Disclaimers: Final Fantasy VII is © under Square-Enix, as well all other Final Fantasy references.Everything elseare under their respective owners.
Through Forest and Grove
Jason M. Lee
Chapter 5: That Which I Percieve...
Those awake sat mutely, still in shock over what had just been brought to light.
After the sudden outburst by Reno and Cloud, they were immediately knocked out by the man with swift punches, moving so fast he was barely a blur.
No one noticed the distraught and tender look, the stranger's face hidden by the dark skies as he caught both before the two fell in the mud face-first.
Reiko had swiftly taken charge in the silence, ordering the girls for kitchen duty while the guys helped with her medical supplies. Red and yellow laid side by side on two futon, floor beds, unconscious to the waking world.
Checking one more time on the two patients, the miko slid the shoji shut before moving into the next room. A healthy fire on the brazier chased away the cold chill yet didn't get rid of the apprehension in the air Reeve, the Turks and the AVALANCHE members were feeling.
An exhausted sigh, lilac eyes distractedly staring at her wavering reflection in the cup. Over the time Reno and Cloud spent working at the temple, a strange relationship had been growing between her and the crimson-haired man.
At first, it was still the childish teasing and sniping retorts they shared. Later, their banter had changed to a more playful nature, drawing them closer.
Now and then, Yuffie would bring meals when both were too exhausted to cook (surprisingly, the two men were quite deft in the kitchen). Since the male duo had limited time outside their enclosure, as Cloud jokingly called it, she often bought them up to date with recent events.
Other times, Reno occasionally visited the orphanage with small handcrafted gifts that delighted the kids to no end. Many times she would catch him wearing a content look on his face when indulging with games an adult would never dare be caught playing in the open. It was the side that she had never seen before which made her rethink the usual image of this Turk.
An invitation to Elena over a traditional tea ceremony brought to light many things and eventually wound up with the older woman telling embarrassing stories of Reno's early days. Courtesy of Tseng, of course. The best one came from the now not-so silent Turk, cajoled into speaking by two determined ladies.
Rude had recalled that his cocky partner, then ten-years old, would smack an eight-year old Rufus on the head quite frequently. A much younger Tseng had been assigned to watch over the future ShinRa President and reasonably found his hands full with separating the two apart. Quite often the younger ShinRa regularly ran to the Wutaian Turk for reassurance. Even when grown up, Reno had still elected bawls from Rufus, the trauma very apparent despite the redhead not having hit the Vice-President as repeatedly.
Then there was that odd bond. The growing connection between the Wutai heir and crimson-haired Turk frightened them both, yet they were willing to take slow steps. Who would want another repeat of a devastating war? In some ways, it was another road to help heal wounds long unattended, while Neo-ShinRa working with trade agreements dealt with economical injuries.
Godo discovered the relationship and only after several loud, plus long, arguments did he relent his daughter on seeing Reno and his friends. Compensation is that Yuffie reported to any of the Guardians if she ever went to the Water God's place of worship.
When the rest of AVALANCHE found out, Cid and especially Barett were the loudest with protests and curses. Harsh words from an equally vehement (albeit softly) Vincent silenced both men to minor grumbling. Reaction from Rude was merely a raised eyebrow at his partner, whereas the female Turk also started a protesting rant. She eventually gave up on it. True, there was still that uneasy truce between the environmentalists and the Turks, as well buried feelings regarding the past. Yet, none of them wanted to start fighting over something that was a part of daily life.
"What's going on?" Elena whispered desperately, breaking the younger woman's train of thought. Pale fingers clutched ceramic tightly regardless of the scalding heat. "Are you really Reno-senpai and Strife's father!"
Seating herself, Reiko merely pushed a tray toward the now dry man, wearing a spare kimono.
Breathing the steam deeply, he sipped before composing himself.
"I request all of you hold your questions till I am finished.
"My name, I will not say yet. However, it is of familiarity to you all.
"Where I come from, you do not need to know as it isn't necessary.
"My story begins more than twenty years ago in Midgar, sometime after ShinRa began its corruption on the city. I met a young woman whose passionate temper matching her hair and bright enthusiasm intrigued me, despite the decrepit living conditions. We eventually began a close relationship that lasted for almost a year and in that time, Reno was born."
