Meanwhile Back in Junon---

"Damn it Paige…can't you do anything right woman?" Rufus said as his secretary Paige Noire dropped her papers all over his office floor.

She silently bent down picking them up as quickly as possible. "Sorry sir…it was an accident. She said as she slipped the last paper back into her notebook and sat down in a chair near his desk.

"Yeah well…I don't pay you for clumsiness, so get your shit straightened out." He said glaring at her.

Paige didn't even glance up but she could feel his cold eyes staring into her.

"So, what's the report for today…?" Rufus said looking away.

"Well…umm your schedule is pretty packed today sir, there is a lot going on." She began.

"PAIGE…DAMNIT I didn't ask for my fucking schedule." He said standing up grabbing her arm. "I want to know the report on Reno and Elena. They've been gone for almost 24 hours and I want to know WHY." He said as he took his seat and calming himself.

"Well, nothing really…well not yet at least." She said as if nothing had happened. She was so used to Rufus losing his temper that it was nothing to her anymore.

"Nothing? I have the best of the elite on my side and they can't even fucking find a woman and a red headed idiot in this city? UGH!" He said pounding his fist on the table.

"Sir, you really should calm down, Rude and Tseng are both working as hard as possible to find them." She said staring into his eyes.

He glared back at her. "Well…they better work harder…now GET OUT of my face." He said strongly.

"Yes sir." She stood, bowed slightly to him then made her way out the door, this time not dropping anything.

After a few moments Rufus heard a knocking on his door.

"What? Who is it?" He yelled.

A young ladies voice spoke up. "Umm Mr. ShinRa? Its me Casey, I work at the front desk, there is a young lady by the name of…Miss. Kisaragi here to see you."

Rufus stood up from his desk. "Fine send her in."

After a few moments a spunky young black haired girl walked into the office.

"Rufus ShinRa, you know I'd think by now you'd have the decency to give someone a call after a nice date!" She said making her way over to his desk and sitting down on top of it.

He gave her a dirty look. "Yuffie, that was NOT a date, it was a business meeting." He said sitting back down behind his desk.

"Oh phooey…heh Oh well. not like I wanna date you anyway!" She said sticking her tongue out to him.

"Why did you come here?" He said getting impatient with the young woman.

"I heard you lost it…the Ultima materia…I was coming to make sure our deal was on." She said turning to him.

"WHAT! No way! I am sure it was one of your little SeeD friends who took it. There is no way I am going to spend my money rebuilding your little town when I have nothing to show for it!" He said standing up.

"Whoa whoa whoa! Hey now a deal is a deal Mr. ShinRa…" She said standing up quickly and looking at him.

"You have to be insane Miss. Kisaragi, if you think I am going to trust you for one moment! You were a materia thief in your past and I am sure you have taught your new little friends all the tricks of the trade."

She grunted and stared at him. "Rufus, you old…grumpy…dirt bag!"

"Dirt bag? He said laughing a bit.

"Look, I did a lot to get that Materia ring for you and it's not my fault your stupid ness lost it! Now, you made a deal that if I gave that to you then you would clean up and rebuild Wutai! Now I don't see anything being done!" She said putting her hands on his desk and glaring at him.

"Yuffie, I don't see my ring anywhere, so you won't get your precious little home back until I do!" He said plopping down in his seat.

"Ugh! Fine whatever!" She said turning around to exit the office.

"Yuffie wait, where is the black materia?" He said standing up and walking towards her.

She took a deep breath and spun around. "That's not really your concern now is it?"

He stood as close to her as possible. "Look, the other day I was meeting with President Loire. He said that someone had stolen the Black Materia from Cloud Strife. Did you do it? That stuff is really powerful Yuffie, and I hear that a new heir to Sephiroth may be waltzing around out there. It really isn't wise for a young girl to be holding Black Materia."

She took an even deeper breath and looked into his eyes. "I don't have it. I never got it from Cloud. Someone else got there before I did."

He nodded and backed away believing she didn't have the black materia. "Well, you ought to be careful. By the way, have you seen Elena or Reno? They are missing." He said walking back to his desk.

She shook her head. "Uhh no…can't say that I have." She said walking out the door.

Rufus sat back in his chair staring at the wall. "Where the fuck did they run off to? I swear, if they come back married or something I will personally kill them both." He said rolling his eyes.

A few moments later yet another knock came to his door.

"YES?" He yelled out.

"Mr. Shinra?" Paige said as she walked into his office.

"Oh…what do you want?" He said leaning back throwing his feet onto his desk.

"Umm…I have a report sir." She said quietly as she made her way to his desk.

"Good…lets hear it." He replied.

She took a deep breath and stared into his eyes. "Reno and Elena have been found."

"Great send those two little shits in, I swear they are getting extra…" He was suddenly interrupted.

"SIR….I can't. Reno and Elena are dead."

After a few moments of silence Rufus looked at Paige.

"Miss Noire, get the arrangements ready…"

"Oh sir, it's all being taken care of right this moment. Their bodies have already been sent to the labs to be tested. And it was a positive ID on both bodies. I have the coffins picked out and ready the families are to be notified as soon as you and I are finished here, and all we need is your approval for their spot in the cemetery." She said quickly.

He scratched his head a moment. "Huh….well…yeah of course they have my permission" He said shocked that she had already done so much. "Why did they need IDing?" He said staring at her.

She looked down. "I was afraid you might ask that. Their bodies were badly burnt."

"Ahh…I see. So a closed casket ceremony is in store I see." He said nodding.

Paige nodded back. "Yes, the day after tomorrow. It's all being arranged as we speak."

"Well then we must prepare for it then. Find some flowers." He said turning around with his back to her.

"But you hate them sir…."

"I don't care…I said find them. Now go…"

--To be continued--