Chapter 10: The Job

Location: Kalm Town

Time: 7:00 am Wednesday

Kadaj's POV:

I need it now. I must have it. Lockheart…That man ruined me. Giving that child something as powerful as that…what was he thinking? I bet she doesn't even know who she is…silly girl.

"Kadaj!" I heard as the door slammed open, allowing the chilling wind and the spray of rain into the entrance of the lodge.

Turning abruptly I saw that Rude had burst through the door, drenched in a red substance of some kind.

I could barely make him out, for the room was dark and the flashes of lightening were dim.

"What is it now?" I asked, sitting down onto the hard lounge nonchalantly.

He simply coughed and the sound of fluid could be heard splattering against the floor. After that came a thunk as something heavy fell onto the hard wooden floorboards.

Sitting up slightly I tried to get a better view of him.

"Rude?" I asked firmly.

When I received no reply I frowned and felt anger begin to accumulate within the pulsating veins of my body.

No one ignored me. No one dared not answer me when I called for them. They knew the consequences…they knew what I was capable of.

Standing to my full height I unsheathed my sword, watching as the lightening reflected off it and allowing the blade to act as a mirror. I saw my eyes…my cold dark eyes. Snake-like eyes, which alone had the ability to destroy a man with the correct amount of concentration.

Walking closer to Rude's body I let my hand, which held firmly onto the weapon to fall by my side, as I asked in my usual demanding and seemingly iniquitous tone of voice, "Get up you fool. No puppet of mine dies until I let go of their strings."

He did not move and so kneeling I hissed, "You are dead aren't you?"

No reply.

Smiling and then laughing lightly I stood and turned to stare up at the sky through the window. I thought carefully about what I was to do, now that I was working alone. No more messengers…no more updates. Just little old me, sitting, waiting.

"You can't wait any longer for it…you are losing control." Came the ever so familiar voice of my mind.

"You know. If I had been you I wouldn't have screwed up." I sneered as I turned from the window and made my way over to my bed.

"If you were me, you'd see things differently."

I simply yawned and stated, "You really are as weak as I thought." Now crawling onto the soft mattress and staring into the darkness of my room.

"I was once like you…" was his final words before he left me alone again.

My mind could finally rest without him trying to take over now. I knew what he was up to. He had been with me since the day I was born. He spoke to me at night mostly; trying to make me be a good little boy.

Closing my eyes I listened to the heavy rain fall hard onto the tin roof. I would sleep soundly tonight knowing that I'd have my way. I wasn't disturbed by the fact that a dead man lay just a few feet away outside of my room.

I'd find someone else to help me. There was always Reno. I could bring some of those old memories back to the surface again. He'd remember what it was like when he first started working for me. He still wanted revenge; I could feel it…and I'd be the one to remind him why.

Location: SOLDIER Base

Time: 8:30 am

Tifa's POV:

"Teef…psstt, Teef?"

"Hmm? What?" I mumbled while slightly opening an eye.

My vision was poor considering I had only just woken up but I knew that it was Yuffie.

"You awake?" she asked still whispering.

Slightly adjusting my body on the bed I felt something roll along my shoulder and closer to my chest. A little shocked I lifted my arm out from underneath the entity and sat up quickly.

I began to focus a little better and soon realised that it was only Marlene.

Poor girl…

Remembering why I had woken in the first place I turned to see Yuffie staring back at me, waiting patiently.

"What is it?" I asked firmly; still a little annoyed that she had kept her involvement with this place a secret.

"Vincent and…Cloud want to see you." She informed, saying Cloud's name rather cautiously.

Sighing, I raised a hand to my head and said, "I don't want to see them. All I want to do is go home and take care of Marlene until Barrett comes back for her."

"Oh." She replied in such a way that told me she was holding something back.

"Yuffie what's wrong?" I asked quietly so as not to disturb Marlene.

"Nothing…I just think you should go and see what the others want. They were already contemplating whether to wake you up or not, so it must be pretty serious if they can't wait." She explained.

