Disclaimer: Again, I do not own Final Fantasy or any part of the series.
Author's Note: Hi! How's everyone? I found enough time to write this chapter over the week, and I'm glad I was able to finish this in time for the deadline I set for myself to update weekly. I don't know though if I will still be able to do that for next week (since school is starting to become evil again) but I'll do my best to post the next chapter as soon as I can... (or write if time allows me to). ^^"
Thank you for all those who reviewed... seriously, you guys inspire me so much to go on with my story... being fond of my story means so much to me... :3 : Sorceress Rinoa Heartily, MonMonCandie, saya, FFAddicted, Takers Hidden Soul Mate, TheLionofSorrow, Cerulean Crystal, floutistvivi, wais101, Tiny Cherie, DarkerImage69, GoodGirlGoneTobi, Nami-Lass, FaithFromTheMystic, Lady-Rinoa14, GreenOpalus, and Verdanii. *huggles to all*
It had been exactly seventeen minutes since Cloud realized that Terra and Rinoa were missing in the guest room of the suite.
With panic and worry that were hidden under his fake calm composure, he paged everyone in the building to search each and every possible corners of the structure. Even his mentor Sephiroth and the people he shared the suite with started looking for the two girls, while he decided to search the whole city.
"I'm coming with you." His best friend Zack said as he grabbed his own coat after Cloud did.
They stepped out of the building and soon ordered their mako senses to become more alert and keener for any sign of two missing escapees. The two SOLDIERs checked every store through its wide, transparent windows, and transferred to restaurants, the marketplace, and even the city's park.
Still, nothing.
For twenty minutes, they managed to quickly check all the possible places for the raven haired and the mage, to no avail. They then decided to roam around the more hidden spots within the town, to take their chances that the girls might just be there. Cloud was becoming more fretful with each passing minute with the intense anxiety. He knew Terra would be in a much, vulnerable state once she stepped out of the building, and he just couldn't stand the thought that something might have happened to her, which was not far from possible. And to think Rinoa was probably with her too, who was apparently not aware of the risk they took. He never saw her came out of the room like she usually did when she decided to go home. That gave him two people to worry about.
Damn! He cursed to himself.
"Cloud..." Zack mumbled, while squinting at a far distance, as if he wasn't sure of what he was seeing. "is that... Yuna?"
Cloud looked at Zack then turned to the same direction he was gazing at. With the enhanced eyes he had, the blond was able to see clearly even at far distance. Indeed, at a small street-way, he could see the brunette's small figure, though he could barely see the expression on her face. She seemed to be moving too much though, with a phone on her hand that she held against her ear.
Suddenly, Cloud felt his phone vibrating against his pocket. He looked suspiciously at the distant sight of Yuna and flicked his phone open.
"Cloud!" Yuna's voice were shaky, her tone panicking.
"Yuna," Cloud replied, maintaining the cool in his voice to calm the girl down.
"It's Rinoa!"
He could feel his heart stop a beat, his eyes suddenly became alert.
"Rinoa? Wha-"
"She was with this girl... I was supposed to meet them... then there were two men... there was smoke! Then, I couldn't find them! They're gone!"
He could take in her last statements. There was smoke? They're gone?
"Yuna," He called her name again, trying to calm her, though this time, his voice was matching the anxiety of the girl at the other end of the line. "I-I couldn't catch you. Tell me, what exactly happened."
"Rin-Rinoa was kidnapped! With the other girl!" Yuna was crying now, with each sentence caught in her sobs.
Cloud paused. He could feel his pupils shrinking with shock. It was the last thing he wanted to happen.
"I-I was about to get inside the cafe whe-when I saw two guys standing by them..."
No...
"Th-then, there was white smoke, I couldn't see a thing..."
No...
"And j-just like that... they vanished... with the two men."
"DAMN!" Cloud yelled, almost throwing his phone to the ground. His company was looking at him worriedly, as if he already knew what happened.
"I knew something like this would happen, I KNEW IT!" The blond shouted followed by a string of curses. "Stay where you are, I'm coming to you!" He commanded at Yuna sharply before running to her direction.
"I don't mind having you here for a bit longer, but..." Irvine threw himself lazily on his couch inside his living room, referring to his friend Squall who had been watching the television blankly ever since he arrived. "aren't you suppose to pick Rinoa up by now?"
"Hmmm..." the one with a shorter brown hair muttered as he leaned forward and placed his face inside his hands. "I don't know..."
