OMG, someone sent an e-mail asking if this was gonna be an Ansem/Maleficent romance. OMG. I'm absolutely disgusted. For that person, who wished to remain anonymous(I gotcha buddy!), NO, EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW... This will not be a romance, hardly at all, so no.

Sinner's Descent

Chapter Twelve-Truths And Death Wishes

"Come on, Serge, you know it isn't safe to be in this Sector," Meru whispered fearfully, moving closer to him as they passed a group of business people dressed in suits and ties. Serge rolled his eyes, reaching up to run a hand through his blue hair.

"Oh, Hell, Meru, what are they gonna do? Sue us first, and then send us to jail? I mean, look at these people! They look like they got something stuck up their ass. Besides, this ain't official Alliance territory. You know Sector Eight is the only neutral one. And besides that, we gotta wait for Tidus to get outta the bathroom," he added, looking across the street as something caught his eye.

"Hey, ain't that guy with the tail in Underground?" Meru asked, leaning over his shoulder to peer across the street as well. Serge studied the man closely. Yep, he was the same one that had came and helped that Garnet girl when Devil's had been shooting at her.

"Yeah, yeah it is. Who's that with him?" he asked, indicating a big, blue beast. It was not uncommon for inhabitants of Midgar to be unhuman, so the two were not startled by the beast's appearence. Meru shrugged, pointing once again as a girl emerged from behind the blue thing.

"Who's the girl? She familiar?" Meru asked, nudging him in the elbow. Serge squinted, not sure if he was seeing correctly. His eyes narrowed against the sun, and then they went wide with shock.

"Holy shit, that's Tidus' girlfriend!" he exclaimed, grabbing Meru by the arm and yanking her behind a bus stop bench. "Stay here while I run back and get Tidus, okay?" She nodded silently, eyes wide and eager as he sprinted off back toward the small store Tidus had stopped in.

"So, Haschel and Cid shouldknow whothey're sending by the end of the week?" Zidane asked, swishing his tail and watching in amusement as the girl's eyes followed it.

"Yes. He said he would contact Strife," Yuna added, resisting the urge to chase his tail. She giggled when he looped the ankle of a passerby, quickly hiding his tail behind his leg when the man looked back at them.

"You should watch your feet, you know," Zidane said casually, snickering when the man just blinked in confusion before hurrying off. "It's so easy," he added, turning to wink at Yuna.

Yuna chuckled, turning to Kimahri when she felt his hand on her shoulder. Without speaking, she understood that it was time to go, and she turned to Zidane, offering her hand.

"It was nice meeting you, Zidane. And you should watch your tail," she added, giggling again when he swished it once more. He smiled sheepishly, tucking it under his jacket before taking her hand.

"The pleasure was all mine," he said, grinning brightly. "I'll make sure to keep it in," he added, patting the spot where his tail resided. "See ya later," he added, fading into the passing crowd.

Yuna smiled up at Kimahri, ready to go. However, the grim set of his jaw caused her to turn back around, and she felt her blood still. She felt her breath catch in her throat. Well, this was an awkward situation.

Tidus, the man she least wanted to see at the moment,was standing rigidly next to the lightpole on the corner, his arms crossed over his chest. Even with the fewmeters seperating them from each othershe could tell he was breathing heavily in anger.

She faltered. She had known it would come down to this, she just didn't expect him to find out as he had.

"So, how long?" he asked, jerking his head toward Zidane's general direction.

"I-I don't know what-"

"Don't give me that shit, Yuna," he said coldly, cutting her useless reply off. "How long have you been miliking me for information," he asked, taking a step toward her. Kimahri let out a low rumble in warning, and Yuna placed a hand on her arm. He glanced down at her and she nodded. She trusted Tidus not to hurt her. Or at least she thought she did.

"It's not... It's not entirely like that, Tidus," she said softly, taking a few steps forward and reaching out to grab his hand. He jerked back out of her reach, a look of pure disgust plastered on his face. He took a moment to regain his composure, all the while staring at her furiously.

"How long?" he demanded, his voice cold and quiet.

"Since a few months ago," Yuna whispered quietly, staring at the floor between her feet. Tidus' sharp intake of breath caused her to look up, and she realized he was on the brink of tears.

"This whole fucking time," he said, gritting his teeth. Yuna took a deep, shaky breath, trying hard not to sniffle.

"It's not like you think, Tidus," she said, clenching her jaw when he snorted derisively. "Really, I didn't want to, but... I had no choice," she said, her voice breaking.

Tidus sneered, his face contorting angrily. "No choice, huh? You didn't have the choice to say, no, I don't wanna do this? I was nothing but a fucking piece of information," he said fiercely. When Yuna moved forward once again he shoved her hands away. "Keep your hands off me, damnit," he spat.

Yuna inhaled sharply once again. "I'm sorry Tidus, I really am," she said quietly, averting her eyes when he leaned down to look at her face. He snorted in the same derisive manner once again.

"So am I," he said somberly, turning on his heel and stalking back across the street.

Yuna felt Kimahri's arm around her shoulder and she turned and buried her face in his chest, sobbing quietly.

Hook watched with narrowed eyes as the Ronso beast escorted the girl from Gijitsu away from the blonde. He had heard every part of the conversation, but he had no intention of telling it like that.

