Another chapter is here!

Kazeshuriken: Thank you for the comment!

Enjoy!

The next day, the sun was high in the clear blue sky, shining down with radiant warmth that washed over the entirety of Costa del Sol. As the gentle surge lapped at the sandy shore and birds took flight overhead, Aerith basked in the sun with a volleyball in one hand. The other was holding a tuft of her temporarily-black hair.

She turned to Yuffie on the other side of the net and asked, "You're sure this will go back to normal soon?"

Yuffie nodded. She hadn't changed how she looked at all aside from wearing a yellow and blue bikini since no one knew she was affiliated with them. "I call it one-day dye for a reason. It'll wash out under hot water when you get back to your room. You should enjoy it for a bit since it looks good on you. At least judging by how all those guys are looking at you."

Aerith's swimsuit was a one-piece that was white with a flower pattern going over it. It had an appeal to it that expressed modest attractiveness without being overtly sexual, practically innocent compared to the bikinis being worn by most of the other women there on holiday. It still got her fleeting looks that she didn't so much mind as long as they kept their distance.

"Speaking of guys, what's the deal with the other two and chocobo-hair?" Yuffie asked. "Just saying, those two clearly don't get along and I've seen how they both react around him. Are they fighting over him?"

"They didn't like one another to begin with." Aerith knocked the ball back over the net, high into the air. "Whether or not romance is a factor, I believe they both understand well-enough to shelve any bad feelings against one another when it comes to fighting. Either way, you shouldn't pry into it."

"Well then, what about you?" asked the kunoichi as she jumped into the air and spiked the ball back down, sending it past Aerith fast enough for the backlash to whip her hair around. She cheered as she landed. "Do you have a crush on him?"

"I could ask the same of you." Aerith brushed stray strands of her hair behind her head. "Does Cloud strike your interest?"

"Pffftt—" Yuffie almost broke out laughing before she covered her mouth, leaving her shoulders shaking until she calmed down. "Oh, good one. Sorry, but he's too broody for me. Not even the hot kind of broody at that. But you still didn't answer my question."

"I'm taken." She placed her hand over her heart gently as a slight breeze rustled her hair. "Just because I cannot see him or feel his touch doesn't mean that I can't hear his voice in my heart. Even now, I know he looks over us and wants what's best for us all."

"Mmm… that sounds so boring," Yuffie said. "Don't get me wrong, it's sweet, but boring."

"Remember why we're here," Aerith said. "What can you hear?"

The reason they were among the gaggle of beach-goers was because it was the best source of gossip and information. Yuffie had the sharpest sense of hearing after Red XIII, who would stand out, and Cloud, whose imposing figure would likely deter anyone from speaking as freely as they would with two cute girls around. She could pick up keywords and hone her hearing to focus in on the conversation thanks to her training, even if not as effectively as the other two could.

"Some of them are going on about how they saw Shinra pull some kind of robot from where the ship blew up in the dead of night," she said. "Nothing about survivors, checkpoints for identification, or being on the lookout for anyone in particular. We're ghosts as far as Shinra's concerned and there's no reason for them to change their security measures."

"Good. I'll call Kunsel and Crimson and let them know."

Another light breeze rolled over her skin, as if to gently caress it. The Planet still seemed to be in a better mood with a portion of Jenova destroyed, if the weather and quiet were any indication. It'd be ashamed for her to not enjoy her beach-time while she could.

Aerith picked up the ball and tossed it up again to continue their game.

[-oOo-]

Tifa Lockhart slid another drink to a patron at the seaside shack that rested on the shore, having found brief, gainful employment. Kunsel had arranged for her to get the position by convincing the owner that she was a capable bartender (or mixologist, as he insisted). The fact that her swimsuit would likely attract more clients was only a bonus they claimed—though she questioned that on several fronts.

Tifa had been made to wear what was basically a swimsuit missing about seventy-percent of the fabric. The top that covered her breasts was a plunging v-neckline that was connected to the bottom by a metal ring, leaving very little to the imagination. This was a strong contrast to the innocent and adorable swimsuits he had gotten for Aerith and Yuffie.

As one of the men leaving placed around twenty gil into the tip jar, she put on her best bartender smile and wished for him to come again. He walked off intoxicated to where a woman waited impatiently. Tifa could hear the woman chewing him out about flirting with that 'floozy' from where she was.

"Don't take it personally," said Kunsel, sitting at the far end of the counter with a newspaper. "Also, can I have another of that last one?"

"I blame you for this," Tifa said as she prepared the drink, low enough so that they weren't overheard. Once this was over she would be washing the dye out of her hair while having Red XIII's new summoning burn this thing that somehow passed as a swimsuit into ashes. "I don't know what you were thinking when you got these."

"I merely chose outfits that wouldn't stand out." From his tone of voice, she gathered he honestly meant that. Wasn't that a scary thought? "I assure you, I had no ulterior motives."

"Then explain it to me," Tifa said, setting his drink down in front of him. "I'd love to hear this one."

