Happy Friday, my friends! Those of you who celebrate Christmas, is it hard to believe for you that we're only a week away too? My mind is still stuck somewhere in late spring/early summer, so I'm having a tough time believing that my tree is up and my presents are wrapped. Anyway, I hope you're all staying safe and healthy. Thank you as always to my wonderful beta and friend, Rand0mSmil3z, for taking a look at my chapters and offering some great suggestions. I love doing the same to her! Enjoy this chapter and thank you for all your kind words. I may not reply but I read every word you say, and I truly appreciate the support for my first multi-chapter FF7 fanfic!


Aerith

Aerith's knuckles trembled against the baroque wood that stood before her, and she sighed anxiously as she closed her eyes, a single tear falling down her cheek that wanted to be the first of many. She was feeling truly and utterly alone in a strange, unknown place, and her heart panged with worry as she thought of her new friends and their fates. I was so close, she thought dismally as she took a couple deep breaths to steady herself. I just wanted to help. I just wanted to find out what happened to Zack. I never wanted…

Her thoughts trailed off and she inhaled shakily, straightened her back, and schooled her expression from worry to politeness – a feat that was proving more difficult each time she did it now. There would come a day when she would never have to fake an expression again, and if she could just get through tonight then she would see to it personally… Even if it meant never finding out what happened to her first love.

So Aerith, with a cautious steady knock on the door before her, began the newest step in her plan to now rescue two people.

After a few nervous moments of waiting, the door unlocked, swung open, and Aerith found herself face-to-face with one of the three most important people in Wall Market, not counting Don Corneo himself. The face that greeted her was one etched in beauty, with makeup carefully and skillfully applied to accentuate suspicious eyes and a frowning mouth. If there was any recognition on the woman's face, she hid it well.

"We're closed," the woman spat with barely concealed venom, a tone that appropriately matched her face.

Aerith sighed once more and smiled, although the expression was tight and not as easygoing as she wished. "Are you Madame M?" she asked. The woman's eyes narrowed further, and she fluttered the fan extended in her left hand a few times.

"You're a long way from home," she retorted, her eyes trailing up and down Aerith's figure and poor attempt to hide her identity from the citizens of Wall Market. "And dressed horribly, if I may say so. Usually you're a bit more dressed for the public eye than this."

The setting sunlight that filtered through the gaping holes of sector six above them was quickly fading, and Aerith knew she didn't have much time before the colosseum tournament would be over and she would be expected at Corneo's manor. She folded her hands together, trying a new approach.

"Please," she almost begged, her voice coming out softer than she intended, "I need your help. Corneo has invited me to his manor tonight after the tournament, and I heard you could help me. He has my friends captive. Can…" she trailed off and sighed quickly, blinking tears away again. This was ridiculous, she had just met Tifa and Cloud only a few days prior, but having people she could even consider acquaintances was a new and painful experience she still wasn't used to, not since losing Zack. It took another steadying breath to finish her pleading, "Can you help me?"

Madame M huffed and stared at her angrily for a few moments, dissecting her like she was a piece of meat. Aerith felt more self-conscious under her withering gaze than she had ever felt with her fashion team or even with her guardian. It was as if the older woman was removing each layer of clothing, right down to the very skin and soft muscle underneath. It made her shiver.

"What do you expect me to do? Dress you?" Madame M scoffed.

Aerith nodded meekly. "Please," she whispered.

There was a heartbreaking, terrifying moment where Aerith thought she had made a mistake coming to one of the Trio, as the people in Wall Market had called them; that perhaps Madame M was just an angry woman satisfied with her position of peddling young women to be brides for a corrupt, carnivorous man like Don Corneo. For that single moment, she began to feel that she truly was alone after all.

Madame M huffed once, lifting her fan up next to her head to expose her face better. "Well don't just stand there then," she snapped. "Come in before somebody sees you."

