Author's notes: I was going to upload this yesterday seeing as I always update on my birthday, but I decided that today was better cause it's Tifa's birthday today :)
Happy birthday to the most awesome female character ever!

Thanks for your continued support Cormag! and thank you, guest reviewer and welcome to my story!


They ran through the deserted streets. Dagran knew that his friends would soon follow them. He had noticed that he lost his feather so they must act fast. Since Yurick and Mirania both had sensing abilities, he knew that the only way to shake them of their trail was to enter the sewers.

Chapter 5: Beneath the Streets of Lazulis.

''We have to go down into the sewers.'' Dagran said looking over at the still sulking Tifa.

''No! I will not go down there.'' she argued and pointed to the well in question. ''Mr complain and not do things himself, can go down there by himself. It's after all you they are after.'' she crossed her arms demonstratively over her chest.

''When using their sensing skill, they also sense you...and if they get you without me...well, let's just say you would be in trouble.'' He explained coldly while returning her angry glare.

''Is someone up there?'' a voice could be heard from the well. ''Please help me!?''

Dagran recognized the voice, but he was too tired to argue with his companion. He knew he had acted wrongly, and had every intention to make it up to her later. He remained silent and marched over to where she was standing. Then he yanked her arm hard and dragged her to him. He ignored her angry grunting, and wordlessly slung her up on his shoulders, and leaped down into the darkness of the well.

Tifa's echoing scream ended abruptly as they landed with a big splash into the sewer waters. The smell hitting them like a ton of bricks. They were both completely soaked in stinking water, and Dagran crawled out of the water with inhuman speed. Running towards the end of a corridor. Hoping to put some distance between him and her wrath.

''I will get you for this!'' Tifa snarled angrily and shot after him like a bullet. ''You will be wishing it was your friends finding you before I'm done with you!''

''Master Dagran!?'' Horace shouted in surprise, his head popping out from a crack in the wall. A sheepish smile took over his surprised look as the mercenary's gaze located him. ''I'm afraid...I'm quite stuck...''

Dagran found himself grinning at the man. Horace was the same hopeless man as before. He had never met another person who could get himself into these weird predicaments. His grin widened when turning to see Tifa charging towards him. Just as she was about to kick him, he side stepped. Which made her ram her foot right through the wall, freeing Horace in the process.

''Ah! Thank you, young lady...'' Horace merrily replied, to the woman sitting on the ground. A few stones shifted as he stepped over them, making her gasp from pain. Something he failed to notice in his eagerness of getting out from the space which had confined him. ''I am most grateful. What a nice friend you've got, master Dagran.''

''What are doing here anyway?'' Dagran asked the man, trying to hide his concern as he knelt down and helped to free her foot from the stone rubble. He had already begun casting cure before getting her free from the heavy brick stones because of the slight flinch she had made when he had grabbed her leg. He helped her to stand and when she stumbled slightly, he wrapped an arm around the small of her back. Not wanting to take any chances, when she seemed off balance.

''I was kidnapped by a gang of thieves while out exploring a cave by the shore...'' Horace explained vividly. So into his own story that he failed to see that the two mercenaries weren't listening. ''They wanted my help to break into the haunted mansion so they could plunder it. I refused seeing as we barely made it out alive the last time.''

''Don't think that gets you of the hook...'' Tifa muttered quietly, blushing a deep red when finding herself so close to him. The smirk she received in return just fuelled her irritation which caused her to start pushing him away. ''I don't need you help, let me go!''

''I'm not going to allow you to fall just because you're stubborn!'' Dagran responded as a matter of fact. Not able to resist teasing her. He was too preoccupied by her evading his hands, that the footsteps behind him went unnoticed. A sudden sharp pain to the back of his head sent him into her arms. The last thing he could hear was Tifa screaming his name before everything went dark.

''Dagran!'' She called distraught as she struggled with his weight. Her legs finally buckled and she found herself on the ground, holding onto her companion. Her fingers were coated with his blood and in her worry, she didn't see the sleeping arrow that flew towards her. The sting she felt however, but fought in vain against its effects.

