THIRTY-FOUR
We all took a different elevator back to the base of the Gold Saucer early the next morning. Dio himself guided us there, opening a hidden panel in the back wall of his big trophy room in the Battle Square. This one took us to the bottom, but on the other side away from the prison. We'd all had a wonderful night after getting back up top yesterday, with plenty of games and fun to make up for all that had happened over the past few days. It was the perfect way for us to unwind, and I was able to forget all about my own troubles for a while.
Even Cloud got into it, much to my delight—he spent quite a bit of time on that motorcycle game, and I'd loved taking the one next to him and seeing which of us could get a higher score. I have to admit, he was better at sinking basketballs than I was, but neither of us had been able to beat that last round in the battler game. An invisible opponent? That was just unfair! But we still had a lot of fun. The others did, too, going around and trying out the different games. I think Aerith's favorite was Mog House. She kept at it for quite a while.
And she loved her surprise party. Cait had suggested the restaurant on the other side of the Wonder Square for dinner, a fun, colorful place full of lights and a nice exterior dining area where we had a good view of the games tower across the way. Me, Cait, and Tifa had even had the tables decorated with pink ribbons and balloons, Aerith's favorite color. Dinner was great, and she got all twenty-two candles out in one puff of air. Cloud and Red didn't sing, of course—always the coolheaded guys of our little group—but the rest of us sure did.
There'd been cake, ice cream, and even a few gifts. Tifa, Yuffie, and I had splurged on a new dress, white with red and pink accents. Aerith had loved it, promising to try it on as soon as she could. The park's gift shops had been stocked with all kinds of things. Barret had found her a peaceful ring, a slim bronze band inlaid with the image of a dove. He'd looked so adorably embarrassed as he'd given it to her. Apparently, the ring was of Cetra origin, able to shield the wearer's mind from magical confusion, rage, disorientation, and despair.
After thanking him and slipping the ring on her finger, Aerith had joked about telling her mom that she was engaged. Barret's astonished, nearly apoplectic reaction had just about sent me, Tifa, and Yuffie into hysterics, we laughed so hard. It wasn't until Cloud had brought Aerith the gift he'd gotten her that we'd finally composed ourselves. Typical for him, it was a weapon. A staff with a slender, polished wooden shaft, its bottom end capped with a sharp steel point. The headpiece was shaped like a pixie, its body green with four purple wings.
Cloud had said it was called Fairy Tale, appropriately enough, and it had seven unlinked materia slots on the shaft. Dio had a private shop with a few rare items reserved only for select guests, and after what had happened down in the prison yesterday after the race, he'd added us to that list. Both the new staff and the ring had come from Dio's shop. So had Red and Cait's gift, a new summon materia holding the essence of Ramuh, master of lightning and electricity.
There'd been another gift as well, one Dio had given to all of us. He had come by personally during the party to offer his best wishes as well as his thanks for saving Esther and Joe. And along with that, a lifetime pass to the Gold Saucer for each of us. Our friends had stopped by just a little later themselves, Joe looking a whole lot better after a few hours' rest, to visit and wish us well. Aerith and I had invited them to join us, but they'd politely declined, with Joe explaining that he and Esther had already made plans for a quiet dinner together.
Once they'd left, we had all split up to take in the sights and sounds of the Gold Saucer some more. While Cloud and Barret had gone right to the restored and reopened Battle Square to do some fighting, Aerith and I had slipped over to the Event Square, where we'd watched Zander and his crew perform in their little play. We had a blast, and after it was over, I'd spent some time working with them on the bigger production they were planning to have soon. Zander's wife, Gwen—or Blade, as he also liked to call her—had been there, too.
