The light filling the hotel room rapped smartly on Tifa's eyelids, rousing her from her sleep. Eyes easing open, she stared ahead for a moment before slowly sitting up. She could hear the noise from the streets below as the early morning commuters began to make their way to work. The sound of birds chirping, the sound of cars driving by…
The woman frowned.
Wait…where was this noise coming from?
Then, when a cold breeze caressed her skin, she realized with a start that the window was open. Frazzled, she stood and hurried over, shutting the window with a snap.
"Now how did-" she stopped when a thought occurred to her. Glancing around quickly, she searched for any signs of the cat.
"…Cat?" she pulled the covers off the bed, only to find it empty.
Tifa's face fell. The cat had gone…
"Well…" she said as she reluctantly went to the bathroom, "It wasn't like the cat belonged to me or anything…"
But a heavy feeling settled on her chest.
She scowled at her reflection in the mirror. "It's just a cat! I'll live! Really, I don't know how I allowed myself to get so clingy…"
Words meant to cheer her self up, only managed to make her feel worse.
She moved sluggishly all throughout the morning, the enthusiasm zapped from her body. If she could get so depressed over a cat, how was she to expect to make it on her own? Darkly, she wondered just what the point was to everything. Should Tifa set foot out that door, it wouldn't be just the hotel manager that would harass her, it would be the world. It seemed to frown down on her attempts at a new life. It seemed to frown down on her always.
Dressed in a casual white sweater and jeans, Tifa left the hotel room, eyes glued onto the carpet.
As she passed the reception desk, down on the first floor, a small portly man with thinning hair spotted her from across the room. Hurrying over, he flashed a fake smile. "Ms. Lockheart!"
Tifa continued walking, her lips thinning into a straight line. She was growing weary of the man's constant pestering. Wasn't there ever going to be a day where he would just leave her alone?
"Ms. Lockheart!"
Well…apparently he couldn't take a hint.
Slowing to a stop, Tifa looked out the glass doors longingly, wishing she were with the people outside.
She frowned, and took a step closer.
There certainly were a lot of people out today…was something going on?
"Ms. Lockheart!"
Inwardly, the woman sighed. She turned and greeted the greasy manager with a false smile to match his own. "Hello Mr. Marten."
"Ah…I hope everything is in order, miss…" he wheezed as he stumbled to her side. Apparently jogging the short distance he did took a strong toll on his chubby little body.
Tifa nodded wearily. "Yes Mr. Marten, everything's fine."
He placed a hand on his chest in an attempt to regroup himself. "That's…that's very good. I was worried."
She frowned at him, "Why would you be?"
Mr. Marten took out a handkerchief from his inside coat pocket and began to dab at his brow, "Oh, so terrible…"
Tifa's interest peaked. Frown deepening; she crossed her arms, "Mr. Marten, what's going on? And why's there so many people outside? Did something happen?"
He shook his head, looking solemn, "A body was found in the alley next to us…just some nameless bum. Probably just toppled over in a drunken stupor and hit his head on a rock." Shaking his head again, he added under his breath, "All this fuss isn't good for business…"
Tifa heard him and felt insulted. Scowling, she nodded to him curtly. "Thank you for telling me Mr. Marten. Now if you'll excuse me…"
Turning on her heel, she left the hotel manager where he stood, charging through the doors and passing the growing crowd of onlookers as quickly as she could.
An uneasy feeling began to grip her as she passed the alley, and she had to resist trying to look.
She crossed her arms and hunched her shoulders, eyes once again focused on the passing ground. She wasn't sure why she felt so disturbed, things like this happened all the time over in Costa del Sol. …Maybe it was that it happened so close to where she was staying. Back in Costa, all those things she heard on the news. Not from neighbors or passerby. Hearing it from the hotel manager that way and seeing all those people gather around as if anticipating a good freak show must have made it all too real for her.
Death had never been something she took lightly. But when traveling with Avalanche, she had somehow prepared herself for the worse. After all, they had been risking their lives. Then it had been always a possibility. After the deaths of Aeris, Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie, she had come to understand that. But with the peace that had come with the defeat of Sephiroth, she had quickly been lulled into a false sense of security. Death wasn't just around the corner anymore. No.
It was hiding in the shadows, hiding in the closets, the cars, the buildings, the people.