''My, my...what do we have here?'' A voice said viciously. ''How nice of you to bring pets for us to play with.''

Horace gulped and tried to crawl away helplessly. He did not reach very far before a hand ruthlessly yanked him back to the fallen mercenaries. His gaze landed on the unconscious pair and guilt grew in the pit of his stomach, ''I'm sorry that you were dragged into this...''


''Can't you sense him anywhere?'' Syrenne impatiently asked Mirania every few minutes. ''Oi Dagran! Stop this and just show yourself!'' she ordered as she checked out another dark alley.

''I can sense him and another person, but they have already passed here.'' Mirania said softly, wiping sweat from her brow. Her blue eyes slightly dazed from using her magic. ''Let's head back to the others, maybe they have found them.''

''Yeah, good idea.'' Syrenne agreed tiredly. The both of them walking through backstreet's, heading towards the market. Impatience was in her nature and she hated changes. She wanted to find him immediately. Things had not been the same since Dagran died. Their group hadn't been the same, and she hated it. Even drinking had become less fun without him too. Or rather drinking before she became pregnant that is.

Syrenne couldn't figure out why he was evading them. Or choose to hid himself from them. They were all missing him. Did he still not know how much he meant to them? She found herself thinking back on the night where she first met him so many years ago.

''Hey, you all right?'' A voice gently called out to her.

''Leave me the hell alone...'' Syrenne sneered up at the handsome stranger from her spot on the road.

''Not really my style. Leaving a injured person on the ground.'' He said and hauled her up on her feet and grabbing her arm and threw it around his shoulder. Steadying her.

''I don't need any help! Especially from a man.'' Syrenne bellowed and tried to push him away. Making them both fall to the ground. ''I've had enough of men, to last me a lifetime!'' she punched him on the arm when he tried once again to help her up.

''Not all men are alike, you know.'' He told her with a knowing look on his face. As if he knew how she'd become injured. As if he knew that she had been left behind in battle by her comrades. Or rather, former scumbag comrades. ''You can't put all of us with the crappy bunch.''

''Yeah!? Care to prove that? ''Syrenne snapped back at him, glaring up into his gentle eyes.

''I dare you to follow me, and I will prove it.'' He said seriously and reached for her hand.' 'Or are you scared?'' He added with a devious smirk on his face.

''Scared, me? HA! You will eat those words.'' Syrenne replied cockily as she clasped his hand in a firm handshake. She was never one to run from a dare.

Syrenne shook her head and cleared her thoughts. Tucking the memory back were it belonged and watched her friend walking in front of her. Soon they found the two men standing by the old well in a back alley of the market. They were arguing amongst themselves. Yurick had a stubborn look on his face and Lowell looked like he had a hard time making himself heard.

''If you last sensed them here, then they must be inside the sewers.'' Lowell said raising his voice and crossed his arms across his chest. '' I say we follow them or else they will get away.''

''No. I still think it's wiser to wait until we can get a hold of Zael.'' Yurick responded stubbornly and mimicked his pose. ''We don't know who the other aura I sense belong to. Maybe we can't handle them on our own. It is safer to have all of us present when we find him.''

''What do you mean by that?'' Lowell snapped angrily, glaring at his younger companion. ''He is our friend, isn't he? Why still treat him like the monster he turned into? The stuff he did before was behind out backs. He never once hurt any of us like the way you are insinuating now...''

''What if he his still possessed?'' Yurick countered harshly. His eye forming into a slit. ''You're going to be a father soon. We must be careful so nothing gets out of control again. Are you really willing to risk anything at this stage?'' His voice softened as he gestured towards Syrenne's stomach.

''I agree with Yurick.'' Mirania said and looked back and forth between her friends. '' Though, I find it hard to believe that a possessed Dagran would break into your bar.''

''They're right, love...'' Syrenne softly spoke up. Her concerned eyes piercing her lover's resolve. ''Better safe than bloody sorry, right?''