Aerith blinked in surprise before lurching forward at her command, darting through the door and under Madame M's outstretched arm. The owner of the massage parlor shut the door with a final 'thud' and turned the latch to lock it, sealing them in.

She was now standing in a beautiful, colorful entry room complete with a counter and plenty of space to lounge. As she looked about herself in wonder, drinking in the sheer beauty of the room, she came across a rather surprising scene: two well-dressed men were looking at her curiously from their position on a fainting chair. Aerith recognized them – the other two members of the Trio?

"Gentlemen," Madame M said dryly from her position at the door, "Meet Aerith, President Shinra's ward."

One of the men, a gruff fellow with a leather vest and impressive dark mustache, harrumphed. "I thought I caught word of you being in town. What brings your grace down from your palace on high?"

Aerith felt hot at his words, as if he was teasing her. She sighed and dropped the act, deciding now was as good a time as any to start her forthcomingness.

"Two of my friends have been captured by Don Corneo and I need help getting them out," she stated plainly. "They may have gotten…involved in nefarious acts. And Corneo is expecting me for a celebratory dinner after the end of the Corneo Cup, and I don't have anything to wear or any idea what I'm going to do to help them." The explanation pushed out of her like she was a faucet that wouldn't turn off; there was no backing down now. She squared her shoulders, set her feet apart in a determined stance, and continued, "I need help and I figured if anybody could help me, it was one of the Trio, so I came to Madame M…and yet…" she trailed off uncertainly, making quick eye contact with the owner of the market's inn – he stared at her unblinkingly, small smirk on his face – "here all three of you are. Will one of you help me?"

"Is this that kid fighting in the tournament? The Merc?" Gruff man asked. Aerith nodded silently. "Then the other must be the girl I endorsed for the audition for, Tifa."

"This is a rather shocking proposition, expecting us to follow you into treason with the man who has provided us all the comforts and wealth associated with our status," Madame M pointed out in a smooth, brutal tone.

"I know," Aerith said in a small voice. She took a steadying breath. "I'm asking a lot. But I've been in your position," she pushed on, growing bolder by the moment as she made her case. "I too am a pawn in my guardian's game. And if I'm sick of doing it, so should you be. Maybe you've been looking for an excuse to break free of this cycle of promoting violence towards young women and return to a safely run entertainment district. Maybe I'm who you've been waiting for."

This avenue of thought was a bold leap, even for Aerith's standards. She sucked in fresh air, her hands on her hips as she stared sanguinely at the three older adults in front of her. She was by no means a child, and yet in the presence of the Trio's seasoned expressions, she felt as if she barely had matured..

The silent man wearing a black and gold suit was the first to speak. "I like her," he murmured softly, gentle smirk and curious eyes never leaving her face.

"Of course you would, Andrea," the gruff man replied – gruffly. "You just want to spend time with your new fascination, and this here girl is the only way you'll even have a chance at that."

Fascination? Aerith wondered internally, but she let the Trio talk out their thoughts while stretching her hands behind her and crossing her fingers in some childish plea for her half-baked plan to work.

"She makes a valid point," Madame M murmured, so low that Aerith almost didn't catch it. It was as if the woman was afraid of dishing out anything except sarcastic comments. The gruff man replied to her, something that she didn't catch except "dangerous."

"We would need to find you a worthy outfit for dinner with Don Corneo," Madame M said after a few more minutes of heated conversation where Aerith felt the back of her neck grow warm from their continued eyeing her. While she was used to attention, she could tell that throwing her life – and subsequently Cloud's and Tifa's lives – in their hands was probably a reckless decision, one that could have ended very poorly for her. "And we would need some further assistance."

"Does that mean…" Aerith trailed off, clasping her hands together and staring hopefully at the other woman with the words left unsaid: that you'll help me?

"Sure thing, kiddo," the gruff man replied as he stood up and reached out a hand, neither kindly nor unkindly. "Chocobo Sam, people call me. It's nice to put a personality to the face I've seen in magazines."