It had been great to meet her, and she'd enjoyed it as much as I did. At hers and the gang's insistence, I'd gladly performed a few lines from LOVELESS for them, with Aerith looking on with a knowing grin. She had told me once that I'd find my way back to the stage. I wasn't there, not yet, but I couldn't help feeling as if I'd taken my first step toward it. After leaving, we'd gone over to the Speed Square just in time to watch Yuffie stumble off the Shooting Coaster with Tifa, her face more than a little green as she'd sworn never to ride it again.
Aerith had enjoyed it a whole lot more when she and I had taken a turn on it, and we'd gotten a pretty high score, too. She'd exchanged the points for a fancy blue umbrella to use on rainy days. I'd joked about it, saying it looked sturdy enough that she could use it as another weapon if she wanted, and we'd shared a good laugh at that. All in all, that night had been one of the best we'd had on our journey so far, and I'd gone to bed later in the hotel room I was sharing with the rest of the girls tired but content. And I hadn't had any dreams.
Now we were all outside, standing under the hot desert sun gazing at our new ride. The buggy was big and beautiful, a sleek red machine I was already in love with. Eight huge tires, four on each side, perfect for driving off road, lined its sleek body. It was almost like a high-powered boat on wheels, with a large, curving windshield that was tinted black. Nice and private. A bright yellow lightning bolt decorated each side of the buggy, and it had twin engines in the back.
"It looks awesome!" I exclaimed.
"Sure does, Jessie!" Aerith agreed. "But how do we get in?"
Dio laughed. "Ha, ha! Like this, my friends."
Then he took a small device from his pocket and tapped a button. There was a short beep, and the back of the buggy's red hull in between the two long engines opened outward and swung down with a soft hiss to lay flat on the ground like a ramp. We all took a look inside, filing in and checking everything out. It was pretty spacious, with a long row of cushioned seats on one side of the main cabin and a small table across from it with a few swiveling chairs bolted to the floor. The row of seats could also unfold into a bed when needed.
There was also a little kitchen by the table and chairs, a bathroom, and even a small, separate bedroom on each side in the back as well as another bunk above the row of seats. I opened the fridge to see it full of food and drinks, and there were plenty of storage compartments for us to store our gear and supplies. Just ahead of the seats for the driver and front passenger, the windshield showed a clear view ahead of the buggy and curved around to each side. There were a few other small windows as well in the main cabin below its sloping ceiling.
"Far out!" Aerith squealed.
Barret laughed. "Now we gonna travel in style!"
Tifa grinned and turned to Dio. "It's wonderful! Thank you."
"My pleasure!" he boomed. "You'll find it's fully stocked and ready to go. Won't need to resupply for a while, probably not until you reach Cosmo Canyon, several days northwest of Gongaga."
Red nodded, gazing fondly off in that direction. "Indeed. It will be good to be home again. It's been so long…"
"We'll get you there, Red," Aerith promised. "Don't worry."
"Of that, I have no doubt," he chuckled.
We all went back outside for a moment to gather our things, and as we did, Joe and Esther rode up on Teioh together from just around the curve of the tower. Both of them looked good as they pulled up, Esther sitting behind Joe in a bright lavender dress with her arms snug around his waist. She was practically glowing, and I didn't have any doubt that they'd shared a quite a romantic night together.
Joe smiled and tipped his round black hat to us. "Just thought we'd see you off, my friends. Safe journey to you."
"And if you ever get a racing chocobo of your own, come back and see us anytime!" Esther added. "You did great up there yesterday, and I think you could even make it to S rank, as good as you guys race. I'd be more than happy to be your manager again."
"We wouldn't want anyone else," I grinned.
Esther beamed. "Thanks, Jessie. Oh, here's a little tip you'll want to remember. Chocobos come in lots of colors, but the ones that do better in the races are blue, green, and black. I've heard rumors that there are even gold ones, but they're so rare I've never actually seen one compete before. Supposedly they're a lot faster and sturdier than any other kind and can go anywhere, even across deep water."
I blinked. "Really? That's pretty cool! We'll definitely keep our eyes open for those special chocobos, Esther."
