Chapter 22

The next day, Elmyra was flabbergasted as 15 tired travelers tried to squeeze their way into her home.

"Aeris, there's just no room for everyone here," she complained. "I've only got two other guest rooms, and Oh, my God, is that Tseng?"

Tseng frowned as everyone stared at him.

"Yes, Mom, this is Tseng," Aeris said, taking his hand. "He's traveling with us now."

Elmyra put her hand to her head. "I swear, Aeris, everytime you walk in that door you come with another person that's just no good for you," she said, not caring whose feelings it hurt. "First Zack, then Cloud. You keep bringing SOLDIER in here and I hate it!"

"I resent that," Striker muttered.

"Now you've gone and started bringing just plain dangerous people in here," Elmyra continued. "First Sephiroth, who killed you, in case I don't have to remind you, Aeris. Now this Turk who's been chasing you since you were seven years old!"

"Mom!" Aeris cried, hurt and embarrassed.

Tseng clasped his hands together. "Perhaps I should have taken everyone's advice and stayed with Reeve in Midgar," he said.

Cait jumped. "No no," he said. "They need your man power over there."

Aeris looked at her mother with pleading eyes. "Mom, this is uncalled for. You don't understand, Tseng is-"

Elmyra folded her arms. "Right. I suppose your going to tell me that Tseng is changed, he's seen the light, come to the good side, just like Sephiroth, right?" she cut her daughter off. "Open your eyes, Aeris! You're letting all your enemies become your friends. Did it ever occur to you that perhaps they're leading you into a trap? Stop being so damned gullible Aeris Rose Gainsborough!"

Everyone just stared at Elmyra, too dumbfounded to talk. The woman was red faced, shaking, and holding her fists in the air above her head. She stared her daughter down a few moments before regaining her composuring and calming down. Aeris' eyes welled with tears.

"Damn, Elmyra! You done went and hurt the girl feelings now!" Barret hollared.

Elmyra cleared her throat and stepped closer to Aeris. "I only want what's best for my daughter."

Aeris sniffed back her tears and looked Elmyra in the face. "Look, Mom. We'll just have Tifa, Yuffie, Tayeko, and I stay in one room, and the guys can share the other room as they please. We'll throw our sleeping bags on the floor if we have to."

"I can sleep anywhere," Red said.

"I don't require much sleep, so I'll just leave at night," Vincent added.

"Someone can sleep on the couch, and the recliner is comfortable when it opens up," Aeris added. "The beds in those guest rooms are king sized and I'm sure everyone's more that willing to share. We'll have to make do."

Marlene crept down the stairs. "Flower lady...? Daddy!"

"Marlene!" Barret exclaimed as the little girl ran to his arms and hopped on his shoulder.

"Now listen here," Elmyra started again, "I won't have my home turn into an inn open for the public-"

Aeris stomped her foot. "This home is my home too, Mom, and my friends and I have a crisis on our hands, and we have to stay here! My home is open to my friends at anytime, regardless of whether they're my lover, my kidnapper, or whether they killed me or not!"

The room was silent again. Nobody'd ever seen Aeris get angry before, much less shout. Even Elmyra was surprised.

Enraged, the older woman waved her hands aimlessly in the air. "Fine! Do whatever you want!" She stormed into the kitchen.

Aeris huffed and puffed in the direction her mother stomped off until Zack placed his hand on her shoulder. "It's alright," he said.

Aeris' face softened. "It's not alright!" she cried. "I just yelled at my mother!"

Yuffie almost laughed out loud, but Striker flicked her behind the ear with his fingertips.

"What?" she whispered. "I always yell at my father."

"Just give her a chance to cool off," Tayeko told Aeris as she sat next to Sephiroth on the couch.

"I think I need to cool off," Aeris said. "Zack, would you like to go back to White Meadow?"

Zack beamed. "Sure!"

Aeris looked warilly at the kitchen. "I'd like to fix us a picnic basket, but I'm afraid to go in there with her. I guess we'll just go without lunch."

Zack shrugged and led Aeris out the front door. "I'll have you, that's all I'll need."

After they'd left, Cid shrugged and puffed his cigarette. "I wonder what went on in that goddamned meadow last time," he commented. "I haven't see Zack grin that hard since he found that crate of Cheetos on the Highwind."

"Uh, Cid," Yuffie interceded. "That was Barret."

"Shaddup, Yuffie!" Barret hollared.

Cid merely laughed and opened the door. "Its still early, Barret. What say we make ourselves useful? I'm sure there's a bar or strip club open."

"Watch it around Marlene," Barret said, gesturing to the little girl on his shoulder.

