I have returned but behold! A new chapter in tow.

Also, as you have noticed there are 2 chapter 10's; I tried two versions and to be quite honest I like X2 a lot better. I just tried to give the reader a different perspective.

Now go on and read because I know you want to.

Chapter 11

Birth of Vagrant

Last class of the day was spent sitting in a desk, while Reno placed a cd into the dvd player on which all students were to take notes on. It was an instructional film on where materia came from and how each combatant could equip them properly. Ashes just stared out the window, the sun well over it's peak but several hours away from sunset. Thoughts, plans, ideas swam through her head as a sudden hold of butterflies surged against the walls of her stomach in excitement. She had to pull this off, she just had to find out about this woman named Tifa Lockhart...had to find out what this woman did wrong, and if she was still alive.

The bell rang and students alike stood up gathering thier bags and notebooks, thier voices raised in conversation with one another. Ashes on the other hand just grabbed her bag, stuffed with clothes and papers and exited the room as quickly as possible heading down the stairs, her fast pace turning into a quick run. She had to make it the mile down the street to the bus station before it left. She had about six minutes before it's arrival as she pushed the steel doors open and ran down the parking lot toward the street.

A minute before the bus came into view, she made it to the bus stop and looked behind her wondering if by any chance she would see Daemon running towards her, but saw no one she recognized. The bus pulled to a stop, it's wheels screeching in protest and she sighed in relief, but that did not alleviate her nervous anticipation.

Get a hold of yourself girl. This plan will be exuecuted to perfection...

The bus doors opened and she waited in line while the people who were already in front of her boarded. Minutes later she was sitted in the back of the bus toward Kalm. From there on she would board the eight oclock train to Junon and arrive in that major city around four am. Relaxing her tense shoulders she laid back in the comfortable bus seat and glanced over to the window: Mikotex seemed to fly by, streets, cars, homes, buildings, e.t.c. just zoomed by and slowly her eyes closed.

Daemon waited by the car patiently, his friends talking amiably while he watch the exit doors. People poured in and out of the building but Ashes was no where to be found. Minutes ticked by, his body fidgeted from side to side as he waited.

"Yo Daemon, where's your sister?" Kyoko asked as he too glanced over to the campus building. Zephyrus and Daniel both quieted down and turned toward the building, expecting to see the new brunette walking towards them.

"I don't know. She's never late..." Daemon stated quietly. Kyoko tossed his blonde hair aside and said,

"Maybe we should go talk to her instructor?"

"Let's go. Zephyrus, can you please stay at the car in case she does come?" Daemon asked, his eyes still searching the crowds of people mingling and walking about.

"No problem man."

Nodding, the trio headed over to the building hoping they would catch Reno before he went home as well. When they got to the foyer inside, all instructors were conversing among each other at a table.

"No she got out safely, my eldest went and picked her up before anything came to worse. She's a bit startled but she's back home with her mother." Reno explained to Elena and Rude. It was Rude who grunted and addressed the three students that walked up to them.

"Instructors," Daemon nodded to the two before turnng to Reno, "Sir, have you seen my sister?"

"Ashes? The last that I have seen her was when she left my class, otherwise no. Why did something happen?" Reno inquired.

"She's no where to be found Sir. I'm worried." Daemon replied.

Reno frowned and looked over at his friends in concern,

"My then, I suppose we have a problem gentlemen." Reno said as he looked over to his friends.

The bus jolted to a harsh stop waking Ashes up and she opened her wine colored eyes to find people grabbing thier bags and stuff exitting the veichle. The sun was already a fiery orange hue on the horizon. They were located on the outskirts of Kalm, known as the Edge. The street lights were flickering to life as she took the last step of the bus, her eyes surveying the bustling croeds. Emanating lights addressed her sight: bars, clubs, twenty four hour stores grabbed her attention as she walked down the street. An officer on a chocobo sounded his whistle at a group of brawlers near an alley and she walked over to watch the scene. The officer broke the two apart and dispersed the crowd leaving only her standing there. The officer noticed,

"Miss? Is there something I can help you with?"

"Umm...yeah. I was wondering where the train station was located at. I have an 8 oclock schedule for Junon."

The officer took his cap off revealing in the light that he had brown eyes and a mop of sandy blonde hair,

"Sure. If you would like I can escort you on my chocobo. It's only three miles down Vertigo Hwy. bypass."

Ashes nodded and grabbed his extended hand in which brought up in a saddle behind the man. The chocobo warked and they were on thier way down the major street. As they reached the train station she hopped off and thanked the officer and ran inside the building to one of the flat touch tone screens.

"Welcome to Edge Station, where we issue your electronical passes to anywhere in the continent." the screen announced,

"Please enter your confirmation code."

Ashes brought out from her side pocket a crumpled up sheet of paper and entered the code.

"Confirmation code accepted. Please wait..." the computer replied.

From beneath the screen a slip was printed out, with her name on it. All she had to do was wait thirty minutes before the train arrived. Her stomach growled angrily and she looked around and found a vending machine staring back at her.

Better then nothing.

