"What to do? Have you lost your way? When that happens we each have to take a good look at our hearts. There's always something forgotten. Remember it...Whatever that is, must certainly be what you are looking for..." - Bugenhagen
Nanaki woke up the next morning, awakening to a knock at the door. "Hey Red, you there?" A familiar voice called from behind the door. Red XIII yawned, jumping down and landing on his feet, he walked over to the door slowly, opening it to find Yuffie and Tifa. Cloud was there as well, his arms crossed and a sulky look on his face. Tifa smiled, bending down to pet Red. "We're going over to Wutai to visit Yuffie's dad, we'll be back tomorrow in three days okay?" Red XIII shrugged, "It's not my business, but why are you telling me?" Yuffie smirked. "Because we're leaving the spiky headed jerk and Barret with you." Nanaki's eyes widened, that explained the sour look on Cloud's face. "So you're leaving wtih Cid, Vincent, and Cait Sith to go to Wutai?"
Tifa nodded. "I already said sorry to Cloud and Barret, but I should also say sorry to you too." Tifa got down onto her knees until she was eye level with Red XIII. She reached over and hugged him. "Sorry." Red XIII nodded as Tifa pulled away and stood back up, stretching her hands behind her back. "So..Should we get going Yuffie?" Yuffie nodded and turned to Cloud. "See ya Cloud." She jumped down and out of their sight. Tifa smiled and hugged Cloud. "Don't you or Barret kill each other while we're gone." Cloud nodded and rolled his eyes. "Yes ma'am." Tifa giggled and waved, walking down the stairs as Red XIII looked at Cloud.
Cloud sighed, looking at the ground and then back up at the son of Seto. "So...I heard you howling last night..Were you okay?" Red XIII was shocked to see that the so-called former Ex-SOLDIER was showing some feeling. Maybe Aeris's death and defeating Sephiroth had lightened his mood. "Yeah...I was just...Calling out to my father..." Cloud's expression hardened. "I see...But anyway, I'll see you later." He descended down the ladder and then the stairs as Yuffie and Tifa did. Red XIII sighed and followed, jumping down the ladder. he was suprised to find Ghandi waiting for him. "Hi Nanaki, what were your friends doing?" Red XIII shook his head. "They're going somewhere."
"Like Bugenhagen?"
"Yeah, like Grandpa..."
"Hey wanna take a walk?"
"WHat?"
"Wanna walk around the cannyon?"
"Um..Sure..."
A smile crossed Ghandi's face as he and Nanaki started walking around. Ghandi smiled all the way, whistling a tune Red XIII could have sword was familiar. "Ghandi?" He asked as Ghandi came to a halt. "Yeah?" "What's that song you're whistling?" He inquired and Ghandi smiled. "Bugenhagen taught me it when you weren't here!" Red XIII hesitated, that's why the tune was familiar. It was a lullaby his mother would sing to him while he was still a pup, before his father had supposedly run, before he started calling his father a coward, without knowing the truth.
Ghandi and Red XIII continued walking until Ghandi ran over to a rock and began searching it. "What are you doing?" Red XIII asked, Ghandi suddenly rammed into the rock in the corner and a red jewel fell out of place. Ghandi picked it up. The jewel reminded Red XIII of the fire of the Cosmo Candle, of how he felt when he found out what his father had done. Ghandi handed the jewel to Nanaki, Nanaki noticed something peculiar about the jewel.
It had a flame emblem engraved into it, it reminded him of the Cosmo Candle in the middle of Cosmo Cannyon. Ghandi grinned. "It's materia! You know my family runs the materia shop and my brother's in charge, he told me about it!" Red XIII examined the materia, sniffing it. "It's for you!" Ghandi exclaimed as he placed the materia before Nanaki.
Red XIII nodded, placing the materia into it's slot on his bracelet. "This'll come in handy later. Thanks Ghandi." Ghandi nodded and smiled. "You're welcome Nanaki!" They began walking back towards Comso Canyon.