Disclaimer: Finial Fantasy belongs 100% to Square Enix. Plotline is our own.
A/N: Sorry that it has been such a long time since the last update. Even I did not think I would be this busy all the time. To make up for it, I am posting all three of these chapters at once. Hope it doesn't take as long for the next update. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Seven: Christmas
"Sorry. Tseng and Rude kept us late." Morgan said as he entered the room. He was bombarded with pillows.
"GRINCH!" The girls yelled. Morgan grinned and threw the pillows back.
"Nope. Matti's later then me, he's the Grinch." He said as he flopped down on the nest of blankets and pillows Ryu had made by the couch.
"How'd you get Reno to let you off for the day?" He asked her. She grinned.
"I only had driving today." She said "Reno had to go down into Midgar with Rude this afternoon, and then he has evening training with Cloud."
"I know. Rude had me doing paperwork while he was with Reno." Morgan said grimacing.
"So that's what you were doing." Matti said as he came in. Morgan nodded his head.
"You're the Grinch." Piper told him as he sat next to her. He grinned and shook his head.
"Here." Ryu said handing Morgan a glass. Morgan took it saw it was eggnog and gulped half of it down before the distinct taste registered.
"GAH! You spiked the eggnog!" He gasped. Ryu giggled.
"That's what you get for chugging." She said.
"Who even thought to make eggnog?" He asked.
"Me." Alanna said simply. Matti cautiously sipped his own drink.
"Not bad, but missing some nutmeg." He said finally.
"You try finding nutmeg in Midgar. Be happy I got what I did."
"How many glasses has Mary had already?" Morgan asked noting Mary's bright red face.
"One of eggnog, and one of a makeshift Dragon's Breath." Alanna said.
"Already?" Morgan protested looking at Ryu.
"Not me. I've barely finished my eggnog."She protested in turn, showing him her glass. He relaxed.
"Worry-wart." She grumbled.
"Of course I worry. You shouldn't be drinking. It's bad for you and what if you get drunk and hung over?" He said.
"Scrooge, stop ruining my Christmas." She told him.
X3X3X3X3X3
"I don't get it." Cloud said. He and Reno were riding the elevator up to the SOLDIER floor.
"Don't get what, yo?" Reno asked lazily. He wanted to know what had Ryu and the other girls all excited about.
"How has she picked up Parkour so fast?" Cloud asked, "I am enhanced and I have to work to catch her." He explained softly. Reno shrugged.
"She'd tell you she's not a fighter, so running away makes far more sense to her." He said as the elevator doors slid open as they reached the 90th floor. Reno followed Cloud into the apartment.
They heard the sounds of muffled laughter, through the fairly soundproof walls. The doppelgangers sure were making a lot of noise.
"What are they doing?" Cloud asked puzzled.
"Dunno, but they locked us out." Zack said. He seemed a little dejected that Piper wasn't around, but he quickly pounced on Cloud and started wrestling with the younger, smaller boy.
Shaking his head Reno went and knocked on the door. The laughter died, only to be replaced by silence and a muffled giggle.
Suddenly the door opened and Reno was slammed with pillows and peals of laughter. Mary paraded out leading Piper, Ryu and Alanna out into the hall. They lined up and started humming linking their hands together like they were a choir and swaying slightly.
Mary suddenly burst into the Christmas Can-Can by Straight No Chaser and led the way into the living room, where she hopped up onto the coffee table and started dancing the can-can.
Alanna and Ryu, at Piper's urging, stood in a line in front of Mary and also preformed the kick line all the while singing.
"Christmas, Christmas time is
here,
and Christmas songs you love to hear.
Thoughts of joy and hope and cheer,
but mostly shopping, shopping,
SHOPPING!
Christmas, Christmas time is here,
the sleigh bells and the red nosed deer.
Songs and songs we love to hear
all played a thousand times each year
Heard this same song 20 times and it's
only Halloween (Joy to the World)
It's not even cold outside (deck the halls
with boughs of holly)
Christmas, Christmas time is here, and
Christmas songs you love to hear
(Hark the herald angels sing joy to)
thoughts of joy and hope and cheer, but
mostly shopping, shopping, shopping
Christmas season, starting sooner every
year
It's October, stores with plastic
Christmas trees
Ransack the mall, shop until you lose
your mind
Spike the eggnog, sit back and watch
Rudolf, Frosty, Tiny Tim, and Scrooge, the
Grinch, or Charlie Brown
It's time...
