The Music Box
By Ceres Sky
Chapter Four: Return
It was a somber group that entered Zangan's house after their mission into the old Shinra mission. Cloud was still mulling over the fact that Denzel's father could possibly still be alive. Zangan and Shan did not seem quite as worried as Cloud, but by silent agreement, no one spoke until they were all safely sitting down in the upstairs living room.
Cloud was the first to speak. "Who was that man?"
Zangan and Shan did not have to ask him to specify which man he meant. "His name is Abel. He used to be in charge of the 3rd Business Division, but after all that has happened within Shinra, he was given control of SOLDIER. Seems they were pressed for personnel after Meteor. We were afraid that someone else had killed him and taken over but it seems Abel is alive and well." Zangan glanced at Shan. Shan nodded, as if acknowledging an unspoken question. No one had to name Sephiroth as the one they were afraid had somehow returned and taken over SOLDIER.
Cloud paled. So that man was Denzel's father. The man's name and his former position in Shinra matched what Denzel had told him. What was he going to tell Denzel? That his father was alive and under some sort of suspicion by Shinra? That he was in charge of SOLDIER? Cloud shook his head. He had a lot to think about during his ride home.
"You know Abel, don't you, Cloud?" Shan asked.
"No, I only know who he is," Cloud said cryptically. He did not want to reveal that Abel's son was living with him and Tifa.
Shan nodded and stood to his feet. "I must prepare to go over to the mansion. On official business this time." He left the room. Cloud stared after him, surprised that Shan had somehow made a joke.
"Shan will be performing an inspection supposedly. He's really there to keep an eye on what's going on and the scientists will know that. But they won't be able to make him leave. They know how the Turks work," Zangan said. "And I must go report to Tseng. He will want this information personally."
Cloud realized that he was being dismissed. He took his pack from the floor beside the couch and stood to his feet. He did not want to forget the whole reason he had come here: Tifa's music box.
Zangan looked up at him and sighed as he followed Cloud downstairs. "Give Tifa my regards," he said, as Cloud opened the door.
"I may, Zangan," Cloud looked over his shoulder. "I may not."
Zangan shrugged. "It is best that she not know what I am up to these days, but I cannot stop you from telling her. Know though that I am sorry I never came to see her while she was recovering in Midgar."
"I think she forgave you a long time ago, Zangan. That is the way Tifa is." Cloud walked away. The door behind him closed before he had gone even a few feet and Cloud was left alone underneath the dawning sky. He looked around him at the deserted town. Somehow, in the light, Nibelheim looked even more lonely than it had in the dark. In his heart, Cloud hoped that he would never have to return.
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Cloud roared to a stop in front of Seventh Heaven around noon. Two energetic children exploded from the front door as he pulled off his goggles.
"Cloud's home! Cloud's home!" Marlene danced on the sidewalk, her face agleam with delight.
Denzel came more quietly, but there was a grin on his face. He met Cloud's gaze and rolled his eyes at Marlene's antics. "Welcome home, Cloud," he said gravely.
"Marlene." Cloud gave her a quick, awkward hug. "Denzel." He patted the boy on the shoulder. He loved the two children, but he was still working on showing his affection. They did not seem to mind his poor attempts at doing so though.
Marlene took his hand. "Cloud, guess what?" She grinned up at him as they walked into the bar.
Cloud glanced at Denzel, who was on his other side, but he received no help from the boy. Denzel merely shrugged and grinned too, and Cloud realized that it was Marlene's news to tell. So he looked back at Marlene
"What?" He asked. He could hear Tifa upstairs; she was talking to herself and it sounded like she were opening and closing dresser drawers.
"Tifa's taking us to the carnival!" Marlene said. "They have rides and ice cream and a carousel and chocobo races…"
Cloud looked puzzled. "Where is this carnival?" He had never heard of such a thing existing in Midgar or Edge; the closest thing to a carnival he had ever been to was the Golden Saucer and that was not nearby.
