Author Note: Thanks for the awesome reviews guys. I'm not going to apologise this time for not having this chapter up earlier. I update very irregularly because I have a short attention span nowadays, or the writers' block keeps on kicking in and making me lose my train of thought, etc, etc, etc… So, yeah, here is Chapter 7.
The whir of the helicopter blades spinning slowed down to a stop. Sapphire blue eyes opened to the sunlight pouring through the window of the helicopter cabin. Cloud let out a loud yawn and stretched his arms above his head, his top lifting and showing his toned abs. He stopped stretching as he felt a weight lift from his legs. Cloud looked down to see Serah slowly stir from her sleep and looking into Cloud's eyes groggily.
"We're here," said Cloud wiping a small bit of drool from Serahs' lip. He laughed quietly and held his hand out, which she took. He stood up and heaved Serah to her feet. He turned and saw Kira opening the door; a blast of fresh air filled the cabin with the scent of freshly cut grass and not even acknowledging their presence. Cloud looked to Serah, his eyes filled with regret and guilt. His heart weighed down heavily knowing people had probably died in the attack on their HQ. Serah squeezed Clouds' hand, bringing him out of his thoughts. He looked to her and she smiled a smile that Cloud had come to love and know comfort from.
"Come on, we have to go," said Serah trying to keep her voice from breaking with the emotions running through her. She knew people had given their lives for her and Cloud but she knew they would morn their deaths after they got through with the problem at hand.
Cloud jumped out the cabin, turning to Serah. He held her waist as she leapt out the cabin, feeling the soft grass cushion her fall. She stood up, running her small hands down her dress, trying to get the creases of her clothes out. Cloud scanned the area they were in. Flowers of multiple colours brightened the garden of the large, white, mansion-like building in front of them. A pair of men in black suits which looked too familiar for Clouds' liking came to Serah and Cloud and hustled them towards the White House.
As soon as they were in the house a click echoed through the hall, notifying Cloud and Serah that the door was locked behind them. Feeling uneasy they walked through the long hall, admiring the pictures of the past Presidents hung on the wall. The unease grew stronger the further they got through the hall, not knowing what was going to happen or where Kira was. The men in suits grabbed the pair from behind and threw them into a large oval room. Sitting at a desk in the middle of the room was the President, his face cleaned. The men in the suits left the room and closed the door behind them without saying a single word.
Serah looked around the room, admiring the pictures and ornaments in the Oval Office. Cloud left her to her own thoughts as he walked up to the Presidents' desk.
"Sir, I have some questions," stated Cloud, looking into his elders eyes.
"And I have some answers," replied the President leaning back in his chair.
"How did you know we were Etro's Warriors?" asked Cloud relaxing his body.
"I read a lot about certain people who could use magic, but only with the brand of Etro and I came to the conclusion after your pink haired friend healed me," smiled the President. Cloud looked at the President, who was looking back with a smug smirk on his face, "you know, hacking then blowing up a government facility is a crime that can send you to a lifetime in prison?"
"I do, but the facility self-destructed due to a biohazard," replied Cloud with a matter of fact tone to his voice, "and we weren't part of the hacking… Sir." The pair began a stare off until the sound of a door opening and closing took their attention. At the door stood Kira, her arm in a bandage and she had changed into a pair of tight jeans and a loose fitting orange top.
"Kira, how are you?" asked Cloud rushing over to see her. She looked into his eyes and Cloud noticed her eyes were red, a sign of recently crying, which was understandable due to the circumstances.
"I'll be okay after we've done what we need to do," replied Kira looking straight to the President and walking over to him, "we need computers and fast. I need my teams weapons cleaned and I need a god damn Twinkie." Cloud and Serah stared at Kira, surprised by her sudden demands to the man who supposedly runs the country.
"And why should I give a hacker all she needs?" smiled the President leaning forwards at Kira.
"Because my team saved your life and we would be grateful since you're helping us stop what could potentially be the destruction of this world," stated Kira. The President looked at Kira like she had just escaped a mental house or had taken too many drugs.
"Thank you for saving me but the destruction of our world? What are you talking about?" asked the President in disbelief, "have you got any proof of this?"
"Proof? You were there when my team were attack by that bitch in red and that homunculi!" growled Kira, her voice rising slowly. Cloud put a hand on her shoulder and released a small Thunder spell, sparking Kira out of her anger.
"Sir, when I was fighting Rosso she mentioned something about a seal and how there were more. I don't understand what she was talking about but it would be useful if we could have a place to recuperate and find out what these seals are. Please, sir, help us?" begged Cloud thinking of going on his hands and knees to beg. The President leaned back and smiled at the trio.
"Since you put it that way, I'll have your weapons taken care of and if you need any tune-ups or anything ask me. I will have an area of the house set up for your team and I will have a specialist get in touch with you today," replied the President, causing Cloud to rush up and shake his hand before taking Serah, who'd been too busy looking at everything in the room to know what her friends were talking about, and running through the halls to their designated area. Standing at the corner of the room was a familiar man in a red cloak.
"Vincent, you're okay!" laughed Cloud running to see the ominous crimson eyed man.
"Yeah, I got into a fight at the base with a behemoth," replied Vincent walking away from the pair and into one of the many rooms in the area. A ringing echoed through the room and the pair looked about, trying to find the cause of the ringing. Cloud walked up to the computer to see a green phone icon on the desktop. He pressed his finger against the icon and a web cam video of a very beautiful woman came up.
"Hello? I'm looking for Kira," said the woman in an English accent.
"She should be here soon, who is this?" asked Serah pushing Cloud out of the way to see the woman.
"My name in Lara Croft and I am an archaeologist with information for Kira and her team," replied the woman, tightening her braided ponytail.
"You're in luck, we are part of Kiras' team," smiled Serah. She heard the sound of keys clicking on a keyboard and looked to Lara, whose eyes were scanning the screen on her own end. She clicked her mouse a few times before turning back to the camera.
"Cloud and Serah? I have information on the seals," said Lara, clicking her mouse again.
"The seals!?" gasped Cloud, pushing Serah out of the way of the computer, "what do you know?" Lara tutted and looked to Cloud.
"There are seven seals hidden on Earth, and if all seven of the seals are opened then this world is going to hell, literally," replied Lara.
"So, what was that Homunculi?" asked Serah, moving Cloud over a bit to fit into the screen.
"The one you fought was Sloth, which is the protector of the seal in Vegas. There are seven Homunculi; they are the Seal Guardians, born from the energies contained in the seals."
"Lara, do you know where any of the seals are?" asked a female voice from behind them. The pair turned to see Kira walk towards them. The pair moved apart, giving Kira access to the computer. She waved her hand over a sensor and a holographic keyboard appeared and Kira quickly began tapping keys with furious speed.
"I know the location of two of the seals, which are protected by Lust and Greed," said Lara, nodding her head in agreement, "the first is in Egypt, in the catacombs under the Sphinx. The second is in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro." Cloud scoffed after hearing the locations.
"Lots and lots of sand… How enjoyable?" asked Cloud sarcastically.
"Thank you Lara, if you learn anything new please let me know on my cell phone," said Kira, before closing the call, "We've got a lot to do, let's get started tomorrow."
Cloud watched Kira walk away and enter a room then closed the door without a goodbye or anything.
"Cloud, let's go," said Serah, walking off into their designated room and collapsing onto the soft bed. Cloud closed the door behind in and stripped of her trousers, shoes, socks and jacket before climbing into bed and holding Serah, who'd stripped of her clothes and lay beside Cloud. The pair drifted off to sleep, wondering what they were going to go against in the future.