Aerith giggled a bit and shook his hand, trying to comprehend the confusing statement he just said. Andrea waved a hand from his position on the chair, not bothered with strict formalities.

"Andrea Rhodea. I'm the owner of the Honeybee Inn. Do you have accommodations for the evening?" When Aerith shook her head, he perked up a little, sitting up straighter. Words poured out of his mouth in a smooth, silky voice full of persuasion. "Then I insist you join me this evening for entertainment, drinks, and a night in our best suite."

"Thank you so very much," Aerith gushed as a blush formed on her cheeks. She wasn't used to this kind of attention outside of the watchful gaze of President Shinra.

Madame M huffed again. "Well don't expect any special treatment from me," she retorted as she glared at the other two. "I'll be doing all the work here. I expect you to listen to everything I say."

Dutifully, Aerith nodded. "Of course, thank you," she replied and bowed her head respectfully. Madame M sighed, but the sigh didn't sound entirely displeased with the reaction.

"First of all, we don't usually do things for free," she prattled off. "The kind of gown we'll need for you will cost you…handsomely."

Aerith was prepared for this. She pulled her purse out and waited expectantly for a price.

"One million gil," Madame M announced.

Well, that's a little more than I have on me, Aerith sighed to herself. "I can certainly get you the sum very soon. Here's what I have." She handed over the majority of what she had left, about 10,000 gil. Madame M pursed her lips but did not complain as she took the money and tucked it away in a drawer behind the counter. With the sliding of a lock, she slipped a tiny golden key up her sleeve where it had been hiding.

"Very well," she said. "Next, I need to procure some items, and we need to work quickly. The three of us are expected at the Corneo Cup finals soon." Madame M shot a pointed look at the other two members of the Trio. "If we're to make this work, we'll all need to play our parts."

"I will speak to our man on the inside," Andrea said lowly, and Aerith jumped a bit when she saw he was standing right behind her. He held out a hand and Aerith gave him hers. He kissed it, much in the way that Rufus Shinra had days before; however, he was much more genuine in his affection. "It is wonderful to meet a beautiful star such as yourself, my dear," he murmured into the skin of the back of her hand. "You are welcome to join us in the viewing box at the tournament finals."

"T-thank you," Aerith stuttered, moved by his touching offer.

Chocobo Sam sighed heavily, an annoyed grunt forcing its way from his throat while doing so. "I'll go get the best carriage ready for your trip to the mansion later," he announced before turning the lock and stomping back out the door. Andrea followed out behind him, shooting one more mysterious look at Aerith before disappearing from sight. Madame M closed and locked the door once more, and suddenly it was just the two of them.

"Look," the older woman muttered as she turned back to Aerith. "We don't do things for free here. If I help you by going against Corneo, I hope you understand that I will expect something in return."

"Like what?" Aerith asked innocently.

Madame M glared at her. "You have friends in high places," she answered. "You have powerful contacts, strong friends. What I am about to do could put my entire business in jeopardy. Your job is to figure out how to make my business better than ever, no matter the outcome of tonight's…incident, and my helping you to do it."

It was a big promise, that much Aerith could tell. She didn't even know where she was going to end up when this was over. Had President Shinra realized she wasn't back in the tower? Had Rufus realized it? Had Reno told on her? The very thought made her palms sweaty. She didn't have too long, especially now that the most powerful man in the sector six undercity was aware of her presence. She knew Tseng and the Turks would come swooping in sooner rather than later, and then her chance at finding out anything regarding Zack would come to a screeching halt. She had to figure out what happened; she was in too deep to back out now.

Letting a smile solidify the deal, Aerith nodded. "Of course," she promised. Madame M's lips pursed again, but there was a hint at the smallest, teensy smile within them.

