TO DEFINE EVIL
CHAPTER THREE: WHO'S IN CHARGE, ROUND TWO.
Disclaimer: Square Soft and lots of other people own Final Fantasy, not me.
I'm just temporarily enjoying the playground they outgrew and left behind. . . no sense in letting it go to waste!
C&C makes me happy! Thanks for reading.
****************************************************************
CHAPTER THREE: WHO'S IN CHARGE, ROUND TWO.
The knife froze an inch from the general's throat, despite his best efforts to make it go farther, and Cloud found himself staring into glowing green eyes burning with anger from only inches away. There was something else there also, carefully guarded. Had he scared the general? His trembling arm casually tossed the weapon off into the bushes.
*That was stupid, like always. Tie yourself up. I want to get some sleep without having to worry about you. I'll deal with you more thoroughly in the morning.*
No. He had almost been free. He had been free, for two glorious years. Suddenly Cloud was angry. How dare this ghost return to haunt him? He had destroyed it once, he could do it again. How many times was he going to have to prove himself? How many times would he let the silver devil destroy his life? Visions of his hometown Nibelham burning, of Tifa screaming, of the newly remodeled Seventh Heaven Bar up in flames. He clenched his fists, ignoring the burning ache in his head in favor of the single minded fury.
There was no doubt about it this time. A flash of fear in the General's eyes. Suddenly every muscle in his body clenched so tight he felt encased in concrete.
*You are mine!*
*No.*
He felt something break, and wondered if it was his own mind. Moonlight glimmered off in the bushes he had thrown the knife into, beckoning. He took a step towards it, the world distorted and slow to the odd, powerful thing his mind had become. His skin felt like impenetratable armor, separating him from the world, so he was existing
in his own private universe. It was like the rush of battle: power, calm control, almost pleasure, but without the nervousness.
The pressure inside him disappeared. He looked back to see the General standing, a five foot blade having appeared out of nowhere unsheathed and ready in his hand.
*I could only control you when I left my own body alone. Thank you for healing it. Perhaps I shall return the favor and heal you after I'm done with you tonight.*
The feeling of power disappeared as quickly as it had come. Wide eyed, Cloud turned and ran.
*Trying to escape? I'll enjoy the hunt, clone. And when I catch you, you'll never think about disobeying again.*
Sephiroth watched the terrified boy crash through the bushes, his carefully calculated last words driving him mindlessly into the dark. At least he wouldn't be back for a while. The silver haired man sheathed his blade and sank down against a tree, letting the silent night calm his thudding heart. That had been a surprise. Not entirely
unexpected, but still a surprise. Cloud had gained a strong enough sense of self to have the willpower necessary to use the inherent power he inherited from Jenova. Sephiroth lifted one hand and stared at the long, elegant fingers, still thin despite Cloud's care. It had been worth it. He may not be in shape, but he could care for himself from this point, and the rest of his skills would come naturally later. As long as Cloud and his friends left him alone that long.
This time, he would live.
Tifa's PHS beeped, almost making her fall off the log she was crossing.
"Hello?" Please let it be Cloud, please let it be Cloud.
"This is Nanaki. How soon can you and Barrett get down to Mideel?"
Tifa frowned at the phone. "I have to find Cloud, Red, you know that."
Red's voice was interrupted by frequent bouts of static, courtesy of being so far from any large populations.
"Cloud's alrea. . (static) here. Just come to Mideel. We . . .(static)"
"What is it?"
"Just come on down, I'll . (static). . when you get here."
"I told you he could take care of himself." Barrett's large left hand patted her shoulder awkwardly as she slowly folded up the PHS and put it away in her small canvas pack.
"I just wish I knew why he left in the first place." She replied, looking off towards the Nibelhim Mountains and Mideel.
"We'll know soon."