It's time to do the Christmas can-can
if you can't, can't dance well that's ok
(not going to do the kick line)
All you need is a tree, some lights about
a thousand presents
wrap them up and pray for snow
Run to your closet find your Christmas
sweaters screaming carols all the way
(fa-la-la-la-la)"
Here Alanna and Ryu pretended to scream in Piper's ear since she was in between them.
"Maine all the way to California it's the
Christmas can-can Halloween to
Christmas day
It's the most wonderful time of year
we're running mad with Christmas cheer
hey what's troubling you my friend?"
Alanna and Ryu pretended to ask Piper.
"It's not fair if you're jewish, jewish (not fair
if your Jewish, Jewish)" Piper sang. Grinning Ryu and Alanna took up the next part of the song.
"Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel I made it out of
clay
You realize that Christmas ain't the only
holiday
Hey he's right who made these laws
Look! Wait! Here comes Santa Claus,
Santa Claus, Santa Claus, Santa Claus,
Santa Claus (Santa, Santa, Santa, Santa,
Santa, Santa, Santa, Santa)"
The girls pretended to bounce up and down excitedly. Zack joined the kick line not caring that he didn't know what the hell he was doing.
Hey Santa do the can-can help them if
you can-can join in the parade
All you need is a tree, some lights about
a thousand presents
wrap them up and pray for snow
Run to your closet find your Christmas
sweaters screaming carols all the way
(fa-la-la-la-la)
Prance all the way to Indiana it's the
Christmas can-can that's the end
Wait for our ending
We should share this holiday
I wanna give a happy Hanukah to you, a
happy Hanukah to you, a happy Hanukah
to you
A merry Christmas, Hanukah and also
Kwanzaa. Merry
Christmas, happy Hanukah, and mer-ry
Kwan-zaa too"
With that they finished the song. Zack pouted, sad that the dance had ended. All throughout the song Alanna, Ryu, and Piper had tried so hard not to laugh at Angeal's horrified face, or Zack and Cloud's laughing faces at their antics. Finished Mary bowed and hopped off the table and head back down the hall. Alanna paused and said,
"There is no hate, only joy, for you are beloved by the Goddess." Piper hopped up onto Alanna's back.
"Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen. On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen." She said pointing down the hall. Laughing Alanna took off.
"Merry Christmas, yo!" Ryu added skipping down the hall.
With that the four collected their pillows, entered the room and firmly closed the door in Reno's stunned face.
Once behind the door they all dissolved into helpless giggles.
"I can't believe we did that." Ryu said.
"I can, you're buzzed." Morgan said guiding Ryu to sit next to him. She contentedly leaned against him.
"Did you see Angeal's face when Mary started dancing?" Alanna asked giggling. Ryu and Piper nodded their heads as they burst into peals of laughter at Mary's horrified face.
"I didn't even know he was there." She said slightly embarrassed.
"Oh his eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head. You shocked the hell out of him." Ryu gasped out giggling. Mary flushed brighter red.
"I hate you guys." She said.
"Genesis was watching too." Ryu added.
"What?" Alanna squeaked. Ryu nodded her head.
"Yeah he was in the kitchen." She said.
"Now I'm embarrassed." Alanna said sinking into her blankets.
"You only made a small idiot of yourself." Piper reassured her. Alanna groaned.
"With him that's all it takes." She said sinking even deeper. Ryu launched herself on top of Alanna suddenly.
"'Lanna no Christmas blues. You promised! Don't make me…"Ryu's fingers dug under the blanket and found 'Lanna's ticklish sides. "TICKLE YOU!" Ryu declared. Alanna laughed.
"Damn Turk! Get off me!" She growled, laughing and twisting out from under Ryu. Unfazed Ryu sat on the blankets next to her.
"Go away Turk." Alanna said pushing Ryu's face away. Grinning Ryu swatted the hand away.
"AWWW but you love me anyways." Ryu told her. Alanna grimaced, laughing.
"Why am I friends with someone like you?" She asked. Ryu cocked her head to the side and rested her finger against her chin.
"Cuz we're good for each other. We might irritate the hell out of each other but admit it without me; your life would be booorrrrinnnggg." Ryu said dragging the last word out to emphasize her point. She turned to look at the others.