And that's how, a couple hours later when the sun had fallen out of the sky completely and left a hazy green glow to the undercity below, Aerith found herself dutifully walking in fresh new heels across the uneven paver stones of Wall Market's roads towards the colosseum. Madame M had taken every liberty with the gown she was wearing, and while it was entirely too gaudy and difficult to move in for her liking, the one thing Aerith had been relieved by was that her hair was not pinched up against her skull; instead, soft, purposeful curls framed the face she had stared at in the mirror. Dressing up like this felt like a parting of the ways for her, a way to pay homage to her life with Shinra and to leave it behind altogether. She kept her eyes on her feet, watching each step she took from underneath a soft pile of red ruffles that flared out from her knees onward. A bold, tall slit all the way up to her thigh left room in the dress for a chilly evening breeze to gently brush against her skin, and she felt goosebumps form.

Not everybody recognized her. There were moments on her walk when she heard with a blush the outward thoughts of men towards her appearance, and Aerith was sure that her face would be just as red as her dress if it weren't for the careful layer of foundation that kept her skin milky pale and flawless. When she drew closer to the entrance to the tournament's building, the throngs of people around her parted to make way for her. She was obviously overdressed for an occasion as exciting and brutal as fighting.

"Through here, please," a kind gentleman greeted at the door, gesturing towards a previously unseen side entrance that seemed to materialize directly out of the wall. Aerith followed his gesture and entered the private elevator, offering a small smile to the man as he nodded and closed the door again. She was alone.

Aerith sighed nervously. Why do I feel like I just entered a den of wolves? she wondered internally.

The elevator opened moments later, and she was welcomed to the VIP box by two waiting ushers who held open the door and took her hand to escort her inside. A long hallway on either side of her wrapped around to meet on the unknown other side; the arena, she guessed. The atmosphere back here was hushed and muted despite the excited roar of the waiting crowd on the other side of the wall, and Aerith moved hesitantly down the corridor, peeking her head around the corner to see the trio lounging and waiting for the excitement to start. Behind them was an entourage of young men and women dressed in ridiculously flashy, skin-tight bee outfits. And slouching in a chair against the wall was an all-too-familiar face set with dark eyes, silver hair, and an all-too-knowing expression.

Her heart leapt in her throat. That's the man that took Tifa! He stopped Cloud's escape attempt! Pounding rang in her ears and she took a surprised step backwards when her eyes locked with the impassive ones that seemed to be expecting her. There was no surprise or recognition in his expression, something that threw her off. Instead, he nodded and gestured to the empty chair next to him, as if beckoning her to sit.

Aerith didn't know what to do. Her eyes darted over to the Trio to gauge their reactions to the situation. Chocobo Sam had noticed her first and his eyes narrowed back at the younger man who worked for Corneo. Then he, too, gestured her forward.

"The kid is fine," he called to her as he jerked a thumb at him. 'The kid' glared at the other guy before rolling his eyes. Aerith hesitantly stepped forward, finding momentum enough to reach the chair designated for her before she sank into it, keeping her back straight as she eyed him distrustfully.

"I'm Leslie," the younger man introduced in a bored voice. "Sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier."

"You mean when you were kidnapping my friends?" she shot back with a frown, struggling to remain poised in front of anybody peering into the box when she wanted to do nothing more than take out her new staff and teach this man a lesson.

"Gotta keep up appearances," Leslie muttered under his breath. "It's not easy being in my position, trust me. Your friends are as safe as they can be right now. Well, maybe not both of them." His eyes narrowed as he gestured to the arena below them. Aerith leaned forward as the festivities of the evening began.

"In the city that never sleeps," The first announcer began.

"In the paradise of debauchery and sin – of pain and pleasure!" the other man continued.

"Where your every desire can be indulged for the right price – Wall Market!"

"To you esteemed connoisseurs of chaos and bloodshed –"

Aerith tuned out the showy introductions and looked back at Leslie again, who seemed bored with the festivities.

"Are you really going to help us and move against Corneo?" she asked quietly, eyes shooting accusing daggers at him. Inside, she was cringing at the absurdness of her behavior – she was perfectly okay trusting terrorists, of all people, but when it came to a random young man whom others were vouching for, she had a hard time believing him. Maybe it was just because she had seen him rip freedom right from under Cloud, and she had seen the momentary panic and resignation in his mako-stained eyes as he was forced to surrender once more.