Both female Turk and ninja looked at the speaker with wide eyes in disbelief. They had constantly asked the fiery-tempered man about his past but he had never given a straight answer. The redhead would tighten his mouth, begin brooding, and not speak a thing. Not even death threats worked.
Tifa then remembered having never once met Cloud's father, the long-forgotten taunts from the neighboring children apparent. She, too, had asked his mother but the older woman always replied that her husband was no longer with the living.
"Regrettably, trouble brewed when one of the local gangs she once was a part of started chasing after both of us. Obligations unfulfilled, or so they said. Powerful as I am, Reno's mother begged me to go into hiding until it was safe for all of us. That I did, with much reluctance. Our son was sent to several of her most trusted allies.
"I left for Nibelheim and stayed there for several months. A quiet lady, shy yet bright as her gold locks, took me in as a boarder in her home. In exchange for living there, I helped around her house and the town. Once again, I fell deeply for her, even though the situation in Midgar was constantly on my mind at the time. Cloud came into this world some time after Reno's first birthday."
Outside, the storm continued but at a less frenzied pace. Thunder and lightning faintly rumbled in the distance, worst of the storm almost over. Nearly all of them, save Reiko, were at the edge of their seats. Even with his shades on, Rude appeared edgy as well.
"After the affairs in Midgar were calmed down, both women came across that I turned out to be the father of their sons. I was surprised with their reactions when we all met (mainly at their insistence). Cloud's mother understood that I had far too much love for only one person, while Reno's said she wouldn't mind having someone like a sister. I had never been any prouder in my lifetime of existence.
"Unfortunately, recent incidents took greater attention. Actions against Jenova had already been determined and one of my most valued acquaintances vehemently demanded my presence to make preparations. After I took precautions with the safety of my sons, I reluctantly bid both my wives to retreat to hiding in their hometowns. They agreed and I returned to whence I came.
"I haven't heard from either of them ever since."
The silence was nearly deafening, save the pattering on the tile roof and crackling of the fire. Too many things ran through the minds of those who didn't quite understand, the quietness reflecting their confused feelings. Reeve was the first to break it.
"If I may..."
A nod.
Clearing his throat, the Neo-ShinRa president took a moment.
"Let me see if I can get the facts straight. You haven't seen Reno and Cloud in over twenty-some years, both of which are half-brothers."
"Correct."
"One of the safety measures you took in regarding those two was to entrust the secret and instructions with Reiko-san. Why her, I suppose it would be her ability of being able to see spirits and just being initiated into priesthood."
To that, the miko nodded slightly.
"You're very sharp for someone who has suffered much himself, Reeve-san."
"Er, thanks, I guess." The ex-Urban Development Head flushed, ducking his head before politely covering a sneeze. "Continuing, from what you AREN'T saying, you happen to be very powerful. I'm guessing that particular aspect was passed on to both of them."
"Yes."
"I'll work with the power thing here. If you're so strong, then why didn't Hojo find out about that fact when the two of them were under the previous ShinRa? The guy's known for being meticulous when it comes to biological materials, especially ones that catches his eye. Holy knows how many people we've lost to that maniac."
A small smile, that of amusement.
"I took precautions as I knew the professor's rather, shall we say, eccentric interest towards what is undiscovered. Or toward what he sees as 'potential specimens'."
Elena visibly winced while Rude's eyebrow twitched briefly. Suffering under the mad scientist's hands during Mako infusions was not something they ever want to go through again. Needles still elicited a reaction from them, especially if it was one of the bigger types.
For once, Barett actually had a sympathetic look before it disappeared under his ever-present frown in a few seconds.
Even Reeve looked shaken, having seen some of the "experiments" and surviving the painful treatments.
"Point taken. I'll keep going. Jenova was another factor for the disappearing act, add in the duties you mentioned. You knew a lot more than the original ShinRa ever did when Jenova was discovered nearly thirty years ago and you had knowledge of the risks.
"Given the few things on how you've phrased your story, I'm also guessing that you..."
Here, the goateed man hesitated, glancing at those who haven't grasped it yet. The bald Turk may possibly catch the hidden details but might not get the full picture.
Reiko didn't need any explanation.
"...you're more than just human. Someone beyond the Cetra."
"Correct again."
"Say what?" Yuffie whispered, eyes wide. The blond Turk had covered her gasp whereas the martial artist nearly jerked her head off in surprise. Rude's astonishment was almost covered, yet his gloved hand jerked in plain view. The rest of AVALANCHE were so shocked that words couldn't escape from their vocal cords.