Death was no longer something predictable. It was something that could jump out when she least expected it. But until it did, there was only its absence in its place. And with its absence came her forget.
Tifa had forgotten to take care in everything she did. She didn't wear armor anymore, and she hadn't fought or trained in ages. As far as she was concerned, there was no longer a need.
At least that was what she wanted to believe.
Absently she stopped in her tracks, and slowly she looked up at the building she was standing in front of.
The sign read 'Bakery'.
This was where she had been getting breakfast ever since she got here. It was a quaint little shop, with a window display, showing large cakes.
Pushing open the oak door, Tifa went inside.
A young female clerk with long blonde hair smiled at her, "Hello, again. Would you like the usual?"
Tifa smiled softly and nodded.
As the clerk busied herself with Tifa's food, she looked at her reflection in the glass display, than focused on the street behind her. Two figures went by, one taller than the other. They were both wearing trench coats, hoods covering their heads. From what Tifa could see, they were both girls. Something clicked in her mind when she saw the taller one go by and she craned her neck to see her face. But before she could get a good look, the girls had gone.
Pouting, Tifa looked up in time to see the clerk ring up her order. She didn't bother waiting for the girl to tell her the price; she already knew how much she needed to pay. But as she reached into her pocket, her hand touched nothing and her face fell. "Oh no…" she groaned, looking crestfallen. "I haven't got any money with me!" Tifa looked at the clerk apologetically, "I'm really sorry, but do you think you can wait a second? I'm just going to go get some money and then I'll come back!"
The clerk nodded, "I can wait."
Tifa smiled her thanks as she hurried out the door.
Walking at a brisk pace, she hooked her thumbs in her back pockets. She didn't want to return to the hotel, so she decided she would go to the bank instead. Thanks to her 'exploring' she had found an IBS not too far away.
The letters "IBS" stood for "Intercontinental Banking System", which had been started by Reeve several months after Meteor. Originally, Shinra had controlled the only bank in the world (all others, they ran out of business), but with their fall, there was no one to run it, and so it all fell apart. Eager to redeem himself of his affiliation with Shinra, Reeve had picked up the pieces and made a newer, better, faster system for people to use. At first people didn't trust it, simply because Reeve had once worked for Shinra, but all the members of Avalanche showed their support by opening accounts of their own. Barret had conceded only from coaxing by Tifa and all the practical reasons she had laid on him when he had started his work back in Corel. It was no secret that Barret wasn't fond of Reeve, and it certainly wasn't a secret as to why, which was another reason there were still some that didn't trust the IBS.
Tifa rounded the corner and the building opened itself to her, looking new and sleek. It was two floors high with marble pillars and large shaded windows that seemed to scream the words "executive business establishment". Sheepishly, she realized why some people still wouldn't trust it.
Entering the building, the woman was immediately greeted with the smell of ink and paper, which she had always hated for multiple reasons. There was a low murmur of chatter in the place, joined occasionally by a ringing phone. Spying the ATM's on the far wall, Tifa hurried toward them, feeling pressed for time. There was still breakfast to buy after all, and she was hungry.
Pulling out her card, she slipped it into the slot, grumbling to herself. "It's a wonder I remembered to bring this stupid thing and not some actual cash."
Punching in her pin number and the amount of money she wanted, Tifa waited for the machine to process the information, shifting her wait to her right foot and tapping the other. She would have to call Reeve one of these days and explain to him how his system wasn't as fast as he boasted it was.
"Oh man…"
"I thought you said you didn't have a lot of money!"
"I did! But I spent a lot of it!"
"Artemis, you're a gillionaire!!"
"Hey, you just remember, I'm doing this out of the kindness of my heart, okay!?"
Glancing out of the corner of her eye, Tifa saw the two girls from before, sitting at a desk, the clerk staring alternatively between the two of them. As inconspicuously as she could, she tried to get a look at their faces, but was disappointed when she couldn't get a good view. The machine beeped and the gil came out. Flustered, Tifa took the money, feeling foolish.
"What am I doing?" she muttered.
But that girl's voice…she had heard it somewhere before.
Awkwardly, she approached them from the side, reaching out a shaky hand.
She had to see…one tap on the shoulder was all she needed, just enough for the girl to turn and look at her. If she were wrong, she'd just apologize and leave. There was still breakfast to get after all…
"Um…" As Tifa neared, the smaller girl looked up at her. Turning to see what she was she was looking at, the taller girl turned as well, and Tifa stopped.
