The trio charged down the alley in pursuit of the chocobo drawn wagon in vain. It disappeared from their view as soon as the sector came into sight. Raven growled in frustration. "NOW where did they go!?" Cloud grabbed her arm and began to drag her towards the left where the Honey Bee Inn was located. Aeris frowned. "What are you doing Cloud?" "Watch." Raven grumbled angrily as she saw the men hanging about the Inn. It was clear as soon as they saw it the intention around the so-called inn. The men swarmed over to Raven and Aeris literally falling head over heals at the sight of the two women. One, a tall red head strutted up to Raven with a stupid grin on his face. But quickly backed away as she pulled out a broad sword and growled menacingly. Aeris took the opportunity to flirt and sell her flowers under the protection of the older woman.

Cloud busied himself asking the manager of the Honey Bee Inn if they had any new girls working there. When he heard yes he immediately asked if perhaps one of them would be named Tifa. His suspicions were correct. Tifa was in fact now part of the honeybee inn as he turned away he could feel the heat rising in his face.

Raven grabbed Aeris by the arm and dragged her away as Cloud swiftly left the area. Aeris pulled out of Raven's grasp and jogged up to Cloud. "Well?" "She works there all right." Raven flipped her hair over her shoulder before pulling off the loose blue over shirt she wore over a tight white tank top that was tucked into her baggy camo colored pants. Cloud blinked at the girl. Not only was she fine but also she carried a friggin arsenal on her body. On her back were sheathed two long swords. About her hips were throwing knives and two rather large handguns. Around her upper arm was another dagger. She smirked. "You wanna get your girlfriend right? When it comes to the Don it means trouble. You should be prepared for anything." She pointed to a small tent and began walking in that direction. "Im gonna leave some of this here. You guys need anything ask this guy. He's an old time pal of mine. YO JONNY!" Cloud shook his head as Raven disappeared behind the flaps of the tent. This girl was something else. A lot like Tifa but he knew they would consider each other competition. He looked at Aeris with exasperation. "We should go see what we can find out about Tifa. Come on." Aeris frowned. It wasn't very nice to just leave the other woman behind with out an idea as to where the others were going. "What about Rave?" "I HEARD YA! GET GOIN!"

Raven looked up at a man bent with age. His once bright blue eyes were now faded but still had a gleam of mischief. The two hugged each other fondly and the old man pointed to a flap that led to another room.

"I'm glad your back child. Your clothes are back there. I take it your on another mission."

Raven nodded as she moved into the back room.

"You could say that. I have a feeling we're not going to be seeing much of each other grandpa. But right now, I gotta head over to the Don's. Where's that black silk dress of mine!?"

The old man shook his head and waited in silence for his granddaughter to come out of her room. He thought fondly of seven years ago. When Raven was twenty-one she wandered into Midgar beaten to the point of no healing. But somehow, the guardian force watching over her took favor upon the girl and blessed her. Within two months the young girl was up and training again. She wouldn't talk much, no one really knew why. But when she did she either had something really important to say, or she was insulting someone. Zif, or Jonny as Raven called him, took Raven into his house and made her as comfortable as possible. He made sure to let her know that even after she got a job and moved out she was still welcome to come and stay with him. She had grown on him, seeing as how he had no children of his own. His thoughts were cut short as Raven emerged from her room adorned in not the most modest of outfits. The silken dress was pitch black and fell to mid- thigh. The neckline of the dress dropped low to her chest and she had an unusual amount of cleavage. The sleeves of the dress billowed out about her hands and were slit up to her shoulders, with a small string tying side to side. A thin black choker wrapped gently around her neck and the small diamond in the middle of the velvet fabric glistened softly in the soft light that was in the room. She wore large black boots that tied up to her knees. Her chestnut hair was in a high ponytail atop her head, and it had a few small braids within it. Her lips were a dark black and she wore a lighter coat of black on her eyelids. Large black opal earrings fell off chains from her ears. She smiled with arrogance and strapped a small handgun to the inside of her leg just underneath the dress.