"What do you mean you don- oooh...." Irvine finally realized. That wounded look on Squall's face was a rare sight; so rare that the whole Deling City would pay a million gil to see it. But the expression meant alot, something serious to be specific. And with the current behavior and response Squall was showing, it was pretty obvious something happened between him and Rinoa. He knew relationships all too well, and he knows when a certain crisis called "love quarrel" just erupted.
And it was happening right now, in front of his eyes, through Squall's embodiment. He somehow felt stupid for not realizing it early on when Squall started to act strangely since he arrived. Actually, now that he thought about it, it was only the second time in three years Squall actually visited him like this. The first one was during their first year in high school when he had a really bad fight with his father about "public responsibility" or somewhere along that line.
Judging from those two incidents, he knew Squall only visited him whenever he was incredibly upset.
"Aww, c'mon now." He said, with his attempt to comfort Rinoa's sulking boyfriend. "What happened?"
Squall turned his head up to his host and turned back to the security of his palms. "Nothing."
Irvine sighed at the sullen sight of the toughest guy he knew before picking up the remote control and began scanning through different channels his satellite network could offer. Funny how someone like Rinoa could cause the downfall of someone as stone-hard as Squall.
He sure has changed, he thought. But only when Rinoa's around.
Because he bet she was the only one who could get him to talk right now.
Then, a familiar tone filled the air, and Squall felt the vibration of the small mobile device in his pocket. He reached for it immediately, hoping to see Rinoa's name on the screen. Because if it was her, deciding to finally talk to him or asking to pick her up, then he'll happily oblige.
But his expectant anticipation swiftly turned into annoyance when he saw Tidus' name flashing on the screen. Reluctantly, he answered the phone.
"What?"
"Squall! There's trouble!" The blonde replied frantically from the other line.
Squall narrowed his eyes. Even if Tidus was the happy-go-lucky-cheerful type of guy, Squall trusted him when he said things like "trouble".
"Yuna called! She said Rinoa-"
Rinoa?
"was kidnapped!"
"WHAT?!" Squall shot up from his chair, which made Irvine jerk his body with alarm on his couch while looking worriedly at Squall, whose mind suddenly became empty, except with the thought of Rinoa in danger.
"Yuna said she was supposed to meet Rinoa and this other girl,"
Other girl, Squall thought. Must be the girl she always visits at Shinra.
"a-and suddenly two guys appeared! Then, she said there was smoke! All over the place! And then, the next thing she knew," He wouldn't want to hear what he had to say next. "they were gone!"
Squall was massaging his temple with his free hand. He didn't know why he was having such a headache, and he partly blamed his heart for pounding so fast, enough to raise his blood pressure way up to Hyne's heaven. Rinoa was in trouble, that was given. But without any idea who took her, he didn't know where to begin his search for her, which was bad. Definitely bad, no matter in what angle he tried to look at it. If he didn't get himself to her on time, then who knows what might happen.
"Shit." He hissed. "SHIT!"
His wheels screeched as he recklessly parked in front of the infamous building. He stormed inside, without even taking a glance at the employees in dark suits that tried to stop him. He could care less if he, specifically Squall Leonhart-Loire the SeeD, was forbidden to even breathe the same air of that establishment. From the far distance of the large lobby, he could spot the blond who was giving instructions to a number of uniformed and armed people who seemed like infantrymen. Squall was a foot away when Cloud finally glanced at him, but was too late to avoid the expected punch the brunette threw at his cheek.
"What happened?" Squall growled, in such a low voice it was obvious he was restraining a yell in his throat.
Cloud did not respond. His body was slightly slouched, maintaining his own balance from the impact of the blow. His head was turned sideways, to the direction of the punch. The SOLDIER did not look at him, rather did he change that defeated look on his face.
Squall grabbed the blond's collar and forced him to face him. "ANSWER ME YOU FUCKING PRICK!" He couldn't control his voice anymore that matched his frightening glare full of anger. "You told me you were not going to let anything happen to her! Fuck that, I don't even know why Rinoa trusted you, and why I believed her!" He growled again between his clenched teeth as he shook Cloud, who was not fighting back. The men under the blond's command gathered around Squall and tried to pull him away from their superior, thought it took them great effort, because a boyfriend's fury always overruled.
"DAMN!" He roared after he finally let go of his rival and shoved off the grasps of the infantrymen. Squall turned away, and attempted to even out his breathing. Just the thought of Rinoa made the problem seem even worse, even if he knew that he could command he entire Esthar army and every SeeD in Balamb Garden to search for her. He still felt helpless for not preventing the kidnapping happen in the first place.
