a not so chancy meeting.
"Thank You." Yuffie said, leaving her seat and the airship. The ride was pretty smooth, and it gave her no time to form insults about the aviator. In fact, she hadn't seen the aviator. No worry, out of sight out of mind. Ping followed, still petrified of the stewardess who gave a painted on smile that belonged in a cartoon instead of on her face.
A suitable place to meet, Yuffie decided. A rundown place where citizens decided to ignore their conditions and surroundings through 'happy' and 'positive' thoughts. Ping liked those thoughts. Yuffie knew this. She noticed how close the feeling of belonging came to Ping as she walked the streets, just another person whose feet were dirty, face down, able to blend in. Yuffie would share the feeling, but after her meeting.
Yuffie had changed clothing, as did Ping. Sleep allowed her enough time to leave its embrace and come back into its arms wearing a red pantsuit with red running shoes and a white T-shirt. Ping never really liked the color. It stood out too much for her liking. Yuffie wore khaki pants and a white T-shirt, with khaki and green shoes to boot. No pun intended.
Ping's face began to light up. She felt an unusual peace amongst the people. It didn't matter where she looked – the sea of people were her. White lilies on the edge, the grass, sitting there, not waiting to serve its purpose. And in the center, a stone sanctuary, undisturbed, while a waterfall quietly bared its soul into the waiting pond, not one to judge. Ping felt a grip on her wrist. Yuffie saw Ping reminisce, even though she never lived here. She just felt like it.
When someone looks at an orphaned child in Midgar, automatically, the thought goes to the mother: where was she? Why did she leave this precious being? No one ever gave thought to a father, who may have had a hand in the equation. Or something else.
No pun intended.
Juni felt her dagger on her thigh, her heart beginning to tighten. It sensed tension, telling red that it was ready. She was glad, letting it know in advance of the events that could happen. If it stopped, it was the ventricles and valves fault. They should be open, or ready to open. The thrill of an executed plan was enough to excite her. Or just the thought. As she walked behind pit-picker, she saw the little girl again Not frowning, but content. She held an apple close to her chest, a bite formed in it. She located Juni's yellow eyes, a transparent happiness shining in her blue eyes. It told Juni she could find something, that she was glad she found something. As if Juni's gaze had reflected through hers and fortune was found. Juni belived for her. Maybe she could find a pit-picker. Live with him in a small room and hear him dodge questions with round-the-way replies that still pertained to the inquiry at hand.
Then be trained to kill through a series of tasks, the most important being silencing yourself to hear more than footsteps on the ground, but the heartbeat of the person, and how to analyze it so that it gave away their personality. Pit-picker had a comfortable gait all the time. He only broke stride if there wasn't enough room to navigate. She heard his heart beating in concordance with his steps, perfectly timed. He let his heel hit the ground first, the rest of his step lightly rolling along the ground. Pit-picker walked straight, the vision of a table with three seats. Maybe four. He heard Juni's steps keep her heartbeat in tone, the feet keeping the base tone as her beats flittered about. Maybe she saw something in the girl that she would have had. He knew Juni couldn't resist looking at and secretly responding to the homeless, especially the young homeless. He knew she had a lot in common.
Yuffie and Ping beat Pit and Red, and they weren't the least bit nervous. For a moment, Yuffie wondered why she would have to meet with a man who nearly killed her about a year ago. Well a man who had a woman with him who nearly killed her. Ping was barely adept at fighting actual people in actual situations, but the proverbial gun was to her head so to speak, so she had to adjust to the learning curve, which shot vertically as Juni made a blatant attempt at Yuffie's life. Ping recoiled, more to the fact that she was being treated as nothing more than a spectator, window dressing that would give a view to the killing. Even with her sword.
Maybe red is what was best for Ping. She certainly felt the color coming onto her pastel white face. Yuffie sensed the year-old memory had been exhumed in the conscious of her protégé. Juni sat down first, her eyes not exactly looking anywhere. Pit seated himself, his head down initially. After an exact minutes of breathing between them, Yuffie spoke.
"This is an odd place to try to kill me." She spoke. Pit smiled, and Juni maintained a gaze past Ping, but managed to see her expression.
"Relax, that comes later." His deep voice droned. He gave a knowing smile as Yuffie responded.
"So, who have you found?" she continued with the subject. Pit nodded, telling her about a young woman named Cassidy Madie. He didn't have a picture, but word was that Shinra was after her. The only way she could escape them was if she moved. But that would be moot, as Shinra was very mobile. A solution was found as Cassidy would be transported to Wutai.
"She's the key or something or other to a weapon." Pit said.
"The Onyx. I've heard a few things about it. But not the location." Yuffie replied.
"Where is she?" she asked. Ping gave a quick glance in Juni's direction, a little startled to see a pair of yellow eyes looking directly at her. They both looked away or down. Either way, Yuffie and Pit both noticed this.
The table was set. Yuffie folded her hands patiently as Pit told her where Cassidy lived.
"Outskirts lying between Sector Five and Six. When you get her, take her out of Midgar immediately. Shinra has ways of finding out about everything." Pit said. Yuffie breathed deeply, more out of habit. Ping blinked. Juni wiped her eyes. Pit brushed his armpits habitually. Signs that the conversation was over. Yuffie gave an amused look at the outstretched palm of Pit. He gave a nervous laugh, pulling his hand away. After this silent exchange, Ping felt everything slow down. Pit and Juni felt extra footsteps and multiple heartbeats. Yuffie's instincts told her to get ready.
Something was about to happen.
Within seconds, three black clad individuals entered the room, their sunglasses hiding whatever emotion they were supposed to convey. All three stood in a line, shoulder to shoulder, holding machine guns. They bypassed the obligatory speech and sprayed the bar with bullets. Everywhere. Table and glasses were ripped to pieces, the air filled with sounds of destruction. One minute of chaos fueled by firearms, and it was over.
"Compliments of Shinra. If you're still alive,we'll finish the job later." Ping saw nothing. She only heard a female's husky voice, and footsteps fading.