Disclaimer: You'd think after such a long time…I would have bought FFVII…sorry to disappoint…I haven't XD Though if I had, I'd have it remade for the PS3. However, I do own Jenna.

A/N: It only took months but...IT'S BACK! For starters, I cannot apologise enough for such a long hiatus, my FFVII juices just haven't been flowing. However, after starting to play it, THE JUICES MOVE ONCE MORE! I hope to update more regularly now, as I don't have as much of a writer's block anymore, which is awesome. Anyway, my request hasn't changed, please read and review!

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Chapter 8:

It felt strange to be back in the suit again, and Reno wasn't sure if he liked it or not. He knew he would have to get used to being a Turk again, no matter how much it irked him. The redhead had gotten used to life in the slums again, and he didn't like having to go back to living as a Turk. Tseng's words still rung clear, that he was a slum rat, and didn't deserve to live on the plate. What nobody really realised, well, nobody except Rude, that Reno actually had a lot of inner turmoil. He was a joker because it was the only way that he could hide how he felt. Many times Reno had wondered whether he should have just stayed in he slums.

No, don't think like that. Tseng's full of shit, he knows nothing. He doesn't know me, he never took the time to truly get to know me…why the hell should I listen to what he says?

Reno was snapped out of his thoughts by a knock at the door.

"Come in."

The door creaked open and in walked Jenna, who walked over to Reno's side. She looked at Reno's reflection in the mirror as well as her own, and sighed.

"Why do you have to be a Turk again, Reno?" she asked, and the redhead sighed, before kneeling down to the young girl's level.

"I have to help to bring down the bad man who dropped the plate." The redhead told her, shuddering as he remembered back when he had committed the same sinful act. Ever since it had happened, Reno had regretted dropping the plate on Sector 7, even more so now that he had felt what it must have been like for the people in the slums that day.

At least their deaths would have been quick.

Before Jenna could say anything more, Reno stood up and walked towards the door.

"You be good and stay here, I won't be long. Who knows, I might be able to steal some of the President's biscuits for you." Reno said with a cheeky grin, before walking out of the room. Jenna laughed and sat down in front of the mirror, trying to think of things to do to occupy herself while Reno was gone.

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Elena was walking down the corridor with a huge grin on her face. As she made her way to the office of Rufus Shinra, the blonde remembered the conversation she had with Rude earlier that day.

FLASHBACK

"I wonder what this meeting is going to be about." Rude pondered out loud as he sat with Elena in the canteen. The blonde sighed and looked up at her bald friend, and though she didn't fully understand all the details, she had a feeling it would have something to do with Tseng.

It's strange, I once idolised the man, loved the man, and now I find myself trying to hunt him down. Who knew that things could go wrong in such a way? I didn't think for one minute he would drop a plate, but then again, there are two sides to every coin. I refuse to believe that Tseng did what he did just because he doesn't like Reno, I mean, I know Reno can be irritating, but he is one of the best friends you could have. He has always been loyal to me, Rude, and Shinra, so I can't understand why Tseng would hate him so.

"I don't know Rude, probably has something to do with Tseng." She said, and took another sip of her coffee. Elena was clock-watching, she knew they only had an hour to go before they made their way to Rufus' office.

"More than likely, I wonder how the meeting went between Rufus and Reno. I haven't seen either of them since then, so I hope everything went ok. Not that Rufus would do anything to Reno…unless said Reno decided to unleash moths in the president's desk drawers again." The bald Turk said with a small laugh. He remembered the angry phone call he got when Rufus was trying to hunt down Reno. Elena laughed along with her friend, that had been one of the most interesting work days of her life.

The pair fell into a comfortable silence as they tried to kill the remaining hour.

END FLASHBACK

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Rude was already waiting outside the president's office. He knew that there was still fifteen minutes before the meeting was to begin, but he had nothing better to do so decided to go early. Just as he was about to doze off for a few minutes, he heard the elevator doors open at the end of the corridor, and got the shock of his life.

Leaping out of his seat, Rude ran to the end of the corridor, and stopped short of pinching himself to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

"Reno, you're back!" Rude exclaimed and grabbed the redhead around the waist before he could protest.

"Put me down, yo! It's not like you haven't seen me since I left." Reno said, but calmed down and put his arms around Rude's neck, which made the bald man smile.

"I'm glad you're back, I've missed you, Reno." Rude said, pleased that nobody was around to witness what the pair of them were doing.

"I've missed you too, the slums just aren't as fun as this place." Reno said with a small smile, and kissed Rude softly, before being dropped when the pair heard the elevator door chime. Elena walked out, and the smile on her face got even bigger. She had not been so happy in a long time, and she ran over to Reno and hugged him, nearly taking the redhead off his feet.

"I'm so glad you've come back. You won't leave again, will you?" the blonde asked, but the smile fell from her face when a tense silence made itself known. Rude looked down at Reno, who's face had fallen.

"Reno…you'll stay…right?"

"I'm here to help take Tseng down…then whatever happens, happens." Reno said and walked towards the president's door. Rude and Elena exchanged a worried glance before following, and a minute later, all three of them were sitting opposite Rufus.

