"Sorry If I worried you Tifa, I just couldn't help it." Aerith Innocently explained while she stationed herself at the counter.
Tifa was occupying her hands with cleaning some glasses while her attention was with her friend. So far, she hasn't noticed anything out of place with the Ancient, no tare in her outfit, no bruises, no wounds, no nothing that she might be trying to hide from herself. There was one more thing she needed to know, like how she got off the roof in the first place. Though asking her now isn't really the right time. She'll have to put a pin on the subject for now.
"Let's discuss this later, I have a feeling there's more to it than what you're telling me."
"Alright, it's only fair." Aerith shrugged her shoulders playfully with a wink towards her well-endowed friend. She then wheeled herself to the kitchen to start the orders. It was her way to reduce Tifa's workload.
~.~.~.~
Across the bar, at one of the table near the window. Cloud, Tseng, and Zack had their own chat. Though Tseng was more in awe with Aerith and Zack's presence. He was there to collect the large man's corpse at the cliff overlooking Midgar. He also had Cissnei, Reno and Rude's account of the incident in detail. It was the very reason the red-headed woman even retired from the Turks.
"Hey, Tseng?" Zack's hand waved in front of his face in concern. He apparently spaced out of there chat.
"Yes, Zack?" He turned his attention back to the two men.
"I was asking what you're doing now? Cloud had said that Shinra wasn't the same anymore."
"That is true, but the Turks are still a part of it. Gathering information, assisting the WRO, and so on. We are also small in numbers."
"Ok, and who's in it?"
The eagerness in his old friend's tone was still the same as he remembers. He has missed the optimistic man, it was a counter to his own monotone personality. A refreshing feeling indeed he thought.
"Let's see, there is president Rufus, and my team of Elena, Reno, and Rude."
"No Cissnei?"
He was expecting the question from Zack, but it still doesn't make it make the answer easier. Mainly because of the trauma of the event that caused her departure.
"She's no longer an Active member of Turks."
"Really? I find it hard to believe. Especially since she thinks of the Turks as her family."
"It's... She still thinks that I believe. But the reason for her Departure is a... sensitive subject Zack, that's all I'm going to say about it." He would prefer not to bring up that his death was the catalyst. Not only is it a nightmare to Cissnei, but to him as well. And although he was standing right in front of him now, that does not erase the memory burned into his and other's mind.
The bullet-ridden body, the pools and pools of blood at the site, the amount of slaughtered bodies in the area, and the pouring rain hitting his grief-stricken stand just looking over it all as the infantrymen collecting the dead and abandoned weapons at the scene.
"Alright, I won't push it. Maybe I'll see her around someday."
"You're aiming for her now Zack?"
"What?! NO! I've got Aerith. Cissnei is just a friend. Geez, you're trying to make me look bad Tseng." the large man joked on that last part, earning Cloud's silent laugh as well as his own.
"Speaking of Aerith, I do have something to give you from her. Sorry if I'm late with delivering these, but I'm an information gathering agent, not the mailman." Tseng pulled out the 10 X 10-inch wooden box.
"These are the 88 letters she sent before."
"Yes, they are. I was going to burn the letters at your grave site. That said, I'm glad to be able to give them to the recipient in person."
"Thanks, Tseng."
Cloud who has been silent throughout his chat with Zack, cleared his throat, gathering both their attention.
"Not to interrupt you both. While I'm not actively encouraging Zack and Aerith to hide. I hope you don't take it the wrong way that I didn't mention them to you when you called."
"Were you worried that Shinra will go after them?"
"Somewhat?"
"Don't worry about that, Other than Rufus calling Zack over to recruit him. I don't think he has any plans for them."
Zack shook his head at the mention of joining Shinra again. "Sorry Tseng, but I'll stay as a mercenary for hire. I don't have fond memories of my retirement either."
"It's understandable. Still, it's nice to see you both alive and well. I better get going, I've been away from the lodge for too long. Those slackers are sure to be lounging around lazily."
