Second Chance

Kagura Kyo Shinra

Warning: This story has shounen-ai. So if you don't like homosexual males, you shouldn't read it.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I take no responsibility for these characters or Final Fantasy or anything except this story.

Part Ten: Tseng Held Hostage

The following day, Rufus was too embarrassed by his actions in the past to even say goodbye to Tseng before he and Marie left on their mission. All day, all he could do was sit and wait¾wait and hope that Tseng was safe. By mid afternoon, he didn't have to wait any longer. Marie returned alone.

"Rufus!" she said as she busted into his office. "It's Tseng."

"Tseng!" Rufus exclaimed and jumped to his feet. "What's wrong?"

"He's been taken hostage by those people. They won't let him go until you bring the information mako reactors."

Perhaps, if Rufus would not have been completely worried about Tseng's safety, he would have connected Marie's interest in mako reactors and the Black Death, but his fear overwhelmed him and he could only think of saving Tseng.

"What should I do?"

"They said they're going to kill him unless you show up in three hours! It'll take that long to get there! We have to go!"

"Okay, I'll tell Reno, Rude and Elena."

"They're gone," Marie said, grabbing Rufus' wrist and pulling him out of the office. "I looked in their offices, and I tried calling, but there's no answer. We're the only ones. Hurry!"

They reached Kalm in just under three hours. Rufus followed after Marie to a rundown house at the edge of town. By the time they reached it, darkness had just begun to fall.

"Come on!" Marie shouted and busted in through the front door.

Rufus fell a little behind but still followed her in. When he reached the living room, he immediately stopped, his chest compressing painfully. Tired to a chair and surrounded by half a dozen men and women, sat Tseng. Marie stood in front of Tseng, turning to face Rufus with a cruel smile.

"Now, either you can hand over that CD, or we could kill Tseng and then take the CD from you," she expressed.

"What?" Rufus demanded, but as he said it, realization dawned on him.

He had walked right into a trap. She had used his feelings for Tseng against him to get what she needed.

"You're not a fool, Rufus," Marie said. "Not like Tseng here, who trusted me until the very end. You know I've been up to something."

"I let my worry for Tseng interfere with my judgment. You were counting on that."

"I was," she confirmed. "I knew if I said Tseng was in danger, you'd come running, and without even checking and discovering that Reno, Rude and Elena were all in Reno's office playing cards."

"Damnit," Rufus cursed.

"I was just going to get the information from Tseng, but when I figured out that you have the only copy of the information and how you feel about Tseng, I had to change my mind."

"That's why you agreed with me about waiting a week. You wanted to think up a new plan."

She grinned.

"Rufus, just get out of here!" Tseng shouted. "Don't give into . . . Ah!"

Marie had kicked him roughly in the stomach, shutting him up.

"Don't!" Rufus yelled. "Don't hurt him."

"I won't, if you give me that CD, and tell me the pass code. I promise I'll let him go."

"Don't listen to her!"

Rufus reached into his pocket and clenched the CD.

"Do you swear you'll let him go?"

"Untie him but hold him," Marie ordered.

The others did as they were told.

"Once I've verified that the password is correct, he's free to go. I promise, and you know that no matter what, I do keep my promises. Of course, we'll have to keep you for a little while, just to make sure you're not going to stop us before we create what we want."

Rufus hesitated for a moment, but his eyes fell on Tseng who was slumped over in pain, and he handed Marie the CD. Marie snatched it and put it into the computer.

"The password is 53908," Rufus said.

Marie typed it in and immediately information flashed across the computer screen.

"Thank you," she said. "And now some funding."

"What?"

"You see, I have it all ready." She clicked on a link on the computer screen. "Just enter your bank account information and hit transfer. I think all your money will be sufficient."

"You never said anything about that."

"Shoot Tseng," Marie demanded.

One of her men raised his gun.

"Wait!" Rufus creamed. "I'll do it."

Without any more hesitation, he transferred the money.

"Let Tseng go," she said.

Once again they listened and immediately grabbed Rufus.

"Why'd you do that, Rufus?" Tseng questioned.

Rufus didn't look at him. "I'm sorry for everything, Tseng¾for hurting you. I made a mistake. My whole life has been one big mistake, but I can make it up to you now. Go back to Midgar and forget about me and ShinRa. Find someone who will treat you the way you deserve."

"This is touching, but get out of here, Tseng, before I change my mind."

"Rufus . . ."

"Go, Tseng," Rufus whispered.

"And make sure you don't do anything stupid or else Rufus might just have to die," Marie snarled.

Tseng didn't move.

"Go away!" Rufus yelled. "That's an order!"

Tseng didn't look hurt, but he finally left. Rufus could only pray that Tseng would take his advice and live.

"How long are we going to keep him?" one of Marie's men queried, pointing at Rufus.

She grinned smugly. "Just until our little experiment is completed, then we can test it on him."

TBC . . .