Her words seemed genuine enough, but I still knew Yuffie. She wasn't telling me everything.

Looking back at Marlene I nodded and replied, "Fine." Then turning to Yuffie once more I continued, "But I want you to stay here until I get back. Lock the door, watch her and if she wakes up…"

"Tifa?" I heard Marlene utter.

"Hun?" I replied, turning to her.

Her little eyes opened halfway to reveal dull hazel orbs.

"Tell Cloud to destroy it." she mumbled seeming rather disorientated.

"Destroy what sweetie?" I asked, while brushing back a bang of hair that had fallen across her eyes.

But she had yet again fallen asleep, not answering my question.

"She's really beginning to scare me." Yuffie commented.

Turning with a glare I snapped, "If anyone's scaring anyone it's you. I can't believe you kept this whole thing a secret for as long as you did."

"Tifa I'm sorry. It was just something I had to do." She said trying to defend herself.

Laughing at this I replied, "You and Cloud would make such a good couple. You're the same in every way."

"What? No way. That is so wrong on every level of…" she began but then suddenly seemed to realise that I wasn't being serious. "Oh…um…well…are you going?"

I don't really want to have to see Cloud again.

I was hoping to be able to leave without having to even catch a passing glimpse. But on the same token I knew that I'd have a horrible feeling playing in the pit of my stomach as soon as I left. I wouldn't have an excuse to come back here if I…wanted to see him again.

I sighed inwardly. As much as I resented him at the moment, I knew that until I got some plausible answers I'd never truly be able to put my mind at rest.

"Fine." I finally spoke and lifted myself from the bed.

I immediately felt the blood rush to my head from standing so quickly and winced from the unwelcome feeling that now took over my cranium.

"You're not gonna be sick again are you?" Yuffie asked worrisomely.

"No." I confirmed and then began to make my way to the door. I turned the handle and pushed my way into the hall, carefully closing the door behind me.

Cloud's POV:

"I don't care. She is not going to do it." I stated slamming my fist onto the table.

Vincent simply stared up at me; closed his eyes and nodded.

For the past hour or so we had been discussing our new plan of action ever since finding out about this Reno. But so far all we had really been doing was arguing. What he was asking was too much. I wouldn't allow it.

"Well we'll see what she has to say when she arrives." He said with a smile.

"I can assure you that she'll say no." I confirmed while folding my arms confidently.

"Really now?" he asked in a somewhat challenging manner.

I was about to answer when I noticed that his eyes suddenly averted to the doorway. I followed his gaze and soon saw Tifa standing there. She seemed quite calm but then moved into the room and said, "I can assure you that whatever it is." She paused, stood in a firm stance, looked directly at me and continued, "I'll consider it."

After that she turned her head, simply walked past and stood by the far wall on the other side of the room.

Vincent eyed me carefully before turning back to Tifa.

"You may have a seat." He offered.

She simply shook her head and replied, "No I'm fine."

Once again Vincent looked at me but with eyes that said that even he knew it might be hard to get her to even listen to what we had to say.

"Miss Lockheart." Vincent began while standing.

"It's Tifa." She said in a rather annoyed tone.

He paused for a moment and then continued on, "Tifa."

"Yes?"

"I was hoping that you might consider doing a small job." He said, already wearing a very persuasive tone of voice.

Eyeing him suspiciously she asked, "What kind of job?"

Things had already begun to go his way just by making her listen to him.

"If you'll take a seat I'll explain everything all in good time."

Location: Reno's House

Time: 9:00 am

Reno's POV:

"What the hell?" I exclaimed as I was roughly shoved off my bed.

I was now on the floor and as fast as lightening I was up and running again on two feet, standing in a fighting stance.

"If you want money you've come to the wrong place. I'm as broke as you." I stated not being able to see the person clearly enough yet, due to the darkness of my room and that I had hardly woken up.

It was then that I heard a familiar sigh that always seemed to say, "Why do I put up with this?"

Letting my guard down I frowned and said, "Oh. It's you."

