Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of Final Fantasy VII or its characters

Chapter 3: On the Edge

Cloud and I were getting closer to a city completely unfamiliar to me. Edge resembled to me, in a way, to Midgar. There were a lot of people here, it was a city alright, and it somehow, looked all gray to me. It didn't have a friendly atmosphere, and as I was riding the bike with Cloud, I saw a few children in the corners and alleys of the cities. It broke my heart to see them.

Cloud stopped the bike suddenly, and told me that if I follow the street right in front of me I would immediately see Tifa's Seventh Heaven bar.

"But, why aren't you coming with me?" I asked, refusing to take off.

"I got other things to do, I can't stay… "Cloud said in a tone that I was unfamiliar with.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" The question was right out of my lips before I thought it through.

"Cynthia… I need to be somewhere else, for now. Please understand." I couldn't comprehend, something must've happened during the period that I was gone. Of course something was bound to happen, I was gone for 2 freaking years! I really didn't know what to do or say, so I just listened to him.

"Fine." I got off the bike while trying to look right into his eyes as if the answers I was looking for were hidden there "Cloud, I think it's unnecessary for me to tell you this, but I'm your friend and even though I was gone for a long time, you can count on me for anything." I put my hand on his shoulder where he had a black cloth that covered his arm. "And you better come back with Tifa, the others and me, to sit back and chat… there's a lot I want to catch up with and a lot I want to talk about… so if you don't come and visit… you better sleep with one eye open, 'cause I'll go and to steal that bike of yours" I winked and smiled at him, and he answered back with a chuckle when I mention the bike.

"See you later then." And he awoke the engines of his bike and took off.

As I entered Seventh Heaven making noise of "tuk, tuk" with my boots as I approached the bar, I heard Tifa's voice calling for Marlene. I had a quarter on me, so I threw it on the table just to make the noise (my money isn't worth anything here).

"It's the bar open?" I said with a wide smile on my face.

Tifa turned, and when she saw me, she had a surprise and disbelief look on her face. She changed her style a little, her hair was shorter since the last time I saw her. She was wearing a black leather shirt and under it was a white sleeveless t-shirt; she had a red ribbon tied on her left arm and black pants that reached the top of her knees with some kind of black skirt. She looked really cool.

"Cynthia? Is that really you, your hair it's longer and my, you grown a lot!" she dried her hands quickly before lunging at me to give me a tight hug; I return it with the same affection. I really missed my friends.

"Yeah, thanks, you changed a little too. You look cool as ever, teacher." I said.

"Cynthia, where have you been?" she asked me kindly.

"I was home… where I belong… but, let's skip the subject where my home location is… I'm finally back, I'm so happy."

"I'm happy to see you as well… will you stay long?" she asked.

"I hope so! Don't worry, I have no intention to leave without having a get together first. Oh and I got news, I'm studying to become a pilot" I said proudly.

"Oh… well_" Tifa was interrupted by a little girl with a cute blue dress, I suddenly recognized her, it was Marlene… she grown a whole bunch.

"Tifa! It's Denzel, come quick!" she said with concern in her voice. Denzel?

"Wait here with Cynthia, I'll be back." Tifa rushed and went upstairs.

I suddenly remembered that I hadn't spent much time with Marlene the last time I was here. It felt awkward and she had a worried look on her face.

"Do you remember me?" I asked with an unsure smile.

"I think so, you help dad and the others to save the planet." She returned the smile. She was definitively cute. "You're not going to babysit anymore?" Oh God, she remembers! Shame, shame, shame…

"No, I suck at that… but if I ever do it, I won't run away." I said letting out a shameful laugh "So… who's Denzel?"

"He's my friend… he has Geostigma, but his doing his best to be strong." I saw Marlene grabbed her dressed and pressed on it hard.

"Geostigma? Is it some kind of sickness?" I asked trying to remember where I had heard that word before.

"Yes… there's no cure, but Denzel and us aren't giving up." Marlene said with such concerned, it was transmitted to me.

Tifa was back, and said that Denzel was doing alright now. She asked me to come meet him and I nodded while Marlene took me by my hand and pulled me to show me the way.

Denzel was nice and he was also shy. He had bandages around his forehead, and he did his best to smile. Once introduction were over, we left Denzel to rest. Tifa explain to me later at night what was Geostigma and what it did. I was horrified by it, and then it hit me. Kadaj said something about Geostigma.

As soon as he came to my mind my heart jumped. Tifa noticed this reaction and asked me if I was alright.

"Yeah, I am… Say Tifa, do you have some jeans I could borrow, I like to ditch the skirt." I said trying to hide my excitement when I remembered my encounter with Kadaj.