This time, it was Cloud who was glaring at Squall. It was not of his usual wrathful glare, but it was a mixture of empathy, sorry, and of regret. More than ever in his whole life, he felt like a failure, once again.
With one last deep exhale, Squall looked over his shoulder, at Cloud's direction. "How are you going to look for them?" He challenged, with clamped jaw.
"Yuna summoned an aeon to track them." Cloud replied nonchalantly. "There's a big chance that the kidnappers won't be able to spot it, since the aeon flies at an impossible height beyond detection. We are going to follow the aeon's trail and its summoner's directions to get to Rinoa and Terra."
It was only then Squall realized Yuna's presence among them. She was frozen on her ground, her expression was screaming "fear" and "worry".
"I'll do everything that I can." She said, in her usual soft voice, with strong determination in her tone. "I will not stop until Rinoa and Terra are safe."
At least there's someone smart here, Squall thought.
Without taking another glance at Rinoa's classmates, he began walking his way to the exit.
"Hey!" Zack, who had been silent all this time, called to the brunette. "Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm gonna go find Rinoa." He mumbled, though loud enough for the rest to hear.
"How are you going to do that?" the black haired SOLDIER asked worriedly.
Squall halted his tracks and looked down on the floor, reflecting on Zack's question. It was actually his first problem, he didn't know how to look for Rinoa. And with the only summoner he knew (which was Yuna, though he was surprised she was a summoner) that had an efficient aeon by Cloud's side, he had no other way to search for his girlfriend with as much skilfulness. "I... don't know." He honestly had no idea.
"So what, you're just gonna fly and keep guessing where Rinoa is? Is that it?" Cloud asked, with a hint of concern in his voice.
"I'll take my chances with my GFs." The SeeD replied.
Cloud narrowed his eyes disbelievingly at the brunette. He knew that SeeDs like Squall were required to be equipped with Guardian Forces to rely on with their abilities during battle. But they were not as dependable nor as powerful as those aeons under a summoner's command, especially with the situation they were currently facing.
And he knew Squall was aware of that.
"You're an idiot." Cloud shot at him sternly.
"And you are useless." Squall retorted, before he proceeded with his exit.
"Squall!" Yuna called and ran to his direction. She pulled his arm, just when he was a foot away from the door. He turned to look at his arm, then glanced at her. His frown suddenly disappeared with the begging sight of her.
"I know, it may sound conceited, but Rinoa wouldn't want to hear that you are fighting with her friend, especially at times like this. I'm worried, what sadness it will bring Rinoa when she finds out that you value your arrogance and pride more than her safety. I know, she will deny even thinking that way, but I know too that deep inside, it will hurt her. It will break her heart." She looked at the two men, her hands clasped together with plea after she let go of the brunette's arm. "So please, just this once, work together, at least for Rinoa's sake."
Squall glanced at Cloud, who was looking away from his direction. If he didn't want to work with him, then that was more than fine. He knew he should be able to rescue Rinoa and Terra as a SOLDIER with an army and a summoner by his side.
Shinra's intruder turned away as well and shut his eyes disapprovingly. He and his rival were never meant to work together, hell they were not even meant to co-exist. But setting his arrogance and pride aside, like what Yuna asked him and Cloud to do, he honestly did not need Cloud's help. Though it would be hunderdfold better to have Yuna for his aid, he should be able to deal everything on his own, like he always did in most part of his life. He was able to take Adel down when he was only fifteen years old. He should be able to save Rinoa by now. Maybe by himself too.
"Sorry, Yuna." He muttered apologetically and furthered with his exit. The young summoner looked at him downheartedly as she watched him disappear beyond the door.
"What do you mean you can't send SeeDs?!"
"Squall, we only send SeeDs out to do critically important missions..."
"This IS an important mission!" Squall yelled in reply over his phone that was squeezed in his stiffened hand.
Cid gave out a tired sigh from the other end of the line before replying to the desperate SeeD. "Squall, as much as I wanted to help you, I-"
"Then do yourself a favor and help me!" the younger one retorted.
"Squall..."The brunette could imagine the headmaster massaging his forehead at his stubbornness.
"Dear, let me talk to him." Edea's faint voice said as she grabbed the phone from her husband. "Squall." She acknowledged gently.
"Aunt Edea."
"Sweetie," Her tone was just as hopeful as her intention, but Squall knew he had to hold on for the worst answer. "It's not that we don't want to extend our help to you, it's just that, all our SeeDs are dispatched now to their assigned missions. More important ones that called for more assistance."