"There are no strip clubs in Kalm," Reeve said through Cait Sith.

"I was just joking," Cid snapped. "Besides, Shera wouldn't have.... I mean - "

"A-ha!" Yuffie exclaimed. "There goes that Shera talk again!"

"Who's Shera?" Kat asked.

"Oh, just somebody Cid's sweet on," Yuffie answered.

Cid waved his hand around. "Goddamnit, I'm not sweet on nobody, you little-" his cigarette fell out of his mouth, catching his scarf on fire. "Ah! Shit!" He threw it down and stomped the flames out.

"Haha!" Yuffie laughed. "Liar, liar, scarf's on fire!"

"You little brat-"

"Yeah, this is just the comic relief I need right now," Cloud muttered from where he stood by the steps, the first time he'd spoken since they arrived.

Cid growled. "I'm getting out of here. Let's go, Barret."

"Right behind ya," Barret answered. "Where are we going, for real?"

Cid shrugged. "Let's go to that fancy smanchy weapon's shop they around here."

Barret nodded. "Ready to fun with Uncle Cid?"

"Yeah!" Marlene cheered as they left.

Apparently Vincent had left unnoticed during the commotion, and Red XIII announced he was going to lay outside for some sun. Tseng too was leaving. "I'll be back tonight," was all he said.

Cait bounced to the door. "I'm going back to that pub," he said. "They love me there!"

Striker looked back and forth at Kat and Yuffie. "Guess that leaves me with you guys," he said, since it was obvious no one else looked up to anything. Cloud looked downright angry, and Tifa stood alone in the corner, hugging herself sadly. Tayeko was leaning on Sephiroth's shoulder on the couch, watching the television set, both of them silent with the exception of an occasional giggle from her.

Yuffie wrinkled her nose and looked at Kat. Damnit! She would've liked some time alone with Striker to get to know him better. But nooo, he was intent on draggin Kat along. What was up with him anyway?

"What's there to do for a bunch of teenagers in Kalm?" he asked.

"How old are you, anyway, Striker?" Kat asked.

"Nineteen," he answered. "Guess I won't be a teenager long.

Yuffie rolled her eyes. "Striker, do you like to play sports?"

Striker thought for a moment. "I like playing basketball."

Yuffied grinned, glad she had gotten rid of that stupid Turk uniform. What a cinch this would be! She was way more athletic than Kat was. She'd impress Striker on the court.

She ran for the door. "Let's go then!" she called.

Striker looked at Kat and shrugged. "Come on," he said.

"I guess," Kat said, following after them.

Cloud stared at the door as it slammed shut. Tifa, Sephiroth, and Tayeko were the only ones left, and he certainly didn't want to stay in here with *them*.

"Cloud?"

Cloud looked at Tifa. She didn't look too good. She was paler than usual, and her eyes were heavy and dilated.

"Cloud, we need to talk."

Cloud turned and went up the stairs. "Go lay down Tifa," he said dismissively. "You look horrible. You need to rest if you're gonna run around having babies."

Tifa's lip trembled as Cloud disappeared upstairs. Frustrated, angry, and hurt, she plopped down on the couch next to Sephiroth.

Tayeko leaned past Sephiroth and looked at Tifa. "Are you alright, Tifa?" she asked.

Tifa fought back tears. "Does it look like I'm alright?" she snapped.

Tayeko flinched. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm just trying to help..."

Tifa sighed.

Sephiroth looked at them both, deciding to remain nuetral. The last thing he need was to get involved in a cat fight, especially when he was sitting in between them.

"Cloud just doesn't understand what he's doing to me," she said miserably.

"Cloud is a fool," Sephiroth volunteered.

Tifa frowned at him. "I don't know," she said. "I'm going for a walk."

Tifa got up and walked out.

Tayeko lay her head back against Sephiroth's shoulder. "Cloud's killing her," she said.

"I refuse to comment," Sephiroth said.

"He should be supporting her," Tayeko continued. "I know its not his kid, but he does love her, doesn't he?"

"Again, I repeat, I refuse to-"

"I don't understand people sometimes," Tayeko said. "I'm beginning to wonder if someting's wrong with Cloud."

"He's acting the way I did," Sephiroth remarked.

Tayeko smiled and wrapped an arm around Sephiroth's waist, snuggling closer to him.

"Sephiroth, you're so warm..."

Sephiroth looked down at her head. Her black hair was shining in the sunlight that streamed in from a window. He carefully ran his hand down her hair.

"Sephiroth, you know something?"

"What?"

Her right hand came up to touch his face. "I really love you."

Sephiroth stiffened a bit. "I... I love you too. You're the only one I care for."

