It had been chaos after Yazoo died. Reno had helped Rude out of he building since his partner had broken ribs from the bullets. When they had emerged from the burning building they had found Vincent holding off the reinforcements sent by Rufus. The ex-Turk had taken one look at Reno's face and lowered his weapon. It was over.
Rufus had lied to Yazoo, he had hoped to make him attack Healin Lodge first where they would hopefully kill him before he had a chance to get to Jenova for real. Maybe Yazoo really had known all along?
Reno had been silent ever since it had happened. It worried Rude greatly but he understood. Tseng had given Reno and Rude a leave of absence for as 'long as it took for Reno to get his head together'. It was three days later and Reno had woken up knowing what he had to do. He had been dreading it all this time but he knew he had to get it over with.
He didn't really know why this had gotten to him so much. He and Yazoo hadn't exactly been close. There was an understanding there, yeah, but nothing more. Then why this lead heavy guilt, yet a twisted kind of painful serenity? Gods, every time he thought about it it just hurt….hurt so fucking much. He hadn't really wanted to kill Yazoo. But the thought of Rude being seriously hurt, let alone dead did in the silver haired youths words 'scare the hell out of him'. But Yazoo had seemed so happy there in the end.
Kadaj and Loz had even come to get him, right? Rude had said he had seen them too so it wasn't a figment of his imagination. Yazoo had told him it was okay….
Reno made his way to 7th Heaven. Rude had let him go alone and Reno was glad for it. When he pushed open the door of the bar he heard Tifa call from the kitchen.
"We're closed today. Please…Oh" Tifa came around and stopped when she saw Reno. She didn't say anything else, just looked at him.
"I have a message for you, Strife, Valentine and the brats" he said, his voice was rough with disuse and he felt the now familiar lump of tears in his throat. Tifa nodded.
"Vincent's not here but I have the feeling he knew. I'll get the others." She left and Reno took a seat at the bar.
The worst thing about it was that everything Yazoo wanted said had been in his eyes. Reno had to remember the look he had to be able to say what he had to say. But he had promised Yazoo, it was only fitting as he had taken away Yazoo's chance to say it for himself.
He heard someone clear their throat and looked up to see Cloud and the kids along with Tifa standing there watching him.
Reno drew a deep breath. "First off I wanna say how sorry I am. I know that it probably doesn't mean much coming from me, but I am. Yazoo wanted me to tell you Thank you, for everything you had done. He wanted me to tell you that he would miss you."
Reno had to stop to swallow the tears. "His brothers came for him there at the end. He said he was going home and he was…he was…at peace I guess. Fuck." Reno buried his face in his hands and leaned his elbows on the bar. He didn't cry, he wouldn't cry. He didn't have the right to, not here. But he just couldn't go on. That was everything anyways right? There wasn't much more to say than that.
He felt Tifa beside him rubbing his back soothingly. Marlene and Denzel were crying and Cloud was trying awkwardly to comfort them.
When he was master of himself again Reno stood. He was about to make an exit when the door opened revealing Vincent. He took stock of the room and Reno's presence.
"There's some thing I want you all to see." He went back out the door and there was a pause before they all decided to follow. The kids had stopped crying and were running a little ahead of them to catch up with Vincent in their curiosity.
They came to the old church. Aeris's old church. The water had all dried up long ago and the flowers had come back. Vincent stood at the edge of the patch looking at something. At first Reno didn't see what he was looking at then he spotted them. Three large stones, almost like grave markers. Each had something carved onto them. One had what looked like a tear, the next had two parallel lines that curved slightly, the last seemed to have a very crude depiction of a sunrise over a horizon.
Reno was confused. He looked to the people around him, surprised to see Cloud's mako eyes hazy with tears and a slight smile on his face. Vincent turned to Reno and Tifa.
"The shadow creepers made them and brought them to me. Seems they knew of Yazoo's death, I am guessing the tear is for Loz, the double blades for Kadaj and the sunrise for Yazoo. I thought this was the most appropriate place for them."
Shadow creepers huh? Reno didn't know Yazoo actually had a relationship with those creatures he had summoned but he was somehow grateful for the gesture. Now there was something tangible to remember them by. It was a sentimental gesture but it gave him a measure of comfort.
Tifa was crying openly now and the kids had gone to run and play, unable to take the solemnity of the adults for so long. Cloud put an arm around Tifa and Vincent stood near them offering his silent support.
Reno breathed in the scent of flowers and rain. He felt better. He had delivered his message and the sun shining through the broken beams and stained glass made it hard for him to keep his sorrowful mood. He felt the familiar cocky smile come back to his face.
"Well, guess I better be going. You guys gonna be okay?"
Tifa looked at him and nodded, smiling through her tears. "Sure, don't be a stranger Reno." Cloud gave him a look and a nod as well. Vincent didn't take his eyes away from the stones.
"You can count on it Tifa. See you guys around"
The walk back to the hotel where he and Rude were staying was a little ways away but he didn't mind. When Rude was better he would tell Tseng he was ready to come back. Once a Turk always a Turk after all. But there are times in life when you can almost feel it happening. Like a page turning in the chapter of your life. Something was different, hell, maybe he was getting all old and wise now. Reno shook his head. Fuck, he really had to quit it with this sentimental shit. They were all gonna think he was crazy.
One thing that was for sure though, he would never be able to see a sunrise again without thinking of silver hair and green eyes.
Authors Notes- Okay Please don't hate me for the ending. I know nobody wanted Yazoo to die, I didn't either, believe me I almost teared up when I wrote it and I think I lost like 20 whole minutes of sleep over it. But honestly, as much as I love them I just cant picture the SHM settling down and living a normal life ya know? Sorry if it was way too sappy, my apologies, but I hope I got the point across that Yazoo is now HAPPY! Yay the SHM reunited! Ahem, Anyways, I wanted to say thanks to everyone who reviewed, it really helped a lot and I appreciate it.
Thanks to Sirithiliel for sticking with the story since the beginning! And also to Sin the Dark Priestess for so many encouraging reviews. )
So waddaya guys think about a story that would take place before Advent Children? Something about our three little clones growing up? Let me know…….