Reiko silently stroked the fire pit, watching the flames as if she was doing a reading.
When lightning flashed again in the sky, the black/blue locks seemed to shift to a dark scarlet and then a silver-teal tone before going back to its original color. A shadow cast by the bright flash covered what wasn't covered by hair, creating a much eerie look with the glowing eyes.
A quiet response, voice holding much knowledge yet withholding the wanted information, now seemingly sounding as if the speaker had seen far too much.
"Know my symbol and you shall know my name."
Immediately, horrifying yells broke through the pounding deluge.
x x x x x x x
Cloud felt like he had fallen off the Highwind while in the void.
And he was starting to hate it.
He hated the times when he would get headaches that popped out of nowhere in the past. Hated getting motion sickness as much as Yuffie disliked riding on moving vehicles. Hated when he couldn't figure out the puzzle that contained his memories, and hated himself for being an idiot half the time.
He also hated listening to conversations that were related to him but not be able to participate at the very least. Despite being comatose at the moment, his subconscious was catching almost every word, if a bit muted, coming from the next room.
Yet, most of that rage and aggravation was directed toward that man who supposedly had a part in his birth. What kind of father is that guy, anyway? Leaving when his mother needed him at her most despairing time...
'I am going to kill THAT bastard. Once this is all sorted out...'
Almost as quickly as he was plummeting, booted feet hit solid ground, forcing him into a tuck-roll to absorb the impact.
Looking up, Cloud realized that he was standing at the outskirts of Nibelheim, the one from his childhood. Albeit the image was a bit hazy, like a perpetual fog shrouding the area.
'Am I in my memories again?'
Without warning, one of the townsfolk's arm went right through him like he wasn't there. Everyone else were doing their daily business, ignoring him completely.
"Yep," he muttered under his breath, "back in my head. Terrific. Just, terrific."
"You talk to yourself often, Spike?"
Whirling around, the blond saw Reno lounging casually on a fallen beam. Behind the lanky redhead was the dilapidated scene of the Lower Midgar Slums. Instead of fog, a light smog hung over the gates bearing a large "3". Much further back the ShinRa Tower seemed loomed over them like a giant ghost, no hint of Diamond nor Meteor's attack. What laid between the two men was an empty landscape, colored with various shades of gray.
"Reno? What are you doing here?"
A shrug, azure jacket shifting as a smoking cigarette was chewed on.
"Dunno, Strife, but I'm going out on a limb here. Crazy dreams start bugging us some time after the whole Meteor shit and we both wind up in Wutai working as temple workers. Next, we get knocked out by a bastard who claims to be our old man and find out that we're supposedly half-brothers. Then, Cat-boy thinks that Mystery-guy isn't completely human--yes, I was paying attention to what's going on outside--and we wind up like this while we're in la-la land."
Reno paused, taking a long drag and exhaling through his nose. Cloud waited.
"Something is gonna give, sooner or later and things are really gonna get ugly. I am NOT in the mood for any trips that might involve with another one of Hojo's crazy experiments. Stupid old geezer..."
"As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with you here. The last time this kind of thing happened, I took a good dip in the Lifestream."
A commotion in the slums caught their attention. Turning, the two adults saw a group of men in familiar dark cobalt suits chasing a much younger Reno. Bright vermilion hair still messy as ever and the beginning of the trademark ponytail was starting to show. The cocky attitude showed itself as the smaller boy blew a raspberry before scampering into hiding, leaving behind several exhausted and angry Turks. One Turk spat out an explicative that would've made Cid and Barett proud.
"Ah, those little buggers. Drove them crazy. Turks that were remnants of Tseng's time, before he replaced the old head of the Turks. Kept it up for quite a while."
The blond gave a look at his companion.
"You got caught."
The images shifted to that of Tseng carry a grimacing and struggling Reno into the Tower before the President and the then current Turk Leader. Words from the Wutaian Turk was muted but parts of the conversation was clear enough.
"He thought you had potential?"
Reno splayed out his hands in mock innocence.
"If I could outwit grown Turks and get away without too much injuries, then I'd make a good one in the future. I think those were his exact words."
"Hn."
What wasn't questioned were the identical marks under the older man's eyes. An angry Hojo had been the cause of damage on the red-haired child. Neither wanted to go further than that.