"I think that goes for everyone." She said. Then she shook her head and slapped her hands against her cheeks.
"No more philosophy. This is happy time, booze time! Not sentimental time." She grabbed a beer and handed it to Alanna.
"Drink up." She said. Alanna lifted her glass. Ryu and the other tapped their glasses together.
"Cheers!" Alanna said.
"Merry Christmas." Ryu said.
"And Hanukkah and Kwanza too." Piper said.
"Cheers" Matti and Morgan said.
X3X3X3X3X3
Someone was banging on the door. It was Christmas morning and someone was banging on the door, loudly. Groaning Mary sat up and went to open the door. She pulled it open to find Angeal standing there. Embarrassed to be caught in her pj's by her crush she moved behind the door.
"Hi," She said softly. Angeal eyed the room behind her. Sprawled everywhere on the floor were the doppelgangers. There were three lumpy nests of pillows on the ground beside Mary's. Angeal turned his gaze back to Mary.
"I hope you are sober." He said sternly. Mary nodded her head.
"Sleepy but not hung over." She told him, "What's up?" He gestured to Ryu and Morgan.
"They need to report to Reno and Rude and you, Piper and Alanna are going with us SOLDIERs on our mission." He said. Mary nodded her head.
"What about Matti?" She asked.
"I'm sure Tseng as something for him to do while we're gone." He said before he turned to leave. Mary turned back to the unpleasant task of spoiling Christmas for her friends.
X3X3X3X3X3
Sephiroth, Genesis, Angeal, Zack, and Cloud were stunned by the silence of the doppelgangers sitting in the helicopter with them. It wasn't sullen per say, just silent. They didn't appear to be upset about being ousted from their fun but they were eerily quiet for the group. Although in Piper's defense, she was sleeping leaning against Ryu's shoulder. The SOLDIERs were used to almost ceaseless chatter from the group.
"So where are we going?" Alanna finally asked. Genesis sighed and closed his copy of LOVELESS; now that the silence was broken there would be ceaseless chatter and no peace to read.
"Icicle Inn. There have been reports of very nasty ice monsters up there. They are too much for normal SOLDIERs. That is why we are going." Angeal said.
"So why are we going? Won't we just be in the way?" Mary asked.
"Your main job will to act as interference for us with the civilians." Sephiroth explained.
"We tend to get mobbed." Zack added.
"And you expect three girls to protect you from the mobs of your adoring fans?" Alanna asked.
"Not the fans. The officials, the inn keepers, and such," Sephiroth said.
"People get scared when they realize that they are facing a 1st class SOLDEIR. Even Cloud can scare them." Angeal explained.
"This is also a good opportunity for you to learn what it is really like to go on missions." Genesis finally added to the conversation giving them a disapproving look.
"Oh nice of you to join the rest of humanity," Alanna said acidly to him. She turned her head to look out the window.
"Well at least I act dignified at all times." He said disapprovingly.
"Hey Genesis, all humans take a shit once in a while. We all know you do too." She responded. The SOLDIERs snickered; Genesis hated admitting he had to do something as human as going to the bathroom. He gaped at her before he opened LOVELESS and went back to reading.
"Would you mind reading that out loud? I am bored." Alanna complained. Genesis gave her a confused look over the top of his book.
"HELL NO." The SOLDIERs and Mary protested. Alanna huffed to herself.
"Quietly?" She asked.
"NO!" Zack yelped, "Anything but that!" He said.
"Fine." Alanna said and leaned sideways and put her head on Genesis's lap and promptly fell asleep. Genesis looked down at her confused. Sephiroth snickered softly. Genesis glared at him and saw that the other SOLDIERs were silently laughing. Angeal was taking a picture of it with his camera. Alanna raised her hand and flipped off the general direction of Angeal just as he took the picture.
"Take a picture of that 'Geal." She snapped before truly falling asleep. Genesis chuckled softly.
X3X3X3X3X3
Ryu followed Reno through one of the Sectors below the Plate. Morgan and Rude were on the other side of the Sector looking for the same information.
"So we're down here to find out if someone is sending monsters into this sector or if all the attacks were random?" She asked. Reno nodded his head. Ryu looked around them. Anyone who saw their uniforms, which was everyone, gave them a wide berth.
