Chapter 5

Cloud sat precariously on the front bench of the church, his body hunched over in exhaustion. He had raced home today from another delivery, even missed out on last night's sleep to ensure that he got back before nightfall, but still, alas, no Kotetsu. It had been a few days now, and he was seriously beginning to wonder if she was dead. He hated to think about it, but considering the circumstances in which they had met, it was quite likely.

He stared desperately ahead of him at the pool of water, his eyes dancing frantically as he silently begged for Aerith to give him some sort of indication of where to go or what to do. He was so tired and really beginning to hate himself again. He ran his fingers through his hair and pulled roughly on it while groaning in frustration, jerking his head back slightly. A sigh escaped him as a gust of wind swooped down into the small ruined church, some leaves and rubbish scuttling along the ground, spiralling up before falling down softly. Cloud watched the apparently busy church as he pondered on what to do while he waited, because sulking wasn't going to pass the time very well... Maybe he could do some planning on how to fix this place up while he waited? Keep his mind off of the negative thoughts that seemed to be fogging up his mind as of late?

Cloud got to his feet as he inspected the damage done to the little sanctuary, noting the things he could and couldn't do himself. Some of the pillars would be a problem, but a pulley system would sort that hopefully. He could use his bike as well, making things a little easier on himself. He was deciding on what to do with the alter area when his phone started vibrating in his pocketing. He fumbled around almost excitedly as he searched for the stupid thing, cursing when he almost dropped it in the water as he pulled it out too quick.

"Tifa?" His nervous voice gave more of an indication of his current state of mind than he would have liked, but Tifa's thoughts of him were a little further down on his list of priorities right now. He was already in the bad books with his recent 'Reno' outburst anyway.

"She's not here, but there's something else you need to hear about." Cloud groaned as he pictured that smug, red haired basterd sitting in his home, Shinra's latest problem about to find itself into his to do list. God, he hated that man!

"Later." Cloud was in no mood for it, plus Kotetsu could show up at any point. He heard Tifa growl down the phone, her temper getting the better of her.

"If you don't get back here within the next half hour, you can sleep in the streets from now on!" Cloud smirked slightly as he retorted.

"And how exactly will you pay the bills?" He knew Tifa would be mad, though he couldn't help himself.

"Just get home now or I swear to- " Cloud hung up feeling torn. He owed Tifa a lot, but he knew that his luck would have it that Kotetsu would turn up tonight, and he'd find her dead in the morning. But then again, this thing with Shinra might be important, and it was better to nip something in the bud before it becomes a huge problem, especially when Shinra was at the heart of it. He raced out to his bike as he planned his night, deciding that Reno had ten minutes to explain what was going on. If it was of little importance he would return straight to the church, and if not, he would do what he could in the time he had, with occasional trips out here to see if Kotetsu had turned up at any point. He kicked started his bike and raced home.

...

"I don't know what I'm going to do with that stupid, blonde, idiot!" Tifa slammed the phone down, annoyed that she had been hung up on again. She sighed as she realised she should probably be used to it by now, but it was still a pain in the ass.

"Chill out chick. He's just pissed he's gotta look at my mug for the rest of the night." Reno chirped as he kicked his feet up onto the table he was currently sitting at. Tifa gave him a death look and he put them hurriedly back down on the floor, desperately trying to retain his dignity.

"So what do you think this is all about then?" Reno shrugged his shoulders as he looked up at the clock, his eyes dark from lack of sleep.

"Beats me, but I sure as hell don't think it's gonna be any good. The last thing we need is more weapons right?" He offered the statement to Tifa nonchalantly, his eyes sparkling in the dim light of the inn. She flustered a little as she sat across the table from him, a small smirk forming at the corner of her mouth.

"No, we don't need more weapons." Reno laughed at her, not quite sure what was so funny.

"When's the blonde gonna get here?" Tifa shrugged as she slumped in her seat, visibly annoyed with Cloud. It was like he was aging her.