And now he was back in the arena again, facing off against his chosen champion opponent – a man surrounded by two disgusting, twisted creatures.

She leaned further forward, trying to get a good look at Cloud. Of course from up here his face was masked, but he didn't seem to be too injured after the rest of his fights throughout the afternoon she hadn't witnessed. This was a relief. Whether potions or luck were on his side, she couldn't say from here.

The battle began easily enough. Cloud jumped right in with the same strategy as the first match she had watched. He started with a couple of lightning fast slashes with his sword, crippling the beast but not hindering it. He leapt back and dodged a pair of gnashing teeth from the second beast, countering with a quick fire spell to defend himself. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the first beast begin to sneak up behind him, but in an instant he was whirling around, sword out as he slashed everything in his way and leapt into the air, bringing his weapon down on top of the creature in a very final blow.

"Your boy has skills," Leslie commented nonchalantly as he looked up from his PHS. Aerith ignored him and especially the way he referred to Cloud as her boy, but it then also reminded her to double check the special pocket Madame M had sewn for her deep in the ruffles at the bottom of the dress. A pocket was a must for concealing PHS's, and she was pleased hers was still with her.

Aerith turned back to the match just as Cloud finished off the second beast before advancing menacingly on the beastmaster. The other man put up his arms and offered a couple of quick punches, one which landed on the side of Cloud's face. He kept his face turned for a moment, apparently dazed. Aerith put a hand to her mouth, nerves leaping into her throat as she waited for the beastmaster to land his final blow. However, the man seemed frozen. Then he slowly fell backwards, and his shift in position revealed that Cloud had stuck him through with the buster sword. All three creatures defeated, the screen above caught Cloud's defiant glare into the crowd as he looked up. The audience roared their approval. Aerith stared at him, wondering if he would see her, but he made no move to even look towards the VIP box. She sighed as he disappeared from view to heal up before his next match.

"Another win for The Merc!" The announcers were ecstatic as they spilled the results out. "Maybe this merc has what it takes to get out of here in once piece!"

"But will he?" the other voice asked in an obvious ploy for dramatization of events. "Stay tuned, ladies and gentlemen and all manner of creatures – the next fight is only minutes away!"

Waiting wasn't Aerith's strong suit, so she stood up and smiled falsely sweet at Leslie before taking a turn back around to the quiet of the hallway. One of the ushers who helped her out earlier was standing by the secret entrance, but he made no motion to recognize she was even there as she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, drooping her shoulders for a moment and sighing.

Her dress was buzzing. Aerith peeked an eye open down at the hidden pocket where her PHS was and realized she wasn't just imagining it from the din of the arena. She bent over – a feat near impossible in this dress as she grit her teeth from the constricting movement – and coaxed the phone out, seeing that it was Kunsel calling. She answered it and pressed the phone tightly to her ear.

"Hello?" she asked in a louder voice than usual, hoping that he could hear her over the excitement from the crowd.

"Aerith?" Kunsel's voice was far away but relieved. "Boy, am I glad to hear from you! I never heard back earlier – what's going on? Did you find your guy? Do you need me to come pick you up?"

Aerith sighed, pressing her free hand to her eyes for a moment.

"Thanks for checking on me, Kunsel," she said appreciatively. "It's been quite a day, I'll just say that." The announcers had begun talking again, and it was even more difficult to converse now.

"Are you at some kind of event?" Kunsel's voice was suspicious. "Wait – no way. Are you at the Corneo Cup?"

She laughed nervously. "That's me," she said lightly. "Attending colosseum events while my friends are being held captive by the warlord of the town…"

There was a very, very long pause.

"You what?" he practically shouted, and Aerith held out the phone despite the loudness of the entertainment around her. "Friends? Did Tifa get caught too? Did you get caught? Aerith, do the Turks know you're there?" The end of his small rant was in a choked whisper, and she knew he was assuming the worst.