"They don't usually grow naturally on their own," she replied. "You have to do some specialized breeding even to get the blues and greens. Blacks like Teioh are even harder to come by. And I can't even imagine what it would take to raise a gold chocobo."
Tifa rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "I wonder if that old sage Chole told us about at the Chocobo Farm would know?"
Aerith nodded. "I'm sure he does."
"If we can get him to remember," Cloud agreed. "She said he had a hard time with that. We'll ask him if we find him. But in the meantime, we'd better get going. We've got a long way to go."
Esther waved. "I guess this is it, then. Take care, guys!"
"You too, Esther!" I grinned.
"Going for a ride?" Aerith asked, her eyes dancing.
Esther giggled. "Yep! We're just going to take it easy today, feel the breeze on our faces, and see where the wind takes us."
I gave her a thumbs up. "Have fun, you two!"
"Thanks, Jessie," she smiled. "For everything. Goodbye!"
Then Joe tugged on the reins, and he and Esther rode off, speeding across the sand with the rising sun at their backs. As Teioh went faster, his wings outstretched, Esther squeezed Joe's waist, then tilted her head back and closed her eyes for a moment as her flaming red hair flew out behind her. Then she looked ahead again over his shoulder, and before long, they passed over the dunes and out of sight.
"Well, there goes another happy couple," I sighed contentedly.
"You do good work," Aerith teased.
I laughed. "Guess I had a small part in that, didn't I?"
"I'd say so," she agreed, clapping me on the shoulder. "Now I think it's time for us to get going, too. Come on!"
Dio held out the keys to the buggy. "Have a safe trip, my friends. If you ever come back this way, know that you're always welcome. A visit and more fights in the arena would be most welcome! Off you go, now! Lots of miles for you to cover. So, who's driving?"
I did an excited hop. "Me! Me!"
"We'll take turns," Cloud said. Then he flashed me a wry little grin. "But you first, Jessie. No point trying to get you to wait. I'll take over in a few hours, then the others can have a go at it."
"Yes!" I grinned, grabbing the keys from Dio. "Thanks, Cloud!"
Dio chuckled. "Goodbye! And fight well!"
Once he'd returned to the lift and gone inside, I raced up the ramp of the buggy and beckoned to the others. "Come on, everyone! Time to lay down some rubber! This is gonna be great!"
"I call shotgun!" Aerith smirked, thrusting her arm in the air.
Once everyone was inside and Cloud had closed the door, I settled into the driver's seat and switched on the engine. It roared to life, and I couldn't resist revving it a bit. As I did, Aerith joined me up front with a pair of drinks from the fridge that she put into the cup holders for us. Then we buckled ourselves in while the others got comfortable behind us. In the rearview mirror, I saw Barret reclining in one of the seats, his arms folded behind his head, while Yuffie sat at the table looking more than a little nervous about the upcoming ride.
"Try not to hit too many bumps, Jessie, okay?" she groaned.
"I'll do my best," I promised.
Tifa was sitting on the other side of the table across from her. "It'll be alright, Yuffie. Just try to relax. It won't be so bad."
"I hope you're right, Tifa," Yuffie sighed.
Red had already curled up on the floor of the main cabin off to one side, his flaming tail waving idly around him, and Cloud was sitting in another of the cushioned seats. It was the one closest to the front, and I grinned cheekily at him through the rearview mirror when I saw those pretty baby blue eyes of his turning my way.
"You all set back there, SOLDIER boy?" I winked.
He nodded. "Take us out."
I shifted the buggy into forward gear. "We're on our way!"
"You're having fun," Aerith teased.
"Hell yeah!" I laughed.
Then Cait hopped onto the wide center console between our seats and sat down, having left his moogle mount in the back near the door. "Just though I'd join ye two up here for a bit if ye two don't mind. It's all pretty exciting going off like this, wouldn't ye say?"