"Red!" Tifa waved enthusiastically at the dark chestnut beast lying in the road at the entry gate to Mideel City, hiding her disappointment that Cloud hadn't come out to meet her. That was just the way Cloud was though. Red pushed himself to his feet and shook gently to get the dust out of his fur before trotting over. She patted him gently, enjoying the residual warmth from his sun bath.
"Welcome, Tifa, Barrett."
"Where's Cloud? Did he say why he ran off like that?"
Red's gently waving tail hesitated a beat. "He's asleep at the inn. And we're still not sure why he left. He seems. . . confused."
Tifa's heart seized up. "Did he have another attack? He's been ill, I told him not to come, but he insisted he was fine. . . Where. . ."
"Tifa." Red caught the black polyester of her shorts gently in his teeth, holding her till he was sure she had stopped. "There's another problem. His previous attacks he's just been incapacitated, and lost his memory for a short time. This time he's imagining things, and acting on them. There's a chance he might be dangerous."
"Not to me!"
"Tifa, he seems. . ." Red hesitated.
"Whatever you're trying to say, just say it straight out." Barrett frowned as he spoke, shifting nervously.
"He's approaching the age Sephiroth was when he went insane. And now he's insisting that Sephiroth is back in his mind, that it was Sephiroth controlling him when he left us, and that we have to get ready to fight him again." The words poured out of Red's mouth rapidly, as if he couldn't wait to get the hateful words said and over with so he wouldn't have to say them again. He hung his head in shame, not likeing having to say such things about a friend.
Tifa pressed her hand to her mouth, backing away from him a step "You're the insane one. Cloud would never hurt anyone!"
"But Tifa," Red scuffed his front paw in the dirt. He sighed. "I don't want to think about it either. But you know he's been having problems. What if next time he imagines Sephiroth forcing him to kill someone? Or if he thinks he sees Sephiroth and attacks some innocent person? Cloud is probably the most dangerous person on this planet right now. He's as powerful as Sephiroth ever was, maybe more so."
"Get away from me." Tifa hissed in a cold voice. "Cloud is nothing like Sephiroth. What room is he in?"
"203"
Tifa nodded sharply, turning towards Barrett. She stared at him for a second, then hurried off towards the downtown.
Red sighed and drooped his head. "I didn't want to say that, but someone would have. I wanted her to know what to expect before she saw him."
"I know." Barrett suddenly felt heavy, and leaned against one of the pillars holding up the gateway. "I hope you're wrong about him. That girl's been through enough already."
She slid open the door gently, but he was already awake.
"Tifa." His voice was relieved, desperate. "Tifa, you have to believe me. He's back. I don't know how, or why, but he is. We have to stop him."
She blinked back tears. "Sephiroth? Cloud, Sephiroth's dead. You killed him, remember? In the Northern Crater. We all saw him die."
"He must have escaped somehow. He's weak, but alive. Tifa, I saw him, I heard him, I even touched him. You have to believe me. Please."
"Cloud. . ." she swallowed, "you've been sick, remember? And your memory's never been reliable. There's no way Sephiroth could be alive. You must have imagined him. Why did you leave the camp?"
"The camp?"
"We all woke up and you were gone. We were on our way to Mideel, to do a favor for Reeve, remember?"
"He called me. I had to go to him."
"No one called you. The only person who could have has been dead for two years. Cloud, you have to believe me. The others think you're going insane. You have to stop talking like this."
"Tifa, he was there!" Cloud insisted, but his eyes clouded with hesitation.
"Your illness made you imagine all this. Please believe me. You're just getting yourself worked up over nothing."
"You think I'm insane too." He looked away.
"Just stay here and get some rest for a while . . . Please, trust me. It's going to be ok. There's no danger." She reached out at grasped his hand, massaging the palm.
"Tifa?" He asked, still watching the wall.
"Yes."
"I want to be alone."
She tried to hide how much that hurt. "Sure Cloud. Just get some rest, and I'll see you later."