"Well Grandpa. I've got work to do. See ya around." She grabbed a longsword from a pile of weapons and slid it into a thin sheath on her back before walking out the flap of the tent to see Aeris and Cloud heading into a clothing shop. Rolling her eyes she entered into the store and saw Aeris asking for a dress. Cloud looked at Raven with shock and shook his head violently. This wasn't the time for those thoughts. Raven tapped Aeris on the shoulder.

"What in the world are you doing?"

Aeris turned to face the older girl and her eyes grew wide.

"Are you like, the devils little sister or something. You look like a whore!"

Raven walked up to Cloud, wrapped a leg around his waist, and hung her arms about his neck. With a small look of mock shock she laughed.

"How ever did you guess!?"

Cloud closed his eyes and bit his bottom lip, trying to ignore the temptation that wrapped itself all over him, beckoning him. Man this SUCKED. After a moment Raven removed herself and shrugged.

"I figured Cloud wouldn't be able to get in to see his girl. So I figured why not give the boy a hand and have a little fun while I'm at it."

Suddenly she grinned and ran out of the tent pouncing on a familiar red haired man.

"RENO!"

Reno stared at the girl with shocked aqua eyes. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Rave???? Is that really you!?" His hands grabbed her waist as she jumped onto him and wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms hugged him. They gave each other a friendly kiss and Raven jumped off of him.

"My gosh Reno. It's been forever. Haven't seen you since you joined the Turks. I miss my kiss every day." Reno kissed her twice and chucked her chin with his index finger.

"Maybe I can make up for it?" Raven raised her eyebrows with interest and kissed him back. Reno smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"So what's with your get up? Not that I don't like it of course."

Their conversation was cut short as Reno saw Aeris hiding in the clothes shop. He moved forward leaving Raven to stand in the road.

"There you are? What are you doing in a place like this?"

Aeris tried to run for it and make it out the door to where Raven was standing. But was stopped as Reno grabbed her and flung her over his shoulder. Raven stood in his way as he turned to walk away from the place.

"Excuse me Reno. What do you think your doing?"

Reno smiled and licked his lips.

"This isn't for me. I'm doing my job. I have to take her in to headquarters. After all she is the ancient. Cassandra..."

He used Raven's fake name pointedly and she growled in response.

"Why? So Hojo can do more experiments on her? I think not. Put my friend down."

Reno set the young brunette on the ground allowing her to duck behind Raven and retrieve her staff from the sheath on her back. Raven watched as Cloud emerged from the tent with a questioning expression before he moved to Raven's side and pointed his sword at Reno.

"What's *he* doing here?"

Raven bit her lip and stared at Reno. Knowing that as it was his job he wouldn't give Aeris up without a fight. Reno grinned; beside the fact that he knew that he would be betraying an old friend.

"Why don't you ask Cassandra."

Raven closed her eyes and bowed her head.

"You're low Reno. But of course that is your job. I guess I'll make things a bit easier and explain what's going on."

She sighed and looked at Aeris completely ignoring Cloud's accusing stare.

"My name is Raven Gast. I was taken away from my family at a young age. I ran away from Shinra Headquarters and took cover under the alias of Cassandra Bartell for fifteen of my twenty-eight years of life. For a period of time I did much of my work for the Turks. Which is how I met Reno. Much of the time my work was to discover your whereabouts and report them to the Head of the Turks, Tseng. I finally quit my job and am now seeking revenge against Shinra. To make a long story short anyways. Sorry I made your life so hard Aeris. Reno apparently must have followed me here when he found out I was with you. I never meant for you to be found. I don't want to lose you again."

Aeris nodded, even if she didn't understand what the older woman was saying completely she knew that she had meant no harm to the young woman. Cloud on the other hand wasn't so quick to forgive.

"So your a Shinra spy huh?"

Raven balked and turned to him.

"No way!! I only worked for Shinra so I could find my sister!" Cloud went to speak but was cut of by Reno who began to laugh heartily. His clear tenor voice sounded in the alleyway.

"Well I can't say she isn't telling the truth. Cause she is. But I can say I still have my job. Raven you have to be arrested for treason against Shinra. Cloud I have to take you in for interfering with Shinra business. And Aeris you're the Ancient. Hojo needs you."