A dark shadowed figure stood on a cliff over looking Midgar. It shifted, pulling up its hood over its face. The figure turned away, and started walking back down the cliff. It smirked. "It's good to be home."
Tseng stood at the desk in his office. The top office. Scarlet and Heidgarr sat in two chairs in front of him. He sighed, and rustled a few papers. Then he turned back to the window and looked out of his office.
"Ahem..." Scarlet said weakly. "Sir-"
"I was just thinking about why you two have come to my office. Again." Tseng said. He straightened his Turk uniform, and sat down.
"We apologize for our interruption, but we needed to talk to you about the management." Scarlet said. "You understand that is Shinra doesn't produce enough power without using mako energy, then we will fall into bankruptcy." Tseng nodded. "Then what do you plan on doing, sir?"
"My plans are of no importance to you." He said stiffly.
"After Rufus and his father worked so hard, you'd destroy the company?" Heidgarr said, in a demanding voice.
"I will not let this company fall to ruin! That should be enough reason for you two buffoons to believe in!" Tseng yelled. "Leave now, and do not question my plans! Rufas appointed me to run the company, and I need to help from you two."
Scarlet and Heidgarr stood, and hurried out of the office. When they had left, Tseng sighed, and slouched down in his chair. He turned to face the window again.
"Rufus, my friend, I wish you had never died. You were always much better at running this place. I feel like I've failed you..." He mumbled. The phone rang as he turned around. Tseng looked at it for a moment. It kept ringing. He reached his hand to the button labeled speaker phone, and pushed it. "Hello?"
"Tseng, my old friend." A voice said over the speaker. It sounded muffled, like something was blocking the voice. "How are you?"
"Who the hell is this?" Tseng said, picking up the receiver suddenly. "How did you get this number?"
"Still in charge I see." The person said, ignoring Tseng's questions. "I bet you're still wearing that old Turk uniform though."
"What the hell do you want?" Tseng said, trying to get to the point.
"Shinra is falling Tseng." The voice continued. "It will fall on you if you don't do something." Tseng froze. "Shocked are you? You seem to be. You always helped me, so I will return the favors."
"Where are you?" The question was short, and Tseng wanted the answer.
"Look outside." The voice said. Tseng stood, and moved toward the window. He peered out and looked down to see a hooded figure standing in front of the Shinra Corp. building. "You know who I am." The figure said, over the phone. A gust of wind whipped the hood off the figure's head, revealing his face. Tseng's blood ran cold.
"Rufus!?"
####
Couri stared at the blue Turk uniform. She folded it back up, and set it in a box, closing the lid. She shook her head, closing her eyes, and tried to get rid of the painful memories. "You a Turk?" Someone said behind her. Couri opened her eyes, and looked at the man.
"No." She said. Her voice was like ice, telling the man to stop where he was. He didn't get the hint.
"But you have their uniform that they wear." He said. He pointed to the box she held.
"I was." She said. "But I'm not anymore." She stood and started to walk out. The man followed her stubbornly.
"So you're an ex-Turk? What happened?" He asked. There was a flash of movement as the man flew back into the wall.
"I don't want to talk about it." She snapped. Couri looked around at the few that were left in the bar. They quickly turned back to what they were doing. Couri took one last look at the man, and walked out. "People are so annoying." She mumbled. She glanced to the sky, seeing a black cloud move to cover the moon. She sighed. "Just what I need. More trouble..."
####
Rufus pulled off his cloak, and looked out the window. "It's been two years since I've looked down on the city." He said. Tseng smirked.
"And all the while I though you had been killed. Tell me, how did you escape the Weapon?" He asked. Rufus turned back and looked at the desk.
"I don't know. I though I was dead too. That is, until I woke up." Rufus explained. He tapped his fingers on the desk, thinking. "You rebuilt this whole office?"
"Shinra Corp. looks odd with out a top to it. People were talking." Tseng said. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? I could have used your help."
"In the state I was in? I was a mess. I couldn't just call you up, and say, 'Hey look, I'm really not dead!'" Rufus said. He sat down in the chair and sighed. "I could have gone anywhere. No one knew I was alive. Everyone still thinks I'm dead, except for you. Who wants a weak leader anyway? I wasn't fit to run this company."
"But if they see you come back from the dead, the people will be in awe! You will be worshipped and looked upon as a god!" Tseng said.
"No." Rufus said simply. He stood. "I don't want history to repeat itself." He sighed, and turned toward the stairs.
"You'd abandon Shinra then?" Tseng asked. "Abandon your own name?" Rufus turned back to look at him.
"I have lived without that name for a year now. I will not adopt it again." He said. "Shinra has already caused too much pain and suffering. It's time that the name dies." Rufus pulled up his hood. "And Tseng, don't tell anyone I came here. Not yet at least."
Tseng nodded, and watched Rufus walk out.