He sighed. "If someone with your appeal went in something more reserved, it would call attention beyond merely ogling eyes. For example, they may notice how your leg and arm muscles are far more toned than the average attractive woman. Whereas if their eyes are preoccupied elsewhere, they pay little mind to the details for the more obvious attributes. By showing this much skin, you are also announcing to the world that you have nothing to hide and are proud of it."

"… I don't buy it," Tifa said as she received another order. She turned and smiled to the customer, saying she would get right on it.

"And it got you into a position to monitor Hojo without suspicion," he finished undeterred, tilting his head over his shoulder to where Hojo laid on the beach.

Tifa looked that way, even as she worked with the shaker mixing cup. The mad scientist was reclining in a chair while being fawned over by three women they were certain were part of the military. It would be so easy to hop over the counter, knock them out, and take him somewhere to beat the answers out of him before getting revenge.

This was the man who had changed Cloud. The man who created the monster that burned down her town. The man who gleefully experimented on her friends and neighbors, without a second thought at that….

"Easy," Kunsel said nonchalantly. "You're denting the metal."

Tifa looked down to see that her fingers had applied enough pressure for metal to start deforming without realizing it. She lessened her grip and finished pouring the drink into a glass without betraying her faux-smile to the customer as she handed it to him. Then she turned back to Kunsel as he took a sip of his drink.

"I've also taken the liberty of purchasing more materia and better equipment for your party," he said as he finished. "You'll find them in your room for tonight. I'll have the vehicles ready by then."

"Fine. Anything else?" she asked.

"Nothing for the moment. Just be patient," he said as he folded his newspaper. "Timing is everything, no matter how easy a target he appears to be. If we don't do this properly, we'll have Rufus on our trail before we can accomplish anything of importance."

[-oOo-]

Cloud would admit he wasn't in the best state of mind after last night, before the meeting with the others. He had spent that time in Crimson's room, letting her get some rest. She had been tired and fell asleep on his shoulders. They remained that way until there was a knock on the door and they were called to meet with the others.

As simple as that was, even now he could still remember the warmth and softness of her body, the echoes of her soft breathing as her chest rose and fell, and how peaceful she seemed after everything she had been through to this point. It had been nice to just stay like that. Quiet and together like that….

He shook his head to dispel those thoughts and everything they would lead to. He wasn't worthy of it. Not from her or anyone else. Not while he was a fake—an imperfect facsimile of someone else, living with borrowed memories and goodwill from someone who he couldn't properly remember.

"Here," Crimson said. She sat a cold drink down on a coaster on the table in front of him. It had a small umbrella in it. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he lied, looking up towards her. Now he saw why she had been upset the night before when she looked into the box containing her swimwear. Her bare, fair skin was on display to such an extent it was almost criminal—only her breasts and hips were shielded from sight by thin pieces of cloth that looked to be amber or a darker shade of yellow.

Even then, the bottom of her bikini looked at though it was tied together at the curves of her hips in a basic knot that looked like it would come undone with a small tug. Thankfully, for both Kunsel's sake and her modesty, that wasn't the case. The knots were actually just decoration and there was a band hidden just behind them, so they wouldn't come undone by mere chance.

Her face turned slightly red in the cheeks as she turned away from his fixated gaze. "You don't have to stare. I know how it looks on me."

"I'm sorry." Cloud immediately cast his eyes down to the wooden table. "It's just that… the memories from the last time you were here were more…."

"Modest," Crimson finished as she sat next to him. "That swimsuit was more comfortable than this by a mile. Honestly, I may as well have gone naked."

Cloud didn't say anything. He didn't trust his own voice while she was so close, the warmth of her body drifting over to his exposed arms. He was shirtless, adorned in trunks with his hair dark and his eyes hidden by a spare set of sunglasses.

Crimson sat a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Did you get a chance to check on everything?" he asked, diverting the previous question. "How's it look?"

She frowned slightly before she nodded her head to the others inside of it. "It can hold about two-hundred people in here, though I doubt there will be more than fifty when night comes. There are two exits, one in the front and one in the back, and the kitchen isn't that large. The bathroom has a window that's high up but big enough to fit a body through. It'll work."

He nodded. Their part in everything was to scope out the place and make sure whatever Kunsel had planned would go off without a hitch. With that done, all that was left was to get back to their room and wash the dye out of his hair. Both Aerith and Crimson stared at him for some time with it looking black and it felt… wrong.

"Is it about last night?" Crimson abruptly asked as he grabbed the drink and brought it to his lips.

He coughed and spilled his drink as a result. It drew attention. He lowered his head, using napkins to clean the surface of the wood. "What are you talking about?"

"About sleeping on you," she said, low enough so that he could hear her with his enhanced hearing. "I was just so tired that I couldn't stay awake. Plus you were nice and firm. Then you stayed like that the entire time that I slept, and I know that couldn't have been comfortable for you."

He sighed exasperatedly. "I didn't mind that. It was good you got the rest you needed. I just… let's just drop it for now."

It didn't seem to make her feel any better about it, but she nodded her head slightly. They paid for their drinks and then departed from the restaurant, walking down the boardwalk with the beach on their left. As they did, Cloud followed behind her while deep in thought.

