Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII is the property of SquareEnix
Sorry for such a long wait. Well… enjoy!
Chapter 5: Redemption
Red dust hovered in the air as the last remnants of the sand storm blew away. The ground and walls were tainted with crimson. It had been a long night of bombs and gunfire sounding throughout the night. What was left of this barren landscape was nothing but rubble and heaps of scrap metal. A junkyard? No… it was worse. It was a place of rebellious massacre. A place filled with people who stood up for the same vision, but instead, had had that vision trampled on by the military. By Shinra…
"How long are we going to have to stay here?!? Eh Cloud? How long dammit!" lashed out a largely built man, one arm flying about in the air, while the other one literally threatened to shoot someone. This was Barret Wallace, leader of the notorious anti-government group AVALANCHE and also a wanted man of Shinra.
Leaning against a wall, a young man of no more than twenty one years of age shook his head at this remark, his blonde hair swaying back and forth. His eyes were concentrated on the dusty floor, as if he might be able to burn a hole through it and jump in, vanishing from this world and into eternity. "We can't…. not yet…" was all he could say, and continued to stare into the darkness that clouded his mind.
"Tch!", a teenage Wutian girl quickly stood up and faced Cloud. "Seriously, how long are you going to brood over this? What's happened has happened! It's not like we can go back in time and change this! So accept it and act your age!"
"Jeez, there she goes again…" muttered a middle aged man as he lit his cigarette.
"Shut up Cid!" the girl retorted. "Really, Cloud… act your age once in a while…" Turning around, she exited the room but not before dragging Cid out with her. "O-Oi! Let go you brat!"
Nearby, the rest of AVALANCHE sat in silence. Their thoughts also obscured by the recent mishaps that had forsaken this land and their friend. "Cloud…" whispered Tifa, Cloud's childhood friend. Her long dark hair was wrapped loosely at the end. Closing her eyes she inhaled deeply and sighed, a pained expression cutting across her face.
"Tifa!" Vincent said. She turned around to face a man draped in a red cloak. His arms folded inward as he looked over her head towards Cloud. "Get a hold of yourself." With that, he left the room, his red cloak silently following him. "Barret," he called out, "I need to talk to you about a certain matter…"
"Huh? Uh, sure… but make it quick!" Taking one last glimpse at Cloud, he followed after Vincent's league.
In the corner, an animal of unknown species yawned and slowly got up. Stretching, he made his way towards Tifa before leaving the room and quietly whispered, "Put some sense into him, only you can do it…"
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The lamp flickered ominously in the room, causing shadows to dance about the walls. The wind continued to howl outside. After what seemed like forever, Cloud sat down on a wooden crate.
"There wasn't anything I could do…I couldn't save her." Cloud calmly stated. His head buried in his hands.
"That's… not true…" said Tifa.
"I… tch! What was I doing?!?"
"Please stop blaming yourself…She was a precious person to all of us…"
"I… I wanted to change… but if change was to bring about death of those I…Then I would never have…"
"I'm here for you Cloud! So believe in me! Believe in everyone!" Tifa stood up.
Walking towards Cloud, she stood in front of him and looked down. Tears filled Tifa's eyes. This wasn't the Cloud she knew. This figure who displayed a weakened mind of sadness and sorrow was a stranger. How could she comfort him? To restore his confidence and dignity…
"I'm sorry… Aeris… It was my fault. If I had been more attentive. If I had more strength…Tifa…Everyone…I let you down…"
A moment's silence.
"You…."Tifa said. "WHY?!?" With that, she swung her hand across the blonde's face, sending shockwaves throughout his mind and bringing him back to reality. "For goodness sake! Wake up! Cloud! "
Raising his hand to touch his face, he winced at the pain a simple slap had done.
"Cloud…I want to help... but only if you'd let me…So Please! Stop blaming youself! Don't shut us out! Please…" she managed to mutter. More tears continued streaming down her face as she helplessly sat on the floor.
Looking down at his comrade and best friend, he bent down and placed his hand on top of her head.
"Huh?" Tifa looked up. Although Cloud wasn't directly looking at her, she could tell her words and actions had woken him up. He wasn't the Cloud she knew, in fact, he wasn't even the Cloud that she knew a minute ago, no, this was a brand new Cloud. A Cloud with a look of determination in his eyes.
