Chapter Five: New Avalanche
The bar was filled with many different people now. Barret had returned and was listening to Marlene and Denzel's chattering. Vincent took up drinking in the corner with the man who had called Yoru "Mily". Tifa still stood behind the bar waiting on Vincent and the man, while Yuffie haply made planes with Yoru about what they would do on there shopping trip. The Red cat and black-and-white cat plush that had come in with Yuffie took to sleeping next to the fire, though it flicked its eyes open to gaze around the room every now and then.
The star of there little group was missing; Cloud Strife was two hours late. "Jeez I didn't know he'd be this late." Yuffie grumbled stirring her soda with a straw. "Don't worry Yuffie; I'm sure he'll be here any minute. Yuffie grumbled again placing her face in her palm looking only slightly agitated. "Yeah, yeah, I know." The door creaked open after a moment longer, the blond cone-head walking through, water spluttering from his boots. The door groaned closed when he kicked it with his heel lazily. "Everyone's here." Cloud said solemnly going to a stool between Vincent and Cid's side and Yuffie and Yoru's side.
"Now that Cloud's here, we should start." Tiffa looked hesitantly towards Cloud, as if trying to read his mood. "Yoru, why don't you begin by introducing yourself, and how you'll help New Avalanche." Yoru nodded spinning around in her seat so everyone could hear her. "I am Yoru Kiriganai of the Forest of the Ancients. I am a Child of Jenova like Loz, Kadaj, Yazoo and Sephiroth; I am offering my services in defiance to Sephiroth and Jenova who murdered Zack Fair, the most precious person in this world to me." The room fell silent for a long time, the rain pounded harshly on the windows.
"You fight for the dead?" Cloud asked wearily. "That's right. I fight to avenge him who cannot avenge himself." Yoru said not sending a glance towards Cloud but continued to glance over the group of people before her. "Shilly-shally dilly-dally." Cloud turned to face the group now. "The two weeks I've spent with Yoru have been long enough for me to determine she is of no threat to New Avalanche." The Plush stood raising its hand as if to start something "Aye." It said as if grinning. Barret raised his own hand. "Sure, If Cloud and the kid's say she's good, what choice do I have?" The large red cat dipped its head in acknowledgement; Yuffie gave her agreement as a large cheer.
Vincent on the other hand stood placing a hand on Cloud's shoulder. "Some things cannot be uncovered after such a short time my friend, though if you believe her trustworthy, you have my faith." Cloud gave Vincent a slight nod, the last agreement was to Cid who had downed another glass of whisky. "I don't care if she is in or out, as long as she doesn't go 'round spillen' stuff that ain't ought to be spilled!" He slurred frowning heavily as Tiffa denied him another drink.
Yuffie clapped excitedly and jumped from her seat. "It's decided then! Welcome to New Avalanche Yoru!" She smiled gently at her new friend before turning back to the one who sat at the tables. "If there is anything you want to know about me or the children of Jenova, feel free to ask." "How about you tell us what it was like in the Forest of the Ancients with the Jenova kids?" the small black and white cat said lying back down against the larger red cat. "Oh I'm Caitsith by the way lassie." Yoru smiled acknowledging Caitsith's question.
"There isn't much to say about life in The Forest of Ancients and the children of Jenova, other then they never gave me much work to do, though at night I did overhear their plans of their next 'mission', other then that not much." Caitsith seemed to frown at the lack of information. "Sorry that wasn't of much help." Yoru looked down as if ashamed of not being of much help on her first question. "Never mind that, its good information for later." Yoru looked up surprised at Cloud's response. "Cloud?" She asked hesitantly though received no response from him.
The rain began to pound hard against the window as the door swung open; Yuffie groaned having realized who it was just by their shape. "Reno! Who invited you and Rude?" The red haired Shinra punk strolled in taking a seat with the balled secret service looking man at a table near the door. "We where invited by Cloud, isn't that right?" Reno grinned at Cloud who seemed only slightly annoyed. "That's right; they can be of use to us in defeating the remnants once and for all, and when someone invites you to do something, the least you can do is arrive on time." Reno scoffed and crossed his arms looking away from Cloud in an obvious pout. The silent murmurs of New Avalanche rung quietly though ceased as cloud cleared his throat. "Let's get back to the main subject, next question for Yoru." The room ran silent for a moment before Vincent leaned back in his seat to look at Yoru carefully as if to judge her reaction. "The house layouts, do you know them?"
Yoru nodded turning in a semi-circle to look at Tiffa. "Do you have a paper and pencil I can use to draw them a map?" Tiffa nodded disappearing up the stares beside the bar. "I know the house layouts and the area around it, so I'll draw up both floors for you to use as a map, make sure to keep them safe." Tiffa returned after a moment and Yoru thanked her before starting on the layout.
After finishing she handed the sketches to Cloud who scanned them over nodding in approval, setting them behind him. Reno shot his hand up before Cloud could say a word, and flailed his arm till Cloud allowed him to speak freely. "So are their any weaknesses that the children of Jenova have that you have known of?" Yoru nodded with a questioning frown towards him. "As far as I know since the only fight I've been with them in is the most recent one, is me." Reno thought this over for a moment, obviously jumping to a conclusion standing with a grin and his fist clenched. "So all we have to do is use you as bait and a distraction and then we can send them back to the Life Stream!"
Yuffie slammed her fist on the table looking angry. "How could you, how could even think about using Yoru as bait?" Reno and Yoru jumped, startled by Yuffie's outburst. "She's not an object so how could you put her in danger like that?" Reno sat back down obviously still startled. "Yuffie." Yoru looked at Yuffie softly who sipped her soda, glancing at Yoru apologetically.
"I agree with Yuffie, It's too dangerous to use Yoru as a hostage." Yoru looked over surprised by what Cloud had said. Cloud didn't look back but continued to speak. "I'm happy you're actually thinking Reno, but try to think more carefully next time." Reno scoffed, crossing his arms and glairing at Rude as he tried to cover his laugh. The large red cat by the fire suddenly lifted his head, his deep warm voice showed his wisdom. "Using Reno's idea as a base, why not send word to the children of Jenova of a plan to inflict harm upon Yoru everyday they do not face us, this will of course be entirely a bluff and Yoru will take with her two of New Avalanche as protection incase they call our bluff." The room was silent as they thought over the large cat's idea; Cloud was again the first to speak. "You're brilliant as usual Nanaki."
Caitsith beamed up at the cat known as Nanaki who seemed to smile as he laid his head back down. "So now we have a plan to lour out those accursed children of Jenova, no offence lassie, and if we apply a bit of a sneak attack, courtesy of our ninja Yuffie," Yuffie beams at Caitsith for actually mentioning her in a major part of the plan "and it'll be easy as cake to beat them!" Cloud chuckled giving a light smile to the plan, another form of approval Yoru guessed as Caitsith seemed to grin at his acceptance.
The next question came from Barret who sat with an eager looking Marlene and Denzel. "Who where you before soldier? And if you can't remember tell us what you remember of your history." The question was not what anyone expected to have come from Barret, though Yoru smiled weakly as she recalled her past, viewing the most important and useful to New Avalanche.