A/N: In case anybody is curious, the word "Enfys" means rainbow in Welsh. It's sort of a joke. When I first read all the descriptions for the OC's, I just kinda skimmed over them. The first thing I saw was a bunch of colors, from the hair and eyes and everything. So I started referring to them as the "Rainbow Clan" in my notes. lol
So alas, this will be the last chapter with the funny group of OCs. But I enjoyed writing about them so much, so don't be surprised if they randomly pop up in the story again. :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII or any of its characters.
Chapter Twenty
Yazoo was pushed to the ground roughly, with his back once again against a tree in front of a campfire. Shelke was deposited next two him, both under the watchful eye of Lyra while Yazoo's warden went back to the ship to retrieve something else. The rest of the group of bandits moved back and forth hurriedly, only a few words exchanged between them as they went about their business.
The remnant endeavored to sit comfortably, but it was impossible. Shelke, who looked exhausted and annoyed beyond words, rested herself partially against him, since the tree wasn't enough to support two. Normally, he would have pushed her off, but right now he was more annoyed by other things.
Ivan entered the camp upon Yazoo's bike, parking it nearby and examining it for a moment, satisfaction and pride in his eyes.
Yazoo glared at him, continuing to fiddle with his bonds, wondering if they would ever break.
"So how long?" Luke asked as he walked back to the camp, standing before their leader.
Ivan shrugged, looking off into the distance. "Not sure. He didn't say, but it shouldn't be too long."
Yazoo didn't want to know who "he" was.
"I really think we should have stuck with our original customer," Hail commented as she joined the circle, rotating her torso as she stretched. "How do we know we can trust this guy?"
"All relationships start somewhere," the black-haired male replied.
"But what if he tells the authorities about our little operation here?"
"Why would he? He's the one buying them after all, he'd be just as much at fault."
"We don't even know what he plans to do with them," Luke added.
"Why should we care?" Ivan turned away, as if the conversation were finished. Hail glanced sideways at Luke, meeting his gaze beneath his glasses, both obviously displeased.
Jaika came running into the camp, a large pot in his hands which he carried carefully, despite the fact that he looked like he was about to trip from moving so fast. Artemis followed solemnly behind him, her signature weapon still held in her hands.
"Food's ready!" the boy chimed, setting the large pot down.
"Great, I'm starved." Ivan approached the boy first and began to help himself to the food. The rest of them remained at a distance, Hail and Luke still looking troubled. The blue-haired woman's eyes were now on their two captives, as she contemplated something. Luke glided past her to Artemis, where he whispered something inaudible in her ear. Lyra watched everyone silently.
The noise of approaching footsteps in the underbrush made everyone alert. Ivan rose from his place by the food, the rest of the group, except for Lyra, gathering together to face their visitor. Jaika ran behind Hail and Artemis, using their bodies to hide himself, while still able to see between them.
Their guest appeared from between the trees, brushing the thistles from his suit jacket. The flames of the fire reflected off his red hair, illuminating it strangely in the twilight.
Yazoo groaned in annoyance, hitting his head back against the tree trunk, while Shelke just stared at the new-comer in shock.
"You Reno?" Ivan asked.
"Yep, that's me," the Turk replied. He lifted his blue eyes, looking to the group at first, before looking to Yazoo and Shelke. A mocking smile came to his face when he saw the two captives. "Hello, Yazoo. Shelke, is it?"
Enfys grew disturbed, most of them exchanging curious glances, while Ivan became immediately distrustful. "You know them?" he demanded.
"Oh yeah."
The leader crossed his arms, taking a threatening step closer to him. "You failed to mention that when you contacted me. I wouldn't have made the deal if I knew they were your friends."
"Friends?" Reno laughed shortly, "No, not my friends. But my boss has an interest in these two, and he can't exactly have them being sold to random criminal organizations."
"And who is your boss?"
"Shinra," Hail answered before Reno could. She took a step closer to Ivan, standing at his side while she scrutinized Reno. "This man's a Turk!"
The rest of the group formed a half-circle with Ivan in the center, nearly surrounding Reno. Hail and Luke quickly drew their blades, while Artemis readied her scythe and Lyra prepared for combat. Jaika cautiously backed away from the rest of the members, while Ivan remained perfectly composed, his arms crossed.
"Hey now, no reason to get violent," Reno replied, lifting his hands, his rod hanging unthreatening off his wrist. "My boss still intends to pay you. I don't see why..."
Yazoo took advantage of the attention the group was giving Reno. He and Shelke exchanged quick glances, before he pulled himself away from the tree, rolling over to pull his bound hands underneath himself and over his legs. Shelke did likewise, and though their hands weren't free, they now had more mobility with their hands in front.
"Hey!" Jaika exclaimed, catching the attention of the others and pointing to the two captives.
Every member turned about at once, looking to Yazoo and Shelke as they stood on their feet. Ivan had to issue no orders. Hail and Lyra immediately went to detain them.
Reno jerked his hand sharply, the rod flying up into his grasp. Ivan turned back to him just in time to see the metal heading for his face. The Turk struck him bluntly in the temple, knocking him to the ground. Before any of the others had time to respond, he slammed his foot into Luke, knocking the man back and into Jaika. Artemis swerved out of the way of his next strike, then lifted her weapon and advanced on him.
Yazoo jumped forward and spun around, kicking Hail powerfully in the side. She had just enough time to block the blow with her arm, but the force of it still sent her stumbling. Shelke quickly dodged Lyra as the blonde attempted to grab her. Her eyes quickly glowed orange, as she advanced on the woman kicking and swinging despite her bonds.