Squall repressed a growl as he impatiently massaged the bridge of his nose. "You know what, forget it." He quickly muttered and hang up.
He was on the deck of Ragnarok, pacing back and forth on the floor. There was only one way left for him to do if he wanted any assistance, which was what he really needed right now; assembling the Esthar army under his order . But it was something that would result to unlikeable possibilities. For one, he had to go through his father, the President of Esthar. Though that won't be much of a problem, since Laguna was always most willing to do anything for his dear son, his talkative nature might accidentally inform the General, his friend, the grave new about his daughter. He had to remind him not to tell General Caraway about it. Ever. Not even after it is all over. He was only seventeen years old, too young to experience the wrath of an angry father. Another one would be his fear of showing any sign of vulnerability to Laguna Loire. He was supposed to be an independent young man who can handle all kinds of situation on his own. And knowing how Laguna overreacts often when something was bothering Squall, he might grow to become an overprotective father and begin sending him bodyguards. And Squall can't blame him, he had the perfect reason, after all that they've been through during the war in Esthar...
But Rinoa...
He picked his phone up again and dialed Laguna's number.
After a few rings, he finally answered. "Dad, it's me."
"What did you get ourselves into now, Irvine Kinneas?"
Selphie demanded with a deadly voice while they were trying to find their way out of an unknown mini tunnel inside Ragnarok.
"I-uhm... errr..." The taller brunette muttered defenselessly as he studied the whole room, looking for a possible exit.
"I don't wanna die yet, Irvine! I don't want to be stuck here forever!"
"Shut up, chickenwuss, before I fry you till the heavens cry out for my mercy." Seifer turned at Irvine. "And then, if you don't find us a way out here, I'll fry you next, cowboy."
"Shut it guys, it's the first time I got inside this thing, okay?" Irvine scowled agitatedly as he started pressing random buttons on a panel beside the door that looked sensible to him.
"Irvine, if you don't mind, let me take a look at it." Quistis' cool voice cooed clamorously, that kind of tone that made Irvine step aside almost immediately without hesitation.
After a few beeps made by Quistis's fingers, the door finally opened and they were finally out at the open.
"Tch, I'm almost glad Quistis came with us. Or else I'll be stuck with a bunch of wimps."
"Almost?" Quistis repeated with a hiss.
Irvine, after receiving a call from Zack who told him that Squall decided to find Rinoa on his own, called each of his friends to go to Squall's aid. Knowing of the large possibility that Squall would turn them all down, they sneaked into Ragnarok and almost immediately lost their way inside.
They were now at a familiar large hall, where they basically started since they set foot inside the airship. They checked every room in their search of the pilot's deck, to no avail. It was only when Quistis noticed that there was one more place they haven't gone through yet.
"I think I'm gonna be sick..." Selphie, who was turning green, commented silently from all the motion sickness she had to endure while they were flying.
"You can't get sick now." The blond beauty said, while looking at something above them. "We still haven't checked that bridge yet."
Ragnarok had reached a small town in the middle of the ocean called "The Fisherman's Horizon", as it hovered over the vast body of water, following the treading Leviatan under Squall's control. The GF was working along with another GF which was Pandemona, a mystic figure known to be powerful with wind elemental. It detected every trace and sign left by Yuna's aeon in the air before guiding Leviathan, the only one that can catch up with the fast pace of the airship. It may not be as good as Yuna's aeon, but it was better than nothing.
Closely, he watched the ocean creature as it swam like a giant eel a little bit under the visible surface of the ocean. Squall, who was not taking his eyes off the GF right after he made that call with his father, was beginning to be wary how he seemed to be getting a bit slower than his guide. He then wondered if Cloud was already on the move. Not that he cared.
"Stop it!" A squeaky, female voice complained from behind, which suddenly broke the silence on the deck.
"This is NEAT! Never been to an airship before." Another voice said with amazement, though this time, it was a male.
Squall quickly pressed "autopilot", picked up his gunblade from his side and turned around.
Then, his eyes widened with horror.
"What the-"
"Yo Squall!" A beaming Zell waved his gloved hand to the brunette. "Nice baby you got here!"
"Woohoo! Can I drive? Please? Please? Please?" Selphie begged after bouncing on her spot and then quickly sat on the pilot's chair without waiting for Squall's permission, her hands already on the controls. "This is SWEET!"
"Hey! Get of-"
"I thought you have motion sickness!"