Tayeko lifted her head and smiled at Sephiroth. Closing her eyes, she planted a small kiss on his lips.

Sephiroth felt as if his body had melted. He wrapped his arms around Tayeko and kissed her back, the passion growing with each moment.

Elmyra came in the living room from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dishrag. She looked at them and frowned.

"Dear God," she muttered. "Now Aeris has got me running a brothel." She hurried upstairs.

Sephiroth broke the kiss and stared at her as she went up the stairs. "That was uncalled for," he said sternly.

Tayeko used her hand to turn his face back towards hers. "Don't worry about it," she said. "She's just upset right now."

Sephiroth reached his gloved hand up to Tayeko's face and touched it softly. She took his hand in both of hers.

"The glove..." she whispered.

Sephiroth hesitated but looked into her eyes. They were so deep, entrancing, and loving. She waited patiently, and finally he gave in.

Slowly, he removed the glove from his right hand.

Tayeko admired it slowly, running her fingers down his long ones. She touched the veins that protruded, the power of Jenova lying dormant within them. She traced the tiny number '1' with her fingertips, and held his hand up and began kissing his fingers. She trailed her soft lips down the surface of his hand, then placed it against her cheek. Sephiroth then took control of his own hand and ran it over her face, tracing her forehead, cheeks, nose, and lips. She closed her eyes and let him touch her, trembling beneathe his hand.

"Yes, Tayeko," he whispered. "I love you too."

Cloud stared into the bathroom mirror. He wanted to lurch into the toilet, but there was nothing to vomit. Yet there was a lump in his throat that simply would not move.

Cloud's eyes seemed cold and vacant. His head was pounding and his throat dry. His skin was pale and he was beginning to sweat, with no reason why, as it was quite cool in Elmyra's home.

His head felt like it was made of bricks, he could hardly hold it up. He looked dizzily back at his sickly reflection in the mirror. What was wrong with him?

"Hey! Is someone in there?"

Cloud turned his head slowly to look at the door. That was Elmyra's voice, no doubt. She was banging on the door.

"Who's in there?"

Cloud lifted his head the best he could and opened the door. Elmyra stared him down suspiciously.

"Are you alright?" she asked. "You don't look too good."

Cloud chuckled to himself, realizing that's just what he told Tifa a few moments earlier. "I'm fine... thanks." He smiled politely and pushed his way past her to the guest room he figured he'd be sharing with some of the other guys. He slammed the door shut and hoped he could get some peace.

He staggered a moment then finally fell backwards on the bed, the will to stand gone. What's wrong with me? he wondered. Maybe a little sleep will help.

Sighing, Cloud carefully closed his eyes and willed him self to sleep.

Hojo looked around the lab room, quite content with his work.

He'd set up the gurneys where he'd contain everyone. There was also the cell where he'd force Sephiroth and that Cetra to mate. This time there'd be no mistakes, they'd mate in a controlled enviroment and Sephiroth wouldn't be able to attack anyone.

Then he'd be able to drill Aeris about the Promised Land. No excuses, she'd give up everything she knew or he'd fry the white magic out of her with an electro rod similar to the one Reno sported. Then Jenova could do whatever she pleased.

Hojo laughed as he thought about the look that would be on Sephiroth's face when they revealed their plans. He'd no doubt try to kill them, but it would be too late. It was all so perfect he could just scream.

"Hojo."

Startled, Hojo dropped an empty test tube, sending it crashing to the floor. He whirled around to see Jenova standing in the doorway... a much different Jenova.

The alien in human form had changed out of street clothes and was wearing a revealing, floor length black dress with splits that reached to the height of her shapely thighs on both legs. The material was slightly sheer, showing a faint hint of skin beneathe but still leaving some to the imagination. She wore black heels, which added to her already ravishing height. Her porceline like skin had a soft, pleasing glow, and her wavy brown hair was loose, softer and shinier than ever with rhinestones adorning it. Her face was perfectly made up, light shadow and dark lips bringing out her features. Her body was so shapely, Hojo found himself staggering. The dress was skin tight and held her curves like a glove. The neckline of the dress was low, giving a more than adequate view of her breasts. She smiled devilishly at Hojo, and walked slowly towards him, one hand on her shapely hip as it rocked with her. A thin, silver chain hung around her small waist, most likely a belt.

Hojo swallowed and tried to catch himself. "W,what is...?"

"I told you I was going to mate with Sephiroth," Jenova answered, her voice sexier than ever. "I have to look nice if I'm going to do that, don't you think?"

Hojo blinked several times and loosened his collar. "Sephiroth is strong willed, but I don't know how much trouble he'll have..."