She settled down at the bench as she ate a bag of chips, her eyes roaming around, observing the people who were sitting, chatting, and still walking about. Everyone had places to go, places to see...Tifa Lockhart. She had to find out what was going on...what were her 'foster' parents hiding from her.

"Train 323 has arrived from Corel; Passengers boarding train 323 to Junon, please make your way to exits two and three." the announcement echoed through out the station. Ashes grabbed her back pack and headed over to the following exits and waited while attendants scanned her bag and her body for any metal objects on her. The waving wand began to scream and the attendent stood up,

"Please remove any metal objects before proceeding Miss." he stated nuetrally.

Nodding, she removed her katana that was strapped to her side and handed it over to the man.

"Miss I have to see some form of identification for you to be able to carry weaponry on board."

"ID?" Ashes muttered in question and brought out her Student ID card from the academy. He looked it over and widened his eyes a bit before stammering,

"Verify your ID license code please."

"900-4567-0001, Ashes Strife Class A." She said through gritted teeth and stared at the man before her. She hated doing that, especially since she just allowed a bit of information of her whereabouts to be known. She tapped her foot and the man nodded allowing her to go through the doorway. She grabbed her katana and her back pack angrily from the woman on the other sideand headed over to the sleek mettallic machine with it's doors wide open. The train was already packed and she grabbed a seat near the window and waited while everyone finished boarding. Two young men sat down next to her while thier friends sat adjacent in the other seats, their conversations were tainted with a hint of alcohol and ciggarettes. Some loud and some tryng to quiet their comrades down,

"Come on Jason, this is our weekend. Don't ruin it just because you wanted to drink a few beers." one of them said.

"Yeah Yeah, wake me up when we get to Junon. I can't wait till we get to Costa Del Sol...see all the beach babes..." he muttered before falling into a deep slumber.

"Man, Jason need to cut back." another said.

"Like you're any better Dave."

"Hey! Not fair...we all had a few beers." Dave said and punched his friend a little too roughly in turn he bounced off of Ashes.

"Oh I'm sorry..." the man said as he looked down at her..."Umm..my name is Aidan...if there is anything I can do...I mean for...are you all right? I'm sorry for my buddy...they are all a bit drunk." Aidan said as he looked the woman straight in the eyes.

"It's all right.." she answered.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Ash..Ashley." she replied as she looked up at the black haired man, his eyes were green, but with a strange glow...

"Your eyes glow." she said without thinking.

"Yours do too." he replied with a laugh, "My father used to be a Shinra soldier infused with mako. The glowing eyes run in my family I suppose. Haha." he explained further.

"So where are you headed?" he continued.

"I'm heading home to visit my mother." she explained...her heart sinking because she lied to this new friend...but it was half a lie.

"Where's home if you don't mind me asking?"

"Nibelheim." she replied, "Why do you ask?"

Aidan smiled and looked up at the ceiling on the train,

"Oh nothing in particular...maybe someday I might visit and take you out to a cafe..." he said.

"Oh." she said with a slight blush. Aidan laughed as he watch the blush creep up on her cheeks,

"You're adorable." he added and in turn he watched her hide her face behind her cascading brown locks. For the rest of the night, the two conversed about his college and dreams while she said little of her history. Before she knew it, it was well passed midnight and she yawned.

"Go ahead and sleep." Aidan said as he too yawned. Nodding she adjusted her seat backwards as far as it would go and she closed her eyes, her hand on the sheath of her blade and her back pack far away from any reach.

Daemon sat in the kitchen, he had made his sisters go to bed a few hours ago and it was already past midnight. Aunt Marlene had fallen asleep on the couch while Daemon thought over everything that had happened. He had come home and Aunt Marlene had notified everyone that they got a phone call from the hospital; thier father had woken up and had fallen back asleep after eating some food. He had to call his mother. No doubt about that. Sighing he picked up teh reciever and dialed his mothers cell.

"Hello?" a sleepy voice answered.

"Hey Mom." Daemon said.

"Sweetie, what are you calling at this time of night...did something happen?" Areith asked, her voice regulating into an even tone filled with worry.

"Yeah...Dads awake."

"Oh Planet! Are you serious sweetheart!" she exclaimed on the other line.

"Yeah and there's more..." he added, his tone low and Aerith became quiet,

"Ashes is gone."

"What do you mean that she's gone?"

"She never came to the car where we usually meet after school. I don't know where she is, but Instructors Reno, Rude, and Elena have contacted Reeve and the authorities in case they see her."

"Oh dear...I'll try to get home tomorrow afternoon and I'll meet all of you at the hospital." Aerith replied.

"Everythings all right mom, right? I mean...no monsters have attacked you while you were down there, right?" Daemon asked.

"Everythings fine Daemon. we didn't encounter any danger." she replied, "I'll see you tomorrow sweetie." she said.

"All right Mom, love you." he said and hung up the phone. He raked his hand through his dark brown hair and stared out the window.

Where could she have gone?

Many of you might have noticed slight mistakes in grammar or spelling and I apologize deeply for that. Everytime I upload my documents, this document manager mingles up my words and letters. I hope you all liked this chapter and it is going somewhere to those who are blind and have no idea. So please review and tell me what you think so far.