"There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness."
Josh Billings

Scarlet stood on a balcony in Junon, surveying the Shinra guards as they rambled around, a bit disorganized. Disgustedly, she placed one hand to her forhead and tried to ease the ache in her temple. She closed her eyes and tried to pretend she was back in Shinra headquarters, where all she had to do was bitch a little and do whatever the president told her to do. At least the Shinra's brat son is dead...I'd rather be out on the streets than be under the command of a child again. she thought with contempt.

Before she could continue silently criticizing the dead Rufus Shinra, heavy footsteps interrupted her.

"Heidegger," she snapped. "You better have good news for me."

She tapped her foot impatiently as he struggled to catch his breath from the short walk up the stairs.

"We found three more!" he managed to wheeze.

Scarlet could barely restrain herself from spinning around with glee.

"And that would give us a grand total of how many?" she asked in anticiaption.

Heidegger pondered the question for a moment. "Thirteen."

Scarlet laughed, maliciously. Thirteen...she thought greedily. We almost have those AVALANCHE bastards outnumbered two to one. She turned to Heidegger.

"Well?" he asked.

"Well..." she repeated with soft molevolence. "Granted that those Turks hold up their end of the deal...we're going to see what Cloud and his little friends can do against SOLDIER's best."

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Cloud, Tifa, Reno, and Elena all sat on their chocobos fidgeting in the akward silence. The sudden change in their relationship left them all uncomfortable and unsure of how to act. Cloud scratched his head.

"So, what's the plan?" he asked.

Reno yawned lazily and leaned back on his chocobo, causing it to wark angrily. "Hey, you're the mastermind. You think of a plan"

Tifa and Elena both let out a snort of laughter as Reno's chocobo gave him an angry peck, but their laughter stopped abruptly as they met each other's eyes. Tifa cleared her throat uncomfortably and turned towards Cloud.

"So what is the plan?" she inquired softly.

Cloud shurgged. "It was easy enough to get into Junon last time."

"Same deal then?" Tifa said. "Shinra uniforms and all?"

"I suppose so..." Cloud said idly.

Tifa made a face and opened her mouth to comment but whatever she was going to say went unsaid as Reno cut into the conversation.

"We're going to dress up as guards and burst into Junon?" he asked a bit skeptically.

Cloud scratched his head. "Worked well enough last time."

Reno and Elena exchanged doubtful glances but Reno shrugged.

"Whatever," he said carelessly.

Elena sighed. "When are we going to do this then?"

"Hmm." Cloud said pensively. "Nighttime definately."

Tifa raised her eyebrows. "Tonight? That's a little soon..."

Cloud looked at the others. Elena's face suggested she agreed, but Reno was slumped over on his chocobo moodily.

"I guess we can camp out tonight, and head for Junon tomorrow." he said carefully.

Tifa and Elena looked relieved but Reno grumbled.

"Trying to draw this out as long as possible, huh?" he asked grumpily.

Elena rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut up Reno."

Tifa choked back a giggle as Reno shot Elena a scathing look.

Cloud smiled cautiously. "Well then...let's head toward Junon now. We can camp outside Junon tonight, head into Junon tomorrow, and break in tomorrow night."

Tifa and Elena nodded in agreement, and followed Cloud on their chocobos. Reno grumbled under his breath but pushed his chocobo forward. I never thought I'd be riding chocobos side-by-side with the Turks, of all people. Tifa thought. But this isn't that bad...I've hated them for so long but hating people takes so much energy...energy that I don't have anymore. She absently stroked Boko's glossy feathers. It almost felt exciting to have a lead and be on a mission again. Tifa closed her eyes, enjoying the sunshine on her face and the breeze in her hair. It's nice to be on the road...she decided contently. One day...I want to travel around without all the fighting...and when I'm sick and tired of being on the road, I want someplace to come home to...

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Hours later, the foursome had set up camp five miles away from Junon. The akwardness of them working together had worn off some, but they still all sat huddled around the fire in silence. Their chocobos, exhausted from traveling all day, were already fast asleep. They, too, were beginning to feel the effects of a day's worth of traveling wearing down on them.

"Guess we better go to bed soon..." Cloud yawned.

Reno gave him a sardonic glare. "Bed? I don't see any beds..."

Cloud ignored him and fell backwards on the ground. Reno watched jealously as Tifa tucked herself under Cloud''s arm and rested her head on his chest. Not that he cared much for Cloud's chest, but almost anything would be better than using the ground as a pillow. Reno smiled slyly Elena.

"Hey Elena..." he began.

"Don't even think about it!" she snapped, moving away from him so she could curl up on the ground.

Reno laughed quietly and moved away from the fire. It was a warm, peaceful night and the day had been exhausting...but he felt strangely wired. He waited quietly until Elena, Cloud, and Tifa were all breathing steadily, and walked silently over to a tree about 20 yards away from the fire. He slumped up against the tree and pulled out his PHS. One million gil... he reminded the sick feeling in his stomach. Plus five hundred thousand for Tifa... Before he could change his mind, he dialed Rude.

"Rude here." the voice came over the PHS.

"Hey," he said in a low voice. "This is Reno. We have Cloud and Tifa. Go to Junon and be ready for them up in the prison tomorow night."

He slammed the PHS shut before he could hear Rude's reply. Godammit...he thought angrily. I need this money! And just when he had himself half convinced, he heard footsteps approaching him.

"Aren't you going to sleep?" a soft voice asked groggily.

Dammit Tifa...he thought wearily. Just go away...

"Not tired." he grunted.

Tifa cocked her head. "You look exhausted."

"Why do you care?" he asked, annoyed. "You don't even like me."

"I don't hate you either..." she said, shuffling her feet.

Reno looked up suspiciously. "Since when?"

"I don't know..." she shrugged. "It just seems pointless now."

She took a glance at Reno's blank face, and began explaining herself.

"What happened in the past is the past...What you did at Sector Seven..." she said soberly. "It caused me to lose several people I loved...but I don't hate you for it."

Reno gave her an incredulous stare. "You don't?"

She shook her head, her dark hair flying in her face. "We killed just as many people when we bombed the reactors...and we said it was to save the planet. Is that really so different from you setting the bomb because it was your job?"

"I suppose not..." Reno mumbled, just wishing she would leave.

Tifa, sensing that he wanted to be alone, softly said. "Well...I'm going back to sleep. Goodnight."

"Night..." he muttered as she walked back towards the fire.

As Tifa laid back down next to Cloud, Reno sunk to the ground by his tree. Feeling old beyond his years, he pulled a bottle out of his coat pocket. Silently cursing Tifa for being such a good person, he took a swig. This is going to be a long night...he thought as the guilt coiled around him.