Chapter 4

A Significant problem

Five more armed men ran quietly and easily through the ageless buildings and the towering clock tower that were two single characteristics to Traverse Town. They didn't see him yet, but they knew it wasn't going to be long before they caught up with the subject named Riku. He was on foot now after all.

They were jogging rapidly, but every so often the man in front picked up the pace a significant notch or two. All of them were good, competent trackers, each a leader in their own way, but he was the best, a natural leader. He was more focused on the mission, more controlled; the best hunter and he knew it was a mistake to send A429 after the boy.

"We've got a new lead!" One of the men shouted towards Sephiroth, causing him to scowl lightly. Turning towards the interruption, he grabbed hold of the walkie-talkie and listened to the instructions that were being sourly given to the soldier. Apparently, the boy was in hiding with a female ninja, he only went by the name of Yuffie Kisaragi. Tossing the walkie-talkie back to the soldier, he proceeded on without taking any note of the instructions that were given. After all, no one gave instructions to Sephiroth. If they did, they were going to get an unsuspected surprise lashing out from the silver tip of his sword, Masamune. He was the only soldier to own a sword in their line of ranks and yet the heavy object didn't stop him from getting what he wanted.
Success!

Landing in front of the vacant looking house, Riku placed the ninja on her feet in what he thought was a gentleman – like manner.

"I never knew you could be such a gentle man…Riku!" She teased bitterly. It was obvious to him that she wanted to fight those guys that were going to demand questions from her on his current whereabouts. He couldn't let that get out, not even if she didn't know what was going on. He watched her walk away. This was something that he couldn't help her with gentle words but there was something that he wanted from her.

"Hey…what's your name?" She turned back towards him, disgust in her eyes before saying her name quietly.

"Yuffie…" After that, she walked away, tears beginning to flood her eyes. He felt that he should have gone after her, but he didn't want to dabble in human affairs. He just wanted to get his friend back that was all. Pushing his way into the vacant house, he was stopped short by a strange sword lunging out expertly from the inside. Ducking out of the way, he realised that someone who obviously didn't trust his kind just as much as the people who lived in the First District occupied the house. Looking up towards the doorway, he saw a tall, blonde haired man stride out towards him, a hint of hate in his eyes.

"What do you want here, freak?" Now that was harsh, he thought as he tried to come up with a descent answer.

"Cloud…leave him be!" An icy voice bellowed out, causing the blonde to walk off in a huff back inside the house. Someone came back outside, but it wasn't this "Cloud", this time. It was a tall man with dark hair and oddly probing azure blue eyes. Noticing the feathered wings that lay sprawled upon the floor, he smirked in an unhidden interest. There was something that Riku didn't quite like about this man, but once they got to know him, they would probably think the same about his attitude towards people, especially those who try to touch his precious wings, the only parts of his body that allowed him to travel to different worlds without having to pay for a Gummi Ship ride.

"They will keep coming after you, just because of what you are!" The man spoke with ice in his voice that oddly sent shivers down Riku's Spine. How did he know about who was chasing him? And why was he treated like a freak to some and to others, a saviour of sorts? These two questions began to annoy him as they always did but he pushed them aside, not wanting to act like his friend, Sora who would have constantly hounded them with questions.

"Get inside!" The man ordered and Riku quickly objected. He could already sense the footfalls that were waiting at the doors of the Second District, could easily recognise the angry tapping of each foot that fell towards the ground.

The house itself didn't have much to it. In fact all that was inside was a chest of drawers, one bed and a wardrobe. This place was obviously their base of operations but it still amazed him that two men and a woman could fit inside. The woman smiled at him serenely, her braid draping itself over her pretty little neck. Tucking his wings behind his back, he looked less and less like the boy that escaped from Destiny islands within each minute of waiting inside that house. Soldiers passed the house without giving it a second glance, obviously thinking that it was still vacant. However, one soldier stood out from the rest of them. Unlike the others, he wore no mask, saw no need of it. His long, silver hair matched the colour of the dangerous looking sword on his back.

"Great! They have that bastard with them!" Cloud spoke coldly as he stood by Riku and Squall who were now all looking out of the window without actually going up to it to stop any of them realizing who was inside.

"Who is he?" Riku asked, feeling even more confused within every second of staying here.

"That is Sephiroth…the best soldier ever…"