She took a deep breath, willing herself to believe what she was saying. In a reassuring voice, she replied, "I'm fine, Kunsel. I've…figured out what I need to do. I have allies down here now. We're going to rescue both Cloud and Tifa and get some answers. Maybe we'll even have time to find the guy who may know more about Zack's death! I'll be okay."

Well, that would do it. She had even convinced herself, and her hammering heartbeat slowed to a mere pace in her chest.

Kunsel made a loud scoffing noise over the phone. "Why do I not believe you?" he accused, but his tone was gentle, friendly. "You know I'm here, right? I'm free until tomorrow afternoon when I head out on my next mission. You could probably use the backup."

"Fine," Aerith sighed. "Let's make a deal. You meet me where you dropped me off at midnight. I'll have Cloud and Tifa with me. Does that sound good?"

"Yup," Kunsel agreed. "I may get down there earlier though. I'm worried about you, Aerith. Wall Market is dangerous and I don't want you surrounded by strangers."

Music blared as the second match of the final began, and Aerith could hear the commentary shining a positive light on Cloud. She was relieved for the moment. "Look, I gotta go," she told her friend. "I'll be okay. I just need to watch a few matches and hope that Cloud doesn't get killed, have dinner with Don Corneo himself, instigate a coup for Wall Market, and rescue Shinra's top wanted criminals. What could possibly go wrong?"

"You. Are. The. Worst," Kunsel growled, but he was exasperated more than anything. "I'll be down there no later than eleven. I expect you there by eleven-fifteen, or I'm going to start my own Wall Market coup to get you back."

"Yes, sir," Aerith teased back. "Gotta go now! Thanks for checking in!"

She clicked the receiver before he could reply. Kunsel could be a bit of a worrier, but she knew his heart was in the right place. Especially if the Turks did find her…she clenched her PHS a little harder than she meant to and her knuckle popped. Gasping quietly, she transferred the device to her other hand and shook out her fingers, trying to alleviate the sudden pain.

"Are you just going to hide back here?"

She whipped her head up to see Leslie standing there, frown on his face as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall farther down the hallway. He was studying her. She blushed underneath her makeup, feeling the urge once again to pull out her staff and defend herself.

"No, I was just answering a call is all," she answered hotly.

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he sighed dismissively. "Thought you would want to know your boyfriend beat Beck's Bandits. He has a few minutes until he's in the final with Chocobo Sam's champions. I doubt he'll beat them though." He frowned for a moment, as if seriously considering the option. Then he shrugged his shoulders.

"You can be quite insufferable, do you know that?" Aerith groaned, squeezing her PHS in her other fist and stalking past him back to the viewing box. She threw herself back in her chair, using the position to slip her device back into the hidden ruffles of her dress. Leslie, who had followed her back, also sank back into his chair.

"I have some new intel," he muttered lowly so that only Aerith could hear.

She glared at him uncertainly. "Like what?"

He rolled his eyes at her tone. "The Don has taken a liking to your lady friend – Tifa, was it? He's debating not turning her over to the man upstairs. He wants to keep her for himself."

The very thought made Aerith's blood boil, and she took a few deep breaths to calm herself. "The president would have Corneo's head if he heard somebody went against an order of his," she warned.

"I know, I'm just passing on what I've heard," he sighed. "It would mean that she'll be joining you for dinner, however. I thought you might like that tidbit of information."

