7
Half an hour later Kaci pushed open the metal door to the helicopter landing pad on the fiftieth floor; where her favorite red headed Turk, stood idly against the chopper. "Yo, what up, Kace?" he called to her. She glanced at his sunglasses wearing friend for any help, but he stayed silent.
"Reno, you're not my friend, and I don't really like you. So, please refrain from addressing me as such." She said with as much patience as she could muster. Some people just really destroyed what little tolerance she already had for them.
"Whatever you say, Lieutenant," he gave her a mocking salute before climbing into the cockpit.
"My apologies, Kaci," Rude told her, stiffly.
She waved it off, "Forget about it, Rude. We have a hate-dislike relationship."
Rude nodded with a grunt and climbed in after his partner. Speaking of partners, where was hers? As off on cue, late cue, Genesis came out on to the landing pad.
"Finally, you show up," Kaci jumped into the helicopter and turned to face the red head. "Did pretty boy forget his hair gel or something?" she asked a teasing manner in her voice.
Genesis shook his head a barely noticeable smile in his face, "Shut up, Kace." He jumped in beside her and slid the door shut.
"You ready back there?" Reno called to the SOLDIERS.
"Go Reno," Kaci slumped into the sad excuse for a seat. Reno nodded and pulled the door connecting the cockpit and the back.
From what Kaci had heard from the Director the trip was going to take about two hours, and the monsters attack a few hours after sunset. Since they left at eleven, they would arrive and approximately one o'clock, and have six hours until the seven o'clock sunset. She didn't look up at the sound of footsteps, but she did look when the bench sank underweight. Genesis gave her a light smile before pulling her to his shoulder.
Kaci looked up towards the cockpit, and once rendering it safe, she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Kaci?"
"Hmm?"
"Where'd you go that one day when you were out of uniform?" Genesis asked.
"'Out of uniform,'?" she avoided the actual question and questioned his wording instead.
"Yes, Kaci. Stop avoiding the question and answer me."
"I don't take it kindly to you barking at me, Gen." she said smoothly, crossing her arms.
He sighed, "Fine, tell me?" he pecked her cheek and saw the small smile that graced her features.
"I went out to do some things. I went out to eat lunch; it'd been a while since I went out."
"You were alone?"
"No. Now why are you asking all of these things?"
"What do you mean you weren't alone?"
"Genesis." Kaci took a deep breath, "I went out with a friend, and we had lunch. Genesis, if you're going to be overprotective of me, you had better rethink your theory. I'm a SOLDIER I can take care of myself and make my own decisions."
"Okay, Kace," he kissed the top of her head. Genesis pulled out his copy of LOVELESS and began reading. Kaci leaned her head on his shoulder and listened to the few parts he quoted.
Two exhaustingly long hours later the helicopter began making its descent half a mile from the town. Genesis through open the door and looked to Kaci, "Ready?"
Kaci nodded. The two jumped the three feet from the helicopter to the ground and took a few steps away while it landed. Reno came around from the side followed by Rude. "What time do you want us to get here?" Reno asked.
"We'll call you when we find out. And we will keep the time for travel in mind," Kaci said.
"Alright, just don't be expecting to be picked up instantaneously, little missy," Reno smirked.
"Reno…" Kaci growled a warning.
Genesis tossed her bag to his partner, "Let's go Kace," he turned to begin walking.
"Thanks you two," Kaci shouldered her bag and took off after Genesis.
The city was fairly small and was guarded by a sandstone wall and large sandy colored iron gates. Genesis and Kaci walked up to one of the two guards, "Identification please," the guard said.
"Captain Genesis Rhapsodos, and Lieutenant Kaci Shinra, First Class SOLDIER," Genesis said.
The guard opened the gate, "In the center of the city the mayor is waiting to see you."
Kaci nodded and followed Genesis. "Not going to object?"
"Hmm?" she looked up at Genesis.
"About my announcing both of us?"
Kaci chuckled and shook her head, "No, Gen. I'm not that independent." Genesis begged to differ some times, but he wasn't about to say that.
Coming out of an alley way, the two SOLDIERS saw a large official looking building. A thin man with thinning black hair comes out of the building and hurries to meet us. "Are you two the SOLDIERS Shinra sent?" he asked hurriedly, fear evident in his eyes.
"Yes, I'm Lieutenant Kaci Shinra, and this is Captain Genesis Rhapsodos," Kaci gestured towards Genesis.
"Very good, my assistant will show you to where you will be staying for the night and the rest of the day." He hurries away, all whilst looking over his shoulder as though he's going to get attacked.
A pretty violet eyes blonde walks up to the two SOLDIERS, "He's paranoid that the monsters will come out and attack him. I'm Lucy Cartwright," she smiles brightly, "This way please."
"The monsters only attack at night correct?" Genesis asked. She nodded.
"Has anyone ever seen them?" Kaci asked.
"Yes, but no one has ever tried to fight them. We don't have a very good description since most of the people who had a good look are dead," she stopped in front of a building, "This is our hotel, go the desk and the clerk will tell you your rooms."
