CHAPTER TWO

Reno watched as Denzel narrowed his eyes at yet another shop before the boy sighed and shook his head, they had wondered around the damn mall three times already and the dark haired boy just kept saying he hadn't found what he was looking for. To add to the Turk's irritation was that when asked what he was looking for Denzel would only shake his head and mutter something about needing to find the perfect gift.

The young man couldn't take it anymore, he was getting antsy and wanted to wrap this little adventure up as quickly as possible, especially since they weren't getting anywhere, he pulled Denzel over to a bench and sat down.

"Ok, I agreed to come here and help ya out, but you have to work with me here kid, now I'm guessing from the way you're acting and from what you said in the car, you're here looking for a gift for Cloud." Reno paused to see the boy's reaction, upon receiving a nod he continued. "All right, now we're getting somewhere! So I'm also thinking this ain't just any gift, you said you couldn't wait for the others 'cause it'd be too late by then…so I'm thinking we're here 'cause you want to find a father's day gift for Cloud?" He asked with a raised brow.

He grinned when he saw the boy's eyes widen and his mouth drop open, and then a light blush cover his cheeks. "How…how did you know?" Denzel whispered.

"Don't worry about it, it's my job to figure things out, and don't worry your secret is safe with me, I've had a feeling this is why we were here." He paused to look around; his dark eyes settling on a store the child had been over looking. "Hmm…just a suggestion, but why don't you run over there and see if there's something inside you find worthy of a perfect gift?"

Denzel looked to where Reno was pointing and looked back at the man with a bewildered look, "it's a jewelry store…"

Reno just sighed and shoved the boy in the direction of the store.

Denzel slowly entered the bright shop, and looked around amazed he'd never seen so many sparkly things in his life, he knew Tifa would love a place like this she always appreciated such beauty. As he continued to look at the different displays held within the

brightly lit counters he sighed as he realized that everything he was seeing was for women.

"May I help you son?"

Denzel snapped his head up to gaze at an older looking man, who was dressed in a nice suit but seemed a little out of place to be wearing such a suit as the man had graying hair and a thick beard, but his smile was warm and full of kindness.

The boy hesitated for a moment, before taking a deep breath, "umm…I'm looking for a gift…for…uh…"

The man chuckled, "I'm guessing you're not here looking for a gift for a woman hmm…looking for something more towards a man? Come on over here son, see if anything catches your eye."

Denzel followed the man over to another counter closer towards the back of the store, and waited as the man unlocked the glass doors and pulled out some displays. Denzel gasped when he saw all the different jewelry that was all very masculine, but everything seemed far to fancy for anything Cloud would like.

The store keep noticed the young lad bite his bottom lip in contemplation and decided to ask some questions to see if he could help the little guy any further.

"Why don't you describe to me a bit about this man, then perhaps I can try to find something that you would find suitable for him?"

He watched as the boy thought for a moment, "well he's not into the fancy stuff, at least I don't think so, I've never seen him wear stuff like this before…he has his ear pierced but it's nothing fancy either."

"Well how about telling me what he does for a living?"

There was no hesitation when Denzel replied, "he saves people, he's saved us all twice now, he's a member of Avalanche!" no one could miss the amount of pride in the little boys voice as he said these words.

"Ah, he's a fighter, well my lad now that's something to be proud of, and I think I know just the thing for a man like that."

Denzel watched as the sale clerk disappeared into the back, the man was gone for a couple of minutes before returning with a large smile on his face, he didn't stop at the counter instead he walked around it and knelt down in front of Denzel holding up his hands to show the boy what he held.

The boy gasped and stared in stunned silence before pulling his eyes off the perfect gift to look up at the kind man, "That's it, it's perfect!"

"I thought you'd like it, now what would you like engraved on it? I'll put anything you want on it, all's you got to do is say the words my boy."