He then moved into the dim light that shone through the skylight above. He looked the same as when I last saw him. He still had that determined and disdainful look in his eyes. On his belt, his sword sat firmly on his hip and a black-gloved hand hovered over the handle. He always did that, no matter what. It gave him a sense of control, letting the other person know that if they weren't careful, he could have their head there and then.

"You ready?" he asked with a hiss in his tone of voice and dark eyes that told me I had better answer correctly or else.

"Ready for what?" I yawned, now used to his devious behaviour. If he really needed my help he wouldn't kill me anyway.

"To finish the game. You can't quit halfway. It's unfair to the other players." He explained scathingly.

Stretching at the opening of the bathroom door I yawned yet again and replied, "Yeah, yeah…I'll finish it after I've had a shower."

"If you try and sneak off out the window I'll make sure you die painfully." He threatened.

"Kadaj every person you've killed has died painfully. Why would I be any different?" I asked not even waiting for an answer as I closed the bathroom door.

Location: SOLDIER Base

Time: 9:30 am

Tifa's POV:

"No, no and no." I said yet again, trying to get the message through Vincent's head.

"I warned you." I heard Cloud pipe in speaking to Vincent.

Turning, I shot him an annoyed look and then turned back to Vincent. "You're crazy, you all are. Reno is not up to anything. He's Yuffie's boyfriend." I rested a hand to my forehead trying to calm myself down.

"That made it all the more easier for him to get near you." Vincent explained now standing.

I was pacing the room in frustration now. Why would they think Reno was somehow involved with this Kadaj and after some weird artefact that would be the key to destroying the planet?

"Vincent come on man. Why don't you let one of the big guys do it?" Cloud asked trying to persuade him.

"Because." He started off coolly. "Reno will not answer to anyone. He knows Tifa. He'll probably let a few things slide."

"Can you not speak like I'm not here?" I asked, just wanting to leave this place and go back home.

We all stood quietly for a minute, trying to get over the rather heated conversation that had only begun around forty-five minutes ago and had still not gotten anywhere.

Plonking in his seat again and resting his head in his hands Vincent spoke up in a very placid tone like he had for the most part of the discussion, "Are we all ready to be civil again?"

I eyed Cloud from across the room and saw that he too was staring back. I probably wouldn't be acting the way I was right now if it wasn't for him. I was angry and upset at the moment. There were still many things that had not yet registered through my mind.

Why had he left? What was Yuffie doing here? How come Cid was here? Why was Marlene having visions? Why was Reno being held as the prime suspect of this operation they were conducting? Who was Kadaj? What did my fathers present to me have anything to do with anything?

Mmm…I just really needed to sit down.

Rubbing my eyes, I shakily made my way towards a chair and then saw Cloud move forward a little in my direction and Vincent sit up a little.

"Stay where you are, both of you. I can look after myself." I sighed and sunk into the hard chair, looking down at my lap.

"Look can we just leave her out of this? It has nothing to do with her." Cloud spoke up, trying yet again to get me out of the situation at hand.

As stupid as it may sound, I had actually been wanting to do the job just to get back at Cloud. I wanted to make him see that I didn't need him saving me. I wanted him to see what I could do without him. But then I would be going against Reno who hadn't done anything wrong.

Then another thought occurred to me. What if taking on this task would help Reno? If I showed them that Reno was perfectly harmless then I could prevent further unnecessary incidents from happening to him.

Lifting my head with a glint of confidence in my eyes I held out my hand to Vincent and said quietly, "I'll do it."

His cold hand took my own and he nodded with a smile and replied, "Lets get you ready."

Location: Reno's House

Time: 10:15 am

Reno's POV:

"What do you think you're doing?" I yelled grabbing at the photos he held in his hands. He didn't fight to hold onto them. He simply let them slip through his fingers and answered; "Just looking over you're…" he stopped there pretending to find a particular word for what he was about to say.

"Life?" I offered and wiped off the water droplets that had fallen onto the pictures from my hair.

