Chapter 59: Back to the Church
The masked Denzel sat alone in the streets. He knew Yuffie and Sage had gone out, and that it was his perfect time to flee. He knew it would make Yuffie worry even more, as she was already worried sick about Zack. But he knew he had to go. And he had an excellent reason.
He knew he was sick. That morning, he noticed the Geostigma sores on his chest. He popped one, and black ooze came out.
There was no doubt he had picked it up from someone in his surrogate family.
He knew he would be in danger of infecting everyone else if he stayed.
Suddenly, he was approached by a tall girl carrying a stuffed moogle. She was wearing a mask, and had the sores on her arm.
"You've got the stigma, too?" the girl asked.
Denzel didn't respond. He was in no mood to make friends; that would simply spread more Geostigma around.
"Come on," said the girl as she grabbed his hand and lifted him to his feet. "They're going to fix us."
"Shouldn't we be social distancing?" Denzel asked her.
"I just said they're going to fix us!" the girl repeated as she led him through the streets.
Denzel was baffled. This was a strange girl, yet she seemed eager to fix his condition.
"Why are you helping me?" he asked.
"You remind me of my little brother," she replied.
Denzel had no response. He simply lacked any will to escape. Plus, she would take him further away from Yuffie and Sage.
"My brother died of the stigma," the girl continued.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"Do you have a name?" she asked.
"Denzel," he replied. "You?"
"Emily," she answered. "How old are you?"
"Nine."
"I'm twelve," she said.
At that moment, they came to a truck surrounded by children with Geostigma sores in varied places.
They seemed eager to get onto the truck.
There were a few children already in the back.
Unknown to Denzel, Yazoo was on the other side of the truck.
"Who's they?" Denzel asked. "Who's going to heal us?
The girl shrugged.
"I guess it doesn't really matter, does it?"
MEANWHILE…..
Zack entered the church.
He cautiously walked to where Aerith's flowers had been growing. He remembered this place; it was where he had first met Aerith all those years ago. Although he was with Yuffie now, he retained the memories, both with fondness and sadness.
He reached the flowers.
Then, he saw what he had been seeking.
He ran to the fallen Yuffie, trampling the flowers in the process.
He crouched down, fearing the worst.
"Yuffie?" asked Zack. "Yuffie!"
"Zachary Fair, where the fuck have you been?" Yuffie groaned. "Take that stupid mask off! I'm already probably infected anyway!"
Zack did as he was told; she was most certainly right.
"Who did this to you?" Zack demanded.
"I didn't bother to shake his hand and ask for his name," she sighed. Her eyes then widened. "Shit! Sage!"
With that, she passed out again.
"Yuffie?" Zack pleaded in a trembling voice. "Yuffie!"
He cautiously put his finger to Yuffie's neck.
There was no pulse.
Zack began to tremble all over.
A sickening feeling overtook him.
"No…." he whispered.
And then, Yuffie opened her eyes, and slyly gazed at him.
"Gotcha!" she whispered. "That's for disappearing and ghosting me!"
Yuffie, being the ninja she was, knew how to slow down her blood pressure to make anyone think she was dead.
Then, Yuffie passed out again.
Zack placed his fingers to her neck once more.
This time, he felt a pulse.
And then, his body began to shake.
He knew it was a stigma attack.
"Shit!" he managed to groan, before passing out.
LATER…
When Zack came to, he realized he was no longer in the church. Instead, he was somewhere he preferred. He realized it was the bedroom he shared with Yuffie in his penthouse apartment.
Turning his head, he noticed that Yuffie was next to him. She was still passed out.
He looked down, and noticed his pants were off, leaving him in his boxers. He looked over at Yuffie, and noticed that her pants were missing as well, leaving her in her shirt and gray and purple striped panties.
He immediately realized that someone had brought them there.
Slowly, Zack stood up.
"You know," a familiar voice began, "you're pretty heavy."
Zack gasped.
He turned to see Reno standing in the bedroom, along with room. Judging by their gray hair and crows' feet, he realized that it was the prime Reno and Rude.
"What the hell happened?" Zack exclaimed.
"We just found you there," the prime Reno answered. "Passed out in the church."
"And question number one," Zack continued, "why did you take our pants off?"
"Comfort," the prime Rude replied.
Zack covered Yuffie's lower half with the bedspread.
"Your pants are nearly folded on the dresser," the prime Reno informed him.
"Thanks, said Zack sarcastically as he took his folded pants and put them back on.
He then noticed the ring box on the dresser as well.
Instinctively, Zack ran to the box and opened it.
Sure enough, the ring was still there.
"You really thought we'd steal that?" the prime Rude asked rhetorically.
"So," the prime Reno added, "you were planning to propose to her?"
"When she wakes up," Zack replied.
"I just can't believe you two are together in this timeline," the prime Rude said. "Where we come from, you're dead. I was expected to find Cloud and Tifa in the church."
"I'm well aware," Zack said. "So who are you working for, anyway?"
"President X," the prime Reno answered. "President of the Eastern Continent."
"Weren't there some…..kids living with you?" asked the prime Rude.
"Because they ain't here," the prime Reno added.
Zack looked down in guilt; he had nearly forgotten all about Denzel and Sage.
"You don't care?" the prime Rude accused.
"No," Zack replied. "It's because…."
He took one look at Yuffie.
He stared, hoping she would awaken.
The prime Reno sighed.
"You're a real handful," he said.
With that, he led Rude out of the room.
Rude slammed the door behind him.