"That sounds like Reno and Rude alright. Good luck with that."
All three of them stood up, while Cloud just watched, both he and Zack exchanged a firm handshake just before Tseng turned his attention to the working woman at the counter, giving them a respectful bow.
"It was nice seeing you all again."
Aerith wheeled out next to Tifa, smiling warmly of her former protector, and kidnapper "Let's meet again for lunch or drinks soon."
"Whenever I find the time." rising his head, he returned his smile with his own. Then he turned and left the bar.
As the door closed behind him, he gave a quick exhale of air that was trapped in his lungs for so long. It wasn't like he was holding his breath in there, he just felt like he was. He had experienced the impossible after all. Not a lot of people can say that they met the dead. It was a lot to take in, either it was positive or negative, he needed time to accept what fate has dealt him.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
7 PM, Deepground, Storage Area...
Yuffie restlessly sat in her hiding spot, looking over her phone merely scrolling through the messages she had in the index. She didn't risk sending a message now in dread that she would trigger a silent alarm. Her companion was on standby to preserve his energy. So she was alone with her thoughts and the cries of their new little friend.
But now that she thought about it, it has been hushed. She then pulled herself out of her container and take a quick peep at her surroundings. Other than the little girl sleeping in her worn out bed, there was no one there to watch over her or train her.
"This is weird... where is everyone?" she asked to no one in particular. being cautious she used her good leg and gently nudged Cait's head since it was what she could reach that moment.
"Hey, Furrball, get up."
Her mechanical partner jolted up with a buzz of surprise.
"Easy lass, I'm up!"
"good, check the parameter. It's eeriely too quiet for my liking."
"Alright."
She heard him low hum, which was usually how she know that he was doing a parameter check. He doesn't need to hack any network for this, all he needed was to use his own and check around 2 miles which were his max.
"No one is close by, other than guarding the outside of the locked storage door."
"This is perfect. Now come on, its now or never."
Yuffie excitingly climbed out of the container, with her leg a little bit better, she made her way to their little friend. Caith tagged along right behind her.
The young ninja carefully tapped the sleeping girl as gently as possible. She wasn't trying to scare her awake in any way.
"Hey kiddo, time to get up."
"Hmmm? Uffy?"
"Yep, We gotta go kiddo."
"You're going?"
"Not just us, you're coming with us too."
The little girl tilted her head in confusion at her. She could tell that the girl didn't understand what she was going to do. The Wutai woman's replay to the little girl's confusion was to playfully pick up the tired girl up her shoulders.
"Let's go then."
"W-Wait, Choco!"
"Oh right, Cait, grab the toy Chocobo."
Cait hopped over the bed and climbed under the sheet, then pop back out with the weathered out Chocobo plush. When he got a confirming nod from the little girl, he attached it to his back with the cape to secure it. Yuffie then turned her attention to her shoulder passenger.
"So, where's the exit kid?"
"Doow no open. Window open but too high."
The girl pointed up to one of the large windows that were open. Yuffie made her way to the window as carefully as she looked down directly under the desired window and found large crates neatly stacked against the wall. She held the girl tight, backing away a few steps from her spot and crouched down, her sights on the open window. She then ran at full speed towards the crates, quickly but carefully hopping from one container to another till she finally jumped out the open window and landed on the solid ground gracefully. Though she did yelp from the stinging pain from her hurt leg. But she grinded her teeth and bared the pain.
"Ha! Nothing to it."
Yuffie proclaimed with pride, although in pain, then placed the girl down on the ground and held one of her tiny hands in her own. Cait followed his partner through the exit. But he soon got captured by the excited but fearful girl. She wanted comfort from the unknown world she ventured out to.
"Don't worry kiddo, you're safe with me, and Cait I guess."
"Hey! I can help too, lass!"
"Good, then let her choke hold you till we get to the meeting spot where Kunsel is waiting for us."