I walked around his spot on the end of my bed (fully dressed now) and replaced the personal items in my bedside drawers.

"Yes." He confirmed. "That."

"Wouldn't hurt you to get one too." I suggested, although I didn't mean a word of it.

"Enough talk." He stated abruptly now standing.

I turned with arms folded and waited for him to continue.

Slowly he reached into his back pocket and pulled a picture from it. Slowly he brought it forward until it was dangling right in front of my face.

I saw her in it. I saw a photo of Tifa.

Sighing in annoyance I growled, "What are you showing me her for?"

He turned the photo so that he could see it and replied, "You were rather interested in this girl a few years ago. Your…" he paused before he spoke the next word quite delicately, "fascination with her has fallen considerably low."

"I'm over it now. That's why." I grumbled in a low tone and reached to grab my coat off the back of a chair.

"But wait a minute." He said halting me with a hand raised; still staring at the photo.

Rolling my eyes I asked through clenched teeth, "What?"

Slowly he turned the photo back to me and pointed to a figure in the background. "Don't you want to avenge your father?" he whispered in a cold tone.

Staring at the photo carefully I mumbled, "I did…but that was before his murderer was killed." Now thinking of the days when I had lived only to track my father's killer down and kill him.

"And I am truly sorry that I never gave you that chance…but…" he paused once again and lifted Tifa's photo up to my eyes. "She still lives."

I stared at the girl within it for a minute. I saw a young teenage Tifa sitting at her kitchen table in her home and in the background stood her father.

"Where did you get this?" I asked now taking the picture from his hand.

He shrugged and simply said, "Not important."

I could tell that things had already started to go Kadaj's way. I could feel old feelings start to resurface and at times I felt like lashing out at the picture and strangling both her and her father.

"Reno. Look at me." Kadaj spoke in a soft and rather eerie voice. Lifting my face away from the people in my hands, I stared into his eyes and watched carefully. Green and silver-like formations were moving around the pupil of his eyes.

"You want to avenge your father." He stated.

I nodded, now feeling myself fall into the trance that felt strangely familiar. Like he had done this to me before.

"You need to fight."

I nodded again and began to feel the photo crumple within my hand.

"Tifa must die." He whispered, letting the green flames in his eyes die down slowly.

Once again I nodded and let the ball of paper fall to the floor…

Location: SOLDIER Base

Time: 10:45 am

Tifa's POV:

"But won't it fall off?" I asked as Yuffie helped strap the small device around my back and then allowed me to position it in centre of my chest.

"It won't." she said reassuringly and then helped me wrap the bathrobe around the front so that there was no chance whatsoever of Reno seeing it.

"Yuffie?" I began questioningly as I gazed into the mirror.

"Mmm?" she replied now walking into the bathroom.

"Why are you not upset about the fact that the others think Reno is a suspect?" I asked carefully.

I had been speaking to Yuffie in relatively the same way as I had spoken to her before I found out about everything.

"Because." She started confidently, "I know as well as you that Reno isn't what they think he is. Once we get this out of the way, he's out of the picture."

I nodded understandingly and then I thought I heard a sniffle. Frowning I called, "Yuffie. You all right?"

"Yeah." She called back with a slight crack in her voice.

I walked over to the bathroom door and saw her wiping away at tears. I walked over and hugged her shoulders from behind and felt her hands hold onto mine.

"I hope he'll be okay." She whispered.

I nodded and said comfortingly, "He will be."

Laughing a little to lighten the mood she said, "So how are you?"

I let go of her shoulders and turned to leave the room and with a sigh I replied with a smile, "I could be better."

It was then that I could feel myself beginning to allow feelings to well up inside my chest. I won't cry. I won't let someone who left me two years ago make me cry.

Sitting on the end of the bed Marlene was in, I stared back at her and remembered what she had said. "Tell Cloud to destroy it."

Destroy what?

A knock was heard at the door, ripping me from my thoughts. I looked up to see Yuffie moving towards it. As she opened it she immediately engaged in a conversation with someone. Nodding she said. "Yeah she's ready."