''Aye, all right...'' Lowell gave in with a defeated sigh. Not being able to deny the love of his life anything.

''Then it's settled. We will find him, it's just a matter of time.'' Mirania said. Suddenly cheerful again. Her blue gaze trailing along her dear friends faces. One after the other. ''Let's call it a day and go home and rest. We can tell Zael and Calista about our suspicions when they come back from their trip...''


Dagran stirred from his slumber by the sound of laughter. His head felt like it had been smashed into a brick wall and his vision a little blurry. He found himself in chains: hanging by the arms in the air. He looked up and saw that he hung from a beam in the celling and his feet had been bound together.

''Well there goes my escape plan.'' He muttered to himself as he tried to focus his gaze on taking in his new surroundings. After a few blinks he spotted Tifa. She lay on the dirty floor a few feet away. She looked unharmed, but she was still unconscious. She must have been hit with a sleeping arrow...

His hazel gaze then landed on the small table in the corner of the room. Where four men were sitting close together. These must be the ones who attacked them. They were having a heated discussion over what looked to be a map in the centre of the worn table. His eyes widened in anger when landing on a familiar face. ''You! I should have know the smell of rot was coming from you...'' Dagran snarled aggressively.

''Ah, and so the pretty boy is awake.'' Zoran greeted with a smirk, standing up which sent his chair to the ground with a clatter. ''Took you long enough! Almost thought we had whacked you for good.''

''In your dreams.'' Dagran cockily replied, glaring at his former friend.

''What a good dream that would be!'' Zoran barked out a laugh as he approached the bound man. He leaned in close as to inspect the other man. His fingers coming up to tap against Dagran's forehead, which caused said man to let out a growl like sound. ''Too bad you have such a thick head, or that whack would have been enough.''

Horace who lay fettered like a animal waiting to be slaughtered awoke with a start. His eyes widened in panic of the predicament he found himself in. His eyes landed on Dagran and seeing the strong mercenary in a similar situation as himself caused the last of his hope to die out. ''Please listen to me! I was telling you the truth before. That house is filled with evil-'' he tried in vain to get through to the thieves.

''Shut it you lying piece of shit! You think we'll fall for a children's story of ghosts!?'' one of the men rushed over to Horace and brutally kicked him in the side. Laughing at the whimper coming from the man beneath his foot. ''Unless you want more of this, I suggest you keep your mouth shut...''

''Filthy cowards!'' Dagran snarled and spit Zoran straight between his eyes.

''Gah! You'll regret that, pretty boy!'' Zoran sneered while furiously wiping his face clean with a handkerchief.

''We ought to teach our guest some manners, eh Zoran? Hand me the whip will you?'' A burly man spoke and turned away from the table. He walked in front of Dagran and punched him hard in the stomach. The impact made the air go out of him. ''Not so tough now, are ya?''

Tifa have been playing unconscious for quite some time. She's been trying to peek from time, to time: in hopes of studying their surroundings. She was lying in front of a few crates near the table. Her view of Dagran was obscured by the two men in front of him. The other two men was behind her somewhere. She knew she had to use her material arts if they were to survive this. The small space made her use of magic very limited, but she had to wait for the right moment.

''Let's see if you like the taste of this...'' said the burly man said with a smirk as the whip connected to his prisoner's skin. Which immediately cracked open and blood trickled lazy down Dagran's stomach. He glanced over his shoulder at the lone man by the table. ''Walt, why don't you see if the lovely lady wants to play too?''

''Touch her and I'll make you wish you were never born!'' Dagran barked in outrage, fighting against his chains.

Her whole body tensed when she heard them whip Dagran. He did not make a sound but it still broke her heart when she heard the whip connected to his skin. On the third whip slash she had enough. She cracked open one eye and looked at Horace, and nodded her head. He seemed to understand and started to trash around. Gaining the attention of the man who had kicked him.