"Sure is, Cait!" I agreed as I drove. "Time to make tracks!"
Although there was a road that led south from the Gold Saucer, we decided not to risk driving on it for too long. The buggy had a built-in computer, and while I drove, Aerith switched on the screen set in front of the center console in the middle of the dashboard and brought up a map of the region. With some guidance from her and Cait, I kept us on course heading south about a mile or two parallel to the road, though I doubted we'd have run into any Shinra patrols just yet this far from the river. We wouldn't reach it until early tomorrow.
My eyes alert, I drove on.
The river crossing went as smoothly as I'd hoped. We picked a spot several miles west of the Shinra guardpost and the bridge it stood by to make our way to the far shore. It was early morning by then, and most of our group was still asleep—we'd driven all through the night, taking turns at the wheel as Cloud had suggested. Most of us, that is. Red and Cait obviously couldn't, and Yuffie had passed on it, although I figured she probably wasn't old enough to drive something like this anyway. A normal car, maybe, but the buggy was different.
Cloud had taken over for Jessie after a few hours, and then Aerith, giggling with excitement, had eagerly relieved him later on until it had gotten dark outside. Barret had gone next, and then I'd taken my shift. By the time the sun had started to lighten the sky, Cloud had woken up and slid behind the wheel again. I was in the front passenger seat now, tired but not ready yet to lay down as we drove across the grassy plains. We'd left the desert behind sometime during the night as we'd traveled further south, and the land was greener and lusher now.
"You should rest, Tif," Cloud said. "Still a ways to Gongaga."
I nodded. "I will in a bit, Cloud. I just want to sit up here for a little while first. How far are we from the river?"
He glanced at the map. "Just another mile or two."
"You know, I've been thinking, if we keep traveling the way we are, eventually we might end up coming home," I murmured. "You know… to Nibelheim. Or what's left of it, I suppose."
"Yeah…" Cloud sighed.
I gazed out the windshield. "I'm not sure I want to see it."
He glanced at me. "Same here. But it'll be alright, Tif. Jessie and the others are with us. We won't be alone."
"Yeah, you're right," I smiled. "Thanks, Cloud."
"Just keeping my promise," he smirked.
A few minutes later, Jessie walked up behind us, stretched her arms out above her for a moment, and yawned. "Morning, guys. Thought I'd come up front and see ya before grabbing a bite to eat."
"Morning, Jessie," I said. "Sleep well?"
She laid a hand on the back of each of our seats. "Sure did. Aerith's still out, though. You guys want anything?"
"I think I'll join you for breakfast in a bit," I decided.
"Alrighty!" Jessie grinned. "Cloud?"
He shook his head. "Just coffee for now. I want to get us across the river first before we stop for a break. Then I'll eat."
"Fair enough," she said. "Looks like we're coming up on it."
Jessie was right. In the distance ahead of us was a long blue ribbon of water, shimmering in the light of the rising sun. It wasn't long before we finally reached it. The current was nice and slow here, flowing east across the plains, and Cloud brought us right up to the shore. Then, as we approached the water's edge, he pressed a button on the dashboard to switch on the buggy's secondary motor. It hummed to life, and after switching gears, Cloud drove into the river.
It was smoother than I'd expected, and we soon found out why the buggy had been designed the way it was. Its pointed front cut through the water with ease, just as a boat's would, and the sound of it splashing against the sides was enough to wake up the others.
"Huh?" Yuffie blinked groggily as she sat up on the bunk above the seats. "I hear water. We're not sinking, are we!?"
"No, we're merely crossing the river," Red assured her.
Jessie gave them a thumbs up over her shoulder and grinned. "Yep! No worries. Pretty cool, wouldn't you say?"
"Whatever," Yuffie groaned. "I'm going back to bed…"
"Well, I think it is if you ask me," Barret said, laying comfortably in the unfolded pull out bed under her. "Sounds like we already jus' 'bout to the other side anyway. Didn't take long at all."