Then a familiar figure stepped in and eyed me with solemn eyes. Blonde hair, sober and serious.

"I'll be taking ya there." He stated.

Still sitting on the bed I looked over to Yuffie and said, "I want you to stay here with Marlene. Promise me you won't leave her alone." I requested pleadingly.

She nodded in agreement.

Fixing my gaze on the man in front of me again, I stood and said, "Well then. Lets go."

Location: Seventh Heaven

Time: 11:30 am

Tifa's POV:

"How do you even know if he's going to be here?" I asked Cid.

Removing the cigarette from his mouth he answered, "I don't. That's Vincent's job."

"Okay then, how does Vincent know if he's going to be there?"

Shaking his head he replied, "I dunno. I just work for em'."

As we walked behind buildings and between various houses so that we would not be seen entering my home, I thought I heard something.

"Sshh." I hushed Cid from making any further noise and halting him.

"What was that?"

He listened for a minute and then muttered, "Probably just the wind."

"I don't think so…"

"Look I got a job to do and you ain't making it any easier." He said turning to me.

I glared slightly up at him and then I heard Vincent call out, "You two hurry up already. We gotta get set up before he gets here."

"Hear that missy? Now lets get moving." Cid ordered and practically dragged me through the back door of my home.

Minutes later I was downstairs in the bar testing the small microphone attached to my chest.

"How about now?" I asked adjusting the device a little, for about the thousandth time.

"Perfect." they confirmed. "You know what to do when he gets here?"

I stood in nothing but my bathrobe. I had to look the part. I wasn't usually up until later in the day because I was up until early morning every weeknight running the bar. So today shouldn't be any different. Although…these last few nights had been somewhat complicated. The bar hadn't been open for about two nights now.

"Tifa?" Vincent's voice buzzed through the transmitter.

"Huh?" I asked in confusion, looking down at the gadget.

"Do you know what you have to do?"

"Um…yeah. Act normal, ask a few questions and hope something slips."

"All right." And with that being said I could no longer hear them, but from now on they would be able to hear me.

But then something buzzed through the speaker once more.

"Tifa?" another voice spoke without any emotion whatsoever, however I knew it was him.

"Tifa can you hear me?" he asked.

Taking in a breath I replied, "Yes."

"There's a slight problem."

"What is it?" I asked feeling a little nervous about everything that would soon occur. My palms were very clammy and my breathing was very irregular.

"Seems Reno won't be here today." He mumbled.

Feeling relieved that I wouldn't have to interrogate Reno anytime soon I sighed and asked, "So what's happening now?"

I heard nothing for a few minutes and then Vincent took over once again for some unknown reason. "Reno will be there tomorrow morning."

"How do you know all this?" I inquired, becoming slightly frustrated.

"We had Miss Kisaragi call him on his cell." He explained very calmly leaving out the details.

Thinking of Yuffie's earlier reaction to the whole situation I just had to ask, "How was she afterwards?"

"Very professional. Now don't take the device off at all. I'll leave a few men to guard the house while we wait." Was all he said and then the minor fuzz of the device died down.

Location: Kalm Town

Time: 2:00 pm

Kadaj's POV:

"She called?"

A nod was his answer as he plonked down onto the couch, resting his head in his hands.

"Tomorrow morning I'm supposed to meet her there."

"So you know the plan?" I asked now running my fingers along my blade, nicking the end of my thumb.

He nodded and said, "I kill her. You get the materia."

I raised my thumb to my mouth and began to suck the trail of blood slowly before pulling it away and smiling.

I had another little puppet working for me again now.

Location: Seventh Heaven

Time: 11:45 pm

Cloud's POV:

It was cold outside, that was for sure. Cid was at the front and a few other men stood on the sides, lurking in the darkness of the shadows. I stood at the back of the house staring up at her window curiously. She was in bed now. The lights were off and it was eerily quiet. At times I would imagine and almost see her lift her window open, lean her beautiful face out and whisper, "Cloud. Dad's asleep. I can come out now."

