Alright...here's the next chapter. As you noticed, this one took a bit to update. I don't have a home computer any more, as both of mine blew up. I write what I can at home, type it up at school, and since the school's Mac lab locks out any site you have to log in to....I have to wait until I can get to my parents' house to update.
Also, I'm having to write this as I go, chapter 3 was the last that was pre-written, so all of this is being conjured as we speak....literally... so any way, on with the story. Keep the reviews coming, my friend and I jump for joy when we have a new review. I hope to get more posted soon. Once the action starts, you should see faster updates.
The rest of the trip to Midgar was uneventful and mostly quiet. Valena and Reno spent most of their time gossiping and playing strange games of tag. Vincent was walking a few meters behind the group, wanting nothing but silence after the fiasco earlier that morning. Yuki had taken this time to assure Rude that her previous behavior was completely out of character and would never happen again.
When they finally reached 7th Heaven, Reno and Rude entered first, followed by Yuki and Valena with Vincent, once again, bringing up the rear. Valena pulled her coat closer around her, covering her weapons, never knowing when one might need them. Yuki just placed her scythe against the wall, the heavy weapon thudding as it connected. Cid and Tifa were at the bar and they waved at the new comers. Well, Tifa waved. Cid grunted.
"So ya two finally decided ta come, did ya?" Cid drawled, pushing away from the bar and walking over to inspect the two girls. Valena fidgeted under his stare, Yuki only stood still, as if under inspection by a commanding officer. "Not much ta look at, are yeh?" He mumbled to himself. "You'll do in a pinch, I guess." He said to the girls as he turned.
Valena tossed a glance to Reno, making her eyes cross as she made "coocoo" motions with her finger. Yuki stomped her partner's foot and sent her a sideways warning glare.
"Yes sir. I'm very sorry for how long it took us to make the journey. We ran into a bit of trouble." Yuki explained.
"Trouble?" Tifa finally spoke.
"Yeah, two jerks were giving these two trouble." Valena said, jerking her thumb in the direction of the Turks. "Lady Samaritan decided to stop and help."
"These two...what did they look like?" Cid asked quietly.
"Short guy with long hair and a taller guy with a dyke haircut."
Yuki seemed to shrivel up at the way Valena described the attackers to their employer. She sighed and explained further. "Both male, ragged clothing, silver hair. One carried a common hand gun, the other a sword." As Yuki spoke, Valena noticed how Vincent, Tifa and Cid paled.
"It was them, daze to!" Reno exclaimed and suddenly the tension in the room escalated.
"Just what did you hire us to fight?" Valena asked, glaring at Cid.
"You remember the Sephiroth incident?" Reno asked. Both girls nodded. "There were three brothers: Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz."
"Kadaj managed to aquire "mother," a by-product of Genova. With it, he was able to channel Sephiroth." Tifa explained further.
"All three of'em could channel Sephiroth. We were sure they all died when Cloud di-" Cid was cut off.
"The point is," Tifa said quickly. "We thought they were gone. But apparently they're back and looking for "mother." If they find it... If they both successfully channel Sephiroth..."
"We had enough trouble with just one of'em." Cid finished.
"So you called us here to fight Sephiroth. The worst thing to happen to the world. Who will most likely kill us. And we're only getting paid how much?!" Valena advanced toward Cid, hands reaching for her weapons. Yuki stepped in front of her, stopping her with a cold glare.
"We have taken many assignments that had death risks, Valena. This isn't any different."
Valena responded to Yuki's attempt to calm her with a strong push, hoping to move the girl from her path to Cid. Yuki didn't budge, causing Valena to yell out. "Like HELL this is the same, Yuki! This is Sephiroth! Did you not SEE the city we just came through?!"
Yuki placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "We were sent because we're the best. Are you saying you think we'll mess this up and fail these guys?"
"No..." Valena said quietly, as a child says after being scolded.
"Ok then, let's get briefed and start planning, alright?" Yuki said calmly once again. When Valena nodded, Yuki walked over to the nearest TV and plugged in a small device. Valena followed after her, leading the huge group of people.
"Our boss records the technical information on these chips. It gives us it bit more information than what our employers can." Yuki explained when Tifa tossed her a confused glance.
No one noticed the wink Yuki gave to Vincent, nor his returning nod.