"Don't worry babe, I'll get me-self a ship like this so I can fly you to the moon." Seifer said smugly, referring to Quistis.
"I don't remember ever saying anything about being fond of that." The female blond retorted sharply. "And don't ever call me 'babe'."
"Are we following that huge thing on water? Are we? Are we?"
Squall, who had not processed yet the sudden commotion, was lost on wonder how his friends suddenly appeared inside the pilot's deck. No, scratch that, he couldn't figure out how they managed to get inside the ship. And at a time like this too. It was as if they suddenly appeared to help him out in his search for Rinoa.
Then, something hit him.
He gave Irvine a deadly glare, who simply shrugged calmly. "Sorry man." He said.
Squall knew, from the moment Tidus called, that something like this would happen. He only refused to think of the big possibilities that it dreadfully would. He slapped his palm to his forehead. Of course Irvine would know trouble was coming.
"Don't tell me you guys are here to help me." He said blankly, as if he already knew.
"Actually," Quistis began to walk a few feet away from Seifer. "we are."
"Sorry to disappoint you." Seifer shrugged.
"Yeah dude, we can't let you go out there alone." Zell followed as he plomped down the floor.
"But I'm not alone, damnit! I have..." Squall stopped. He wasn't sure if he should tell them the whole story about him actually being an Estharian.
"You have what?" Seifer asked, in behalf of the rest of the group.
"Forget it, I-."
"Squall, since we're already here, we need to know every detail of this rescue mission." Quistis calmly cut in.
"Look, I did not ask you to be here." Squall snapped back. "I don't even want you to be here. Now I have to be held responsible for all of you should something happen!"
"Ha ha." Seifer haughtily mocked a laugh. "You? Worried about us? Us?"
"You're not the only SeeD around here, you know." Quistis uttered, smiling.
Squall's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
"We came from the Gardens too, you know?" Zell demonstrated the salute Squall recognized all too well. "You're too sucked up with your lone self, you don't even know anything about your friends."
"Galbadia Garden, SeeD candidate." Irvine tipped his hat downward, grinning proudly.
"Trabia Garden, SeeD candidate too!" Selphie cheered while still taking control of the ship.
"Balamb Garden, student for four years. You might not recognize me, but I became a SeeD candidate around the time you took Adel down." Zell joined in.
"You might not recognize me either. I became SeeD just this year." Quistis said. "Oh, and I'm from Balamb Garden too."
"Got dragged into Balamb Garden by her." Seifer, obviously irritated with the fact, rolled his eyes while pointing his thumb at the female blonde. "Not yet a SeeD though, still a candidate."
Squall frowned at the group before him. "Most of you are just students." He shook his head incredulously.
"Yeah, but we still are something." Irvine said, folding his arms. "We learned alot already, being a SeeD candidate and all. That should be enough to help you out."
Squall sighed in defeat. "Fine. As if I have a choice." They were already here. And he would be stuck with them whether he liked it or not.
"Uh huh." Selphie replied for the party.
"So what's the plan, puberty boy?" The taller blond male implored in a semi-formal way.
Squall sat down beside the pilot's chair before his eyes darted around them focusing on each of their eyes as he briefed them with their mission. "As you may all know, Rinoa and another girl named Terra was kidnapped by two unknown men. Yuna, Rinoa's best friend, happened to be a summoner. She called an aeon to follow the kidnappers so she could keep track of their location. But she's with Cloud now."
"Cloud is on the move too." Quistis expanded.
"Yeah, he is. He was gathering some sort of an army to search for Rinoa and her company." Squall replied. "Without Yuna's help, I decided to use GF to distinguish the trails left by Yuna's aeon. And since it was an air aeon, I used Pandemona. Then, I also summoned Leviathan to work with Pandemona to give me a visible guide of the directions."
"Got it." Selphie nodded, and slowly accelerated the ship without taking her gaze off the large water creature beneath them.
"Did you call for back-up?" Zell inquired.
Squall nodded. "I did. But Cid said there was no SeeD he could send out."
Quistis rolled her eyes. "I AM a SeeD."
"He can't send you alone, can he?" Seifer asked in a sweet voice, about to rub he female SeeD's back, who immediately dodged his gesture.
"Any other back-up?" Irvine asked suspiciously, knowing there was something more.
"Hmm..." Squall muttered. He had to tell them. It's now or never. "Yeah." Here it goes. "I called Esthar's President and requested for the entire Esthar army to come over and help. They'll be arriving a bit later after I confirm to them the location and they'll surround the place for back-up."