In our teenage years we used to sneak off at night and practice fighting each other. It was easier at night. It was cooler, which stopped us from working up too much of a sweat and there was also the minor fact that I sucked at fighting and I didn't really want anyone to see me get beat up by a girl.

She taught me everything I knew in that aspect of my life in the time of three years. Right then I felt a sudden tightness in the left of my chest. Tearing my eyes away from the window and clutching onto my chest with my hand I winced. I was in pain. For the time that I had been in Midgar again I had felt things that I never thought I could feel again. I had pushed away so many things I used to know so far down that I was having a hard time getting used to those very same things resurfacing again.

I used to know what I felt. Now…I wasn't so sure. Or maybe I did know and simply refused to take any notice due to my new way of life and because of who I had become.

I should have never let Vincent ask her to do this. I thought, now wanting more then ever to run up and tell her not to go through with it.

"Yo' Cloud." I heard a muffled voice call from the right.

Glancing up I saw Cid walking towards me, cupping his hands around a cigarette as he lit it.

A few moments later he took his hands away and inhaled the drug slowly. Ripping it from his mouth he held out a carton towards me, "Want one?" he offered.

I simply shook my head only to see him shrug and replace it back in his pocket.

He soon stood at my side and stared up at the window I was gazing at a few moments ago.

"She'll be okay." He stated and raised the smoking cigarette to his lips again.

Raising my eyebrows I asked, "How can you be so sure?"

Another shrug and a calm face. "It's Tifa. She knows what she's doing."

Folding my arms I shook my head and replied in an unconvinced tone, "I know she can take care of herself…but…"

"But?" Cid prompted.

"But she thinks of Reno as a friend. I mean even though she may have the strength to beat him senseless…when the time comes…she might hesitate to hurt him. I mean… remember what happened with you and Shera?"

I heard a groan from Cid.

"Just hear me out would ya." I sighed, desperately wanting him to see my side of things.

"Yeah, yeah go on." He grumbled.

"Remember when you were going out with her? When you found out she cheated on you? You didn't exactly go up and punch her did you?"

"Bloody felt like it." he mumbled.

"But you didn't."

"No." he said, obviously getting annoyed that I had brought back memories.

"Look I know this is hard, but I need you to see how this might turn out." I said, hoping that he wouldn't leave without listening to me properly.

"You still loved her. You didn't want to hurt her even if she did do the wrong thing." I continued now eyeing him carefully, waiting for him to say something.

Turning to me he nodded and whispered, "Yeah. I get ya. But we're just gonna have to hope Teef doesn't slip up eh?"

Well I really got through to him.

Staring back up at the window I shoved my hands into my pockets and simply thought of her again. I remembered the times when I was allowed to touch and hold her whenever I needed to. But now…I was a lonely asshole who deserved to spend the rest of my days with nothing but the clothes on my back.

"You miss her?" Cid spoke up questioningly.

I closed my eyes, slowly shook my head and said, "No. That my friend is a huge understatement."

Location: Tifa's Room

Time: 12:00 am Thursday

Tifa's POV:

I wasn't sleeping that night. I was simply lying on my bed with my eyes closed, listening to the quiet conversation below my window.

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't handle what he was saying. Why did he have to act as though he cared about me? Why did he say he missed me? He was the one who left. Not me.

He's not acting Tifa. He's telling the truth. A voice within my mind spoke, interrupting my thoughts.

Running a hand through my hair I tried to reassure myself that tomorrow would be fine. Reno was a good person. He would not hurt me and he would give me no reason to hurt him. I knew Reno…

A/N: Holy damn people. 5000 words. Argh I can't believe it. I was on a real roll with this chapter. I was hoping to fit the scene with Tifa and Reno's conversation in this chapter, but at least I put up a bit more info on what's going on with Reno and Kadaj now.

So there you go. Chapter 10. Please leave a review. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks you guys. You're all awesome!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters and everything associated with this story all belong to Square Enix.

Yunie Tidus