Disclaimer: Well, I don't own Final Fantasy VII or its characters. It belongs to Square Enix. I do own my original characters and plots, though. Weeness. Haha…weeness…

Author's Note: Wee, here's Chapter 5 for you all. Guess who's point-of-view this chapter is written in! Again, a million thank-you's to my reviewers. Really makes me feel like this is worth it. Oh, a small warning. This chapter has a few more swear words than others; there's also a bit of graphic violence. But it's nothing too severe, I don't think. Enjoy, everyone.

Chapter 5: Death

Damn. Three tough-looking thugs on one hand; a skilled Turk and an innocent slum-girl on the other. They were outnumbered. Of course, this scenario would typically be a piece of cake (more so if Rude was here and the slum-girl wasn't), but Aphrodite? She didn't look like much of a fighter. He doubted her ability.

Besides, those hooligans just took the girl hostage with a gun-threat. It wasn't very likely she'd move.

"Let go of me, you scumbags!" exclaimed Aphrodite, struggling under the first thug's grasp. The third man—whose gun did not point to the slum-girl's head—advanced on Reno, drawing a pistol of his own.

"Shut up, woman," mumbled the thug who held an iron grip on Aphrodite's waist, and he began to search the slum-girl's dress pockets. The second man, wearing a balaclava (a garment they all wore) snickered maliciously as he pointed his gun to her head.

"Gimme yer wallet and all you got or she's dead," threatened the third thug, advancing on Reno, gun in hand.

Damn those dirty vagabonds! Reno clutched the metal electro-rod and glanced at Aphrodite, who had obediently shut her mouth. Fear was distinct in her eyes. No! He wouldn't let them hurt her. He watched her tremble as the ruffians seized her… He could feel her silently, but desperately praying for their lives: not only hers.

Aphrodite…thought Reno as he let his weapon electrically charge. He fixed a cold, hard stare on the men before him. I'm coming.

"I don't think so," said the redhead, and he dodged as the third man fired his gun. He rolled on the ground and came up on him from behind, shocking the thug with his electro-rod. Usually Reno kept the voltage of his weapon low, but this time around, he made sure the shock was powerful—deadly, in fact. The thug dropped to his knees at the instant, slumping to the ground. "Don't ever mess with a Turk. And don't mess with a Turk's…friend, either."

The remaining men furrowed their brows angrily at Reno. When the Turk stole a look at Aphrodite, he saw that hope shone in her gray-green eyes. Such pretty eyes… But he could still feel trepidation's energy radiate from her, and he nodded briefly at the slum-girl as if to say, "Don't worry; we'll be fine."

Reno never felt more connected to her than he did now. Perhaps that bond would help repel the louts.

"Damn you!" cursed the thug holding Aphrodite. He released the young woman, and unsheathed a dagger. He lunged at Reno.

Narrowing his eyes, the Turk dodged the vandal's lunge, swinging his weapon at him. His agility might aid him in this fight. The electro-rod needed about another two minutes to charge again, so Reno had to stall.

The thug was hit in the head by the rod, but it hardly penetrated the man's thick skull. He swiveled around and kicked the redhead in the ribs, sending blows to his face.

Shit! Blood drizzled down from a cut on his forehead, blocking his eyesight. Reno blindly threw a punch at his attacker, but alas; the vain attempt at a hit only ate the air. What was more, the man knocked the wind out of him, and the thug took this as an opportunity to shove the Turk to the wall, holding him in place as he landed Reno a dozen punches.

The other man seemed to have forgotten the horrified Aphrodite as well, and he aimed his pistol at Reno. "Bruce, lemme shoot him!"

"RENO!" cried the slum-girl, her eyes wide. She ran forward, breaking free of the bind that forbid her from moving.

As the Turk took the blows, hardly able to move, he withdrew his gun and tossed it to Aphrodite. Oh, 'Dite…would she forgive him for falling so quickly? He felt dizzy and lightheaded. Reno had no strength, no energy to move. Save us both… he thought. Truthfully he wanted the young woman to run to safety, but she'd get lost, which was just as bad…

Aphrodite caught the pistol, and although her whole body shook, her hands firmly gripped the gun. Reno closed his eyes, and slumped to the ground. Hopefully, if he pretended to be knocked out, "Bruce"—the thug who pummeled him—would leave at least him alone.

"Too easy," said Bruce, chuckling. "Lesse what he got in his wallet now…hey, Vand, this Turk's probably gotta helluva lotta cash in there."

"Let's steal it," Reno faintly heard the second thug—Vand—snicker. Oh, no, Aphrodite…

"I don't think so, boys!" he finally heard the now firm voice of the slum-girl call. It must have taken her a lot of willpower to make her voice sound so strong; perhaps it was only a facade? "That's his wallet. You've no right to prowl there, little fellows."

Reno couldn't see what went on (since his eyes were closed), but gunfire and yells boomed in his ears from Aphrodite's direction. He never noticed how loud his gun was. In any case, he silently rooted for her.

"You ugly bitch! You'll pay for killing Vand!"

The redhead had to force himself to not raise his eyebrows in surprise. Aphrodite? He couldn't imagine her killing someone…

"That's what you get for hurting my friend! If he's dead, I'm gonna fucking kill you!" he heard Aphrodite shout—her soprano of a voice full of emotion—and the gun reloaded. He had never heard her utter such profanities; it was surprising

"C'mere, you! I'm gonna get you for that!" threatened the voice of the thug, and Reno heard his footsteps echoing towards the slum-girl.