Jenova smiled and looked at her refection in a mirror. "Yes, this is perfect," she said, her dark blue eyes twinkling devilishly. "I feel like I'm going to those silly things humans call proms."

"You're too old to go to the prom," Hojo commented, turning back to his work.

"Shut up," Jenova snarled. "You're just angry I want to mate with Sephiroth and not you."

Hojo wanted to say something about the lack of his desire to mate with aliens, but he held his tongue.

"Watch it, Hojo," she warned. "Remember, you have my cells too, I can read your mind."

Hojo sighed and turned to her. "Jenova, you said something about your parents and you told me you'd explain later. This intrigues me. We never knew there were others like you."

"That's because humans are fools," Jenova spat contemptously.

"You know, I can hear you quite well," Hojo said.

"It was meant for you to hear," Jenova retorted.

Aeris smiled at the sun shining down on her face. Zack was laying on his back, his arms behind his head. The flowers in the White Meadow occcasionaly would blow around with the wind but otherwise, all was calm.

"Aeris, do you know how truly beautiful you look when the sun is on you?" Zack asked.

Aeris looked down at him and smiled. "You flatterer."

"Hey, at least I'm honest."

Aeris blushed and looked down. She picked up a flower and held it in her hand, studying the pattern of the veins on its petal. She felt Zack touch her arm.

"Come here."

Aeris dropped the flower and lay on top of Zack's chest, his arms curling around her back. He slowly removed the two ribbons from her hair, tossing them to the side, allowing her braid to come undone and her hair to tumble out in soft waves. He stole a soft, lingering kiss from her, and pulled apart for a moment to look at her.

"You look so gorgeous with your hair like that," he said, touching her face. "And the sun behind you... it gives you this heavenly glow."

Aeris blushed more and dared to give Zack another slow kiss. Her heart felt like it would burst.

"Zack?" she began slowly, pulling away from him.

He opened his eyes. "What is it, sweetstuff?"

She swallowed. "Do you... do you really love me?"

Zack stared into Aeris' hopeful eyes. They were so bright... so green... they reminded him of great big emeralds in the jeweler's shop window, just begging to be bought.

"Of course, I love you, Aeris," he said. "No matter what ever happened in the past, it's just that, the past. You're the only girl for me."

Aeris took Zack by his shoulders and pulled him, forcing them to roll in the flowers until he was on top of her. She closed her eyes and kissed him again.

"Zack, will you love me forever?"

Zack brushed her bangs out of her face. "Forever," he repeated, kissing her forehead tenderly. "Why the sudden search of faith?"

Aeris sighed. "Its just that... I've never felt love like this before," she answered. "I love you, Zack."

Zack smiled and kissed her again. "I love you, too, Aeris."

Aeris smiled. "Love me," she said, kissing him deeply. "Love me."

Striker bounced the ball against the high top, smiling at the two girls who accompied him. They were both so darned cute. He didn't know who he'd like to make a girlfriend, if he'd ever have the time.

"Give me that ball!" Yuffie yelled. She stared at Striker and smirked. Today she'd make him hers, for certain. "I can dunk!"

"As short as you are, Yuffie?" Striker teased. "Now *that* I'd like to see."

Yuffie stuck her tongue out him as he passed her the ball. She dribbled it and made a run for the basket.

Yuffie didn't exactly "dunk", but she did get the ball in the basket and made quite a show of it.

"I'm impressed!" Striker said, clapping. "Kat, why don't you try?"

Kat shyly pulled on the skirt of her uniform and blushed. "I don't know..."

Oh GAWD, Yuffie thought.

"It's not hard," Striker said.

Kat and Yuffie both watched misty eyed as Striker ran around the court dribbling the ball. He flew in front of the basket and in a dancer's like movement, dunked the ball.

"Ha! I can't do that," Kat complained. "I can't even shoot."

Yuffie grabbed the ball from Striker and stood at half court. I'll show her, she thought. She shot the ball at the basket, each time it returned to her, she shot again. She made 7 shots out of 10.

"Wow, Yuffie," Striker said, smiling at her as he caught the ball. "That was great! I didn't know you were a good basketball player."

Yuffie grinned.

Striker kept staring at her. He loved watching her shoot that ball. The expression of sheer determination on her face was so cute, and her body looked so perfect and lean as she extended forward to shoot...

"I can't even shoot!" Kat repeated, stomping her feet.

Striker's mind snapped off Yuffie and he turned to Kat. "That's fine, I'll help you," he said. He rushed behind her and grabbed her arms.