I stood up once Cloud drove out of the river and onto the southern shore. "Nope! It was fun. And now I'm ready to eat."
"Same!" Jessie agreed. "Just gotta get my boy his coffee first."
"You know how I like it," Cloud said.
And that was our first river crossing. Not our last, either. We drove on, taking a break after about a mile or two for breakfast before getting underway again and making our way further south toward Gongaga. It took another day and half to get there, and I realized it was a very good thing we had the buggy. There were hardly any roads out here, just the main highway and a few trails that led to a handful of small towns and villages scattered here and there across the plains.
While we traveled, Jessie used her tablet to set up a video call with Biggs, Wedge, and Lena at Fort Condor. It seemed that before we'd left there, she'd helped them and Edwyn set up an alternate network so that the people there wouldn't be cut off by Shinra anymore and could stay in touch with the friends and families they'd sent to other towns in the region for their protection. It was really good to chat with Lena and the guys again and see how they were doing, and my heart sped up when I saw Biggs' stubbled face smiling at me on the screen.
"Sounds like you guys have been busy, Tif," he said. "Real glad you got all that worked out, though. And you're lookin' good, boss. Lighter than when we last saw ya. Not so grim, you know?"
Barret laughed from his seat at the table. "Ha! Thanks, man. Yeah, I do feel better. Real good to hear from you guys, too. Seems you doin' jus' fine holdin' down the fort. Never doubted it."
Biggs nodded. "Doing our best. Shinra comes at us now and again, testing our defenses, that sorta thing. Nothing we can't handle, though. And they still haven't reopened that tunnel, either."
"They getting close?" Jessie asked. She sat next to Barret.
"Still a ways from clearing out all the damage we did when we shot through there," Lena answered. "So we've still got time. But they'll get it fixed up again sooner or later. No avoiding that, I'm afraid."
I wasn't surprised. "When that happens, let us know. We'll do what we can to get back there and help. But in the meantime, Lena, how are you holding up? Keeping up with your exercises?"
"Every day," she replied, leaning forward in her wheelchair. "It still gets to me sometimes, you know. Not being able to walk. But whenever I'm feeling down, the guys are always there for me."
Aerith smiled from her seat. "You'll be alright, don't worry."
Lena grinned. "Yeah. And speaking of that, guess what? The other day, I was actually able to wiggle my toes a little!"
"Oh, that's wonderful!" I exclaimed.
"You're doing great, Lena!" Jessie cheered.
Barret pumped his fist. "Keep up the good work, girl."
"Will do," Lena promised. "I love the buggy, too!"
"It look awesome!" Wedge gushed from beside her. "You guys have to bring it with you when you come back."
Aerith laughed. "We will, Wedge. You can have the full tour!"
"Looking forward to it!" he said, popping a thumbs up.
"As long as I can have a turn at the wheel," Lena giggled. "That sure looks like it's a whole lot of fun to drive!"
Jessie winked. "It is, trust me! You'll love it!"
"I wish we could've seen you and Cloud racing on those chocobos," Wedge said. "I'm sure you guys had a blast!"
"Oh, we did!" she agreed. "And you might get your chance, Wedge. We liked it so much we may just go back one day and do it again. Once we raise a good chocobo or two of our own, that is."
Just then, Cait hopped onto the table. "Aye! That's a good idea, lass. Ahn I bet ye could win it all, just like Esther said. I can keep an eye out fer spots tae catch some good chocobos if ye like."
Wedge's jaw dropped. "Oh, wow! That is so cool! A talking cat!"
"Ye like cats, do ye?" Cait grinned.
"He sure does!" Lena replied, nearly as amazed as Wedge. "So do I. We've got three back in Midgar. But none like you!"
Jessie chuckled. "He's one of a kind."
Wedge scratched his head as he stared wonderingly at Cait. "Wait, I remember you now. You were on the bike with Kunsel in Sector 7 the night it came down. Thanks for helping us out."
