Tifa woke to the sound of footsteps. She tensed and jumped up from the bed and turned on the light. Aerith's bed was empty. Her heart started pounding harder and she could feel the blood pumping in her veins. She noticed the window was open and her footsteps that she knew all too well come up behind her.

"Cloud, she's gone!"

"Gone? What?"

"I don't know! She was just there and now she's gone."

Tifa just noticed the small piece of paper on Aerith's bed and she walked over to it and picked it up.

"ShinRa."

"What?"

"It's the ShinRa logo. Rufus and his Turks are behind this. But why would they leave their calling card. Unless…oh."

"What does it say Tifa?"

"'Thanks for the lock of the hair. We'll be borrowing Aerith for a little while. I guess there are always a few strings attached. Signed- Rufus ShinRa.'"

"Damn it! We have to get her back!"

"I know, Cloud. We will. I'm going to call Barret and Cid. Get Vincent."

"There's no time."

"No, Cloud, we need them. This is too much for just us to handle."

Cloud knew Tifa was right so he raced downstairs and got onto his motorcycle and headed towards Vincent's cave.

Less than an hour later the whole AVALANCHE gang was reunited in 7th Heaven. After some initial surprise at Aerith's being brought back to life, they had got everyone calm enough to discuss their next move.

"Well, dammit! We just have to search the whole town," Cid interjected.

"Okay, we'll split up- Vincent and Yuffie and Red, Barrett and Cid, and me and Tifa. If anyone finds anything, use the PHS."

They all agreed and split up in different directions. Cloud was frantic. He couldn't believe this was happening. He couldn't lose her again, he just couldn't. He wouldn't be able to handle it.

It only took them fifteen minutes until Vincent rang on the PHS.

"Everyone meet me at 5th and Villa. We found her ribbon and Red can follow her scent."

Another five minutes passed before everyone was there.

"It's definitely her scent, but it's different from before. It's less potent, but definitely her." Red announced.

The whole gang followed Red at a run until they reached an old abandoned building- an old ShinRa building.

"All right everyone- we'll enter together. Take any Turks out, but don't kill them. If you find Rufus let me deal with him." Cloud ordered.

"Wait, I brought materia. Here- everyone take four."

Tifa passed out the materia to everyone making sure everyone got at least one of the precious alls and then they entered the dark building.

END OF CHAPTER V