As Yuki hit the flashing yellow button on the small device, the screen flashed to life. The boss' voice didn't come through the speakers, and neither was his face nor the expected data on the screen. Instead, it was a hotel room, the hotel room. The bed was the main focus until what seemed to be red hair popped up underneath the white comforter.
To the surprise and disgust to most in the room, the chip held not the data Yuki said it did, but a rather explicit taping of Reno and Valena in bed.
The silence around the bar was deafening. Even Vincent, who was nearly five seats away from where she was leaning on the bar, could hear Valena's gulp. Everyone's attention turned to her when she started to twitch a bit, giving Yuki and Vincent just enough time to exchange smirks.
Their plan had worked perfectly. Though they did have to change from Vincent's first idea as it involved mortal wounding, arson and a great deal of feathers. It hadn't been difficult to imitate the two. Vincent's tattered coat made a pretty good wig if held just right, and thanks to the poor lighting, Yuki appeared much darker on film. Once Yuki had hacked into hotel surveillance, they'd downloaded the video onto her micron-tablet.
Valena turned to Yuki and growled before stomping out of the room just as Cloud walked in. He had to jump to the side as she pushed past him and out of the bar.
He slowly turned to the group with one eyebrow raised, his expression clearly asking 'what just happened…?"
"Ah there yeh are, blondie." Cid grumbled.
"I guess our help arrived." Cloud said as he walked up to Yuki. His eyes flicked to something behind her and his face paled. "I see they're in good shape."
To everyone's horror, the TV had been left on and the scene had shifted slightly. 'Valena' had taken the dominating position, forcing 'Reno' onto his back.
With a huge grin, the red-head lifted a hand to Cloud, waiting for the high five. His face fell when Cloud only moved to turn off the monitor with a scowl.
"So this is what we hired? These people are supposed to help us with Sephiroth?" Cloud said in a long sigh as he turned away from the group. "At least we have Rude and Vincent..."
The look on Yuki's face was one most common on a child's when they're candy is taken. How could they have not thought the plan through? Did she not think that this would ruin her credibility as well as Valena's? With a low growl, she stormed out of the room.
Valena had taken root on a step, just outside of the bar. The cold concrete bit into her skin and the rain that seemed too common here hid her tears. Her usual demeanor was a bubbly one. One that made her seem approachable and a fun person. That was how she was known at the agency, to her friends, colleagues and even a few of her marks. If only they could see me now... She mused. Sitting cold and wet on a grimy step in a deserted part of town wasn't her norm. It was more of a place that Yuki would call home. Not Valena. Not the happy-go-lucky part of the duo.
She brought her knees to her chest, tossed her arms straight over her legs and dropped her face in between her upper arms. She bit back a sneeze as the rain dripping down her nose tickled. In retrospect, her and Reno's joke on Yuki had been quite mean. She knew how much Yuki valued her work. How much she hated the thought of deviating from her orders. How she liked to remain in control at all times.
She knew her joke would be cruel and might cause a rift in their partnership, but she had thought it to be funny at the time.
She sighed heavilly.
Maybe, just maybe, that was the same with Yuki. Maybe she wanted revenge, and in the heat of the moment, came up with this plan to get even. Maybe Yuki was hurting just as much....
"I didn't mean for it to go that way." Yuki's monotone voice cut through the cold air, scaring Valena a bit. "I...We thought it'd be a fun way to get back at you and Reno."
Valena turned to look at her pale friend. She seemed all too ghostly: pale skin, white hair, solid black attire. The gray atmosphere didn't help any. She stood just under the awning, hands in her pockets, kicking a stray piece of wire with her toe.
"I..." She started again.
"Look." Valena said quickly. "I know you're sorry. You thought it would be funny. But we both know you don't have the best sense of humor."
Ruby eyes shot up to stare at her through white bangs.
"Ok, so you have your moments when your programming isn't fried...but next time, let's keep it... less public."
With a sigh, Yuki reached out a hand to help her friend stand. When the tanned girl was upright and heading inside, Yuki smirked and playfully punched her on the shoulder.
"And I'm not a robot, you know."
Yay there we go! Chapter 4 done! I'm going to start on 5 as soon as possible!
Thanks again to all of the reviewers. You keep me smiling and the chapters coming!