"How? Everyone fears Turks no one is going to talk to us. And last I knew talking to people was part of information gathering."She said.
"Intimidation." Reno said. A cart selling fruits caught her eyes but Reno walked the other way as he approached someone.
Ryu stood back and watched as everyone fled from Reno. He was scowling annoyed people were getting better at avoiding them.
"Or we can try tricking them." Ryu said she took her jacket off and handed it to him. She straightened her shirt.
"You stay out of sight." She told him. Reno shrugged but trailed her. Ryu walked up to the fruit vendor and picked up a basket. She started picking up fruit and putting them in the basket.
"What the hell is she doing, yo?" Reno hissed to himself. Ryu smiled shyly to the vendor as she went to pay.
"You're a new face miss." He said. She shrugged.
"I heard there was a good fruit vendor down here so I came looking but…" She looked over her shoulder as if nervous.
"But?" He inquired.
"I've heard rumors recently about this sector." She said. He scowled.
"Those rumors about the monsters." He said bagging up her fruit for her.
"Are they true?" She asked. He nodded.
"Oh aye there's someone controlling the beasts down here. But who knows who they are, I'm shooting myself in the foot saying this miss but you should stay away until the problem is solved a young girl like you is just their target." He said handing her her bag as she paid him.
"They've been targeting young girls?" She asked surprised Reno hadn't told her that in the mission briefing. The vendor nodded his head.
"Aye, young woman just like you are gone, anyone that gets in the way is killed. Their bodies we've found but not the women." He said. Ryu looked thoughtful.
"Thanks for the advice and the fruit." She said pulling one out and biting into it. She grinned and closed her eyes.
"Lovely." She said delighted. The vendor finally took in her black pants, and white shirt.
"You're a Turk aren't you?" He asked. She winked at him.
"Even if I was, I am just a girl shopping for fruit right now. You won't hold my love of fresh, good fruit against me now would you?" She asked him. The vendor sighed and shook his head.
"Go away Turk." He said sighing. Ryu wandered back over to Reno munching on her piece of fruit. She handed him one.
"There is indeed someone controlling the monsters, and apparently young girls are his target." Ryu said, "The women have disappeared it looks like the deaths were collateral so to speak." She said around her fruit. Reno nodded his head. He pulled out his PHS and dialed Rude's number.
"We've got the info met you at the designated place." He said before he flipped the device shut.
"We aren't going back?" Ryu asked surprised as she followed Reno. Reno shook his head.
"Bossman said if we thought we could handle it to try if not come back and they'll send in the SOLDIERs." He said.
"We don't know who it is we just know it's happening." She pointed out. Reno nodded his head.
"That's why we're regrouping to think up a strategy." He told her.
Ryu looked up as Rude rounded the corner followed by Morgan. The four of them met in the middle of the alley way.
"What's the info?" Rude asked. Ryu handed both of them fruit. Rude looked at her confused as she started on her second one.
"This isn't a sightseeing trip." He told her. Reno shook his head.
"I know." She said.
"That's how she got our info." Reno said as Ryu took a big bite out of her fruit. Morgan shook his head and took a cautious bite of his.
"Why'd you get fruit?" Morgan asked her.
"I also get fruit on Christmas and to get information." She told him.
"How?" Rude asked. Ryu shrugged.
"She walked up to a vendor bought some fruit and chatted him up about the sector." Reno said. Morgan stared at her surprised.
"You never talk to strangers." He said. Ryu shrugged.
"I didn't want to stand around all day waiting for Reno to get answers." She admitted with another shrug. Reno dropped his hand onto her head and ruffled her hair. Absentmindedly she pushed his hand away, grinning.
"Knock it off Reno." She said, "I am still annoyed with you." She said. He clutched his heart hurt.
"What I did do, yo?" He asked.
"You didn't let me have coffee or open my presents this morning." She grumbled.
"The information?" Rude asked before Reno could respond.
"There is someone targeting young women from this Sector apparently kidnapping them." Reno told him. "So you were grumbling for coffee this morning? I couldn't tell what those grumbles were." He told Ryu. She stuck her tongue out at him and shoved him. Reno caught her in a headlock.
"Would you two behave?" Rude asked as Morgan rolled his eyes at the two of them.
"She is, if she was misbehaving you'd know." Morgan told Rude.
"Scary thought." The normally silent Turk said.