"Are you going to come, Cloud?" Denzel asked, his green eyes hopeful.
Cloud hated to dispel the hope in Denzel and Marlene's eyes. " I have to go talk to Rufus first. It might take me awhile."
Marlene looked ready to cry and say something angrily, but Denzel was the one to speak. "Why do you have to go talk to him?"
Cloud hesitated. "I might be able to tell you later, Denzel. But you and Marlene go have fun with Tifa for now." He pulled on one of Marlene's braids, trying to cheer her up. "If Tifa tells me where the carnival is, I can find you there after I'm finished."
Marlene stood in front of him, her hands clasped under her chin. "Really, Cloud? Tifa says we'll be there all afternoon."
Cloud nodded, glad to see the light in her eyes again. It still boggled his mind that he could bring so much joy to his family, he who felt he was nothing, and always felt that no one would want him around. He scratched the back of his head, kind of embarrassed at the way Marlene and Denzel's faces lit up at his announcement.
Tifa came downstairs, holding a duffel bag. She smiled at Cloud. "I'm sorry I didn't call you, Cloud, but I thought you were going to be home later." Cloud did not need her to tell him that she was working on getting him to call them more often when he was out instead of the other way around. "Why do you have to go talk to Rufus, Cloud? Is there something wrong?" She set the duffel bag on the counter.
Cloud shook his head. "I don't know, Tifa." He walked toward her, the children trailing behind him, quiet. He reached into his bag and pulled out the music box. He handed it to her shyly.
"I found this for you, Tifa." She took it from him, her eyes wide.
"Cloud… my music box… the exact one," she said softly. She looked up at him. "Where did you find this?'
Cloud shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant, but enjoying her reaction. "Oh, somewhere around."
Tifa laughed and then hugged him. Cloud stepped back in surprise and bumped into Denzel. He looked down at the children and saw the huge grins on their faces. Then, they both scurried upstairs, Marlene's giggles floating down behind her.
"Thank you, Cloud," Tifa said, stepping away from him, and he could see the brightness in her eyes that meant she was about to cry. "It's beautiful." She turned the key on the bottom and listened to the tinkly song. She hummed along to it, smiled at Cloud, and turned to walk upstairs. "I'd better take this upstairs so that the kids don't break it."
"You're welcome, Tifa," he whispered.
Cloud watched as Tifa went halfway up the stairs, paused, looked back at him, and then came back down. She put her free hand on his cheek, and Cloud could feel himself blushing. She was staring into his eyes and Cloud did not know why. She stepped back, and Cloud let out the breath he had been holding.
Tifa frowned at him. "Cloud, when was the last time you slept?" She put her hands on her hips and gave him a stern look.
Cloud could not keep the befuddled look off his face. "I... I don't remember." And he honestly couldn't. Sleep had been the furthest thing from his mind the past 24 hours.
Tifa smiled at him gently. "Well... you probably should take a little nap before you go see Rufus." She took his hand and tugged him along with her up the stairs. "We'll be gone in ten minutes and you can relax for an hour. Surely Rufus can wait that long."
"I.. I guess so." Cloud let her lead him down the hallway.
She pushed him into his room. "See you later, Cloud," she said breezily before shutting the door.
Cloud looked at his bed and sighed. Tifa had made it for him after he had left it a rumpled mess the day before. He collapsed onto the bed. Later. He would tell her later about where he had been and what he had seen.
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Author's Note: Many thanks to those of who reviewed my story ☺ I try not to write because I get reviews but I have to admit that they do make a good incentive to finish this. To Senigata: I would have liked to tie this in to DoC somehow but I don't know enough about the game's storyline to do so ☹ Shan's an original character but it's neat that he actually looks like one of the Turks from Before Crisis. Maybe once I read more about Before Crisis, he could be one of them. ☺
I had two choices for the name of Denzel's father from two versions of Case of Denzel from On the Way to a Smile: Abel or Eber. I went with Abel because it's a more familiar name. :) Two more chapters to go and this story is done!