"Whenever he feels like it, I would imagine?" Reno sighed and rubbed his eyes, sympathising with his depressed lover.

"Still obsessing over this girl?" Tifa nodded before resting her chin on her folded arms.

"He's at the church all night, and then searches for her in the streets all day. And if he's not doing that, he's on work trips all over the place. He at least takes Marlene and Denzel out with him on his searches, but god, he just won't quit. I hate to say it, but she's either dead or gone." Reno nodded his head slowly, his sympathetic smile everything Tifa needed at that moment. She wasn't sure how or when the attraction between the two of them had occurred, but she was more than happy that it had. Despite Reno's past, he was a pretty good guy, just thought he was doing the right thing. Not his fault that his sense of right and wrong are a little messed up, right? Now he was like their little spy into Rufus's twisted plans to make Shinra great again, and she was constantly worrying that Reno would be found out soon enough. She wasn't sure how much more worrying she was capable of without going into cardiac arrest..."Are you sure it's a good idea, you being here?" Reno laughed his usual response.

"Stop panicking! I'll be fine." He smirked his confidence as he slid his hand across the table, taking one of Tifa's hands in his. They spent a long while just staring at each other, all the unspoken words of fear and love dancing between the two as Reno stroked Tifa's fingers carefully, as if they were as fragile as a spider's silk web. Reno leant forward as he pulled the black haired woman towards him, his lips almost connecting with hers when of course, Cloud burst through the front door, his rage clearly evident. Tifa jumped back from the red head as she stood from her seat, but Reno didn't budge.

"What's so important that I had to- "

"Right, chill, I'll be quick. You're not the only one in a hurry hear. Me and Tifa have to go upstairs and have a good fuck once we're done here." Tifa slapped his hand playfully, though her eyes were stern. Cloud just sniffed, trying desperately to bight his tongue as he waited for the basterd to hurry up and explain himself. "Rufus has ordered some new weapons. Rude is copying some of the blueprints for them as we speak, so I can get them to you soon. He plans to take power back with force, his agenda of peace and trying to rebuild the mess we made not quite going to plan. So he's ordered these..." Reno twisted and flicked his hand in the air as he tried to find the right words. "...things, to help." Cloud rolled his eyes. Things? Reno was as useful as a chocolate frying pan sometimes... "There's a whole load of machinery parts for bits and pieces, but there's something else. They don't have blueprints, so we have no idea what they are, and there's only a few of them, so I can only imagine they are well powerful if he's taking over the planet with them." Reno waited for Cloud to voice his thoughts, but was disappointed when Cloud turned to leave. "What? Is that it? Not even a plan of action or a witty comment about my uselessness?" Reno was on his feet now, frustration clearly evident. He was sticking his neck out for everyone, and Cloud was just shoving it back in his face. Tifa jumped to separate the two men, ready to stop the pair from tearing her home to pieces.

"We don't know what they are, do we? So have Tifa call me when you do. Idiot..." Cloud slammed the door as he left, enjoying the cursing he heard from Reno as he ranted to Tifa. He was glad he had annoyed him, pay back for his useless information. He was kind of glad that he was going to spend the night at the church, a getaway from the red heads seemingly never ending intrusion of his life. He was happy Tifa had found someone to make her feel wanted, special, all the things he just couldn't seem to do, but did it have to be him? He was nothing but a loud mouthed freak, who deserved to get his head kicked in, and Cloud would happily offer his services for such a thing... Perhaps Tifa was punishing him...

Cloud jumped back onto his bike, heading back to the church to wait for Kotetsu.

...

Kotetsu moaned as she was woken by 13, memories from last night flooding into her head. She scowled at the far wall as she realised her life with Cloud had been nothing more than pathetic dream, an endless hope, a never fulfilling wish. She pulled at her sides as she hugged herself, trying hard to imagine Cloud's safe and strong arms around her in a loving way, kissing the top of her head as he woke her gently from her undisturbed slumber.

