Chapter 17

Time's telling me to say farewell

But I knew that I would fight hell and I know we will

Go for another time we can see for another time

And be free for no more farewells.

"Tifa…" Danny found that was the only word he could say as he gazed at his childhood friend. It had been five years, but at this point it seemed not an hour had passed since the day she left. The day they had separated ways, though Danny always had the feeling they'd meet up again one day, he put that down to a blind hope. Yes, he had wanted to see her again, he did feel guilty that he had let her run out into the world on her own, with nobody to comfort her. In a way, he was glad to know now that she was alright, that she had established some kind of life and seemingly kept out of major trouble. On the other hand, a part of him wished he'd been left to wonder.

"You!" She gasped, her eyes wide. "No… it can't be you…"

Danny assumed Tifa was referring to himself and Jim, who was standing just behind him and had gone quiet. There was a long and awkward silence between them, the sounds from the outside world seemed to disappear, and the world centred around the three of them. Danny was faintly aware of some hearty laughter coming from behind Tifa, but paid it no attention. Instead, he slowly got off the stage, feeling as if the air had suddenly become a solid substance, and stood in front of Tifa.

"It's been a while…" He said.

She reached back and gave him a hard slap. He stumbled back, holding his face, but not feeling the anger he felt five years ago. Now, he felt somewhat that he deserved the blow, and plenty more. Five years ago he hadn't known of real guilt. The world seemed to suddenly accelerate, the laughter and gossip of the people around him became louder, and the air became lighter.

"What are you two doing here?" Tifa sounded on the verge of tears, but her face was icy. Danny wondered how much effort she was putting into that.

"We're playing in the band for this bar." Jim answered, jumping off the stage and standing next to Danny, folding his arms. "You're the third owner, huh?"

Tifa glared at both of them, a fierce look in her eyes. "I want you both out of here… go back to Kalm!"

"You haven't heard…" Danny said before thinking, and stopped before he could go any further. At first he cursed himself for saying it, but knew she would have found out eventually anyhow.

"Heard what?" Her voice was quieter now, fearful. Neither man said anything. She repeated herself in a louder voice, but still neither would say anything. Tifa lifted the books she was carrying and hurled them at Danny, who let them hit him across the chest and sighed.

"It's gone."

"Gone?" She echoed, he could see her hands shaking a little. He turned to Jim, whose face had now become grief-stricken, he was clearly thinking about his family.

"ALIEN burned it to the ground." He said slowly, not much emotion in his voice. Truth be told, he hadn't lost a great lot when Kalm burnt to the ground. He didn't have many friends in the small village and he could care less what had happened to his parents. The only emotion he truly felt was sympathy for Jim and now Tifa, as the devastating news was relayed to her, through him, of all people. She was still shaking, but the fierceness in her eyes had gone, replaced by a shocked blankness.

"H-How many survived?" She stammered. Danny didn't want to answer this question, mostly because he didn't know the answer, but also because he didn't think there were many, if any at all.

"We don't know. I think a lot of people died." He told her quietly, not facing her. How could he when he had just implied her family was dead?

"No, please, no…" She stumbled back, covering her mouth, tears falling freely now out of her eyes. This was not the reunion Danny had imagined. He nodded slowly and gave a sigh. She turned away from him and ran behind the bar, opening the backroom door and slamming it shut behind her.

"Tifa, wait!" Danny moved to follow her, but Jim caught his arm.

"No… let her be alone. I know how she feels."

Danny looked towards the door and shrugged. He wasn't going to go where he wasn't wanted. It seemed Tifa was even more volatile now than she had been five years ago, and to Danny that was enough of a warning to leave her be. He sat back on the stage and picked up the guitar, tuning it absently. Jim disappeared outside. Danny began strumming mindlessly until Aeris entered the bar and took his attention.

"If you play like that you're not going to get much of a crowd." She laughed a little, but stopped as she saw Danny's face. He looked not grief-stricken but despondent. "What's the matter?"