Twilight in the Nibelheim Mountains. He could hear gentle gusts of wind push the icy clear water of the lake he was camped by against the mud of the shore. A bull frog croaked once, twice, but there were no answers, so Sephiroth disregarded it. Perhaps a tribe of frogs would have the courage to attack an armed man, but not a lone one, unless it was a female with young to protect and feed. Of course, in that case, the frog wasn't really alone, the young just wouldn't join the fight, Sephiroth mused.
The trees brushed branches with a cheerful rustle, like neighbors chatting over a back fence. It wasn't a comforting sound though; it was almost as if they were deliberately leaving him out of their conversation, or that they were discussing all his flaws, complaining about how a human didn't belong in their world. Of course, he wasn't really human, and he didn't really belong anywhere. A low howl echoed against the cold stone of a cave somewhere and escaped out into the open, ending in a series of sharp siren like barks. A mako monster, crying it's loneliness to the night. Normally pack animals, they were almost extinct now. That was good news to travelers, who had once been savagely prayed on by the giant insect, but rather sad to Sephiroth. A pack of mako monsters, especially if they were commanded by a smart buck, made truly worthy opponents. Much worthier than frogs anyhow. He snorted, reaching across to the fire and taking the hunk of greenish leg meat off the spit he had made and tearing off another large bite. He was already pleasantly full, but he still needed to put on some weight, and besides, it smelled good.
*I DON'T BELIEVE IN YOU. I KILLED YOU. YOU'RE DEAD. I COULDN'T HAVE SEEN YOU. I DIDN'T SEE YOU.
I won't go insane like you.*
Cloud's words slammed into his thoughts, making him drop the food and almost choke on the piece he was chewing. After a prolonged spate of coughing, the offending piece ended up on the dirty ground besides the spit the meat had been cooking on, his having knocked it over while coughing. Sephiroth glared at the dusty, disgusting looking mess.
*What the hell was that about?* He snarled back, and was rewarded by Cloud's shock that there had actually been a reply.
*I'm not hearing you, I'm not hearing you. . .* Cloud chanted desperately, and tried to pull away from the contact.
*Oh no you don't.* Now that he'd recovered from the surprise, Sephiroth was amused by what he was fairly sure was going on. *Your friends convinced you I didn't exist, didn't they. Oh Planet but you're easy to manipulate. They can't even touch your mind and they can control you. Just imagine how easy it is for me. Not that it really matters though. You know the truth, deep down inside. I am here, and I own you.*
The more Cloud tried to convince them that he was alive, the more they'd be sure he was insane. What an useful situation. Cloud truly had gotten stronger though; two years ago he would never have been able to contact Sephiroth on his own. Or was it that he was just confident enough in himself to believe he could?
*Leave me alone!* Cloud jerked free and fled back to the safety of his own mind. Sephiroth let him go. After a few seconds he realized he was smiling. The chilly night seemed warmer somehow.
"Has he ever done anything like this before, Tifa?" Red asked.
She shook her head. "Only that once, leaving the northern crater after we killed Sephiroth. He said he killed Sephiroth a second time in his mind. I thought that was just some odd psychological method his unconscious was using to reassure him everything was alright. When he's gotten sick recently, he just collapses, although sometimes there's slight memory loss of the time right around it."
"We need to get him to a doctor, find out what's wrong with him." Barrett slammed his fist on the table, jarring everyone's glasses.
"He won't go. He doesn't want anyone figuring out how to do what Hojo did." Tifa hesitated, looking down into her cup of tea.
A good reason, Red acknowledged silently.
Then Tifa continued, her voice firm. "But I took a blood sample from him when he was unconscious last time and sent it off to Reeve, asking him to have his people look into it. So we should be getting results soon."
"You trusted the damn Shinra scientists? They're the ones who did that to him!" Barrett stared at her in shock.
"Who else would have a chance at figuring him out? No one else has anywhere close to the knowledge necessary. . . I was so worried. . ."
