Number VII
"Cloud, we've got another delivery, from Kalm to here in Midgar. Are you anywhere nearby Kalm?"
Cloud Strife narrowed his blue eyes and looked around, rubbing his spiky hair with his phone-free hand. "Yes", he answered shortly. "I'm not far from Kalm."
"Oh? Another meeting with them?" Tifa Lockheart asked sharply.
Cloud shuddered. "Uhum", he said.
"I see", the woman said coldly. "What was it this time?" She sounded angry, yet curious to know.
"They just wanted to know the situation in Midgar", Cloud said, noticing that he needed a haircut. "You know, they're scared to enter the city themselves after..."
"Gosh, it's been three years already! Nobody remembers they were there, right?"
"'We can never be careful enough', they said", Cloud explained, knowing it was futile against this woman. He just wished she would tell it straight to the remaining members of Shinra, not to him! He was innocent...
"Hmm. Do you know if they are up to something?"
"No."
"Ok. So, get yourself to Kalm, get the delivery and return home safe, ok? Oh, and Marlene and Denzel asked me to say hello for you." Through the phone Cloud could sense Tifa was smiling, and he smiled as well. His smiles were shy, as if his face wasn't used to do such a thing, but judging by the comments of his friends he was doing pretty well.
"Say hello for them, too", he said and closed the phone. He sighed, still smiling, and looked around the re-growing land around the New Midgar. The landscape was getting greener; recovered. 3 years, he thought, amused. 3 years and so many things have changed! Yet sometimes... A shadow passed on his face as the pain of the past returned to his mind, and he sighed again, this time in sudden sadness. "Why can't I just let it go?" he asked from himself aloud.
He shook his head and put on his sunglasses. It was a warm, sunny day: still an unusual sight for the grounds of Midgar. He started his motorcycle.
----
After receiving the delivery from Kalm Cloud was getting ready to return home, but a familiar voice talked to him from behind: "Yo, Cloud. What's up?"
"Reno." Cloud didn't even bother to turn around. He sighed deeply in his mind. These guys are just everywhere. Leave me alone, hey?
"Yup, that's me." The red-haired young man laughed and grinned. "Workin' hard, huh?"
"Yeah."
"Saay... how about a drink in the local bar? Or are you busy-busy?"
Cloud shook his head in denial. "Oh, great! Let's go!" Reno grabbed his arm and led him towards the bar. "I know you've just met boss and all, but I've got some news to tell ya, man! You gotta hear this asap."
"Shouldn't you be telling it to your boss asap instead of me?"
"Ehh... well, yeah, but this concerns you as well."
"I haven't done anything."
Reno looked at Cloud with his left eyebrow raised. "Whah? No, dude, this is about... ehh, shit, I'll tell ya later, once we get something to drink, ok?"
----
The local bar was a small, smoky place, and at that time - half-noon - almost empty, with just some regular visitors sitting in their regular seats. Reno chose a dark corner and ordered two drinks.
"So what's this all about?" Cloud asked.
Reno looked around quickly, making sure there was no one to hear him, leaned on the table and whispered loudly: "Number 7 has returned. Or so the rumours say", he continued with a normal voice, sipping from his glass.
Cloud blinked. "What?"
"Yeah. I heard she entered Midgar just a couple of days ago." Reno drummed the table with his fingers. "They say she hasn't changed much, and what's more..." Reno's voice darkened. "She wants to finish her "father's" job."
"Her "father's"... You mean..."
"Exactly. She's after the Planet. Just like he was."
Cloud stared at the table. It was made of fine brown wood, and there were some stains on it. An ordinary table in a little bar. Number 7. Celestial "Celes" Mourir. "I thought she had died", he said quietly.
"Hah, that's what we thought as well. I don't know for sure, but if she really has returned... we're all in a big shit, y'know?"
"I must go", Cloud said, standing up.
"Huh? Already?"
"Uhum." Cloud gave his untouched drink to Reno and headed to the exit.
"Yo, wait up!" But Cloud wasn't listening anymore. The shadow had returned on his face as he was reminded about his past. General... Why now? He hurried his steps, opened the door - almost breaking it - and marched towards his motorcycle. Reno reached him right after he had started the engine. "Yo, man, what's the hurry?" The red-hair was breathing heavily, leaning his hands on his knees.
"I'll go and find out if she really is back." 10 years... It's been 10 years. Why have you come back, General?Remembering his times as a SOLDIER candidate and General's subordinate was painful, especially now that he had thought - with Sephiroth and his avatars, Kadaj, Loz and Yazoo, dying - he had managed to escape his past and forget it... But obviously, that hadn't happened. "And also... Why."
Reno watched him drive away. "Geez, that man sure is a pain in the ass", he muttered. He made a funny noise as his cell phone rang. He answered, listened and gasped. "Shit-! Boss, I was right about to call you and-! She is? Man.. Oh wait, boss, wait, wait! I just told Cloud Strife and he just went to Midgar and... Yeah? Go after him? Sure..." He closed the phone and put it back to his pocket. Shit, when is this Sephiroth crap really going to end? He hurried to the helicopter waiting right outside Kalm, and wished the engine would start at the very first try.