"It's nothing." He said, beginning to tune his guitar again. "Nothing you need concern yourself with."

"You haven't been drinking again, have you?" She asked, half-joking but a little concerned he had had a little to drink. She felt relieved when he shook his head and jumped up on stage next to him. "I can't wait for the show tonight!"

"The show?" He asked, his mind a little blank. "Oh yeah…"

"Something's wrong… but if you don't want to tell me about it, it's alright. Jim wouldn't say anything either." She folded her arms and looked around the bar. "I'm going to get a drink." She got off the stage and sat down at the bar, looking around at the many drinks on offer.

"What can I get ya?" Barrett asked, coming out of the backroom. He had briefly glanced at Danny, but he hadn't noticed. He was strumming again.

"An orange juice, please." Aeris replied with a smile. Barrett returned the smile half-heartedly and got her an orange juice. As he gave a glass to her she prepared to pay, but he waved his hand.

"On the house, for such a pretty lady."

She blushed a little and took the glass. "Thank you. Danny didn't say such nice people worked here."

"You know Danny, eh? Excuse me for a second, don't mean to be rude, but I got some stuff I gotta talk with him about." Barrett said, exiting the bar and walking over to where Danny was. Aeris followed him with her eyes curiously. He obviously had something on his mind, and it was likely linked to whatever Danny was worrying about. She couldn't hear from where she was, but she figured she'd be able to pick up a little from their body language and facial expressions.

"Yo, Danny…" Barrett said gruffly, standing underneath him.

"What?" Danny said, lifting his head up. It seemed he'd been zoned out.

"What's up with Tifa? She's all flustered, cryin' and I can't get two words out of her… summit happen out here?" Tifa hadn't told him. Danny would have to relay the news again, but this time he was completely toneless.

"I told Tifa that her hometown, and mine, Kalm, was burnt to the ground… with no known survivors. Her family lived in Kalm."

"Who did it? Those ALIEN bastards?" Barrett let his hatred for ALIEN slip with those words, but he didn't care.

"Yes… it must have been."

"Who told you this?" Barrett asked, his face a mixture of sympathy for Tifa, and maybe himself, and anger. Danny gave a slight grin and chuckled.

"Nobody." His face then went grim, and he stared straight at Barrett. "I saw it with my own eyes. Jim and I were the only survivors of that massacre!"

Barrett took an almost unnoticeable step back. "You… you're one of those rebels, ain't ya? You and Jim!"

He'd blown it now. His blank mind returned to its normal state, but it was too late. He kept his mouth shut and didn't look at Barrett. Would they turn him in? Jerad seemed to think so, he had warned them earlier not to trust anybody, but it was too late now.

"Yeah, you are. I see. We got stuff to talk about later. As for now, let's keep this quiet, eh? You dunno who's eavesdropping these days." He nodded at Danny and headed back to the bar, giving Aeris a smile before disappearing into the backroom. He didn't seem to want to give them up… but then again, he could be going back to do just that. Furthermore, he still hadn't made the link between Danny, Jim and Tifa. Danny had forgot to mention that. He assumed Tifa would once she calmed down. Danny thought briefly about running, but doubted he would get far if Barrett was calling ALIEN right now… besides, he couldn't leave Tifa again. He'd abandoned her once, and he wouldn't do it again.

"He's nice." Aeris said, making Danny jump. She was standing below him, where Barrett had been, and held a half empty glass of orange juice in her hand. "Even gave me this drink for free."

"That's great." Danny hauled himself off the stage, aiming to find Jim and inform him about what he had revealed to Barrett. Whether Jim would be angry or not he didn't know.

"Where are you going?" She asked, looking a little confused as he dropped his guitar to the floor. He didn't answer and exited the bar. She thought about following, but decided he really didn't want her around, and instead sat down, sipping her orange juice and pondering over what she had witnessed. As she pondered, her mind drifted back to the church, and Reno.