"Well, maybe Reeve knows something then." Red said practically. "Why don't we call him? Who has a radio?"
Tifa silently got hers out and began punching in the correct frequency. Why was this happening now? What was wrong with her? Why did everything that happened to her hurt so much?
Stop that, she chided herself. Think of all those people trying to survive in Midgar, with the plate falling, and Meteor, and the Mako factories off. They're having a much harder time of it than you. Hmph. Cloud's chiding about how the new Shinra wasn't that bad must be having some effect, she hadn't blamed Shinra in those sentences.
Cloud, Please be alright. Just be having a weird chemical imbalance they can give you supplements for, or have this be the worst of it, so now you'll start getting better. People get sick all the time, and then they get better. Please let this be a sign that your body's behaving like a normal person's, not that Hojo's changes are turning you into something alien.
The radio beeped and Reeve came on.
"This is Reeve. What's happening?"
Tifa opened her mouth and then realized she couldn't bring herself to say it. Barrett tugged at the small communications device in her hand, and she let it be taken without contest.
"This is Barrett. Listen, Cloud's real sick. Tifa said she asked you t'have someone look into it. You got anything?"
"I'm sorry," he said, and there was real regret in the Shinra president's voice. "Everything my people have seen, and yes, I've been very careful in who I let see his tests, just has them confused. Half the stuff in him they would label as immediately fatal, and the rest they haven't figured out a purpose for. Hojo didn't believe in the normal standard of one variable per experiment apparently. He changed everything he could think of- there's no way of telling what was successful and what wasn't, or even what is necessary to keep him alive versus what was designed to make him a deadly warrior. They're still working on it though; maybe they'll come up with something soon.
I'm sorry, I realize that isn't much. What's happening with him now? Is there anything I can do to help on a more immediate basis?"
"Cloud's. . . not thinking straight. He disappeared for four days, and now he's insisting he saw Sephiroth. He'll be OK though, we're taking care of him."
Reeve caught the inherent problem in that statement immediately. No one ever accused him of being stupid, just of having a lack of pride and ambition. Of course, now that he was the most powerful man in the world, people were saying that he had planned it that way all along. "That's . . . not good. How close do you think he is to going insane like Sephiroth did?"
"Hey, you're jumping to conclusions awful fast there!"
"Part of my job is to prepare for any situation, unfortunately. That means I have to consider all possibilities, and that has been a possibility with Cloud ever since Hojo ran the same experiments on him he did on Sephiroth. All right, what are you planning on doing with him? No offence, but if there's any chance Nibro really did design a new super weapon, and that Cloud might start imitating the general, I don't want Cloud anywhere near it."
"We're not just leaving him here. Not for a stupid mission like that one."
"It's not stupid." Reeve protested. "What if it's true? Please, I need your help, Barrett."
"Red and I'll keep going. We got brains." Cid had flipped on his own radio, apparently getting tired of the way Barrett was talking. "And I think we ought to lock the kid up. Don't get me wrong, I like spike head, but we gotta think realistically here. The planet's had enough pain with one Sephiroth. We can't risk Cloud turning into another one."
That let Tifa find her voice. "We are NOT locking Cloud up! He hasn't done anything wrong."
"Yeah, you guys just gonna forget he saved the world? We owe him. Heck, the whole planet owes him." Barrett's low voice rumbled angrily.
"I'm not planning on locking anyone up!" Reeve put in hastily, trying to prevent a fight. If Tifa and Barrett stayed out, there wasn't much chance of anything getting done. Red would try his hardest, but he just didn't have enough experience with the seamier side of human culture, and Cid would just insult everyone. "Tifa, Barrett, I'd really like you in on this. What about leaving Cloud with Vincent? He lives down there somewhere, doesn't he? We all trust Vincent, including Cloud. Is that OK with everyone?"
Tifa pursed her lips. Barrett shrugged. Cid took a puff of his cigarette. "Hell yeah. Vinnie's strong enough that even if Cloud does go wacko, he can keep him there long enough for us to deal with him."