"Get up now!" 13 bellowed, his lungs being as big as she had thought. The ringing in her ears was probably going to stay there for a few more minutes...

She stood outside her designated room in line with the other kids that had been born and bred for the same reasons as herself. They all seemed to have a much more vague look to them, their personalities crushed out of them, but Arashi had taught her that to lose yourself was to let them win, and she would never let her master win. Never. And she would happily die trying.

She stared ahead as the inspection came round. She hated this bit, knowing her minder would beat the living daylights out of her if she wasn't in perfect formation. She could feel her stance not being quite right due to the master's ministrations the night before, but she held herself the best she could, and passed without too much trouble. A slap to the back of her head suggested that her minder was annoyed she hadn't failed and how he had probably looked forward to beating her. She turned and faced the line that was formed on the command of the troop leader, trying to hold her smirk back. He nodded his head to the master who had now appeared to great them. Smirk gone.

"As you all know, your purpose here was to learn your true capabilities, and those of you who have survived will now be sold on." Kotetsu almost let her inner outburst voice itself. Sold? "Now you will be leaving here to go into town, where you will be put on show and paraded like the tools you are. Our client will select the few he would like from the résumés I have written up for all of you, and from your appearance and skills. This means you need to have your A-game on, for this will be a fight for survival. Those who return unsuccessful shall be punished and then put into a much stricter regime where you will become as good as your colleagues, who of course will no longer be your colleagues." The master took this point to laugh at them, his wicked smile showing no remorse for the things he had done over the years, nor for the things he was going to do in the future. Kotetsu hated him more than anything. "Now let us leave, and do not stray from the line or you shall be omitted from the programme and sent back, do you understand? Wouldn't want to throw away your chance to become great now would you?" The master turned to lead the way, his confident swagger sending his over the top cape sweeping to and fro like some kind of pendulum. God Kotetsu really hated that man!

The group left their retched 'home' and walked into town, their spent muscles and broken bones causing considerable discomfort throughout the group of teenagers. Kotetsu longed to talk to the others, but it had been forbidden that any friends should be made due the possibility that the sadness of their death would be too much. It was inevitable for people like her to die. For instance, her group started out with there being 50 of them, but there were now six of them, including herself...

The group wove in and out of the alleys and back roads, the master obviously wanting to avoid any unwanted attention. She had no idea where they were going, but she couldn't see it being much worse than what she had been subjected to for the last 18years.

Could it?

...

Cloud woke to his phone vibrating itself off the bench he was uncomfortably sitting in. He sighed as he saw the caller being Reno, his temper from the night before slowly returning.

"This better be good." Cloud snapped down the now dusty hand set. His eye twitched as Reno replied with:

"Yo dude!" how he hated it when Reno acted as if they were friends. "You need to get down here quick. Those weapons are coming here just now." Cloud rubbed the sleep from his eyes, his temper reaching its high point. He wasn't sure how much more of this shit he could take...

"Take pictures." He wasn't in the mood for any of this. He sulked to himself as he kicked some loose material on the floor around, annoyed that Kotetsu was still missing.

"I can't. Rufus wants us all there and I can't blow my cover or we won't be saving the world no more." Cloud also hated it when he referred to the two of them as 'we'.

"How do you propose we do this then, exactly?" Cloud retorted, clearly annoyed. Reno spurted down the phone, obviously nervous and just as annoyed as Cloud.

"Well we have a window of opportunity for you to get into the pissing building! Then you could fuckin' see for yourself, but since you're being a self righteous prick I guess Tifa will have to do it. She's the one with the fuckin' brains anyway!" Cloud almost crushed his phone in his hand.

"Don't use Tifa like that!" Cloud sighed hard as he tried to let his rage dissipate. He was going to be the grown up here. He had to be because Reno sure as hell wasn't. "When and where?" Reno audibly cheered up as he explained his plan.