The announcers began their final wind-up to the final of the Corneo Cup then, and Aerith took the moment in the utter noise of excitement spreading through the spectators like wildfire to contemplate his words. If her and Tifa were in the same room, perhaps they could fight their way out. The other woman had shown some impressive martial arts skills on her television debut as a Wutai spy working for Avalanche, and between Aerith's hidden staff and Tifa's fists, the two of them could have a fighting chance. The only issue was getting Cloud out too, because just from what Aerith knew about SOLDIERs there was no way he was being held anywhere normal or easy to break out of – he would be somewhere strong and fortified. This was going to be difficult… but maybe she could persuade Corneo for a tour of the mansion to figure out a good game plan…

Cloud's final fight ended up being against a pair of mechs courtesy of Shinra, nicknamed adorably with the names "Cutty" and "Sweepy." Indeed they did just that, cutting and sweeping their way across the arena as they tried to pin him in a corner. Aerith watched with bated breath, on the edge of her seat when he briefly disappeared from view as he got caught in a cycle of slashes from one of the two. In a moment he had leapt back to his feet, downed a potion – making a face in the process – and leapt forward with a powerful lightning spell that she felt the electricity from even as far as the VIP box. As small hairs stood up on her arms, she watched his continued dance with the machines, because it truly was like a dance. Cloud circled and slashed, looking for weak links in his opponents' metal exoskeletons as he stepped around his own feet, dodged attacks from them, and parried with his own jabs. Another thundara zapped through the air at his arm's command and finished off one of the two mechs, sending the other into a pure tizzy.

Cloud went on the defensive for a few moments, his sword guarding against some otherwise deadly attacks from the enraged mech. When the robot took a moment to recuperate, his opening came. In one deadly thrust, Cloud stood before twitching electronic parts, letting the dead machine slip to the arena floor in a helpless slump as he tugged his sword free and returned it to the magnet at his back.

He'd done it. Aerith almost stood up and cheered as she had earlier with Tifa until she remembered that she was not anonymous anymore. Still, she settled for rather excited applause and a big grin as she watched her friend. He was looking up at the audience again with a small cut on his cheek and messier hair than usual. He'd been at this for awhile now, and finally he would hopefully get a break.

Cloud turned his head to the VIP box and before Aerith realized it, and their eyes locked. His widened in surprise, and she gave the slightest of waves, praying that nobody caught on. She smiled encouragingly, hoping that he understood she was here to help him.

But Cloud didn't stop staring, and it wasn't until a roar of confetti blasted from some unseen contraption in the ceiling that she looked away and up in awe, admiring the way everything glittered under the lights. She glanced back down and saw that Cloud had begun heading back towards the exit. Would he finally be free?

As if, she scoffed. If she could tell anything about Don Corneo, it was that he had some similarities to President Shinra, and providing captives an escape was not a quality either possessed.

Nope, she knew she had to do this the old-fashioned way. Aerith sighed when Leslie stood up and gestured for her to follow them. It was time to begin the next phase of her plan. Minimized staff itching at her fingertips, she knew she was as ready as she could be.


Cloud

Cloud was completely and utterly trapped, and he hated it.

At least this time when returning to this stupid dungeon in Don Corneo's basement, he could map out the way out of the ridiculously large mansion he was currently in – or underneath? He glowered angrily at the rough stone walls of the basement he was once again stuck inside. Stuck was too big of a word, although he may as well be trapped somewhere and injured again for all the good being able to move in his prison would do – he couldn't do anything without potentially getting Tifa harmed. Glaring up at the stupid cage he was in before, Cloud was minutely grateful that at least this time he was able to move around freely. It had been a few minutes since Corneo's men had taken Tifa – who had been dressed quite nicely in her and Aerith's previous attempt to rescue him – and now he was once again alone with just his thoughts.

Well, not completely alone, although Cloud was doing absolutely everything in his power to convince himself that he was, because hallucinations didn't count as company.

Cloud had dealt with many ridiculous things in his twenty-one years, and despite the large, five-year gap in his memory that he did his best not to focus on, he felt sound of mind and body. Pushing his problems away for another time had always worked out as the best way to go, so at this moment he was completely, absolutely fine with ignoring the elephant in the room.