"That does it. I'm staying here." Tifa snarled. "Find your detectives elsewhere, Mr. President."
"That's not what I meant!" Reeve protested, but Tifa wasn't listening.
"Besides, Vincent's had Hojo work on him too. How come you're not worried about him going insane?"
"Besides the fact that he has none of Sephiroth's cells, was modified in a completely different way, and hasn't gone insane yet even though he's almost double Cloud's age?" Cid asked. "Listen, little lady, it's for Cloud's own good too. What if next time he tries to hurt himself? You ain't strong enough to stop him, girlie. Stop thinking like a love struck teen and use your brain."
"How dare you!"
"Tifa!" Reeve yelled, stopping conversation for a second as the voice circuits overloaded with a painful screech. He sighed and rubbed his forehead, imagining the secretaries in the other room wondering why he was yelling a woman's name when he was supposed to be alone in his office. "I just mentioned Vincent because he's a friend, and because I'd be more comfortable if you were helping. If someone is building a super weapon, they're going to have a lot of security, and you and Barrett have a lot of experience infiltrating and sabotaging large organizations."
"I'd like you to come along too Tifa." Red spoke up for the first time in the conversation. "You notice things Cid and I don't- he focuses on the mechanics, not the people, and I just don't have enough experience with normal human society. Besides, Cloud thought this was important. I don't think he would be happy if we failed for lack of manpower. I'm sure he'd be all right with Vincent."
Tifa bit her lip, looking at Barrett.
"I'll do whatever you do, Tifa."
"I just don't want to leave him. . ." She muttered.
"I'll be fine. Go with them."
Everyone spun around. Cloud was standing in the doorway.
"Everyone is right. I might be becoming a danger, which definitely means I shouldn't be on this mission, and Vincent is both a good friend and strong enough to contain me if necessary. I don't mind, really. And it would put my mind at ease if you were looking into this."
"Yeah, you can hang out with golden arm while we do all the work." Cid snorted. "Sounds like the good life to me. You sure you're not just faking this to get a vacation, kid?"
Cloud smiled slightly at the white haired pilot, not insulted in the slightest. Cid's 'I don't give a damn about you,' attitude just meant he was worried about something and too afraid of being unmanly to show it. "Really everyone," Cloud continued, "protecting the planet from another bunch of crazy scientists is a lot more important than bringing me cookies in bed, and that's basically all your staying here would amount to. If there was anything you could be doing to help me, that would be one thing, but as it is. . ."
"You'd just as soon not have the whiny bunch of us along alternating suspecting you and pestering you with excess care. Got ya, kiddo." Cid grinned around the stinky smoke coming out the stick in his face. Gods but he liked the kid. You could count on Cloud to know what needed to be done and do it, a rarity in this group. Red was too polite to ever make a firm decision and tell the others what to do, Barrett focused on solving one problem to the exclusion of everything else, and Tifa, well, Tifa was female with all the emotional bull that entailed. Now Yuffie was female too, but that girl had been fairly with it. Had her own set of priorities that didn't match everyone else's, but she was pretty thorough about making sure what she thought was important happened. Pity she was female and a bit of a coward. Otherwise he was sure she'd grow into quite the man in a few years.
In a small room full of electrical equipment, most of which had once belonged to the deceased Warren Nibro, a sharp nosed man quickly rewound the recording of the conversation he had been eavesdropping on and listened to it again. Then he summoned his boss.
Vincent had a small and very humble hut at the far end of the island Mideel was on. Almost impassible cliffs kept the city's population from venturing into that area, but they weren't a problem for the adventurers, whom Reeve had equipped with golden chocobos. The tall man was waiting silent and unmoving in the shadows of the doorway as they arrived, looking eerie with his glowing red eyes and knife tipped golden arm. Even his clothing seemed unnatural, the red cloak hanging stiff and still despite the breeze, the leather too heavy to billow like everyone else's cotton clothing. And as always, the scarf covering his deadly fangs obscured any emotion that might have been showing on his face. He slowly scanned the group.