Luke rose back to his feet, offering a quick apology to Jaika before he charged the Turk. He lifted his red blade high and swiped at him, cutting air as Reno evaded him. Artemis similarly charged, the two of them working together to try and over-power the Turk. But Reno was fast, and avoided them both with a cocky smile on his lips.
Yazoo advanced on Lyra, bluntly kicking her in the side of the head while she was preoccupied with Shelke. She fell heavily to the forest floor and didn't rise again. He spun around to face Hail, swerving to avoid the swipe to his shoulder. He ducked low and came at her from underneath, his speed catching her by surprise as he grabbed her by the wrist.
He met eyes with her, a quick smile flashing on his face as a blue light appeared in his left arm. The illuminated orb grew in intensity, Hail's eyes going wide before a sudden bolt of energy burst from Yazoo's arm. It traveled into her body, shocking her briefly as the force of the power threw her backward. She was left incapacitated, leaving Yazoo and Shelke to turn their attention to the rest.
Reno blocked Luke's strike with his rod, the metal of both their weapons ringing out noisily in the clearing. Artemis took a long swipe at the Turk, before turning to face Shelke and Yazoo, who charged her at once. Using the backend of her weapon, she struck Shelke in the shin, and with a quick shift in the weapon, took a swipe for Yazoo's head. The remnant took on step back to evade, before he leapt in the air, flipping over her. He landed against a tree, perpendicular to its trunk, then pushed off and sent himself zooming toward her. He slammed into her from behind, sending her tumbling to the ground, where she crashed heavily into a tree.
Ivan groggily pulled himself to his feet, wiping the blood from his temple. He snarled at the three people attacking the last of his fighting comrades.
Reno, Yazoo, and Shelke all advanced on Luke at once. Although the man was a skilled fighter, he couldn't hold off the three of them for long.
Ivan leapt from the ground, springing himself on Yazoo before the remnant had a chance to counter. He attacked him from behind, wrapping his muscled arms around remnant's neck. He held him tightly, beginning to strangle him as he pulled him back from the battle.
Shelke spun to face them, ready to offer her companion assistance.
But there was no need. Yazoo used the strength of Ivan's grip against him, and with one quick motion, flung the man over his back. Enfys' leader crashed heavily to the ground, given no time to rise again as Yazoo bore down on him, his hands entrapping his throat.
Reno took another one of Luke's blows on his weapon, the shaded man pulling back to charge again. Only he was distracted by the predicament his leader was in. Shelke took advantage of his distraction, and landed a blow powerfully on the side of his head. The fighter stumbled, but did not fall. Another whack in the head from Reno's rod made sure that he did.
Luke was an unconscious heap on the forest floor, accompanied by three other unconscious heaps. Jaika had drawn back to the edge of the clearing, watching the whole ordeal in fear. He cowered as far away as he could from the three, without abandoning his companions.
"Yazoo," Shelke said his name.
The remnant ignored her. He kept his gaze solely fixed on Ivan, watching him squirm and struggle as he was denied air. Yazoo watched in satisfaction as his face turned purple, his eyes going hazy as unconsciousness was near.
"Yazoo!" Shelke called again. "Stop it!"
He did not listen to her. He continued to hold on, his grip growing even tighter, as sinister smile flickering in his eyes, as Ivan weakly - and futilely - tried prying off his hands.
"Yazoo!" She was suddenly on him, grabbing him from behind and yanking him off the leader. Yazoo fell back on the ground as Ivan coughed and gasped for air.
The remnant's fierce gaze turned to Shelke. "What?" he demanded.
"You were going to kill him!"
"So? It's no more than he deserves."
The girl looked troubled, and a little shocked. "I thought..."
"What?" he asked, rising to his feet and taking a step closer to her. He now ignored Ivan, as he rolled around on the ground, still gasping and sputtering. "You thought I was different than that? You thought that since I've denounced who I am that I've suddenly changed?"
"I thought you had stopped killing."
"I've stopped following Jenova's will, but that doesn't change who I am. I'm still a killer."
"Hey!" Reno shouted, grabbing their attention. They turned just as Ivan pulled himself onto the bike. Yazoo and Reno both went to intercept him, but it was too late. He already started the engine, and within a second, the bike was speeding through the forest. Ivan left behind the Turk, the remnant, and his companion, along with all the other members of his group.
Yazoo scowled in anger. Now what were they going to do, with no transportation?
"Vincent would be disappointed in you," Shelke pointed out factually, continuing the conversation they hadn't ended. He faced her again, annoyed. "We are killers, Yazoo. It's in our blood. But to give into the desire to kill makes any denunciation of yours meaningless."
With that, she turned away from him, giving him no chance to reply. She made her way over Lyra on the ground and shifted through her pockets, producing a ring of keys. She quickly worked on her cuffs and removed them, tossing them, along with the keys, to the ground. Without speaking, she wove her way through the trees, leaving Yazoo and Reno behind.
Yazoo sighed as he went over to the keys and undid his own bonds, the Turk following a step behind him, still studying the aftermath of their fight. Jaika was now at Hail's side, the woman groaning in pain as she started to wake.
Having cast aside his bonds, Yazoo took one last look at Reno, before following Shelke's path through the forest. With unspoken consent, Reno followed behind him.
A/N: Please review. ^_^