"So, what now?" Kairi asked.
"Let's wait till everyone is here first," Cloud replied. The only people in the kitchen were he, Aeris, and Kairi.
"Where are Vincent and Shadow…and Cid?" Kairi inquired. "I haven't seen them since I woke up."
"Shadow just left, he always does that. Vincent went to the Shinra Mansion, which is only a few houses up. Cid went back to his home in Rocket Town to check on his wife, Shera."
"What, that old buzzard has a wife?" Everyone turned to the location of the voice at the door and found Riku there. Standing next to him, to Kairi's surprise, was Fayne.
"Yes, he did," Aeris said, while Riku and Fayne sat at the table. "He actually just married a few months ago after living with her for years."
"Yeah that sounds like him," Riku said, not unkindly. "Anywho, where's Sora?"
"Hey Riku!" The brunet ran downstairs and tackled the sitting Riku in an overenthusiastic hug. "Ha-ha! I'm so glad to see you again!"
"Get off me dork," Riku said, although he was touched by the younger boy's enthusiasm. "I saw you a couple of days ago."
Sora got up and grinned. "Yeah but that was when I was all evil and stuff. Now I'm back, everyone's favorite cutie."
A collective sight went up through the kitchen. Sora looked around, puzzled by the kind exasperation. "What?" he asked. "I am cute…or at least Kairi thinks so," he said looking at her.
"No, you've mistaken pity for love," Kairi joked. She looked around again. Someone was missing. And it was…
"Yuyami," Kairi thought aloud. "Where's he?"
"He's upstairs showering right now, he'll probably be down in a minute," Aeris answered.
"So, like I said before, what are we supposed to do now?" Kairi asked again. "Do we go after that Seryl guy?"
"We don't even know where he is," Fayne argued.
Sora raised his hand. "I know where he is."
"Where?" Riku asked.
"Oblivion…"
"Oblivion?" Cloud questioned. "We don't even know how to get there."
Sora scratched his head. "Ha, yeah I haven't really thought that far ahead."
"Well we won't find any information here," Aeris said. "Why don't you take them to the Coliseum, Cloud?"
Cloud smiled. "Yeah, that's a good idea."
"Cool, the Coliseum!! I haven't been in ages!!" Sora pumped his fist in the air.
Fayne looked around, puzzled. "What's the 'Coliseum'?"
"It's a place where warriors test their abilities against monsters and each other," Riku answered. "The perfect world to have a little fun."
"It does sound like fun," Kairi agreed. "Let's go right now then!"
"Hey, we can also make a stop in Hollow Bastion, right?" Sora asked.
"Why?"
"Because if anyone knows where Ansem went, its them. He was there former king." Sora got up from the table, eyes gleaming. "C'mon!! Let's go!!"
"Go where?" Yuyami asked, walking down the stairs.
"The Coliseum, and Hollow Bastion," Kairi answered. "We're going to try and find Ansem and Seryl."
"Sounds like a plan," Yuyami said. "I'll go get my stuff ready." He walked back up the stairs.
"How are we getting there anyway?" Fayne asked.
"Cid is coming in the Highwind," Cloud responded.
"How long is it gonna take him to be here?" Sora asked. "I'm ready to go now."
"Don't worry, Cloud called him before you guys even woke up," Aeris assured them. "He should be getting here in a few min-"
The door suddenly burst open and almost flew off the hinges as the grizzled pilot swaggered in. He observed the group of people in the kitchen gaping at him and did what he always does. He lit a cigarette.
"What the &*#@ are you all lookin' at!?" he asked. "Everyone get in the #@&%(@)% ship!!"
"Cid…" Aeris managed. "Our door…"
Cid looked at the door hanging off of one hinge. He inspected it by poking it with his spear. The pilot then shrugged nonchalantly.
"No time for subtleties!!" he yelled. "We gotta go!! A tournament is starting tomorrow so we gotta get to the Coliseum now!!"