Whoever Zack was had made great friends, willing to go against the world and Shinra just to see his final wishes done well. They were willing to fight against a company-turned-military power and throw away their previous lives for the sake of something intangible—all of that for one person, despite the risk. But what if it was all for nothing?

Crimson said that she wanted to see the real him, but what if she didn't like whoever he had been when the scrambled memories were straightened out again. What if all of their sacrifices weren't for the sake of someone Zack considered a friend, but some nobody he decided to take pity on. Kunsel had told him that he was an infantryman in Shinra's forces, meaning he didn't originally make the cut for SOLDIER.

Zack was a First-Class, one of the best there was. At least when Cloud thought the memories were his he could have been proud of that. Now he knew he was stealing it all—Zack's friends, Zack's sword, Zack's skills and knowledge.

The thought of the real him coming to light scared Cloud in the wake of that. Whoever he was in the past, there was no way that Cloud could live up to Zack's legacy. Yet he couldn't live with the idea of being a fake either.

And that wasn't even getting into Sephiroth. That hadn't even been a fight on the ship. How the hell was he going to defeat Sephiroth as himself if he couldn't do it with Zack's memories and experiences helping him?

He couldn't find an answer to that question, and he feared it would get them all killed by the time their journey came to an end.

[-oOo-]

Hours later, as sunset loomed over the horizon, Crimson finished washing the dye out of her hair so that it was normal again and entered into the room where the others sat in waiting. Cloud wouldn't look at her, intentionally turning his head down towards the floor. She pressed her lips thin and frowned.

It seemed like she'd caused a problem after all. She hoped to avoid that. Even though she'd tried to explain why she fell asleep on him, it didn't help. She hoped he would understand, but if anything he seemed even more upset than before.

Crimson didn't try to deny it. Cloud was handsome. He had blonde hair, a well-toned body, and stunning eyes the color of the sky. If she had a type he was likely to fit it. But it would feel too much like she was taking advantage of him without his memories intact, using him as a replacement for Zack—who she outright admitted to Cloud she had something of a crush on in Midgar.

Him having black hair today did not help in the slightest either, she thought. Aerith and Crimson both stared at him for far too long when she finished dyeing his hair. Maybe it was because they had both been close to Zack in their own way, but Cloud looked just like him for a moment. Cloud likely felt upset about that too, thinking that they saw him as a replacement when they were supposed to be trying to help him become his own person again.

Speaking of the thief and the source of her latest headache, Crimson turned to see Yuffie on the bed playing with what looked to a bag of materia. And they weren't the ones that Kunsel had bought for them either. One thought came to mind and it wasn't pretty. "Where did you get all of those materia?"

"Compensation for services rendered," Yuffie claimed. "When Aerith left to come back here, I went to the Materia Shop to window shop and met the guy who runs it. He wanted me to help out for a few hours, so I did. This is my reward."

"Is that right?" Crimson's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "So we don't need to be on the lookout for authorities searching for someone who matches your description? You know, the only one of us who didn't wear some form of disguise?"

"Not until tomorrow," she said unrepentantly. That pretty much told them all Yuffie had cleaned the poor man out. "We'll be gone by then."

Crimson rubbed the bridge between her eyes and sighed. She really should have expected that much. The girl even admitted that she couldn't help herself when she attacked them before. Before she could chide Yuffie for theft, Kunsel entered with his musician's case carrying his sword and materia.

He set it down and the pulled out a map of the area. "Let's go over the overall plan. Right now, Hojo is getting ready to head to the restaurant with his usual accompaniment of disguised Shinra-employed agent. The young lady and I will enter the restaurant and then proceed once he places his order. Crimson, you'll use your materia to knock out the power for the entire neighborhood."

"And you confirmed it won't hit any sensitive target areas?" she asked. It was one thing to cause a mild disruption in their evening. It was another when a clinic or hospital would lose said power.

"No hospitals, no emergency services, none of them will be affected by the one you're targeting in particular," he assured her. "Once the power is off, the young lady and I will use a combination of a Sleep spell and All materia to spread the effect. Once everyone is unconscious, we will take Hojo along with several others and proceed with Phase 2."

"Hostages?" Tifa asked.

Crimson shook her head. "Not hostages. You're going to release them at different sections of the area as a distraction. They'll wake up within minutes and then walk back to the restaurant without anything going wrong. Shinra won't see Hojo as being the target alone, but rather one of many who was released. They'll likely think it's a prank of some kind before they realize he's the only one not showing up."

"I have procured a van for that," Kunsel said. "While you inside of the van handle that, Hojo will be shrunken down by my use of the Mini spell and will be taken to a secure location by me. I'll send a call out to the rest of you, to ensure you know where to meet me, and from there the interrogation will begin."

"I don't like so many unknowns being involved, let alone random people, but it's the best shot we have right now," Crimson said. It was risky and could go wrong on so many levels, but it was the only chance they had. "Let's get this over with so we can get the answers we need."

The group broke apart and geared up to go kidnap a madman.