Couri sat atop a cliff over looking Midgar. She let out a sigh, and looked around to make sure no one else was there. She waited as her eyes caught something move in the shadows. "Come out who ever you are. Unless you what to die." Her hand moved toward the sword at her side. The shadow moved into the moon light, and appeared as a figure cloaked in white. "You've been following me for some time now." Couri said. "Who are you?" Her hand was still at the hilt of her sword.
"You don't remember me?" The figure said. Its voice sounded like it was joking. Couri didn't get the joke.
"I don't like games." She snapped. The figure nodded.
"You never did. Even when you were a Turk." It said. "Why did you leave?"
"You should know better than anyone, Shinra." She said. Rufus Shinra pulled his hood down.
"Sharp as ever Couri. I'm surprised though. I figured everyone though I was dead."
"You're too stubborn to die." Couri said. "I'm shocked you're not at your office right now." Rufus smirked.
"You know me too well, Couri." He walked past her, and looked down at the city. "Why didn't you come back and work for the Turks after I disappeared?" He asked.
"You left Tseng in charge with Scarlet and Heidgarr there. That is a mixture for disaster. They alone will destroy Shinra Corp. It's already beginning to crumble. And you have to watch it from the side lines." Couri said. "I sure that's the thing you want to do most."
"Tseng knows I'm here." Rufus said. "I saw him just yesterday. He misses you." Rufas added.
"Don't joke with me Shinra." Couri snapped. "I have no humor for your crude jokes." Rufus nodded, but didn't look down at here. "Why are you following me?"
"I knew you'd ask that eventually." Rufus said. "Can't I just say hello to an old friend?"
"You said it, but I don't consider you a 'friend.'" She said. "All you ever had were business partners anyway. Now if you don't mind, please leave me alone."
"I just wanted to admire the view." Rufus said. "You don't have to stick around here if you don't want to." Couri quickly stood, and turned away from Rufus. "Good-bye Couri." He said. Rufus waited until he could no longer hear her foot steps. He pulled out his phone and touched a number on the key pad. "Tesng? I changed my mind."
####
The Turks stood in a straight line, watching Tseng. He stood there, looking over all of them. Reno let out a sigh, and looked around. "What are we doing here Tseng?" He said. Elena and Rude nodded.
"Be patient." Tseng said. He looked at his watch and started to pace. Reno glared at him angrily. "Just wait. This will all be worth while." He explained.
"Who exactly are we waiting for anyway?" Reno said, annoyed. "I'm about to leave now." He took a step forward, but his path was suddenly blocked by another Turk. "Get out of my way Rankin." Reno snarled.
"You don't have much faith." Rankin said, not moving. "Or patients." Reno's gaze narrowed, as he clenched his fist.
"Did he ever?" A voice said from the hallway. Reno looked up, and saw a cloaked man walk through it, and stand beside Tseng. He whispered something into Tseng's ear, who nodded.
"Who the hell are you?" Reno asked. "I'm done with this bull shit. If you don't mind, I'm leaving."
"Have the Turks fallen that low?" The cloaked man asked. "You have no respect for you superior, or for that matter," He pulled off his hood. "Me." Rufus said. Reno looked at him with a shocked expression.
"You're dead." He said. His voice was hard, and stone-like. Rufus just shook his head, and pulled off the white cloak, folding it over his arm. He wore his old business suit, a white coat, and pants, and a black shirt underneath it. His face wore a satisfied grin.
"I was almost dead for some time though." He said. "Even I thought it was the end. You all seem to be you're old selves though." Rufus looked at the small collection of Turks assembled. His eyes fell on Rankin. "Mako eyes..." Rufas mumbled. "You must be the one Hojo told me to hire."
"Yes." Rankin said, then added, "Sir." Rufus nodded.
"I have a special assignment for you." Rufus said. He pulled out a picture of a woman wearing a Turk uniform. "I want you to watch her. She's currently somewhere on the outskirts of Midgar." Rufus handed the picture to Rankin. Reno caught a glance, over Rankin's shoulder.
"That's Couri!" Reno said, shocked.
"I know." Rufus said. Reno looked him in the eyes. "You will find that you'll have to be very careful following her." Rufus said to Rankin.
"Why the hell is he following her in the first place?" Reno asked. Rufus turned away from the line of Turks.
"That's not your problem." Rufus said. "Anyway, you and she had some... disagreements that I don't want involved." Reno stood there, glaring at the back of Rufus. "I think that's one of the reasons you have those scars on your face."
Reno gritted his teeth. "Is there any other reason you called all of us here?" He said, trying to hold down his rage. Rufus was right. Reno and Couri didn't mix.
"Just to show you that I'm not dead yet." Rufus said. "Shinra will not fall." He threw his cloak over his shoulders. "Do not tell a soul what happened here today." Reno started to walk out into the hallway. "Oh, and Reno." Rufus added.
"What?" Reno snapped. Rufus tossed a pouch that jingled in the air. Reno glanced inside it, then pocketed it, nodding. "Sir." He said simply.
"The rest of you can go." Rufus said. "Rankin, don't forget to keep an eye on Couri."
"Yes sir." Rankin said. He turned and followed the others out. Tseng looked at Rufas.
"What's next, sir?" He said. Rufus thought a moment.
"In the two years that I have been away, no one has tried to rebuild Sector 7." He told Tseng, who already knew this. "Start up a project, Tseng."
"That will drain all of our assets." Tseng said. "And even then, we might not have enough money."
"If you want to be great, you must make sacrifices." Rufus said. "This city should believe in Shinra again."
"Ho will we get the funding then?" Tseng asked.
"Try to get... donations from our supporting companies. I'm sure they'd be happy to help." Rufus sighed. He ran a hand through his hair. "I should be going." He said.
"You'd rather stay somewhere else besides here?" Tseng asked, watching Rufus pull his cloak back on.
"I'd rather not be in this building too long." Rufus said. "I find it too tiring. I'll keep in touch."