"Alright, alright…" Sora grumbled. Everyone began walking out of the door. Yuyami came running downstairs and saw that the kitchen was empty except for Aeris and Cloud. The ex-soldier was saying goodbye to Aeris and glared at Yuyami. Yuyami got the picture. He ran out to join the others.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Be careful, Cloud," Aeris commanded. "If anything bad happens, run. Screw the kids."
Cloud smiled. "I'll be sure to do that."
He walked up to her and put his hands around her waist. He then kissed her softly on the lips and looked into her emerald-green eyes.
"I'll come back. I promise." With that the blonde grabbed his buster sword from its place in the corner and ran out to catch up with the rest of the gang.
"You'd better…" Aeris whispered.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sora walked into the gummi ship and gasped. The place was huge and was pretty luxurious as well. He saw a bowl of cigars and picked one up.
"Gimme that ya little…" Cid yelled snatching the cigar. He then lit it and took a puff. "Ahhhh!! That's exactly what I needed right now." He walked toward the cockpit swinging his spear all the way.
"Hey watch it geezer!" Riku yelled, dodging the careless swing of the pilot's spear.
"Ha-ha. Even a runt like you can't make me lose the joy of smoking a fine cigar," Cid said.
"Well, we're on our way," Fayne stated.
"Yes we are," a voice supplied.
Everyone looked around. Vincent Valentine unexpectedly emerged from one of the cabins, twirling his pistol.
"Who are you?!" Sora demanded, summoning his keyblade.
Undaunted, Vincent holstered his weapon and smirked. "My name is Vincent, Vincent Valentine."
"Its okay, he's cool," Riku declared. He turned to the dark man. "Where have you been?"
"That is of my concern," Vincent stated, coolly. He walked back into one of the cabins.
Fayne bristled and turned to Riku. "I don't like that guy," she said.
"That's just how he is," Riku shrugged.
They all sat down as they felt the ship began to move. Cid's voice came over a speaker announcing that they were taking off. Kairi sat back to enjoy the ride.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Lord Ansem, your guests have arrived." A figure in black rags escorted a group of warriors into a dimly lit room. At the head of a huge table sat Ansem, still donning the red cloak to cover his wounds.
"I have been expecting you all. Have a seat and tell me who you are." Ansem examined each of them without getting up from his seat. "One of my servants informed me that you all will do anything for money."
One of the mercenaries stepped forward. "My name is Heyral, I'm the leader of this group," he stated, running a finger through his black, thick hair. His dark-blue eyes shifted to a girl about his age, 19, wearing a black body suit, and gestured toward her. "This is Dariel, or thief-slash-spy." Dariel gave a bare nod to Ansem as she brushed the long, silver hair out her green eyes.
Heyral gestured to a grizzled, competent-looking, older man in a brown cloak with the hood up. "This is Orlandu, he's an experienced knight who has no equal." The knight didn't even waver, he just continued to look at Heyral.
"And last but not least, my red-headed friend here is named Jessed." Heyral patted the boy, who didn't look older than 15, and smirked. "This guy is our healer as well as mage. He can destroy the enemy with spells and then cast Protect on him."
"It does seem like a capable group," Ansem acknowledged. "I have a mission for you to complete."
"And what is the mission?" Orlandu asked suspiciously. He had already decided that he didn't like the red-cloaked figure and wanted to catch everything he said including the meanings behind the words.
Ansem sneered and stood up. "It's just a job to kid rid of a bothersome group of warriors for me."
"What are you offering to get rid of them?" Heyral inquired.
"One million gil up front, and one million after the deed is done," the dark king replied. He called out for one of his servants and they came with two briefcases full of gil. "What do you think of that?"
"I think it's too much," Dariel answered. "Why so much just to take out a few warriors?"
"Because these aren't ordinary warriors," Ansem responded. "They are keyblade masters."
Jessed chucked. "I knew it was too good to be true. How many are there?"
"There are five, six if you include the ex-soldier in there entourage."