Damn it… Be careful, Aphrodite… He opened an eye, just a wink to watch the action. How he wanted so much to get up…Damn that thug! He wanted to help the girl…oh, if she died tonight, he wouldn't know what to do with himself. Under normal circumstances, he probably wouldn't care, but this was different… He'd live in a world of regret: a regret that Reno of the Turks and Aphrodite Sorrows could have never been true friends. At least friends…or just allies?

Why couldn't he get up…? He tried to lift himself, but he couldn't breathe.

Reno heard Aphrodite scream in agony and gasp, and the sickening noise of a dagger's steel impaling skin scarred his ears. He then heard the thug grunt, and the sound of a kick. He opened both of his eyes now, and stared in horror at the sight before him.

Aphrodite struggled, her dress torn, a large, bleeding gash on her abdomen. Reno's gun was in her hands. Despite the blood trickling out the wound, she managed to pitifully dodge the thug's next lunge, struggling to stand upright.

"Don't you run, woman!" growled the vandal, Bruce, dashing after the young slum-girl. Oh, how Reno wanted to pummel that vile, brutal man…

"I'm…not…running," retorted Aphrodite, her breathing sputtering out in labored gasps. A hand covered her wound, while her left hand grasped the gun. Suddenly the shades of gray and green in her eyes changed to red and Mako blue. A demonic, maniacal grin turned the corners of her full lips. "Quite the contrary." A hollow chuckle escaped her mouth, and she seemed to lose her sense of identity.

Bruce seemed taken aback and freaked out by the slum-girl's sudden change in attitude. He held up the dagger, peering at Aphrodite with narrowed eyes through his balaclava. Reno continued to stare at them, wiping fresh blood out of his eyes from a cut on his brow. What the hell was up with Aphrodite…? He'd never seen her like that…

"You long to end your meaningless existence, don't you?" spoke her suddenly soft, yet devilish voice.

"Shut up, slut."

She only smiled at the thug, an expression of false pity on her freckled visage. What in President Shin-Ra's name had happened to her?

The young woman straightened, ignoring the gash on her stomach. Aphrodite dropped the gun to the ground, and raised her arms to the night sky. Suddenly the slum-girl's watch began to glow shades of purple, red, and green. She uttered only one word, "Death."

Behind Bruce, a figure of the Grim Reaper appeared, clutching a giant scythe. It laughed, its iniquity echoing off the alley walls. The thug swiveled around to stare at the figure, his eyes as large as saucers. "What the—"

"Oh, and don't ever call me a slut," said Aphrodite with a most poisonous, yet velvety tone, but the image of the Grim Reaper ceased not to move. It raised the scythe, slashed, and before any of them knew it, the vagabond had fallen, a twisted and crumpled form on the ground.

He was dead.

Aphrodite killed him. With magic. With Death.

Reno stared at the slum-girl, his jaw dropping. Where had her sweet innocence gone? Was this truly Aphrodite Sorrows? Why did she act…like…like a demon?

The young woman's glow faded, and she fell to her knees, seeming to become herself again. Her eyes became gray-green again. She looked exhausted. "Reno…"

"A-Aphrodite, I'm…here…" the Turk struggled to breathe, fighting to lift his head.

A smile—a true smile, filled with relief—lit her bruised face, and she crawled over to the redhead. A hand still covered her bleeding abdomen, and it was stained red all over. A thin stream of blood trickled out of her mouth. "You're alive…"

"C'mon, babe. We've…gotta get…to…a hospital," said Reno, slinging an arm over the young woman's shoulder. He noticed many other injuries besides her stomach-gash. Too many to even list. He probably looked just as bad.

"How…Reno?" she inquired, gazing at him. Her eyes, which he always found so entrancing, were dull and hazy. They were glassy eyes…eyes that belonged to a corpse. "H-Have you…a phone…of some…sort?"

Reno grunted, and reached for his PHS in his blazer pocket. "I'll call," he said, dialing the emergency number.

"No, I will," breathed Aphrodite, taking the PHS. "You're too hurt, Reno… yes, hello? Um, my friend and I…are here…in an alley off…Cobbler Boulevard…and we're…badly…" she gasped, struggling to breathe. "injured. Please get…here as quickly…as possible."

After she hung up, Aphrodite slipped the PHS back into the Turk's blazer pocket. "Reno, forgive me…I killed a man tonight…no, two men…I've never…taken a life before…"

Reno wanted to ask why she had acted so strangely right before she murdered Bruce, but he decided now was not a good time. "They would have…killed you first… It's alright…don't apologize, 'Dite…"

"My…stomach really hurts, Reno…" whispered the young woman, and she slumped over, her head of light ash-brown curls resting on the redhead's lap.

"Just…hold on…a little while longer…we'll be fine," whispered Reno back to her, idly stroking her curls. He didn't care if they were dirty or caked with blood. The white carnation that once adorned her head was stained a sickening shade of crimson, stripped of most of its petals.

Reno had a feeling: he knew that after tonight, they would not be the same. He would never doubt Aphrodite Sorrows again. He felt closer to her now. Hell, she'd make a damn good candidate for the Turks…