The two nodded and walked inside. The inside of the hotel was small and not too shabby. The clerk looked up, "Oh are you both the SOLDIERS?"
"Yes we are," Genesis walked up to the desk and Kaci stood a step behind him.
"Alright," the woman pulled out a register book and flipped it around, "Miss Shinra, we require your signature. If you were to be sent we would require your signature."
Kaci nodded, and scribbled out 'Kaci Shinra,' on the register. The woman handed one key to Genesis, "You have room 13."
Genesis shouldered his bag and Kaci followed him down the hall. "We only have one room?"
"I don't think they were expecting a woman to be coming, Kaci," Genesis answered.
"But they needed my signature," Kaci pointed out.
"Yes, but," Genesis slammed his shoulder into the unlocked door before it opened, "You're the President's daughter, I don't think they assumed you'd be one of the SOLDIERS."
Kaci threw her bag on the farthest bed, "Then, what did they think, that Kaci Shinra just goes around signing things?"
"Why is this bothering you?" Genesis wrapped his arms around his goddess' waist.
"I don't know," she put her hand on his arms and smiled as he left light kisses along her neck.
"Six hours, Kace, that's a long time," he said into her skin.
Kaci's knees almost gave out at his lips moving against her skin, "Gen…" she pulled away from him. "No, not that."
Genesis walked behind her and traced the woven pattern of the leather on her jacket, along her shoulder, "Alright Kaci," he kissed her cheek.
The next few hours Kaci spent it researching different monsters in this area. Genesis spent the time reading over her shoulder, and walking about the town.
Kaci looked up to the window, and saw the sun dropping from the sky, she picked up her phone and dialed Genesis, "Genesis, its sunset, where are you?"
"Waiting for you at the gate, the people said that was where the monsters come from," Genesis said.
"Kay, I'm on my way," Kaci snapped her phone shut and sheathed her sword on her back and quickly walked out to the gate.
Genesis leaned against the gate and looked to Kaci, "Took you long enough."
Kaci chuckled as she pulled her hair into a high ponytail. Genesis motioned to the guards to close the gates and he and Kaci were waiting outside the city, leaning against the wall.
Kaci walked as the stars began appearing. Stars were always a great comfort to her, but the lights in Midgar never made them this clear. She smiled at past memories, when she and her mother would try to find constellations from her grandfather's office in the Shinra building. "Kaci," Kaci looked toward Genesis who was looking across the horizon. She glared at him, for interrupting her memories.
When her eyes followed to where Genesis was looking, Kaci saw a rising cloud of dust. The cloud kept getting closer and Kaci pulled out her sword as did Genesis. "Ready?"
Kaci smirked, "I'm a SOLDIER, Gen. Why wouldn't I be ready?" Genesis shook his head; she could never give a simple answer, could she?
Genesis and Kaci ran out a ways to draw the battle away from the city. Two large beasts were standing in front of them. They were dark grey and had some kind of thick skin that stood in thick layers along its shoulders. It had four legs and small facial features, but it could make some noise.
Genesis and Kaci moved back to back as the two beasts circled them, "What are they, Kace?" Genesis asked.
"They resemble an adolescence version of a bahamut." She told him. The one nearest her gave a cry and both charged. Kaci almost jumped but remembered Genesis, and ran out drawing the beast away from the other fight.
The beast charge again and Kaci delivered a blow to is leg but her sword ricocheted back with a spark, "Ok, let's try something else." She knew it would be impossible to hit the shoulder plates, but maybe right on the back of its neck. Kaci powered up the Materia in her hand and ran it along her sword, making it glow blue. She flicked her sword to the right and a crack of lightning struck the ground. The beast looked over, and Kaci took the distraction to jump up and run her sword into the soft part of its neck right behind the head.
The beast gave a high pitched cry and tried to throw Kaci off. Her hands gripped the hilt of the sword, but her leather gloves slipped from the sword. Her back was thrown to the ground, and Kaci lay there in pain. She clenched her eyes and teeth, trying to relieve the pain. She opened her eyes a little at the sound of flames, Genesis stood in front of the beast, flame coming from his hand. The beast gave a final cry before dropping dead.
Genesis jumped up and retrieved Kaci's sword. Kaci let her eyes close and her head drop. "Kaci," she opened her eyes to see a worried Genesis crouched over her.
"Hey," she made an attempt to sit up, and Genesis held her back. "I think I'll be fine."
Genesis stood up, and clutched her arm as she tried. Her knees buckled and Gen grabbed her to keep her up, "Come here, Kace," he picked her up bridal style and carried her back to the city.
Kaci leaned forward on her bed as Genesis set her down, "I'm fine, Gen. I'll take a shower and be all right."
"No," he pulled a healing Materia out of his bag. He sat behind her, "Take off your jacket Kaci," he ordered.
Kaci did as told the movement of her shoulders paining her. Genesis grabbed her jacket and pulled it off of her. He placed the Materia on her back and watched as it dissipated into her skin.
Kaci sighed as the healing feeling weaved over her muscles. "Thank you, Genesis," she whispered before getting up to take a shower.