"So we're going up against five keyblade masters to our four?" asked Heyral. "I don't like those odds."
Ansem smiled once again. "Don't think I would send you without back-up. I'm sure my guest could even the odds." He then whispered something to one of his ever-present servants and the guy ran out of the room.
"Where's he going?" Orlandu asked.
"To get the person you'll be working with."
"We haven't accepted the offer yet," Heyral countered.
Ansem sighed. "Fine, I will increase the offer to two-million up front and three-million after, that's five million for a few murders."
"Damn," Jessed breathed. "Five million gil?"
"I'll need to consult with my friends here," Heyral said.
"Of course." Ansem walked out of the door. "I'll be back in approximately five minutes." He closed the door firmly shut behind him.
"I say we take it," Jessed stated.
"Me too," Heyral agreed. "Five million is a lot of scratch."
Dariel shook her head. "I don't know guys, this Ansem fella just doesn't feel…right."
"So?" Jarred replied.
"So, what if he screws us over in the end and we have to take on his endless servants and him?"
Heyral sighed. "Then we'll do what we always do, kick ass and take what's ours." He turned toward the older man. "Orland, what do you think?"
Orlandu appeared to be in thought before he responded. "I don't think he even cares about the money, he might just kill us because he likes it. But I say let's do it anyway, five million is a lot of scratch."
Dariel rolled her eyes. "All you guys care about is money."
"Yeah…?" Jessed asked.
"Whatever, I'm in too."
A knock sounded at the door and Heyral told him to come in. Ansem opened the door and walked in followed by a silver-haired, green-eyed soldier. He wielded a ridiculously long sword and had a half smirk-half sneer plastered on his face.
"We'll do it," Heyral announced. "Hell for five million gil I'd run naked through Treno."
"Good, now I need you to hurry to a little tournament being held at the Coliseum. Resources tell me that's where they are headed."
Ansem gave the four cases of gil to the leader of the gang and gestured toward the silver-haired soldier. "Allow me to introduce you to the new, temporary member of your team. His name is…"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Sephiroth. Cloud stopped walking and looked around. What was that about, he wondered. I haven't thought about that name in years. He felt cold all over and let loose an involuntary shiver. He shook off the feeling and jogged to catch up to the rest of the group. They were already halfway to the Coliseum and were eager to get in the tournament.
"This is gonna be so cool!!" Sora exclaimed running toward the building. "I can't wait to see everyone!!"
"Hey wait up, Sora!" Kairi yelled, running after him. Soon everyone was running until they were stopped by a little satyr with a bad attitude.
"Where do you all think you're going?!" he asked threateningly. "I don't want to have to-" He looked up at Sora, recognition dawning on his face. "Kid!!"
"Hey Phil, what's the word on the tournament?" Sora asked, cheerily.
Phil, completely ignoring Sora, yelled out, "Hey, Herc!! Look who's here, it's the junior hero!!"
A big muscular blond came walking in with a briht smile on his face. "Hey Sora!! Are you here to participate in the Mythril Cup?"
"Yeah, we are!!"
"Well it doesn't start until tomorrow, kid," Phil said. "You should rest up until then or train."
"That's a good idea, we should train to get ready for tomorrow," Yuyami remarked. Everyone turned and looked at him because it was the first thing he had said all day. "We'll need to sharpen our senses and tune our bodies for the upcoming trials."
"Well the tournament is a team of two going against other duos until they rise to the top," Phil explained. "So I suggest you pick your teams now and practice to get a feel for one another."
"Alright then, I pick Kairi," Sora stated immediately. He winked at her and she rolled her eyes, smiling. "Who do you have Riku."
Riku sighed dramatically. "I guess I'll get Fayne…"
"You don't have to sound that happy…" Fayne smiled, pretending do be hurt. "I'm stronger than I look."
"I guess that leaves me and you," Cloud said turning to face Yuyami. "They don't stand a chance."
Yuyami smiled and shrugged. "They may surprise us."