"Let's go" he stated. Helping Tifa to her feet, the two left the room and headed out the door to the open where everyone awaited them.
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The door slammed shut behind them as they walked down the crooked stairs leading towards a vacant room. "Where is she?" Tseng asked.
"Huh?" Reno sleepily stated as he followed the black haired Turk from behind. Rubbing his eyes, he loudly yawned and stretched his hands nearly taking out Rude's own eyes.
Adjusting his glasses, the bald Turk raised his hand and whispered into Reno's ear, "Idiot, where's Elena?"
"Elena?" Reno restated. A grin spread across his face.
"Well?" Tseng asked again, this time having stopped at the bottom of the staircase as he turned to face the red head.
Shrugging his shoulders, Reno merely stated, "Really, it was for your own good so don't get angry at what you're going to see…If I didn't do what I did, you'd probably be dead instead…" Leading the way now, Reno walked down the hallway and down yet another flight of stairs. "Wah! This place is huuuuge!"
"Keep moving." Tseng calmly replied. Really now… I don't even know why I'm still following him, I should have just waited outside…" Somehow, I get the feeling that I don't want to see what you've…" he spoke too soon. At that point, Reno stood in front a door and opened it. Inside sat Elena, bound in electrical cords, a wad of cloth stuffed in her mouth. She writhed violently, her eyes narrowed deadly at Reno.
Rude and Tseng stood in their spots, mouth agape, unable to move. "Uh… I'll go call for a helicopter to pick us up…" the Bald Turk stated as he turned to leave.
"Wait for me!" chime Reno as he quickly followed his companion. He knew that if he stayed… he wouldn't live to see tomorrow.
Raising a hand to his head, Tseng sighed. "I'm not even going to ask what happened between you two…" he said as he bent down and untied the female Turk. Once her hands and feet had been released from the cords and the cloth was free from her mouth, she sat in the closet and remained motionless, her head hung low. "Hmm?" As Tseng got up. "What now?" he asked. "If you want to kill Reno, I'm afraid you'll have to do that later. We're not don---"
Plop. A tear found its way to the floor. "Eh?" Tseng looked down at his comrade, confused.
"I…" she stated, finally looking up to reveal a face contorted in fear. "I really thought you were going to…"
Scratching his head again, Tseng sighed. "Listen…" he said as he bent down to face Elena. "I told you before and I'll say it again, I won't die so easily" He stated as he looked into Elena's eyes. "That's why, until that time ever comes, I need you to stay focused."
"… Yea!" The turk mustered. "Yea…"
Tseng reached into his pocket and searched for something.
"Huh?"
"Where is it?" he asked himself as his hand dug through all the junk that piled in his pocket.
Images raced across Elena's mind. Maybe… No, it couldn't be! She had only been employed under Tseng for a few months. Surely he couldn't… Her face blushed, what if he really did get one… and decided that it was finally time to give it to me since we're alone… I hope it's silver…with my initials engraved in it.
"Here it is," he managed to say. His hand slowly coming out to reveal…
"Eh?" Elena stared in disbelief. "This is…"
"It's called a handkerchief" he bluntly stated. "Now wipe those marks off your face… seriously, before you think about coming out of that closet." Tseng said looking away, his face slightly turning a shade of pink. "I'll be waiting outside. You have two minutes so hurry up."
"I… What?" Elena pulled out her gun and stared into its shiny surface. "This is…this…"
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Elena stepped out onto the roof, the wind rushing past her hair and whistled in her ears. In the distance, large clouds of smoke hovered over the town.
"There you are!" Reno happily stated. "You look very radiant"
Quickly turning around to face the red head, she withdrew her gun and fired directly at him.
"Y-you…" the red head stared in disbelief as he leaned against a wall that encased the door to the building. A hole quietly fizzing from the bullet that just went into it a mere inch from Reno's head.
"Oops! Guess I missed." She said as she pocketed her gun into its holster again.
Ring, Ring! "Hmm?" Tseng answered his cell phone. "Yes… I understand." With that he turned toward his team. Next stop, Nibelheim.
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Soooo… now we all patiently wait for the next chapter… oO;