She blushed. "I-I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else…"
Embarrassed she turned and hurried for the exit.
"I feel so stupid…"
--
"I've sent some underlings to check the cabin, but I'm sure the lycans have fled Icicle Inn. I want you to keep a look out. Personally I would rather you stay here, but you're the best I have at the moment, since Ultera isn't here. …Xia are you even listening?"
She wasn't.
Sitting on the edge of Kelson's bed, she flicked absently at a piece of lint, watching with disinterest as it drifted through the air.
Kelson glared at her, propping himself up onto his elbows. "Xia."
She turned and looked at him boredly.
Sighing, he pulled her to him, "Listen to me, then you can go."
Xia pulled away from him and crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow smartly. "Alright," she seemed to say, "I'm listening."
Kelson soured at her look, but continued regardless. "The lycans should be in town. I want you to keep a look out for them, all right? But if you see them, don't try to fight them,"
Xia had to resist rolling her eyes. As if she were stupid enough to do something like that. Honestly, the man seriously underestimated her sometimes.
Maybe it was because of that time she got a hold of that catnip…
…Or the time she tried to steal a pretzel cart…
…Or the time she lit that necromancer on fire…
…Or the time-
"Xia!"
She blinked up at Kelson innocently.
--
Sometime before…
"…This place is a dump."
"Hey, you got the gil to get us a better place? Then don't complain."
"I wasn't complaining, I was stating a fact! Look, the plaster is coming off the ceiling!"
"We're just gonna hav'ta make due…"
Dropping the bag he was carrying, Taerk sat wearily down on the floor. "How long do we have to stay here?" he asked Julius gruffly.
Julius set Yuffie gently down onto the lumpy spring mattress. He rubbed his neck ruefully. "We can stay here for four nights. After that…well…" he sighed.
Yuffie stared around the small hotel room, her ears flattening against her head. Narrowing her eyes, she took in the cracks and stains on the walls, the peeling wallpaper, the dust and dirt…and the rusty looking radiator under the grimy window. This was where they were going to be staying?
She shook her head. "This won't do, not if I can do something."
Meridian raised an eyebrow at her as he lay Beatrix down on the other side of the mattress. "What do you mean?"
She tried feebly to stand, and Julius quickly pressed her back down. "Take it easy." He warned.
Yuffie shook her head again, "I still got some money you guys can use." Ern kneeled down next to her side, licking his lips.
"You mean we can borrow some?" he stammered.
"You can have some. I owe you guys, it shouldn't be the other way around."
Meridian frowned, "But Yuffie, we don't want to-"
"Leech?" she grinned fiercely, "Trust me, you don't know the first thing about leeching. Consider this a donation of sorts."
Julius scratched his head, "But-"
Taerk rolled his eyes, "Oh for gods sake, you're all acting as if you don't want the money! She's offering it to us, and we need it! I fail to see the problem."
Beatrix snorted, shooting him a glare, "Well some people are a little more humble than that, Taerk."
"No, listen to Blondie," Yuffie said, trying to stand again. "He's right. You guys deserve it. Besides, you're all forgetting I'm not just doing this for you. I happen to benefit from this too ya know."
Meridian exchanged looks with the others. Then he slowly nodded. "…All right. But are you sure you can walk?"
Yuffie nodded, "I can walk fine. It's my shoulder that's hurt. Just gotta change back is all."
Shakily, she made it on her paws, and wincing, she turned to Ern. "Ern…you mind tossing a trench coat on me?"
He stared at her, confused for a second, before catching on. "Oh!" he blushed and draped Yuffie with the coat. "T-There ya go."
There was a small lump in the middle of the coat and all eyes fell on it as they waited for Yuffie to do her first change from cat back to human.
The cat girl stood shaking beneath the weight of the coat on her back. Feeling awkward, she closed her eyes.
"All right. Now um…how do I go about this?" she wondered, her tail twitching in thought.
A couple of minutes went by, and meekly, Beatrix tapped Yuffie on the back. Startled, the cat girl jumped, and cried out as pain shot through her shoulder. "What!?" she snapped, her voice muffled by the material.
Beatrix bit her lip, "Um…sorry…but I just wanted to tell you that if you wanted to change back, just imagine yourself human again and will it."
Yuffie blinked. "Er…thanks."