"Welcome. I'm afraid I'm not set up for guests, but you're welcome to come in."
Everyone looked at the tiny one room cabin. There was no chance of them all fitting inside, which was probably a deliberate act to discourage visitors.
"Ah, it's a beautiful day. Why don't we just talk out here?" Red suggested.
Vincent nodded. "As you wish." He glanced over at Cid, who hurriedly extinguished his ever present cigarette, suddenly regretting his plan. He had forgotten how dang uncomfortable the man made him. Times like this made it really easy to remember that Vincent had been one of Shinra's elite and conscienceless assassins before an ill-considered love affair with Hojo's wife had turned him into one of the mad scientist's lab rats, and eventually into a half-man, half-monster hybrid that went berserk with bloodlust in battle.
Cloud smiled and swung down off his chocobo. "Good to see you, it's been too long!" He cheerily called out, leaving the huge bird's reins loose in the dust. It was well enough trained that it wouldn't wander off. "How's life been?"
"Nothing of particular interest has happened."
"Sounds good. A lot better than the old days in any case, right?"
"Perhaps."
As if their brief conversation was a signal, the others started getting down off their chocobos as well. Tifa ran over to hug him, and was rewarded by a rare gentling of Vincent's stoic face.
"Hey, man." Barrett offered a huge hand, which the other man shook obediently. "You should come visit us more often. Or at least write, we never hear from you."
"I apologize."
"Sure, whatever. So what have you been doing? You're not farming, obviously, and you're too far from trade routes to be working, but you've got machine made stuff in there, so you're earning money somehow."
"I am hunting the monsters in this area."
Cid perked up. "Really? Me too. Well, not in this area. Actually, Sheera made me get a job, a stupid thing flying packages all over like a post office or something, but it's just so dang boring I mounted a gun on the front and hunt anytime I fly over a group of monsters. Life's just no fun without a good fight, y'know?"
"It is my penance for the evil I have committed." Vincent replied, and everyone blinked, trying to come up with any possible response to that. Once again Cloud broke the awkward silence.
"Actually, I was wondering if I could stay here with you for a while."
Vincent looked at the young man, victim of the same crazy scientist who had turned him from man into other. He seemed to understand the situation without asking.
"Certainly."
"That's it? You're not even going to ask why?" Tifa asked in surprise.
"You all know I do not desire company, and have respected that. Your presence here now implies that something is seriously wrong. The only reason you would want me is if you are facing an enemy so dangerous you think the power in my chaos beast form overrides the inherent danger to anyone near me after I change into it. Beyond that, I do not need to know. I will give you all the aid I can."
"Alright." Tifa shrugged, still surprised, but not objecting that no one was telling Vincent that his job might be to fight Cloud.
"I suppose you all ought to be going now then," Cloud suggested. "You have a lot to do."
"Yeah." Everyone mounted up. Tifa hesitated, one hand on the stirrup, watching Cloud.
"What's the matter girl, don't wanna leave your lover-boy? Just hurry and get going and the faster you can get back to him." Cid snorted. Cloud opened his mouth, face bright red, but nothing came out. Tifa said it for him, her own face burning.
"I'm just worried about a friend."
"Yeah, well, I don't see you worrying about the rest of us like that."
"That's because you're not ill, although I can fix that if you want me too." She threatened.
"Geez, ok, ok. Women get so emotional over their love lives." He kicked his chocobo into a trot and headed off.
"Umm. . ." Cloud wasn't sure what to say yet.
Tifa glared at everyone. "We're just friends." Her voice dared anyone to contradict her. No one did. "Hmph. Well, I'll see you later then Cloud." She had the grace to sound apologetic when she looked at him. "Thanks for looking after him, Vincent." Suddenly embarrassed, she finished mounting, turning the Chocobo back towards Mideel and hurrying off. Gods, had she actually said that? Now Cloud was going to think that not only did she not like him, she thought of him as a little kid she had to protect. Why oh why couldn't she learn to keep her mouth shut?