"So now what do we do?" Morgan asked.
"Well bossman said to handle it if we could. Do you think we can?" Reno asked Rude.
"We don't know who it is yet." Rude said. Ryu cleared her throat. They both looked at her. Morgan saw the look on her face.
"NO!" He snapped. Reno and Rude looked at him surprised because he'd never raised his voice before.
"It's our only way." She argued back.
"There has to be another way." He protested.
"What are you two talking about?" Reno asked.
"The vendor said I was the same age as the other women who were taken." Ryu started.
"HELL NO!" Reno snapped. Ryu scowled at both of them.
"What is with people telling me no all of a sudden?" She asked peeved, "I haven't even said my idea."
"You want to be monster bait." Reno said. Ryu shrugged.
"Do you have a better idea?" She asked.
"Yeah we keep digging." Reno said.
"And let someone else get kidnapped?" She asked them.
"She has a point." Rude said.
"Shut up Rude." Reno snapped. Ryu bit her lip.
"Niisan…" She started. Reno shook his head.
"Nuh-uh yo. Don't give me that look. I ain't letting you do this. You haven't even completed a basic mission and you want to go under cover?"
"I'll be alright. All we have to do is let the monster grab me, take me back to its master while you guys follow it and then viola we have our bad guy." She said.
"You understate the magnitude of the mission." Rude pointed out. Ryu sighed and pushed her bangs out of her face.
"I know it's dangerous. I know things could go wrong." She rounded on Reno.
"If you aren't going to let me ever do anything what's the point of training me?" She said. He sighed and rubbed his forehead under his goggles.
"It's not that you won't ever get to do missions, it's just that this is something even a seasoned Turk would be cautious about." He told her.
"Thank you." Morgan muttered under his breath.
"But she is right we need to act now." Rude pointed out. Reno glared at him.
"Does my vote of no count?" Morgan asked.
"Technically no since you have no experience but I am counting it now because you're backing me up." Reno said.
"Morgan…" She started. He sighed.
"What? Am I not supposed to want to keep you out of danger?" He asked.
"No, but you are supposed to trust me to know if I can handle it." She said.
"We are talking about monsters, not if you should have another drink or not!" He snapped. Ryu sighed and rubbed her temples.
-This is turning out to be a sucky Christmas- She said to herself. She looked up at Reno.
"Can I have a word with him alone?" She asked. Reno nodded. Ryu grabbed his arm and hauled him a short distance away.
"Morgan…" She said taking his hand in hers. She squeezed it tightly. He scowled.
"You're talking about casually playing bait for a monster we know nothing about." He said. Ryu smiled gently.
"Yeah but only because I am trusting you, Reno and Rude to be looking out for me. If it was me by myself I would never do it. But I am not. I've got a Turk that Tseng is saying is turning out to be one of the best snipers and two of the best and senior Turks. I couldn't be better protected." Morgan scowled at her.
"Do you have to run off to be the hero?" He asked. She laughed slightly.
"I don't want to be a hero, they only get glorious deaths. I want to live." Morgan sighed.
"I know you're going to do this anyways." He said giving in. She nodded her head.
"I don't want to but it needs to be done." She told him before she stood on tip toe and kissed his cheek. Morgan followed her back to Reno and Rude their fingers still twined together. Reno saw Morgan's face.
"You can't be serious?" He said nearly shouting, "What did she say to you?" Morgan shook his head.
"She's stubborn as hell. If she wants to do this there's no stopping her." Morgan said. Rude rested his hand on Reno's shoulder.
"We will keep her safe." The normally silent Turk said. Reno sighed.
"I still don't like it but I know you're right." He said. Ryu nodded her head.
Ryu walked down the sidewalk in the sector. She gently swung the purse they had gotten with her outfit. She was now wearing cargo pants (courtesy of Cloud's closet) a lose shirt, and her cadet boots. She was wrapped up in a thick canvas jacket to ward off the chill and fangs and claws.
"How you doing, yo?" Reno asked for what seemed like the fifth time. Ryu wanted to rip her ear piece out he was so annoying. She rubbed her nose as she said tersely,
"Fine, stop asking."
She'd been wandering from vendor to vendor pretending to be shopping. As dusk closed on them the hair on the back of Ryu's neck began to rise. It took a lot of effort to keep from turning her head to look over her shoulder every couple of seconds.
