Rufus in the past had gone through TURK training in order to gain position as vice president, not that he wanted it. In all honesty if he had ever been giving the chance to run, to lead another life he would had taken it in a second, but running from a position like that would only mean brutal death, and chances are it would have been his best friends sent on the mission, Reno.
A few times that night he had considered bringing the dagger to his thought and ending the nonsense he was trapped in, but something always stopped him, something he couldn't put his finger on.
A little orange kitten shivered in the cold night air, curling up trying to bring as much heat to itself as possible. After giving up its vain effort it got up and staggered over to a passing human, hoping to find one who cared. After a few meaning less efforts the female kitten grabbed onto the black pant leg of Rufus ShinRa.
Rufus looked down at the small kitten that had latched itself onto his leg. He pushed it aside just to have it grab him again. Shifting his leg outward he pushed the kitten off and kept on walking. A small meow stopped his pace. He looked back around to see Darknation caring the cat in her mouth like a mother would to her baby.
Rufus shook his head and took the kitten from his panther's mouth. The cat couldn't have been more then five weeks old, there was no way the small thing would survive the night that was to come in a few hours. Rufus mentally kicked himself for even caring as he placed the kitten in the largest pocket inside his trench coat. The kitten purred at the sudden heat and curled up, falling asleep.
"There, are you happy?" He asked his panther. Darknation gave a soft growl, as if she approved. Rufus continued walking until he felt something else cling to his leg, something familiar.
"Rufus!" Marlene cheered as she clung to his leg.
"Marlene, keep it down! No one is supposed to know it's me, remember?" Rufus said quietly. The little girl hung her head and nodded.
"Sorry." Rufus smiled inside, the only smile he ever did.
"It's ok"
"So what am I supposed to call you?" She asked.
"When ever we're in public call me Raven, ok?" Marlene ran the new name through her mind and nodded.
"Ok, sounds good."
"So, What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn't you be with your father"
"We're staying in town for a few more days. My Daddy is just over there in that coffee shop. He told me to wait over there on that bench, but I wanted to talk to you instead." Marlene let go of his leg and looked up at him.
"So, why are you here?" She asked.
"You know Marlene; I'm really not sure. I guess I just can't think of any where else to go"
"You can always go to Tifa's house! She says she likes your company!" Marlene blurted out before she realized what she had said. Rufus raised an eye brow at the young girl.
"She said that? What else did she say"
"I not supposed to tell you." She replied in a childish tone.
"Yes you can. I won't tell her you did"
"Well, she said that your acting a lot nicer then you used to, and that she liked your company"
"Hm? Anything else"
"She also said that she hopes you come back sometime." Marlene squirmed a bit "I wasn't supposed to tell you though, so you didn't hear it from me, ok?" Rufus smiled and bent down to the little girls level.
"Ok, I won't tell anyone." Remembering the little kitten in his jacket Rufus pulled it out and placed it in the young girl's arms. Her eyes widened and she ran her hand through the kittens fur.
"For me?" Marlene asked. Rufus nodded.
"I found her a little while ago. She needs a name and a home, you can have her you want if her"
"I would love to have her! Oh, thank you!" Marlene hugged him before holding the kitten close to her chest.
"I'm gonna name her Sunflower!" Marlene proclaimed. Rufus tried to hide his laughter as he ruffled the little girl hair.
"You better get going before your father comes back out"
"I guess, thank you Raven." Marlene stumbled on the new name, but never the less remembered it. She gave Rufus one last smile before running off to show her father her new pet.
Blood, scars, death. The three words summarized so much. How he had gotten there he didn't know.
Two cruel chains clung around his wrists, holding him off his feet against a stonewall. The chains were no more chains then black shakes, hissing at him, their venom dripping from their fangs. It was so cold. There was sharp wind, lashing at him like a whip. Yet in the same breath, everything was silent, and motionless. The pain was only darkness hurting his mind.
"Do you know where you are, child?" A cold voice hissed. For the first time since he had gotten there Rufus opened his eyes.
"The life stream, I've been here before"
" You are correct, child"
"Though, through all the stories I've heard, I was always told that the life stream was a beautiful Elysian, not some torture chamber that you've presented me with." Rufus said, expecting the voice to lash out at him any second.
"You were told right, child. What you see however is the Life Stream. When people come here, what ever they believe they deserve, they get. The torture you are in, you created for yourself"
"What are you trying to say?" Rufus asked, cutting the voice off.
"Rufus, you are talking like you actually know who your talking to"
"It makes no difference to me." The voice laughed, almost coldly.
"Tell me Rufus, why do you think that the planet gave you a second chance"
"I don't know. All I was told, is that I need to prove myself wrong"
"Exactly. At this point, you believe you're worthless. There is still much for you to do on earth. There is still someone you have to save"
"Someone I have to save?" Rufus asked, looking up. Though he couldn't pin point the direction the voice was coming from, it seemed close by.
"Look closely." An image formed in front of Rufus. It was of Tifa, setting alone in her bar. A silent tear rolled down her cheek as she desperately tried to occupy herself with a small note book.
"Tifa Lockheart?" Rufus said, looking at the girl.
"She's in danger"
"Danger! What's after her?" As soon as he said the words, the snake like chains around him disappeared like smoke, allowing him to land on his feet.
"She's alone, alone by herself." The voice whispered, "Go to her Rufus, she needs you"
"What's after her?" Rufus demanded again.
"You'll find out, soon enough. The water might rest calmly now, but in shot time it will be disturbed. Where will you be when this happens?" Droplets of sweet slid down his face as the image of Tifa was engulfed with flames.
"Tifa..." His words were quite, barely said.
"Go to her, Rufus"
"I'm going."
Rufus quickly woke up from his dream. He remembered it all to well, what appeared to be nothing more then a dream, was an 'out of body experience'. With one hand he whipped the sweet droplets off his forehead and glanced at the clock.
"8:00am, Tifa should be opening her bar in half an hour." Half falling out of bed Rufus got to his feet, not once forgetting the message in his dream.
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There, Chapter two is done!
I like it so far, it's turning out ok. If you have any ideas, don't hesitate to e-mail me, or post them in a review.
-LeeaSilver
P.S: this chapter has been taken down, spell checked and re-posted on September 10, 2005.