The others quickly said their goodbyes and followed,leaving Cloud and Vincent still standing before the hut.
"Would you like to come in? I have tea."
"That would be nice." Cloud entered and sat down. The inside was immaculately ordered, much like it's owner. The furnishings were simple but well crafted and not displeasing to the eye. Cloud suspected that Vincent had made them himself, spending long hours alone sanding delicate corners till everything fit perfectly.
There was silence for a while as Vincent got out cups and poured in the water, letting the leaves steep and then scooping them out with a strainer. He placed a cup before Cloud.
Finally Cloud spoke up. "You know why I'm really here." It wasn't a question. "I saw it in your eyes as we talked."
"Your mutations are causing problems. You might be dangerous, and my own mutations make me strong enough to stop you if necessary."
"I'm sorry to make you deal with this."
"There is no need to apologize. I just ask that you do the same for me, should it become necessary."
Cloud gave a half-laugh, "Of course, my friend, of course."
Barrett glanced over at Tifa, who wasn't exactly dragging her feet, but was obviously unhappy to be leaving Cloud anyhow. Half her posture was her normal confident one, back straight, heels down, reins at the proper ninety degrees, but her head hung down so she watched the road instead of her surroundings, and her shoulders were slumped, neck muscles tense.
"He'll be ok." He offered.
"I know." She didn't seem inclined to talk about it.
He tried again. "How come you're so worried about him? Cid was right, you don't get that worked up over the rest of us."
"Cloud's all I have left of my past. I don't like to go back to Nibelheim. The city that Shinra built there after Sephiroth destroyed it isn't not where I grew up, it's some mockery the Shinra invented. It doesn't help me remember the family and friends who died there, it insults them. Cloud's the only thing I've got to remind me of them." She kicked a stone pensively. "Besides, I guess I'm feeling kind of useless these days. Avalanche is disbanded, there's no point to us anymore now that the Shinra president is a . . well, a semi-friend at least. And there's lots of people who can run a restaurant, it's nothing special."
"That's how most people live. There's very few of us who get to form revolutionary groups and go save the world you know. And the Seventh Heaven is something special; you made it yourself and it's become famous. Most people spend their lives working for someone else, making stuff for someone else, never seeing the end product, never getting the credit."
"I know! I just feel. . . But Cloud does need me. There are days that he just stares off into the horizon, and it's like me and the rest of the world don't even exist to him; he's thinking on some different level that no one else can hope to reach. And he seems so lonely. Then I come up, and he smiles at me in relief, like I've reminded him that he really exists, that the world can actually be a good place to live in." She laughed wryly. "It's quite the boost to a girl's self esteem, I can tell you. He makes me feel like I'm special just by being me, like there's a place in the world only I can fill. And I can make sure he eats, and wash his clothes, and make sure he gets out to do fun things like festivals and movies sometimes. Sounds stupid doesn't it? But it makes me happy."
And that's not love? Barrett thought, trying to hide a grin, even as the word love brought a pang to his heart. Sounds like what everyone really wants; someone who makes them feel worthy just by being themselves, someone who makes them happy. Does it matter that much that he never brings you roses, that you never feel that rush of craziness for wanting him? From the sounds of things, you did plenty of that type of romancing in your younger years. Isn't this better, something deeper that'll last? And it's not like you're caring for him because housework is all you're fit for; you've proven yourself to the world in every possible way: starting up and successfully operating a revolution against the most powerful controlling force on the planet, surviving the destruction of your hometown to become one of the deadliest warriors in existence, courageously fighting aliens and insane supermen to save the world. While doing all that you've been running a restaurant, which in itself is a full time job and more than most people, men or women, could do on their own. Now it looks like you've got the man too. I know most of Midgar's female population has Cloud at the top of their most eligible list. What's wrong with any of that? Maybe you think you should have some strong man to care for you, Tifa, but you're too independent to be happy that way. You'll always be the one in charge in your household, caring for your man. If you're ever not, there'll be something seriously wrong.