"You're getting jumpy." Rude said after she jumped startled by a door closing.
"Is someone following me? Because it feels like there is." She said.
"There's some two blocks or so back. He's been ducking around going here and there, but he's been near her for a bit now." Morgan said. He was on a roof overlooking the market section of the sector from there he could watch Ryu as she walked around through the scope of his rifle.
"Do you see him Rude?" Reno asked.
"Mmmph." Rude confirmed.
"He just disappeared." Morgan said. That's about when Ryu heard the screaming from behind her. Some kind of monster, she hadn't even begun to learn them all, came around the corner at a full run. Ryu pretended to be rooted to the ground with fear. It ran right up to her and snatched her up in its mouth. She managed a horrified scream worthy of an actress, it wasn't too hard as she was startled and maybe a little bit frightened.
"You alright Ryu?" Reno asked.
"Oh just peachy, you know nothing better than being carried off by a monster. My one complaint is that this isn't a dragon." She said sarcastically.
"No need to be a smart ass." Reno said. Morgan snorted as he chased after her over the roofs.
"She's always a smart ass." He said. Rude dressed as a civilian without his glasses on, was following her on foot. Reno was following along the rooftops, and using Parkour to keep up with her. When the monster leaped particularly high she could just make out his flash of red hair.
"Where are we headed?" She asked after she let out a theatric scream for the bad guys.
"Towards below the plate." Morgan said.
"Sector 4." Reno half groaned.
"Umph."Ryu said as the monster jumped the wall.
"We went over the wall." She said.
We're going to have trouble getting through the gates." Rude said.
"Meaning?" Ryu asked.
"You're on your own."Rude said. There was a pause.
"Oh well that puts a monkey wrench in the gears." She said.
"Stay safe until we get to you. You still have PHS so we can track you." Reno said.
"Left, left, right, up and over a building…" Ryu started listing off the directions and landmarks the monster took.
Ryu opened her eyes when the door opened. She lifted her head from her drawn up knees as another girl was shoved in to the room. Ryu had been in there for less than half an hour.
"So they got you too huh?" She said. The girl shyly nodded her head. She came and sat next to Ryu.
"Are you scared?" She asked. Ryu shook her head. The kidnappers hadn't searched her so hadn't found the earpiece.
"No my niisan will come to get me." She said.
"You can bet your ass, yo." Reno said. The annoying Turk had been singing, off key no less, just because she couldn't protest the turture.
"I'm Aerith, it's nice to meet you Ryu." Aerith said, Ryu wasn't all that surprised that Aerith knew her name.
"Ryu don't let them hurt her." Rude said suddenly. Ryu made a face. She knew that already. Ryu accepted the hug Aerith was offering and said,
"I am pleased to meet you too,".
The door opened again and two men entered. One was clearly a body guard, big, bulky, arrogant, and openly carrying a weapon. The other was some kind of business mad judging by his suit, he had a greedy, shifty look to him and he was holding a glass of wine.
"So these are our canadates." He mused looking them over, "Poor pickings, seems unlikely that either of them could be the Cetra, but better to be safe." He said. Ryu shifted so she was slightly in front of Aerith.
"They're searching for Cetra?" Reno asked surprised. They could hear the conversation going around her the ear piece was that sensitive. Ryu felt like grumbling about how if he had time to state the obvious he had time to be looking for them harder.
The business man gestured towards Ryu.
"Might as we start with her." He said bored, he sipped his wine. Ryu had the terrible urge to smash that glass into his face. The body guard withdrew a syringe and needle from his pocket.
-I hate needles- Ryu thought shivering.
"Ryu whatever they are doing don't fight them." Rude ordered. She let the bodyguard pin her to the ground and jab the needle into her arm.
"Needles." She hissed, it came out as a half whimper.
"Are they drawing blood?" Reno asked. She hissed in acknowledgement.
"Reno…" Rude said.
"I don't care." Reno responded. She could hear the wind whistling past his ear piece, as if he was running faster.
"If they get Aerith's blood…" Rude said.
"We aren't risking Ryu, if they get Aerith's blood we'll destroy the sample. I am almost there." Reno snapped. Morgan sighed.
"You know she can hear you? She's probably already attacking." He said. Reno cursed.
"Ryu don't you dare." He snapped.