"Nae problem," Cait replied. "Glad tae finally meet ye!"
"Same here!" Lena laughed.
Biggs nodded. "Always good to make a new friend. But anyway, we oughta get going. Repairs to the fort are nearly done, and Drake's been bringing us more men and supplies, so it stays pretty busy here, and we do what we can to help. Great talking with you, though."
"Hang in there, awright?" Barret said. "You doin' a helluva job."
Biggs gave him a thumbs up. "You got it, boss."
Jessie gazed fondly at him and Wedge and waved. "Take care, guys. I miss you. Think aboutcha all the time."
"You too, Jessie," he replied.
"Be safe, okay?" Wedge added. "We miss you, too."
Jessie smiled. "You bet. Lena, look after them for me, okay?"
"I will," she promised.
"Biggs," I said, gazing tenderly at his stubbled face on the screen. "I miss you. Try not to worst-case about us too much."
He grinned. "You kidding? I haven't stopped since you left."
"How did I know that?" I chuckled.
"I miss you too, Tif," Biggs said softly. "And I love you."
I pressed my fingers to my lips for a moment, then lightly touched the screen. "I love you, too, Biggs. Take care."
Then, after the others had finished saying their goodbyes, we hung up, and Jessie put her tablet away. We just sat there around the table for a while, having parked the buggy for lunch and to stretch our legs a bit, and thought about our friends. I was glad they were doing so well, and seeing and talking with Biggs again, even if only on a screen, had made me really happy. I couldn't wait to be in his arms again.
Jessie had been excited to reconnect with him and Wedge, too, and I knew how much it meant to her, the tight bond they shared together. And it had lifted Barret's spirits even further as well. I was also relieved to know that Lena was starting to heal, even if only a little for now. She was strong, and I didn't doubt she'd walk again one day. After finishing our lunch, we got back underway, driving through the night as we had before and continuing to take it in shifts at the wheel.
We made it to the northern edge of the jungle the next afternoon. I was at the table chatting with Aerith and Jessie at the time while Barret drove and Cloud sat up front with him in the passenger seat. Cait gave them directions from his perch on the center console, and as I watched him for a moment, I thought he was fitting into our group quite nicely. I could see why Jessie liked him. He may have been cute and fluffy and a machine inside, but with his jokes and quirky personality, he seemed to always have a way of keeping our spirits up.
"He doesn't even seem like he's… well, you know," I said.
"Artificial?" Jessie smiled. "Yeah. He isn't, at least to me. Cait and I have been friends for seven years now. I was only sixteen when we met. At first, I thought he was just a cute toy somebody had left there at my desk for me. Scared me half to death when he started talking. I actually dropped him! Luckily he wasn't hurt, being what he is."
Aerith laughed softly. "I like him, too, Jessie. Doesn't matter to me if he's a machine inside. He's still got a heart. And you know, when you think about it, we're machines, too. Just a different kind."
"Exactly," I agreed. "Cait's alive, same as us."
"I've always thought so," Jessie grinned.
Then he hopped off the center console, skipped back into the main cabin, and joined us. "Though I heard mae name mentioned. Ye talkin' about mae, ladies? If ye are, I do hope it's good!"
"It is," I assured him.
"Just happy to have you aboard, Cait," Aerith giggled.
He bounced lightly onto the table and bowed. "Ahn I'm glad tae be here! Cloud also wanted mae tae tell ye that we're almost tae Gongaga. So it's probably time tae get ready tae head outside."
"Okay," I nodded. Then I looked at Aerith and Jessie and stood up. "Come on, girls. We'd better get moving."
While we all got our gear together, Cait sprang back down onto the floor and gave the others the message. Only a few minutes later, Barret parked the buggy in a small clearing not far from the road leading into Gongaga where nobody would find it. Still, I didn't like the idea of just leaving it here alone and unguarded, not after all we'd gone through to get it and how helpful it was on our journey.