"LET ME THROUGH!" Cloud growled at the tall, bulky man who strangely happened to be the President's secretary. The man was effortlessly pushed aside by his boss' angry son, as he watched him storm farther into his father's office. Rufus Shinra, who was expecting his son's outburst anytime soon, barely looked up from his papers that were scattered on his wide desk.
Cloud angrily slammed his hands on the surface "What the hell are you doing Rufus?!"
The President finally had the dignity to glance at his son, keeping his calm expression on his face. "I wonder what you mean." He said in a mild tone.
"Don't fucking play with me!" the younger blond threatened by shooting his index finger just inches away from his father's face. "I've made every arrangements needed for this rescue mission, every fucking requirement that your goddamn company demands, and you're not approving it?!"
Rufus slowly clamped his hands together, staring intently at Cloud. "I did tell you I won't be allowing this mission until tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Cloud's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Tomorrow? This mission can't wait any minute later!"
The older one closed his eyes and sighed. He then began massaging his temple. "Do you realize that you are being reckless, Cloud?" He creased his eyebrows upward, as if lecturing a stubborn child with repetitive sermons. "You have no initiative, nor any clear idea what you're going through. You don't have any clue who kidnapped them. Hell you haven't even confirmed if it really was Terra who was kidnapped."
"I don't have to confirm it, I know it." Cloud gritted his teeth.
"How can you be so sure? Do you have the evidence?" Even the President was growing impatient. "All you have now for a report is a missing girl, a summoner who used an aeon to track the kidnappers, and your unreliable knowledge that they are somehow connected." He squinted with doubt in his eyes. "I couldn't think of anything more foolish than that, and now here you are, expecting me to waste the time of my infantrymen over some ridiculous mission."
Cloud's pale face was beginning to turn bright red with the fury boiling inside him. "Terra or not, someone. Was. Kidnapped." His voice raised with every word that came out of his mouth. "That's what my classmate saw in the cafe. I don't know what else you're expecting from me."
"I'm expecting you to do a thorough investigation on this and know what exactly are you dealing with. I can't afford any mistakes right now, Cloud."
"I am not going to make any mistake." Cloud replied sternly.
"Those are no comforting words from someone who failed his mission and lost the mage he was supposed to be watching over." Rufus sardonically stated.
Cloud groaned and swiftly turned away and walked rapidly out of the office. His speed, driven by his anger, scared the wits out of every person he passed by.
He burst into the suite where Yuna was anxiously waiting for him, then went straight to his room. He walked to a nearby wall and punched the unresponsive victim with his fist. He threw another punch. And another, until his knuckle was numb with pain. He felt his body lean against the hard wall, slowly sliding against it, down to the hard, carpeted floor.
He was tired of everything that happened. He was tired of himself.
It wasn't the first time he felt frustrated because of his failure, he had enough of that for a lifetime. But never did he feel any more powerless than this. Somehow, Rufus' words filled him with doubt and hope; doubt that Terra might just still be around the city, and hope with the thought of the possibility that she was not kidnapped. But what if she was? She disappeared with Rinoa, and the chances of her being abducted with his classmate were big.
Rinoa... she made the steel in his chest weigh even more heavily. It wasn't supposed to turn out like this, he was responsible for her disappearance as well. He promised too that he would not let anything happen to her, not even inside the safety of his own building. That was why he let Squall punch him. He deserved it. Rinoa trusted him, and he proved her wrong.
Every passing second drove him even more to do something instantly. But he couldn't. Without Shinra's facilities, equipments and men, he couldn't do anything. Maybe Squall was right, he was useless.
He was too absorbed in his thoughts that he did not hear the slight knock on his door by the other young SOLDIER.
"Cloud." He called, but only heard a muffled swearing from the blond.
"Cloud?" He called again, only a bit louder Finally, the owner of the room turned to him. Regret and anger were obvious in his face.
"Cloud, there's... something I gotta tell you." Zack stepped further into the room. "I know Shinra might fire me for this but... I called an outside help."
Cloud squinted his eyes suspiciously.
"There's this guy I know who flies airships. Fast airships. Name's Cid Highwind. I called him just a few moments ago when you were in your dad's office. And he said he's willing to help, and even offered me his fastest shi-"
Cloud quickly stood up from the floor and grabbed Zack's collar, most like how Squall grabbed his earlier that afternoon.
"Why..." He hissed between his teeth. "didn't you say so in the first place?"
A/N: To be continued... :3
*gives ice cream to everyone who correctly guessed the bird figure from the previous chapter* XD