Note: Thanks to everyone that participated in the mailbox chapter. I really appreciate all of the input, especially since this story is getting to the good parts. I don't intent to make this story too long, but it will be as long as it has to be.

Chapter 18- Those Pesky Pinstripe Problems

'Like a flame,
I flit, I float,
Glancing over you
Under the moat,
And I…

…I…'

"No, that won't do."

Reno crumpled up the poem that he had begun and tossed it in the trashcan. He could find no way to properly express his true feelings, but hoped that his surroundings would provide some inspiration. As he looked around, he noticed the emptiness of his tiny house. The ceiling shined like precious metal. Its grooves were intricately designed to form the ShinRa symbol at its centermost point. However, its beauty was also part of the problem. Reno secretly longed for a decrepit ceiling, with holes and cheap plywood. The redheaded Turk oddly wished to feel the rain fall onto his head as the inadequate shelter leaked water through the evidence of an act of God.

Reno's small kitchen had everything that a single man could want. The oven had a SmartTimer, guaranteed never to burn food. The refrigerator had a built-in TV screen, just in case Reno ever wanted to do some major squinting. The kitchen table was a square sheet of glass, supported by four strong arms made of Oak. Unfortunately, Reno had grown tired of Japanese food. He yearned for delicacies of foreign lands. Several ideas sprang to his mind rather quickly. Reno would kill to feel a roasted cockroach slither down his throat, indecisive about whether to go up or come down. Protein is still protein, right?

"Lonely, I'm mister lonely…I…something, something…on my own!"

Reno always had a backup plan in times like these. He picked up his car keys and drove into town. Reno passed all of the major shops and attractions. In fact, he drove through most of Midgar until he came to the outskirts of town. At the corner of Third and Mako, there stood a young lady. She was wearing a white top, which would have revealed quite a lot if she actually had something to show. The lady also wore a short pink skirt, and she was at least six feet tall. Reno had never seen a woman this tall, not even Tifa. The odd thing about her was that her dark hair was held together in a ponytail, much like Yuffie's trademark style. However, the mysterious female certainly didn't seem to share the ninja's trait of hyperactivity. There was something weird about this woman that Reno just couldn't place. It wasn't her age; the lady seemed to be in her mid 20's. It definitely wasn't her looks; or was it? Reno quickly figured out what the problem was when he handed the woman a fifty dollar bill and casually gave her a quick glance. There seemed to be a slight bulge in her skirt. Of course, it wasn't like Reno really cared at the moment.

Once Reno had paid the woman, he instructed her to get in the car. The lady obeyed, but both she and the Turk were silent all the way home. When Reno finally arrived at his house, both he and the lady went inside. Reno turned on the television, which inspired the lady of the night to speak.

"This isn't about romance, is it?"

"It sure isn't."

"Then why did you pay for my services?"

"I just want someone to watch the Yankees game with me. Please, sit down. Make yourself at home."

"Well, I have to admit, I've never been paid to just sit around before, but at least I've been paid. But seriously, I can't stay too long, because I really need to get around to more than one place tonight. It's already one a.m."

Reno didn't look at the woman. He simply kept his eyes on the screen and muttered, "That's alright. It's an early day game, so it's already in the 7th inning."

When the next commercial came on, Reno went into the kitchen.

"Would you like something to drink? I've got beer, wine, soda…"

"Sake would be nice."

Reno raised an eyebrow and replied, "Well, you sure are sophisticated, aren't you? What's your name?"

"They say that my name is Tsuyoka, but I like to call myself Sakura."

Reno frowned and asked, "Why did you choose Sakura? And who is 'they'?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Oh really? I guess you don't want that sake so bad after all, do you?"

"Why do you care so much about a street urchin like me?"

"Because life is a drag race, and if we don't stop to smell the roses, then it will be over way too quickly."

Reno handed the sake to Sakura and sat down. He firmly repeated, "Who are 'they'?"

Sakura closed her eyes and quietly replied, "Most of my life has been spent in an orphanage. The people at the orphanage told me that my parents abandoned me when I was a young child. The age limit for Midgar orphans is 18, so when I became that age, I was placed into the streets. The only thing for me to do is work the streets at night, alone."

Reno replied, "I'm sorry to hear that. I never knew that an orphanage would do that to someone. But I do have one question."

"Yes?"

"Why did your parents abandon you?"

"Just watch the game."

Both Sakura and Reno began to put their focus back onto the ballgame. It was in the top of the eighth inning, and the Yankees and Blue Jays were tied, 2-2. It was the Blue Jays turn at bat, and Mariano Rivera came into the game to pitch for the Yankees. Reno shook a finger at the screen and asked, "If he's the closer, then why do they keep putting him in early?"

Sakura swiftly answered, "It's because he's one of the best in the game. He can come in early if he wants to."

"Yeah, I guess so. Do you want some chips?"

"What kind do you have?"

"Funyuns."

"Oh yes, most definitely."

Reno raised an eyebrow and said, "Okay, so you like baseball and snack food. How much more awesome could you get."

Sakura kept her eyes on the screen and uttered, "I'm not awesome. I'm a slut."

For the first time during their encounter, Reno stared into Sakura's eyes. He calmly corrected, "That's not what you are to me."

"Then what am I?"

"You're a smart young woman. There's nothing wrong with you."

Sakura bowed her head low and said, "Yes, there is."

"No, there's not."

Sakura seemed to mutter something that Reno couldn't hear.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. Can you repeat it?"

Sakura stood up defiantly and exclaimed, "I said, 'look at me'!" As she pulled her skirt closer to her skin, Reno could see what she meant. Sakura began to sob as she exclaimed, "I was born with a penis!"

"Wow. Uh, I guess you aren't too successful at your 'business', are you?"

"No, I'm not. No one wants to pay good money for a freak."

Reno casually placed his hand on Sakura's shoulder and corrected her, "I did."

"But you didn't love me, did you?"

"I think I did something more permanent. I made a friend. I get the feeling that you have, too. Otherwise, you wouldn't be opening up to me."

Sakura wiped the tears from her eyes and answered, "Yes, I suppose you are like a friend, but I never caught your name."

"My name is Reno. I work with the government. Oh, and don't worry, I'm not going to turn you in. But I do have one more question. What kind of feeling do you have about me?"

"Well, at first I thought that you were a lonely loser, but I suppose that's not the case. You're not a loser. But you are lonely."

"Not right now."

"Okay, but what about when I leave? Are you going to go down the list of your Little Black Book?"

"With me, you never can tell."

Once again, their eyes drifted back to the game. It was the bottom of the 9th inning, and the Jays were attempting to win the game. Frank Thomas stepped up to the plate. He took the pitch from Rivera and blasted it over the right field wall for a game-winning home run.

Reno jumped out of his chair, but stood silent.

"Well, Reno, I suppose you didn't like that ending, did you? I told you they keep Rivera in too long."

"Yeah, well, I guess you have to go now."

"Yes, I do, but there's one thing I need to do before I go."

Sakura stood up and gave Reno a big kiss on the cheek. "Thank you. Oh, and here's the digits to my celly." She walked to the door and was prepared to step back into the night. She slowly turned back and asked Reno, "Do you ever think someone could ever like me enough to stay with me forever?"

"Maybe, if it's a guy who swings both ways and hates children."

"Yeah, maybe you're right. See ya."

"See ya."

With that, Sakura strode confidently into the world of the night.