked to the chute that went to the Battle Square.
Aeris stared at the chute that Barret went down in.
"...I think he's mad." Aeris stated the obvious.
"He'll be fine. He seems to be doing a little better now." Tifa said before she turned to Cloud.
"We'd better be careful. Sephiroth might be around."
"Let's go together then. Wait a minute." Cloud looked around the group. "Where's Usagi and Yuffie?"
"Oh! Those two paired off and went to the Wonder Square. C'mon, Cloud! Let's go to the Chocobo Square!" Tifa said excitedly and jumped down the chute leading to their destination.
Meanwhile...
"Yeah! Take that... and that! Whoohoo! I won! No one can beat me, The Great Ninja Yuffie!" the shinobi exclaimed as she won the fifth round of the virtual fighting game.
Usagi moaned. "I lost.... again!"
"Well then you should hone your fighting skills more then."
"But I don't know how to fight THAT well. I only know some basics in martial arts!"
"Ask Tifa for help then. She knows martial arts really well."
"Why not you? You seem to be doing pretty well."
"Eh heh, sorry but only those of Kisaragi blood can be trained."
Usagi sweatdropped.
"I other words, you only know the basics too, huh."
Yuffie gave Usagi a sheepish grin.
"I'll ask Tifa later... I'm gonna go play more games." Usagi said and left that area to the lower level.
"Sure, sure." Yuffie said distractedly. "I won! I won! I--"
"Shut up! We already know that you're the best!" the man near the fortune teller yelled.
"Hey! Why doncha come and say that to my face big, fat and ugly!"
~*~*~
Usagi looked around the lower level floor for any games that were playable for her. Unfortunately she did not watch where she was going and bumped into someone, sending her sprawling to the ground.
"I'm so sorry!" She said as soon as she got up and bowed at the person.
"I would be more careful in the future if I were you little girl." A tenor voice said.
Usagi looked up at the person and glared at him. Not that it could harm him.
"I said that I was sorry!"
"Yes, and I said that you should be more careful from now on. Danger lies ahead of you." the man said and brushed his long silver bangs back a little.
"What do you mean?"
"Not everybody is as trustworthy as you think." the man said before he turned his back on her and walked away, his black cape flowing behind him.
"Wait!" the man stopped in his tracks and looked behind him.
"What's your name?" Usagi asked him.
"That... is none of your concern little girl." he said before turned on his heels.
Usagi stood there wondering what he could've meant.
'Strange guy.' She thought before she went to look for more games.
~*~*~
Tsuki- Whew! I think that this is my longest chapter yet. Eighteen pages! I have a feeling that it will get longer as time goes by. Anyways I want to thank all of you who had reviewed and for being so patient. You all get cookies and cake of your favorite kind! Don't worry, there really good! Oh and by the way, I know that the guys falling for her thing in the last chapter was... cliched, but then I perceived that, that is how most of the guys acted around girls in Costa del Sol. Don't worry though, I'm gonna make the guys here fall for her veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyy slowly. That's cuz I suck at romances. But I'll try my best at it! Famm, ihdem haqd desa! Poa!