"No problem."
Closing her eyes again, Yuffie tried to imagine herself as a human. Quietly she murmured to herself. "I don't have fur, I don't have paws, and I stand upright…"
She continued to paint the image out to herself, before tensing her body. Ignoring the pain in her shoulder, she arched her back slightly as she willed the change to happen. She wanted to be human. She commanded her body to be human again.
Her skin tingled as the fur began to retract. Her shoulder was burning with white-hot pain as her body began to transform. She cried slightly as her arms lengthened. The lycans watched with half-smiles as the lump grew, the sounds of Yuffie's change growing louder as it reached it's end. Eventually, the noises stopped, and the lump was still.
Meekly, Yuffie poked her head out from beneath the trench coat, blinking dazedly. Out of breath, she grinned up at them all.
"Piece of cake…"
--
"I still don't see why we need sandals."
"They won't allow us in if we're not wearing shoes, Beatrix."
"So we'll tell them to shove it! We're short enough on cash as it is!"
"Um, hello? I'm getting us money, remember?"
"Yeah, and you said it wasn't much."
"It'll get us through, you'll see."
"How much do you have exactly?"
"Uh…I can't remember."
"…How long has it been since you went to the bank Yuffie?"
"…Three months I think."
"Three months!?"
Crunching through the snow covered streets, Yuffie and Beatrix were making their way toward the IBS, following the vague directions the hotel clerk had given them as best they could.
Beatrix was staring at Yuffie in disbelief, the hood she was wearing shading her face. "How do you get by if all your money's in the bank??"
Yuffie shrugged, "I take out a lot of gil at once so that I don't have to go back and forth all the time."
Beatrix shook her head, "That isn't smart Yuffie…"
"What isn't smart is your being out here. Why did you insist so much on coming with me?"
"Because your hurt."
"So are you. Any of the others could have come instead you know."
"Would you rather I went back then?"
"I- …No, dammit, that's not what I meant! Your putting words in my mouth!"
"Well don't worry your pretty little head so much, I'll be fine. I'm keeping up with you aren't I?"
"Only because I'm walking slow."
"Yuffie, seriously, I'll be fine. Relax already. If you really want to know, I didn't want to be left alone with the others and I figured you'd like some company on your first time out in public."
"…Oh."
Yuffie's trench coat was buttoned all the way to the top, her hood flipped up in attempt to conceal her ears. Her shoulder was bandaged with Ern's shirt, which he reluctantly gave her, and while it still throbbed with pain, it didn't hurt as much, but she was still careful not to move it. Her tail brushed against her legs, making Yuffie feel especially awkward, since…she wasn't wearing any clothes underneath.
"Hades, it's freezing!" she exclaimed suddenly, shivering, "Man, the first thing we're going to do when we get that money is buy some clothes. The others can wait a little longer, I can't!"
Beatrix nodded smiling, "Sounds good to me."
Yuffie looked up, "Well, here's the bakery…we're not too far off now."
"Um, Yuffie?"
She looked at Beatrix, who looked worried. "Yeah?"
Beatrix bit her lip. "Uh…how are you supposed to get money if you don't have a bank card?"
Yuffie stopped in her tracks. "…Oh hell."
--
"Please sign here…ma'am."
Yuffie took the pen, taking a moment to shoot the man across the desk a well-earned glare. He was a reedy man, with thick glasses and slicked back hair. People of his nature usual got on the cat girls nerves. And true to her feelings, he began to aggravate her.
Slowly, she began to write her name, clenching the pen a little tighter than necessary. The man was leaning over, trying to see what she wrote, but she shot him a look and he sat back down into his seat, frowning. She licked her lips unconsciously, pushing the form papers back toward the clerk. He raised an eyebrow as he read the name on the line.
"Miss…Kisaragi?"
Yuffie slouched slightly, feeling her face flush. "…Yes, that's me."
The man only continued to stare at her.
Beatrix, who was sitting next to Yuffie, grew angry. She leaned forward over the desk, her hair falling into her crimson eyes, "Listen to me," she glanced at the clerk's nametag, "'Roy'. Are you trying to tell me that you are going to deny Yuffie Kisaragi a new bank card simply because she wants to dress uniquely?"
The man scowled at her. "I never said any such thing."
"Well then hop to it, or we'll report you! …And no more funny looks!"