Ryu watched the bodyguard put the vial of her blood in a case and took out a new syringe. She knew what Aerith was and what could happen. After Ryu's blood had been drawn Aerith had moved to kneel next to Ryu, her hand on her arm. Ryu gently moved her hand and stood as the bodyguard came close. She gently wiped the smear of blood leaking from her arm.
"Sit down." The guard ordered roughly. Ryu's head snapped up and she glared at him.
"I don't take orders from you." She hissed and kicked the syringe from his hand and pushed Aerith back against the wall.
"What are you doing?" The suit yelled surprised that the originally complacent girl was fighting back.
"You had the upper hand before but not anymore." Ryu said.
"Ryu stand down." Reno yelled in her ear.
"Get out of the way girl or you'll die."
"You're going to kill me anyways if I am not what you are looking for so what's the point?" She asked. The suit laughed.
"We don't want to kill you my dear, you're too valuable as a commodity." He said. She frowned.
"Commodity?" She asked to keep the idiot talking.
"There are plenty of buyers for young women." He said.
"So you're a slaver." Ryu hissed, he shrugged.
" Such a nasty word, no I prefer merchant." Ryu snorted at the pompous prick's attitude.
"Picked up a specific reading off her PHS." Rude said.
"You here that Ryu we know exactly where you are. Don't do anything stupid." Morgan said.
"Now then let's not be stupid my dear. Being alive after all is better than being dead." He said. Ryu snorted.
"I never do anything stupid," She said to Morgan, to the slaver she said, "And I'd be an idiot to to think you're any kind of merchant or that the life you're offering is any kind I'd want. I would die before becoming a slave." She lunged forward towards he guard, as he swung at her she dove to the ground and rolled. Her feet smacking into his chest. Ryu scrambled to her feet and dodged his attacks.
X3X3X3X3X3
Someone was shaking her shoulder. Alanna groaned and pressed her face into Genesis's leg.
"Get up'Lanna." She heard Mary saying.
"Don't want to." She muttered. Genesis shoved her head away from his lap.
"Up." He said curtly. Alanna sighed and sat up.
"You're all a bunch of spoil sports. I was having a nice dream." She said.
"I bet you were." Mary said smirking. Alanna scowled at her and stood. She put her nose in the air and walked out of the chopper. She promptly fell on her face into the snow. There was a lot of laughter.
"Oh God, why? I hate snow I can already feel my toes getting cold." She whined standing up and brushing off. Piper hopped down next to her and flopped forward to make a snow angel. Zack cocked his head to the side watching her for a minute before he copied her actions.
"Piper, stop teaching Zack bad habits he has enough as it is." Mary said scowling as she stepped off the chopper. Genesis followed her. Cloud, Angeal and Sephiroth were already standing in the snow waiting for them. Genesis moved to stand behind Sephiroth.
"Sooo…" Piper said sitting up. Mary helped her to her feet and brushed her off. Zack leaped to his feet and shook himself off.
"We go to the Inn, check in, and speak to the locals." Sephiroth said.
"That's what you do, what do we do?" Alanna asked. Sephiroth scowled.
"You are Turks you will be acting as such." He said. Angeal reached into his pocket and handed Sephiroth an energy drink.
"You're getting cranky again." He said before he turned to the three girls.
"You're main job will be to make sure we can do our job." He said.
"Details, details." Piper demanded as they followed them to the Inn. Sephiroth chugging his energy drink.
"Mainly dealing with the inn keeper, keeping the fans away, and guarding our rooms." Sephiroth said.
"So we are protecting you from the fan girls!" Alanna said. Genesis scowled.
"In a way." He said.
"In a big way." Alanna said rolling her eyes.
"Any of the fan clubs can get in the way of a mission." Angeal explained.
"And put others in danger." Cloud added shyly.
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Alanna was sitting in Genesis and Angeal's shared room. She was grateful for the Turk uniform although she had pulled a black knit cap over her red hair. She knew what would happen if the Red Leather Club found her sitting in Genesis's room. It would be worse if they found her sitting in Genesis's room dressed as Genesis. The crazy fan girl clubs could get dangerous. Idly she tapped her fingers on her thigh she really had nothing better to do. She itched to practice Materia but without the VR room or a more experienced user nearby it was a bad idea she decided. She got up and started pacing. If she had to sit in idleness for days she was going to kill Genesis. A book propped up against Genesis's pillow caught her eye. A tiny slip of paper was sticking out of it; curious Alanna opened it and read,
In case you get bored
Alanna leaned back against the pillow and started at the beginning of LOVELESS.