''Aww, how touching...'' Zoran taunted nasty as he walked around the bound man. His eyes darting nervously around the room and back at his former companion. ''Pretty boy, have you finally found yourself a woman?''

Tifa waited until the man named Walt was leaning over her. Then with the reflexes of a cat, she sprung into action. She grabbed hold of the man's arms and head butted him hard and then kicked the man in the stomach – sending him flying. He crashed into the many crates behind her. Then she leaped to her feet and delivered a well aimed high kick to the side of the head of the man beating Horace. Dropping him as a fly. Then she rammed her heel down hard on his throat: killing him in the process.

Dagran stared in silence as she fought. Never before having seen someone fight the way she did. He was amazed by her fighting technique and couldn't keep his eyes off her. It looked so natural for her, and now he understood why she had been able to shove him so hard. The strength she possessed was staggering, as was the brutality which was completely new to him. This was what he thought he sensed her withholding. What she fought to keep under control when angry or during a fight. This was the real Tifa. The passion in her eyes and the smirk playing on her lips confirmed it. Seeing her fight was truly a sight to behold.

The burly man charged her, but she simply back flipped and avoided his clumpy tackle. A roundhouse kick connected to the man's large chest, sending him back into the rough stone wall. Before he had a change to catch his breath, he found himself pinned to the wall, by the heel of her foot pressing alarmingly hard against his throat.

Zoran's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the small woman pinning the leader Rick to the wall. She stood with perfect balance on one foot as if it was nothing to her. Her burgundy eyes piercing him and he could read fierce determination in her red orbs.

''Release the two men at once or I'll crush his windpipe...'' She ordered and pressed down harder with her foot. Making Rick gasp for air from the pressure. His eyes watering from both fear and panic.

A sound coming from the crates caught her attention, and she barely managed to doge the whip flying towards her. She lost her balance which sent her right into Dagran. She quickly regained her balance and smiled up at a worried looking Dagran. Turning around she faced her opponents once again.

''Did not expect that, did you?'' Rick wheezed slightly out of breath and smirked at the look on her face when his companion readied the whip once again.

Dagran had already lost a lot of blood from his head injury so she knew what she had to do. She had to protect him at all cost. Maybe she could manage to catch the whip and yank it out of his hands?

Tifa shrew herself before Dagran, exposing her back. She hissed out loud when the first strike connected to her back. She held onto him for support: digging her fingers into his sides.

''Forget about me, I can take a few hits!'' Dagran shouted desperately. ''It's over if you surrender!'' he tried to reason with her and gazed down into her pain filled eyes. Anger boiling inside him from being unable to help her.

Tifa did not answer him, but screamed in agony while the whip struck her again and again. She had figured out his patterns now. She pushed herself away from Dagran and caught the whip with her left hand, making it curl around her arm. Then she yanked her attacker towards her making him lose his balance and falling down before her. Enabling her to stomp her heel down hard on his neck, breaking it in the process.

Before she could attack Rick again, he went crashing down onto the floor. Blood pouring out from under him. All eyes landed on Zoran who stood behind the fallen man with a bloody sword in his hands. He quickly dropped the sword and held up his hands in surrender. ''I'll explain later, but we need to get out of here quickly!'' he said without a hint of the nasty man he had been moments before.

''Marvellous done, my dear.'' Horace complimented her from the corner.

''Good work...Tifa.'' Dagran spoke softly with admiration in his eyes. Not quite believing what he had just seen her do. ''Are you all right?''

Zoran threw the key to the chains towards her which she silently caught. She was getting dizzier by the second. First she undid the ropes around Dagran's legs and then climbed onto a chair. She had to blink a couple times to regain focus before reaching for the lock that held the chains together. The chains came undone and Dagran landed with ease onto the floor.

Before he was able to thank her he noticed her losing her balance: Falling from the chair and into his awaiting arms. He was able to hold her weight up with ease before scooping her up into his arms. ''Oi, Tifa!?''

''Poison...'' Tifa whispered faintly before fainting. She leaned her head on his chest as her body became limp in his arms.

To be continued...