Flustered the man began to type Yuffie's information into the computer, and satisfied, Beatrix sat back, looking smug. Yuffie gave her a sidelong glance. "'Dress uniquely?'"
Beatrix nodded, "Yes, I mean, why else would you have bought those contacts if you didn't want to stand out of the crowd?"
Yuffie stared at her while the man stood up and left, busying himself with her forms. "Contacts?" She mouthed, raising an eyebrow.
Beatrix hissed through her smile, "Yes. Contacts!"
Yuffie blinked at her for a moment before catching on. "Oh! Contacts." She grinned and tapped her nose. "I gotcha!"
Roy came back, looking irritated. "Well, miss. Everything checks out-"
"And he's annoyed by that!?" Yuffie fumed silently.
"-You should receive your card in a few days now."
Yuffie's face fell. "…In a few days it'll be here??"
Roy crossed his arms. "Yes. That's what I said. Is there a problem?"
Yuffie frowned, wringing her hands, "It's just that we need money a bit sooner then 'a few days'…"
"You know, you can just a make a transaction at the desk."
Yuffie blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"…Really? I can?"
Roy sighed, "Yes ma'am, you can…"
"Okay, can I see how much I have?"
The clerk took out a pin dialer from under his desk and turned his computer screen. "Type in your pin please."
Yuffie did, and numbers began to scroll down the screen.
"Oh man…"
Beatrix stared at her in disbelief. "I thought you said you didn't have a lot of money!"
Yuffie shrugged, still looking disappointed. "I did! But I spent a lot of it!"
"Artemis, you're a gillionaire!!" The younger girl cried.
Yuffie pointed a finger at her warningly. "Hey, you just remember I'm doing this out of the kindness of my heart, okay!?"
Beatrix grinned.
"Um…"
But as she looked up, the grin vanished, and she stared at something behind Yuffie.
Confused, the cat girl turned around…and froze like a deer caught in the headlights.
Tifa Lockheart was staring down at her, her eyes widening as they locked eyes. The two seemed to stare at each other for an eternity before Tifa finally turned away, blushing. "I-I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else…" Looking embarrassed the woman hurried out the doors, and both Yuffie and Beatrix stared after her.
Swallowing, Beatrix pointed, "Was…was that-?"
"How much can I take out?"
Beatrix looked at Yuffie sharply, eyes widening in disbelief. Meanwhile, the cat girl was trying her hardest to seem aloof, looking across the desk at Roy with emotionless eyes. The redhead stared at her, "…Yuffie?"
--
"…Stop pouting already, it's starting to get annoying."
Walking down a nameless street, Yuffie and Beatrix were looking for a clothing store to stop at. But with the encounter at the IBS still fresh in their minds, they found it harder and harder to focus on their search.
Beatrix scowled, "I'm serious, Yuffie. You're starting to make me depressed over here."
Yuffie rolled her eyes and turned her head slightly, a dark scowl on her face. She hadn't said a word since they left the bank. Not even the heaviness of her pocket could comfort her, and usually the presence of money cheered her up. In all honesty she didn't want to go shopping anymore. Clothes or no clothes, she just wanted to curl up in a dark corner somewhere, away from the world.
"You can't just leave it at that."
Yuffie looked at Beatrix, her scowl deepening. "What?"
Beatrix stopped and placed her hands high on her hips. "I said you can't just leave it at that! You have to go find her now!"
"Find her!?" Yuffie looked back at her shook her head, giving the redhead an incredulous look. "You're nuts! I'm not going to go look for her! I'm lucky she didn't recognize me!"
"If she's really your friend, she deserves to know what's happened to you. But I guess I can't force you…"
"That's right. You can't." Yuffie turned, about to start walking again.
Beatrix frowned after her, and reluctantly followed.
Together they walked in silence, the void between them thick with unsaid feelings and thoughts. They were odd to those passing them, wearing nothing but sandals, trench coats, and in Beatrix's case, tattered pajamas.
"She smelled like hotel shampoo."
Beatrix jerked with a start, turning to stare at Yuffie. Where had that come from? "Yeah…" she said, giving the cat girl a strange look, "She did."
Yuffie swallowed hard. "But, that smell…you know, you wouldn't have believed how much she used on her hair two years ago. I thought she was crazy."
"…Your point?"
"Tifa's been traveling. Last I heard she was in Costa del Sol with Cloud. What is she doing here in Icicle Inn?"