"Cloud," I said as he took his swords out of one of the storage bays. "I think some of us should stay here and keep an eye on the buggy. We don't really know what to expect, after all."
He nodded. "Good idea, Tif. You, Jessie, and Aerith come with me. The rest of you stay here with the buggy. Barret, you're in charge while we're gone. We'll head into town first, check it out, and then give you a call. If everything's fine, you can drive on in and join us. If not, we may need a quick escape, so be ready. Understand?"
Barret gave him a thumbs up. "I gotcha, merc. You guys be careful out there. We'll hold down the fort here."
Then the four of us went outside and into the jungle. It was warm, hot even, but lush and humid, not like the Corel desert at all. The road, such as it was, soon came into view as we headed through the foliage. I swatted at the little insects flying around and saw Cloud and the others doing the same. Gnats, or something like them, buzzed around us, and I made a mental note to get some bug spray while we were in Gongaga. The road was more dirt than concrete, lined with tall green grass, only two lanes this close to town, and oddly empty.
"Pretty quiet, don'tcha think?" Jessie said, looking around.
Cloud nodded. "Yeah. Seems like Gongaga's a pretty remote place. Kinda like Nibelheim. Not a lot of traffic there, either. Still, something's a bit off about it, so stay alert, all of you. Let's go."
We set off down the road, Cloud and Jessie in front and Aerith and I not too far behind them. I kept a close eye on the jungle but didn't see anything and heard only the wind in the trees and a few birds chirping here and there. Other than that, it was pretty quiet. At least, at first. But about ten minutes later, Cloud motioned to us, and we slowed down at the sound of voices ahead of us, just around the bend where a second road split off from the first and ran right into town. They were clearly men's voices, and strangely familiar as well.
Luckily for us, there were plenty of trees and shrubs growing close to the road, so we darted behind the nearest one and looked around to see who was out there. We saw them almost right away, two figures just standing there right in the middle of the road by the intersection, and I stiffened at once as Aerith barely stifled a startled gasp of surprise next to me. Reno and Rude were watching the road, and we took a moment to eavesdrop as they talked with each other.
"Hey, Rude," Reno asked, looking at him. "Who do you like? Outta the Avalanche girls, I mean. Gotta have a favorite."
"Says who?" Rude grunted, turning away.
Reno smirked. "C'mon, man. No need to be embarrassed. Not like any of 'em can hear us. So who do you like?"
Rude sighed. "Tifa…"
I blinked. That I hadn't known. I couldn't really say I was flattered, either. But I thought it could be useful, a bit of leverage I might be able to take advantage of if I ever had to. Cloud's face darkened into a scowl so like Barret's I almost laughed. He wasn't jealous, I knew that, but he was really protective of me. He'd begun taking our promise much more seriously since we'd begun our journey, which made me happy. I didn't have the slightest interest in Rude, of course.
"Hmm…" Reno said, tapping his metal shock rod on his shoulder. "That's tough. But I thought you and Elena…"
Rude shook his head. "No, she's into Tseng."
"Really?" he wondered.
"Crazy about him," Rude nodded.
Reno chuckled. "I never had a clue. But Tseng likes that Ancient. I think he has for a long time. Poor Elena…"
"And you?" Rude asked.
"Me?" Reno shrugged. "What's it matter?"
Rude smiled ever so slightly. "Now who's embarrassed?"
"Oh, fine!" Reno huffed, his cheeks flushing a little pink. "I guess I can tell you. But keep it to yourself, pal. Got it?"
"Not a word," Rude promised.
Reno took a breath and let out. "Okay… it's that actress."
Rude snickered. "Thought so."
"You knew!?" Reno gaped.
