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 Twelve: A Break
Tseng wandered the dark streets of Junion with a scowl. Although his encounter with Elena did push him to stop sulking and find Rufus, he still hadn't found any information. After growling at a third couple, he decided he should stop and take a breather.
"No, seriously. She came in with all this money and started buying up a bunch of machines," a woman said as she exited the bar. Her and another woman had stopped near Tseng to talk.
"It seemed like the kind of stuff that Shin-Ra Inc. used to order from us."
"But did you ask her where she got all that money? I mean, Marie isn't very wealthy."
Tseng's ears had to have deceived him. The woman hadn't just said Marie, had she?
"Did you say Marie?" Tseng questioned, leaping at the two women and nearly scaring them to death.
"Yes," the first woman said, backing away from Tseng.
"Marie Smith?"
"That's right. You know her? Maybe you know what she's buying a bunch of machinery for and where she got the money."
"I might have an idea," Tseng said. "Do you know where I can find her?"
"Marie's pretty secretive. Oh! She's going to stop by the shop tomorrow at 4pm to pick up some things. You could come then."
"Alright, but don't let her know I'm waiting for her. She's a dangerous woman."
"Dangerous!" the woman gasped. "I knew there was something about her. I won't say anything, just be at Marco's Machines at 4pm."
"I will. Thank you."
Back at the hotel, Tseng immediately relayed the information he had received.
"It's fate!" Elena said. "We're so close now. All we have to do is follow Marie."
"Tseng," Rude said. "We need a plan. We can't just race into her hideout."
"I know, and I'm just so afraid that Rufus is . . ."
"I know he's alive," Elena said. "Being blown up by WEAPON didn't kill him, jumping off a building didn't kill him, and this won't kill him."
"Elena's right," Reno said. "He can't be dead because you two have to end up together. It's the only right thing."
"Thanks," Tseng said. "I hope all of you are right."
Tseng felt a concoction of joy and fear in his heart. He was so close to Marie now, and he wanted so badly for Rufus to still be alive, but he had no idea what Marie was capable of anymore. She was a stranger, a dangerous stranger, and Rufus was at her mercy. Tseng couldn't bare to think about what Rufus was going through.
TBC . . .