Beatrix shrugged, "Why don't you ask her?"
"I won't." Yuffie snapped.
"You two are in the same town for heaven's sake, just how do you expect to avoid her?"
"She can't recognize me, remember?"
"She isn't stupid, she'll put two and two together, y'know."
"Whatever."
Beatrix glanced at Yuffie, a worried look on her face. The cat girl was tense and she could see the insecurity in her eyes. She knew if she didn't somehow get her out of this slump, she'd be moody and depressed for ages. Tonguing her cheek, the lycan racked her brain for ideas.
Yuffie's insecurity seemed to be rooted in her appearance. If Beatrix could somehow make her feel better about herself…
Like a beacon of light, the sign "En Vogue" caught her attention from across the street. Seeing the clothing displays, a sly grin formed on her face.
Beatrix grabbed Yuffie's hand and began dragging her toward the store. Startled, the cat girl started to protest.
"Beatrix, what-!?"
"Come on, we've got work to do!"
--
Sitting at the same park bench as before, Tifa ate her breakfast halfheartedly. The events at the IBS ran over and over in her mind, and each time Tifa thought about that girl's face, she shuddered. What got her the most were the girl's eyes. They were so intense and eerie. Of course, they must have been contacts, but for a fraction of a second, Tifa thought they were real.
Real cat eyes.
Electric blue…that was so Midgaran. No doubt that's where the girl was from. Only those from Midgar dressed so…differently.
Draining the last of her latte, Tifa stood and threw it in a nearby basin.
Crossing her arms, she turned to leave, when she spotted some children playing tag nearby. They came every day, like her, to this same spot, and together they would play games. Tifa would watch them silently from the bench, unconsciously keeping an eye out. Only just recently, the cat had joined her, but the cat wasn't here anymore.
Sighing, Tifa watched the children play, thoughts drifting absently to Marlene and her quick-tempered father. She hadn't spoken with Barret in a long time, and for that she felt guilty. But all of them had been so consumed with going on with their lives that they had simply lost touch. If she wanted, she could call any of them now, with the exception of Yuffie and Vincent whom no one could find, and catch up on things.
But then, as Yuffie's jubilant face popped into her mind, Tifa felt her face redden and the encounter at the IBS ran through her mind yet again.
"I was so sure it was her voice…" Tifa breathed, looking down at the ground. Shaking her head, she frowned, "But then again, its been at least two years since I've last spoken with her…how would I know how she sounds?"
She looked up again at the children as they giggled and ran.
"…I miss everyone…" she whispered quietly.
--
Hidden behind a trashcan in a street nearby, a cat with white tipped ears watched Tifa warily.
Xia should have been doing her rounds like Kelson had told her. But she wanted to see the fighter again, make sure she was okay. Licking her lips, Xia sat on her hunches, tail swishing from side to side.
The Tifa woman couldn't stay here anymore. It was dangerous. If Kelson found out she were here, he'd hurt her. He would hurt the person who showed Xia kindness, gave her food, and rubbed her belly.
Xia didn't want that.
But what could she do?
Openly defying Kelson was suicide. And revealing her true form to Tifa would scare the woman right out of her mind.
Peeking around the trashcan again, Xia froze as she scanned the park.
…Where did she go!?
Creeping out from her hiding place, Xia glanced to make sure the coast was clear before darting across the street and into the park. Running at a slow gallop, she tried to catch Tifa's scent, tried to see any sign of her.
Then she caught the faint scent of hotel shampoo and mocha latte. An interesting combination, and easy to place.
Following the scent, Xia traced her way out of the park and back onto the sidewalk, where the trail led her another two streets before she finally saw Tifa, standing before an old building.
Peeking into the windows, the fighter tried to see the interior, her eyes lighting up in wonder. She was unaware of Xia, approaching from behind.
The cat growled at the sign in the window, not knowing how to read, but understanding the sign's meaning and purpose.
The building was for sale.
Tifa, hearing the growl, turned and her eyes widened in surprise. "Cat!"
Xia's tail twitched at the derogatory label, and she had to resist correcting the woman. Instead, she meowed, raising her tail high.
Tifa bent down, scooping Xia into her arms. "I thought you were gone for good!"
Xia butted her head against Tifa's cheek. "Don't be stupid." She seemed to say.