It would ruin all the fun. So what if the boy had been a little pet for Gijitsu? He would simply be killed and that would be the end of it. Perhaps... Hook gave no one in particular a pleased grin. Perhaps he could say that Northside and Gijitsu were working together?

He nodded to himself, starting off toward the headquarters. He had just taken his break, but he knew that the others wouldn't want to wait for this information. He mentally put the speech through his head as he entered the swinging glass doors to Devil's Anthem.

"Are you telling me, Hook, that Northside and Gijitsu are in collaboration?" Ansem demanded sharply, his eyes narrowing as a gleeful look settled on Hook's face.

"Of course I'm sure! I saw the blonde and the girl from Gijitsu talking about who they were sending to retrieve 'it',"Hook added, trying to hide the smug smile he knew was forming. Ansem's head snapped up at his last sentence.

"They were discussing retrieving something? Tell me, did you hear what it was they were after?" he asked, leaning forward from his desk. Hook shook his head, shrugging carelessly.

Who the Hell cared about that? He wanted to see the death warrants, the contracts, the violence. Ansem brought his fist down on his desk, causing Hook to inch away slightly. He was a rather violent man.

"No, I caught them just in time to hear that," he replied, gesturing at Ansem to indicate his former answer. Ansem sighed, shaking his head as he did so.

"Very well," he added, waving a dismissive hand toward Hook and turning his back. Hook felt his jaw drop.

"That's it? You mean you aren't going to go after Northside or nothing? We were working with them!" he exclaimed incredulously. Ansem turned halfway, giving him a fulminating glower.

"Is that not your department?" he snapped impatiently, indicating the door with a meaningful hand once again.

Hook stomped out of the room, slamming the door with more force than intended. He curled his fists as he turned to sneer at the door. Stupid man.

He stopped short when he spotted one of his secretaries. "You!"

The secretary dropped the load of books in her hand, turning around and straightening her askew glasses as she stared fearfully at him. "What do you need, Mr. Hook?" the girl asked, her voice shaking. Hook shared a small smile with himself. It was good that his inferiors feared him.

"Get me contracts on Seifer from Northside. And his advisor, Gippal, too," he barked, throwing in the second name for sport. The less the better, in his opinion.

"Sir, are you sure?" the secretary asked, shoving her glasses further up on her nose. "They're really important people," she added meekly, noticing Hook's outraged look.

"Did I ask for your back talk?" he bellowed, tossing a pen in her general direction. It flew well over her shoulder, and Hook took notice of his horrible aim with a grimace. "Just do what the Hell I said," he added, turning and walking away.

The service here really needed improvement.

"Haschel, you old man, how have you been holding up?" Cid boomed, barging into his partner's office without knocking. Haschel resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"Just wonderfull," he said snidely. "How about you, my fine fellow?" he said, raising an eyebrow. Cid gave a hearty chuckle, reaching down to pat his rotund middle.

"Quite well, quite well! Now," Cid added seriously, seating himself and crossing an ankle over his knee expertly. "What's this ridiculous business with Strife?"

Haschel sighed, bringing his hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. He gave Cid a strained look.

"He wants to retrieve the rest of the Mako," he said quietly.

Cid took this very slowly. The reaction started in his leg, which stopped swinging and slowly came to a halt. It moved to his fingers, which ceased their restless tapping on the arm chair. And then it went to his face, which went completely blank for a good few seconds before his lips drooped in a worried frown.

"And what the Hell does that have to do with us?" he asked, though from the weary tone in his voice, Haschel knew there was no need to reply. Cid sighed, taking a moment to mentally think the situation through. "He wants help?" he asked for clarification.

Haschel nodded grimly.

Cid resumed his silence. "I suppose you've already considered who best to send?" he asked neutrally, giving Haschel a slightly irritated look.

Haschel's spine stiffened at the condescending tone Cid used with him. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I have," he responded indignantly, keeping his face impassive.

"Calm down, Haschel, old boy," Cid said, sighing in defeat as he sagged in his chair. "We're getting a bit too old for this," he added wryly, running a hand over the grey beard he sported nowadays.

"Trying to shirk your duties?" Haschel asked lightly, the eyebrow going up once again as he let the tension drain from him. "I never expected it from you," he added mockingly, shaking his head with a small smile.

Cid chuckled goodnaturedly, shaking his head as well. "So, who do you have in mind?" he asked, leaning back to study Haschel closely. "Keep in mind the mercenary is involved with this," he added, squinting against the glare of the setting sun on Haschel's windows.

"I have only one request. I wish for my Advisor, Nanaki, to be present. The rest is up to you," Haschel added, walking slowly to his chair and sinking down slowly into the cushion.

"I will talk to Strife about it," Cid said distantly, his attention on the sun. Haschel leaned over, effectively blocking the light. Cid shifted his gaze to Haschel, letting out that same chuckle once again as he stood up.

"Do take care," Haschel said with concern, giving his friend and partner a warm handshake. Cid smiled, nodding his head before disappearing out the door.

Meh, my tummy is still rolling from that e-mail. Now all I see when I close my eyes is Maleficent swinging her cape around her head and trying to balance her staff on those little horn things. Holy damn, I'm fucked up...Oo Anyways, read and review. Oh god, I need a toilet...