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It was one in the morning when the SOLDIERs returned from monster hunting. Tired, they all headed to their rooms. Genesis unlocked his room and walked in. He paused causing Angeal to bump into him.
"What's the matter?" Angeal asked. Genesis pointed to his bed, curled on her side, LOVELESS open in front of her was Alanna. Genesis's note was stuck between the pages marking her place.
"She must have fallen asleep reading." Angeal said with a shrug.
"But she's on my bed."Genesis protested. It wasn't quite a whine, but it came close.
"Well then move her." Angeal told him, grumpily. Genesis shrugged and pushed his doppelganger to the side of the bed.
"Ryu I don't want to get up." She mumbled, "Just let me sleep, I can for…" She trailed off going deeper into her dream, or nightmare. Genesis raised an eyebrow at this. He covered his doppelganger with a blanket.
Genesis looked up to see Angeal standing looking at him his arms crossed over his chest an eyebrow raised. Genesis scowled.
"Oh don't start Angeal." He sighed. Angeal grinned.
"I wasn't going say anything." Angeal told him. Genesis smirked.
"Yeah right." Angeal smiled and inclined his head.
"Perhaps something had come to mind."
"Which I am sure you'll tell me." Genesis said as he took off his duster and hung it up.
"You're growing to care for her." Angeal said. Genesis snorted.
"Ridiculous." He said as sat on the end of the bed, careful of her feet, and took his boots off.
"Not so very ridiculous." Angeal said, taking off his sword and setting it by the head of his bed. Genesis had already done the same with Rapier.
"Oh?" Genesis said.
"She knows LOVELESS almost by heart, she loves Materia, she's vain, arrogant, and a tad bit fiery. She's a good match to you." Angeal told him. Genesis shook his head.
"I am sure there is a boy waiting for her where ever she comes from." He said.
About that time Alanna started to cry softly in her sleep. Startled Genesis leapt to his feet his hand reaching for Materia before he realized it was Alanna. Through the tears, mumbling and sobs they managed to pick out a few words. Words that spoke of a sad, lonely heart.
Angeal raised an eyebrow at Genesis, he knew he could see him even though the room was only lit by starlight.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that." He said before he lay down on his bed to sleep.
Genesis looked down at Alanna. She'd stopped crying and had curled up tightly on herself. He reached down brushed a few strands of her from her face.
"There is no hate, only joy… For you are beloved by the goddess…Hero of the dawn, healer of worlds." He whispered before he stretched out beside her on the bed and tried to sleep. He found it hard to do when she turned and snuggled against him, her fingers curling tightly in his shirt, her head tucked under his chin. He almost pushed her away, until a happy, contented sigh, almost a purr, came from her. Genesis let her be.
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Reno burst into the room, his blue eyes flashing, almost glowing. He quickly took in the scene. Ryu was sitting, primly on top of two men, the bulkier one on the bottom, the smaller suited one on top. She was sitting with on leg crossed over the other, her hands on her knees. She turned to look at him. When she saw it was him she hopped to her feet. Rude came in after Reno.
Ryu saw Reno bearing down on her and hopped off the men and back away from them since that was where he was headed a terribly, vengeful look on his face. He paused and looked down at the two men. The slaver had a myriads of small cuts that streamed blood freely down his face. He had a few developing bruises but he seemed unharmed. Rude hauled him up.
The body guard was dead. Bruises showed on his face, knuckles, and bare arms. He had bite marks, scratches, a few broken bones, and sticking from one eye a syringe full of blood. But Rude guessed it was cut along his neck that had killed him if the pool of blood and the shard of glass in it was anything to go on.
"Ryu?" Reno asked. He was standing in front of her.
"You alright neesan?" He asked. Ryu blinked and looked up at him. She shook her head to get a grip and smiled.
"Yeah I am alright." She said. Reno reached out and rested his hand on her shoulder.
"Let's get back to Shinra and get you cleaned up." He said.
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A/N: Hope you all like the new chapters. I will try to do big posts like this every time there is an extra long break between updates. Again, if you have anything you really want to see in the story or any suggestions feel free to let us know. Reviews are always loved!