His head hammered painfully and Cloud winced a bit, quickly bringing a gloved hand up. This wasn't due to the lovely pistol-whip he'd suffered to the back of the head earlier; he'd had a few potions and a couple battles with actual monsters since then. No, this was that annoyingly familiar headache that always seemed to accompany the growing hallucinations and strange not-memories that fought their way to the forefront of his mind. He put pressure on his forehead, trying to force the mounting tension away from behind his eyes.

"Shut up," he muttered at the presence he knew wasn't in the room with him. He was completely alone, and of course he knew that. And yet…

"I didn't say anything."

The silky-smooth low voice responded in his head, although it could have just as easily been right next to him. Cloud frowned angrily, shifting his body to the left and slouching against the wall in his sitting position. He was turning his back to his problems again, but that couldn't be the priority with so much at stake. Instead of focusing on the annoyance he couldn't control, he took his umpteenth look at the two doors to the place, studying their framework and debating his chances on ripping one of the doors off its hinges, running upstairs and grabbing Tifa, and getting the hell out of here.

Now if only I could leave behind my uninvited guest as well.

He hated being alone with his thoughts and no clear, concise way to funnel them towards something productive. Instead, Cloud focused on another curious matter: the issue of Aerith, dressed up in an extremely flattering dress – he was definitely not blushing to himself at the thought of it, because he did not blush - sitting in the VIP box with the other fancily dressed people like she had been invited. Of course, glamour seemed to be the life she was used to living, so he wasn't sure why he was so surprised. Maybe it was just the fact that she was flaunting her status down in Wall Market that surprised him. What would President Shinra think?

The fact that she was here at all surprised him as well, even after Tifa's attempted explanation of their half-baked rescue plan for him. Yet, Aerith's beautiful, sheepish, anxious face staring down at him continued to hold itself as a priority in his mind. He hoped her remaining presence wasn't a sign that she was doing something stupid to try and help them; he could and would figure something out himself, not to mention that Tifa was also a fighter.

"You think too much."

There it was again, that shivering voice taking up residence in his head and dredging up not-memories he'd rather forget. "Leave me alone," Cloud spat at the voice behind him, squeezing his eyes shut in annoyance. "You're not here."

"I'm not?"

The voice sounded closer than before, which was impossible because it was in his head. This prompted Cloud to finally give into his mind's stupid tricks, and he shifted his head back to glare at the apparition opposite him. While he was only a memory, the image of Sephiroth also leaning against the wall and crossing his arms in front of him still left Cloud a bit breathless in shock.

"What do you want?" Cloud growled, forcing anger to outweigh any surprise he may have felt.

"That is…inconsequential." Sephiroth's voice slid through his ears, dredging a horrific, achingly familiar feeling he couldn't place a name for to the forefront of his emotions. Cloud swallowed and sighed.

"If you're going to haunt me, the least you can do is state your damn intentions."

When Sephiroth didn't answer, Cloud leapt to his feet and stretched his arms. Pointedly ignoring the ghostly hallucination again, instead he walked around the perimeter of the room, studying the useless contents in case there was something valuable to work with. He pushed aside the pounding in his head as his eyes focused in on a potential weapon – an old, rusty chain curled up in a heap on top of some old pieces of fabric – sheets? Plucking the metal from its bed, he was careful to still its movement so that it didn't make noise. While there was nobody standing right outside his door, he didn't know if somebody was listening in nearby. Another reason to stop talking to yourself, he reminded himself glumly.

And yet, when he turned back around, the apparition of Sephiroth was gone. Cloud let out the smallest sigh of relief, glad his mind's mini torture was done for now. With the room to himself once more, Cloud hefted himself and his only option for a weapon onto the grotesque stone slab in the middle of the room. He did his best not to study the dark, dried stains that peppered his current seat. Instead, he focused his attention on the chain, yanking it in places to see if it would work well enough to suite his needs. He could probably use it as a whip, or his other option was to go for a good old-fashioned strangulation. As he tugged on either end, Cloud pondered which option would best for him.

He didn't get a chance to contemplate too long, however, as a sudden sound from upstairs distracted him... one that sounded strangely like a crash.