Noises from the Nibelheim side showed a small Cloud getting into a scuffle with another boy, several more cheering from the sidelines (Reno mentally noted that the tied back hair was probably hereditary or something). One of the present adults passed by and after some harsh words, left the young blond on the ground with more bruises. A tiny scowl was fixed upon his face as he got up and returned to his home, slamming the door. Whispers from the other folks flew thick, looks of scorn as well frowns.
Reno whistled lowly.
"Dang. You weren't kidding about being beaten around as a squirt."
A tired sigh as the younger man perched himself a nearby porch. He didn't want to think of the physics involved with the meta-physical.
"Most of the adults blamed it on me not having a father." A bitter smile when the imagery shifted to that of night, young Cloud staring at the stars in a mixture of longing and anger. "I suppose that is partially true. I've always believed he died when I was young"
"Ain't that the pits. I always thought the guy left after a one-night stand."
A similar setting on the Midgar side with young Reno looking up at a much darker sky. Again, yearning and resentment on the boy's face. The older man flicked the burning stick into the fading distance at that sight.
"Wonder if we'll go insane?"
"How so, Spike?"
"Too much information, conflicting statistics, the works."
"Rather not but does it look like we've gone crazy yet?"
"Well, we're not at each other's throats."
"Haven't stabbed ya in the back so far."
"I didn't pull out Ultima Weapon."
"Didn't think of my EMR."
"Omnislash WAS on my mind..."
"Don't get me started on my Turk Light..."
The two grownups gazed up into the empty sky in silence, similar yet different blue eyes glowing brightly in the night of their memories. Emotions in full turmoil swirled within them.
"All I want..." Cloud started softly.
"...is to know what I am," Reno finished quietly.
"Maybe we'll never figure it out."
"Feh. I'd preferred we did."
A comfortable silence had settled over both until a massive quake shook the whole place, creating large cracks. Before either could even move to escape, the landscape shattered and sent them into darkness again.
Three words from the Turk before they disappeared into the inky expanse.
"THIS ROYALLY SUCKS!"
For the nth time, the former mercenary was of the same opinion.
However, the present empty space did not hold the same comfort of the previous abyss.
Instead, this darkness felt like an echo with a different pitch. A more wild resonance from deep inside.
"'What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror...'"
This time they landed on what looked to be a bright emerald ocean that appeared to stretch on for eternity, yet the sky looked as if it extended into the water. Slight movement created continuous ripples, yet it felt solid as compact dirt. The color eerily matched the Lifestream that had erupted at Mideel, if a bit lighter.
"'Repulsion for one's kin; it can not be helped...'"
"Who the fuck are you!" Reno called out, getting annoyed by the odd quotes. 'Is it just me or do those voices--'
"--sound like both of you?"
Whipping to face the sound, the two men saw what both would've thought as clones that Hojo would gladly pay his entire body to dissect.
Except this Reno and Cloud somehow held differences. Small changes were like that of height, frame, hair, and darker skin. However, the true clincher was the main divergence: the eyes shining a gold blaze that pierced the subdued light.
"You're... us?" the younger man whispered, nearly stunned.
A smirk not unlike his own, one hand in the pocket while the other held a much blacker, and nastier looking, EMR. Right next to him, also a small grin on the blonde's face, deep magenta coloring the Ultima Weapon look-alike hanging behind the back.
"Yes and no. No hard feelings but we gotta do this," the darker versions spoke in echoing unison, pointing their weapons opposite themselves. The pseudo-jovial demeanor instantly disappeared, stoic faces corresponding with the grim air.
"Wha--"
Enormous streams of power danced from the tips of the EMR and Sword like arcs of electricity between two conductors. While it looked like bright lightning dancing across the sky with no reason, a pattern could be discerned if one observed long or carefully enough.
Excruciating pain struck the paler versions and they struggled not to black out. It wasn't comparable to anything else they had experienced during their fighting days. No, it was much worst. It felt as if too many things were pounding into their existence. Similar to how a computer struggles to keep up with data streaming in too fast.
Finally, the two succumbed to unconsciousness and the last thing either remembered was the impression of a feral presence roaring.
A/N: Revelations, yes. Cheesy? Most likely. I was running low on brain cells when writing this. Quotes are from Ghost in the Shell and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.