Tifa smiled brightly, petting Xia's head.
Glancing behind her at the building, Tifa asked quietly, "What do you think about this place for a home? I could even start a new bar here!"
Xia hissed loudly.
No! She couldn't!
Tifa frowned down at her. "What's wrong, cat? Do you know something I don't?"
Besides the fact that if she bought this building, she'd basically be signing off her own life?
Xia pushed softly against Tifa's chest, and the woman let the cat girl down. "…Cat?"
She glared up at the woman, growling.
Tifa winced. "All right…I'll stop calling you that…How about I call you 'Spider' instead?"
Xia stared.
'Spider'? She hadn't expected being nicknamed, and she certainly hadn't planned on being nicknamed in a way that would suggest 'ownership'. But at her pause, Tifa explained.
"I figured since you were such a good climber, the name would suit you. But if you don't like it, I can come up with something else…that is, unless you want me to keep calling you 'cat'…"
Xia thought for a moment, the tip of her tail flopping on the ground.
It was true…she was a good climber, better than any other cat demon as far as she knew. But did she really want to be named after an arachnid? And Xia didn't even like the illusion of being owned by anyone.
Well…it was better than being referred to as some common animal.
Xia meowed her okay.
Tifa smiled and nodded, "Okay. I'll call you Spider from now on." She stood to her feet, "We can come back here later. I feel like walking around some more."
Xia purred and followed Tifa as she began walking. Several people stared as they passed by, frowning at the sight of a cat trotting side by side with a woman. Neither of them seemed to notice the attention they were receiving, however. They were too consumed with their own thoughts.
Xia glanced up at Tifa, tail raised.
She had to figure out some way to keep her out of danger. She had to keep her safe.
The Tifa woman had to leave Icicle Inn at all costs.
--
"…Beatrix, this isn't me."
"And why not? Why can't it be the new you?"
"…Just…I've never worn so much black in all my life!"
"Hey, it's like I said, in order to seem normal, you have to dress abnormal. No one suspects you're anything but human in that outfit."
"But I'm still getting weird looks!"
"So am I. Think I care?"
"No, in fact I think you're enjoying this."
"Of course! I'm like a sunflower, gotta follow the sun n' all. …Come on, chipper up Yuffie! Just say you came from Midgar. It'll explain everything."
"Yeah, sure it will…"
But Yuffie had to admit, she felt more comfortable.
Wearing fishnet stockings, a black laced skirt, a designer trench coat with hood, and a black choker with a silver bell, the cat girl couldn't have stood out any more. But now her outfit seemed to excuse everything else about her. Her claws had been painted black, her lips covered with black lipstick, her eyes outlined with black eyeliner and…she didn't seem so inhuman.
She was a girl from Midgar who grew her nails out and sharpened the ends, with blue cat eye contacts and filed teeth.
She was abnormally normal.
She was human.
True, she would have never done this on her own, but she had always held a certain fascination and admiration for the dark style. Yuffie was more into bright colors and beach bum clothing rather than dark Midgaran rocker outfits.
Yuffie grinned absently. "You're lucky you spotted that store, Beatrix, I think it's the only one like it in town."
Beatrix smirked, "Yeah, I know…and by the look of the storeowner, I'd say they don't get a lot of business. I think he was crying when we left the store…"
Still wearing her old trench coat, Beatrix had chosen to get a simple black t-shirt, a skull with the bones crossed on the front. Silver, baggy snowboarding pants made swishing noise as she walked, her new snow boots crunching through the snow. She was carrying most of the bags, while Yuffie carried two with her good arm.
They were making their way back to the hotel room, and feeling better about themselves.
They didn't even worry about the looks they would receive once they got back to the others.
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A/N: And here's chapter eleven. Without even meaning to, I now have drawn up a plan in my head for where this story will be going. This is starting to take more shape, so before I make a nose dive into a situation I can't write myself out of, I'm going to try and follow this rough path that I've blazed for myself. I won't guarantee it, for fear of breaking a promise, but I think things won't be so 'random' anymore.
When I finished this chapter, I realized that back at the bank scene with Yuffie, they would have asked her for identification of some kind, which she didn't have. I forgot that one detail, so for the sake of the story, let's all pretend that people don't need ID when they want to get money out of the bank. M'kay?
Well, I'll just leave it at that then. Thanks for reading, remember to leave a review!