"Rufus is going to be in for a meeting with the inventor of these weapons, so while he's there rude is gonna let you in through the back door, member the one you exploded the last time you were here?" Cloud nodded, but then replied with a grunt as he realised Reno couldn't see him gesture. "Great. How soon can you get here?" Cloud fought the urge to yell.

"An hour." And he hung up, feeling he had talked enough to Reno. He would need to go shower his self betrayal off at some point, but it could wait for now. How he hated being civil to the pain in the ass.

Cloud gathered his things as he thought of ways to dispose of the red headed nuisance, and then waited in the doorway of the church just a little longer. He was beginning to think that Kotetsu was really gone forever now, and that hurt him deeply for some reason. He hadn't spent that much time with the girl, but he had become so intensely obsessed with her that her sudden loss was scarily very painful. He hadn't wanted to tell Tifa since she seemed to be over worried these days. Plus, he was a big boy now, he didn't need to talk about things...

Cloud sighed as he felt his time grow shorter and more filled, annoyed that he was still wasting it all on the mysterious girl that would never come back. Maybe it was time to cut back on the searches, sleep in his own bed for a change, time to let life take its course...

Cloud jumped on his bike as he re-planned his week, annoyed that Reno had somehow filled it with more Shinra nonsense.

It didn't take him long to get to his destination, and he waited patiently for Rude to show face.

A few moments later, the man's baldy head glinted in the sunlight, signalling it was time for action. He sighed again for the millionth time this week and set off to begin his new mission.

...

Kotestsu stared up at the huge building in front of them, its many windows glistening like stars in the sunlight. She hoped very much that she would be staying in room with a view, though she knew better. She would probably be sent into the dungeon like area, or even not be picked at all, and sent back for more abuse.

The line came to a halt and she too stopped, her heart beating frantically. She couldn't help the childish excitement that soared through her. This could be the day she would be set free...

Well, free from her master at any rate.

They were all taken into the biggest and most extravagant building in Midgar, her minder trying his best to fix her hair and a line her clothing the best he could. He obviously wanted a much easier charge than she had been for the last couple of years. The inside of the building was more magnificent than she could have imagined with its huge entrance room and many sets of stairs that were lined with red carpeting. Kotetsu wouldn't mind staying here that was for sure. She couldn't help but also wonder if Cloud possibly visited here, or even worked for whoever it was that was potentially going to be her new owner. God she hoped so!

The group halted as the master raised his hand in signal. Her minder straitened her stance subtly, sorting her hair again. God she wished he would just piss off. A red headed cocky man stepped out from one of the elevators ahead and approached them, his face a look of complete confusion.

"So you must be our anonymous client then?" he lent casually on the railing of the set of stairs to the left, stopping to get a good look at everyone. His eyes lingered on Kotetsu a little longer than the others, probably with her being the only girl there. God, she hated men...

"I am indeed, I take it, however, that you are not Rufus?" The red haired man nodded and laughed softly.

"That's right. He'll be upstairs. I'm here to escort you to him." He gestured for the master and his group to follow him into the elevators. It was a bit of a squeeze, but everyone eventually fitted in. The elevator jerked and they were rising up the levels rather quickly. Kotetsu stared at the carpeted floor, desperately trying to avoid the red head's eyes that were currently burning a hole into her soul. No one else seemed to notice but it was most unnerving. "That's us almost there guys, and girl," he inclined his head towards Kotetsu, who tried her best to ignore his words. "and Rufus will be in the end room waiting to meet you all. He has the area set up like you requested, and his best fighting machines ready." The red head seemed to have a flicker of concern in his eyes for the group of children that were with him, but Kotetsu just returned her gaze to the floor, not wanting to care about how the stranger felt.

Stupid red headed stranger...

Hey guys! sorry for the delay on ma wee stories... Christmas period and all that, and even with time off work, i have been a busy beaver! but worry not! I should be back to my good old writing self. And i am very sorry for the wait.

So i hope you guys are still enjoying this one. I'm trying out a few contravertial topics and i'd love to hear what you have to say! so please leave any feedback you like and enjoy!