Barrett clasped her shoulder. "Well, we'll just find this guy quickly so you can get back to Cloud then."
She snorted. "Cid said that too, remember? Don't quote him. One Cid is plenty."
Red took charge once they reentered Mideel.
"All right everyone, spread out and start asking around about a short, brown haired, bearded man who was in Midgar two months ago. We need tents and a few other supplies too, but I'll pick those up myself."
"Have you seen anyone like that?" Tifa asked a shopkeeper after describing the man.
"Nope, honey, there's no one like that who's ever lived around here."
Tifa blinked. "You're sure?"
"Completely. This is a retirement center. Most of us have lived here for decades. Our major form of amusement is chatting about the newcomers. Besides, almost everyone has gray hair. You youngsters really stand out."
Tifa frowned. "What about just a short, overweight man then? He could have been wearing a wig and fake beard."
"I wish I could help you, but we're pretty into healthy living here. Of the few overweight people, one is tall, and the other two are female. Sorry honey. Hope you find your friend soon."
"Yeah, well, you've been a lot of help anyhow. Thank you." She pursed her lips thoughtfully and headed back to the restaurant they were meeting at, hoping someone else had done better.
"Any luck?" She called out as she approached.
"Nope." Barrett grumbled.
"I'm afraid everyone's assured us he couldn't have come from here." Red added.
"Me too." She rested her face in her hands. "This is sounding impossible."
"Don't give up yet." Cid laughed as he sauntered into view and plopped down at the table. "Get me a beer," he called out over his shoulder to the waitress, "Once again, it looks like Cid's gonna save the day." He took a deep gulp of the mug she brought and let it drop back to the table, liquid and foam splashing over the side.
"What did you find out?" Red asked eagerly.
"Well, this one fellow recognized me from a delivery run I did a bit ago, wanted me to carry something for his daughter in Midgar. Birthday present, you know. So we got to talking, and he starts mentioning other ways he managed to get presents to her every year, when there wasn't a pilot around. Real proud of what a good parent he was; I wanted to get away and do some investigating, but he just kept talking and talking. Seemed rude to just walk away you know? Real boring stuff though. So anyhow, then he mentions how about twenty years ago there was a couple of traders who did a lot of work down here, even though they actually lived up near the golden saucer. Real short people they were. Had a kid named Volg Calson in his early teens, brown hair. The people here used to baby-sit him a lot, whenever there were a lot of monster attacks or the parents were carrying valuable cargo and expecting bandit attacks. They didn't want to kid in danger you see. Although the guy thought it might be because the kid was kind of a coward, the sneaky type that'd get allies killed by running and hiding whenever there was trouble. Anyhow, then Wutai opened up to trade, and they moved their route that direction looking for more profits. No one's seen them since. Now the kid would have been away from here for a long time, but childhood accents never really go away, you know?"
Tifa blinked, as surprised as the rest of them. "Cid, I don't know how to say this, but you have the most astounding luck sometimes. . ."
"Good job!" Red barked happily. "Now we can go to Wutai and find out where he went from there!"
Barrett groaned and muttered something under his breath.
"What was that? I didn't hear you." Red asked innocently.
"Nothing." Barrett looked at Tifa and saw her mouthing the word, the exact same expression of wry acceptance on her face.
Yuffie.
**********************************************************
Hi everyone! Next up: A visit to Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess of the Ancient and Most Glorious Nation of Wutai- Yuffie! Who's in love?!!! More info on the bad guys and what they want with Cloud. Sephiroth might show- but most likely it'll be a chapter or two before he reveals anything of his plans.
Inarae
ginabrae@aol.com