Aerith and I shared a startled glanced with Jessie, who didn't seem as surprised as I'd thought she'd be. More amused, actually. Now Cloud was jealous, his scowl deepening as he stared at Reno, and Jessie had to clap a hand over her mouth to keep herself from laughing and making one of the smart remarks she was so good at. As for Aerith, she looked more thoughtful than anything else, as if she'd already suspected Tseng had been interested in her. We kept listening.
"Ever since the pillar," Rude replied. "When she convinced you not to blow it up. Or maybe when we let her get away and off the plate that night a few years ago instead of hauling her in."
Reno frowned. "That was your idea, pal. Remember?"
"You didn't argue," Rude reminded him.
"It's so stupid," another voice muttered from behind us.
We all whirled around to see Elena walking out of the underbrush where she'd been hiding. But she was oblivious, not even looking at us at first as she brushed a few leaves off her dark blue suit, and she didn't look up as she kept mindlessly prattling on.
"They're always talking about who they like," she sighed. "Well, it's more Reno prodding Rude about it, really. I'm surprised he got him to open up this time. But Tseng's different. He—"
Jessie smirked as Elena finally saw us. "Hi there!"
Elena's eyes widened. "Jessie!? I… we… you…!"
"She's a bit out of sorts, isn't she?" Aerith chuckled.
Jessie laughed. "Par for the course. The rookie here just let us walk right by her. Some lookout. I doubt Tseng'll like that."
I gladly played along with her. "Nope, he won't. Not at all."
"Shit!" Elena swore. "You're here!"
"Oh, you just figured that out?" Jessie taunted.
Elena rushed past us down the road to where Reno and Rude were standing. "Guys! It's Avalanche! They're here!"
They both looked up as we all strode toward them and readied our weapons. No point hiding now. Reno hefted his shock rod while Rude clenched his fists. I flexed mine, unsheathing the mythril claws as I did and making sure the Turks saw them. Cloud had both swords in hand, spinning them easily as he fell into a ready stance with Jessie at his side as she quickly lit her blaze talons. Aerith stood firm behind us, her new Fairy Tale staff glowing with seven materia orbs.
"Looks like it's time," Reno said. "Don't go easy on 'em, Rude. Even though they're wimps. Same for you, Elena."
Rude nodded. "I'll do my job."
Elena saluted. "Alright, then. I'll inform Tseng."
"So…" Reno said once she had run off further down the road. "It's time for some payback. I ain't forgotten what you did to me in Sector 7. Got some unfinished business to take care of."
"Out of our way," Cloud growled.
Reno snorted. "As if! Don't take me for a fool."
"Sure you wanna do this, Reno?" Jessie teased. "Not really the best way to win me over, you know. Flowers work better."
"The hell?" he stammered.
"As if you ever had a chance," Cloud growled.
I smirked at Rude. "Your technique's a bit rusty, I think."
"What?" he grunted.
"Do you treat all your prospective girlfriends this way?" I quipped. "Or just the ones you know can kick your ass?"
Rude adjusted his shades. "I can't let you go any further."
"Nothing personal, sister," Reno added, his eyes still on Jessie. "Just part of the job. And I'm a professional."
Jessie hefted her talons. "Then let's dance."
But just as we were about to rush at each other, a silver and orange blur suddenly cut through the air. It was a large, four-pointed shuriken like the one Yuffie used. Only this wasn't hers. It spun in a tight arc and slammed into the ground right between us and the Turks in less than a second, where it stuck up from the road by a single tip, the other three points shining in the bright afternoon sun.
We all turned to see someone standing just a short distance up the other road, the one that split off from the main one and led into town. She strode toward us, a girl in her mid-twenties, with dark brown eyes and coppery, cinnamon red hair that fell to her shoulders. Though she wore casual clothes—boots, blue jeans, and a white blouse—I doubted she was just some villager who'd overheard what was going on and had come out here to investigate. She seemed more capable than that. And not at all surprised to see us, oddly enough.
Reno's jaw dropped. "Cissnei!?"