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How did I get myself into this situation? Why did I have to go and do something so stupid? What's wrong with me? I haven't felt like myself for a long time, why did I have to go at Reno like that. Why couldn't I just apologise and say that he was right? He was, the chopper did need repairing, why did I have to be so stubborn? I've now managed to practically finish my career, and I'll be lucky if I make it through this alive. Now they're going to be after me, because I have run. Rufus knew I was going to run, and as soon as that grunt reported that I was missing, he decided I needed to be brought in. He knows I've done it, now the only choice I have is to run.

Tseng was hidden inside a hooded robe in Tifa's bar. He did not want to go there, but felt that it would be one of the few places where SOLDIER wouldn't look for him, hell, if he was lucky they would have sent SOLDIER, but part of him knew that Rude and Elena would be on his trail. Tseng thought back to the moment in his flat when he decided to hit the road…wondering if he had done the right thing.

FLASHBACK

Sitting down and watching the news, Tseng listened to the president assure the public that he had not ordered the plate to be dropped. The former Turk boss knew that he was in trouble, and that even though he had been suspended…and though it was with pay, he would not be returning to Shinra.

I have to get out of here, Rufus isn't stupid, hell, he won't even need an investigation to make sure that I go down for dropping the plate. I can't stay here, I have to move on. If I'm found, then I'm a dead man, and that's a fact. If I had accepted I was wrong, then I wouldn't be in the situation I am now. Maybe I can find a nice small village to live in…but all I know is, I have to get out of Midgar. I don't even think I can go back to Wutai, that will be one of the places they check if they find out I am not in Midgar anymore.

Slowly, Tseng rose from his sofa and turned the television off, and packed his bags in record speed. Walking over to his front door and turning the lights off, the Wutain looked back at his apartment one last time before heading out of the building. He would go to Tifa's bar, they wouldn't think to look for him there.

END FLASHBACK

He was pleased that Tifa did not recognise him, even with the hood, but she could have easily told by his voice. That was the exact reason why Tseng was putting on an accent. After downing his drink, he left some money on the bar and walked out.

Where the hell can I go?

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Rufus sighed as he looked at the three Turks in front of him, they were together again, yet they weren't at the same time. Rude looked uncomfortable, Elena looked concerned, and Reno looked like he didn't want to be there. The president was not concerned about how long the meeting would go on for, as he had sent Mitsuki to keep Jenna occupied so the young girl didn't get bored.

"Well, let's get this meeting underway shall we. First of all, we need to think of places to look to find Tseng before we think of doing anything else. Does anyone have any suggestions?"

Things remained quiet for a while before Elena got ready to speak.

"Do you think there is a chance he may have returned to Wutai?" the blonde suggested and Rufus began to think.

Sounds like an obvious place to return to, but then again, it doesn't hurt to look. I'll send Elena, she likes it there, and it will give Reno and Rude a chance to catch up. Sounds like a plan to me.

"Seems like an obvious place to go, but who knows, that may be what he wants us to think. Elena, you can go to Wutai, but I want regular reports when you get there. Reno, Rude, take some time to catch up. Rude, Elena, you're dismissed, I wish to speak with Reno a while.

A knot began to form in the redhead's stomach when the president spoke those words, and all he could do was watch as the other Turks left the room.

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Tifa was rushed off her feet at the bar, which for once was annoying her as she wanted to speak to Cloud about something.

I should probably just talk to Barret, Cloud isn't here at the moment anyway so there is no point.

Just as she was going to resign herself to the fact that Cloud wouldn't be back for a while, the blonde in question walked through the door and made his way behind the bar.

"What's wrong, Tifa? You look like you have something on your mind." He said, and the woman sighed.

"There was a strange, cloaked man in here earlier. Something was familiar about him, yet he seemed different. I can't quite put my finger on it." Tifa said, a frown appearing on her features. Cloud's face also took on a similar expression, individuals in hooded cloaks often spelt trouble, and he didn't like the sound of the person Tifa was describing.

"They might not come back, they were probably just a traveller. I wouldn't worry too much." He said, and made his way upstairs to put his swords away. Tifa watched him go, and let out a sigh before continuing to serve customers.

I hope you're right, Cloud.

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Things were silent in the president's office, you could hear a pin drop. Rufus let out a sigh, he was pleased to have Reno back…but to him, the man in front of him wasn't Reno. He looked like Reno, yet the personality did not match the body. The door to the office was closed, Rufus didn't want to appear to others to care too much about his employees.

Don't want them to think I'm going soft.

"Reno, what's wrong? You haven't been right since you got back." Rufus said, and sat back in his chair. He didn't know how long it'd take for him to get a reply, so he wanted to be comfortable.

"Nothing, sir. I'm just finding myself having to adjust again, that's all. Can I go?" the redhead asked, looking Rufus in the eye. The president just sighed, and nodded.

"As you wish…but talk to Rude, he's worried about you. You don't look well, so take today to get some rest as well." Rufus said, and watched Reno stand up. The president was right, Reno didn't look well. He was pale, his eyes held none of the usual spark, and he looked skinnier than normal.

"Yes, sir." Was all that Rufus got for an answer.

"Oh, Reno, before you go, take these to your young friend. Not a word to anyone about this though!" Rufus said and produced a packet of cookies from his drawer.

"Thank you, sir." Reno said, and left the room, leaving Rufus to wonder if the Reno he knew would ever return.

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A/N: So sorry again for the slow update, and I hope this makes up for it. I will be starting the next chapter soon, as I already have some ideas, so hopefully things should speed up again soon. As per usual, please read and review!