Yuffie folded her arms and stared at them, fuming. Her plan was backfiring! Striker thought she was a hot shot player, but Kat was pulling the old dumb bimbo trick, and it was working well! She kicked at nothing in particular.

Striker guided Kat's hands through the motions of shooting a basketball. "That's all there is to it," he said.

Kat nodded and smiled. Yuffie snatched the ball from her.

"I've had enough basketball for one day," she complained. "Let's get some ice cream."

Striker beamed. "Great!"

Kat eyed Yuffie warily as the ninja girl grabbed Striker's arm and ran off the court towards Pop's Ice Cream Parlor. She wondered if she was trying to take Striker for herself.

Eating the ice cream was a strange affair. Striker noticed Kat and Yuffie both tried their absolute best to get as close to him as possible. Yuffie had made a big deal suggesting that it would save money if she and Striker shared an ice cream soda, but her plans were ruined when Striker got the bright idea that they should all three share a sundae. Kat's hand kept mysteriously traveling up Strikers leg, and Yuffie kept "accidently" kicking Kat under the table. Striker was begininng to wonder if there was a competition between the two over him. Kat had only been with them three days and he thought her and Yuffie were pretty good friends, but they sure were acting strange.

Tseng pulled open the door of the bar, smoke greeting him like a smack in the face. It was something he was used to. As a Turk, trips to bars were frequent.

Tseng sat down on a stool at the bar and ordered something hard. He sat still on the stool, his eyes fixed on the bartenders back.

Coming here had been a mistake. Being alive was a mistake. It was his fault Aeris had gotten into that fight with Elmyra. He should've expected her to react that way, after all, she had seen him chase after Aeris for most of her life.

"Here you go, sir."

Tseng accepted the drink from the bartender and took a long sip, the cold liquid burning a path down his throat. He remembered that he wasn't Reno. This drink was too strong for him.

Reno. If anything, the drink made him think about his beloved Turks. They boldly left Shin-Ra, something he promised he'd do the day Sephiroth stabbed him in the temple. But had he done it? No. He survived the vicious attack by an old man who had faith in him but what did he do? Ran right back to Shin-Ra. To Rufus.

Tseng wondered why he did it. He knew it was wrong to return to Shin-Ra, and even after the vow he made against it, he went back. What was wrong with him?

Perhaps it was the friendship he harbored for Rufus. He'd know him since he was a tot, and in Tseng's eyes the President was still a boy. It didn't matter, Rufus was Rufus, and Tseng cared about him, wanted to protect him.

But Tseng walked away from his Turks. He should be with them right now, where ever they were, leading and guiding them. Whether they were on a new assignment or lounging in a bar like this (knowing Reno, it was the latter of the two), he should have been with them. But where was he? Alone, in a bar in Kalm. Why?

Tseng thought back to Aeris.

Had he really loved the flower girl? When she was approaching her later teens, he found himself falling for her. She was quite a bit younger than him, but he didn't see age as anything but a number. He was angry when she started dating that SOLDIER, Zack, the same one she was with now, but he controlled his feelings and did his job.

Or maybe he didn't control his feelings. Maybe he didn't do his job. His love for Aeris is what kept him from telling Shin-Ra where she was all that time.

But that was in the past now. He and Aeris would never work. She was too young, and she was in love now. Perhaps he too could be if he gave himself half a chance.

Tseng thought about Elena. Wherever she was, he wondered if she thought of him. Tseng had finally gotten himself to ask her out to dinner, but unfortunately his plans were deterred by Sephiroth. He wondered if that date were still open? He thought about Elena's shapely body, sweet perfume, and soft, golden blonde hair, and pulled his PHS out. He began dialing her number, but stopped on the last digit and slapped the device shut. What if she didn't want to talk to him? What if she'd changed her mind? What if she were angry at him for deserting the Turks?

"This is ridiculous," Tsengs accidently said aloud to himself, opening the PHS again. "I shouldn't be afraid to call a woman."

The bartender looked at him strangly and chuckled. So the rumors were true. The Turks had gone soft.

The PHS rang a few times, and Tseng was about to hang up when a familiar voice rang through his ear.

"Elena here."

Tseng held his breath. Suddenly he didn't feel he could talk to her.

"Hello? Damnit, hello?!"

Tseng hung up when her heard Reno shout "who the hell is that" in the background. He slapped the PHS shut and stuffed it in his pocket, just in time to see an odd commotion down the bar. Upon further investigation, he spotted a crowed hovered around what was obviously Cait Sith, dancing and jumping on the bar while his mog spat out fortunes.

"Yes, yes!" Cait screamed. "Throw your gil away on me! I'm so funny!"

The crowd laughed, and to Tseng's astonishment, people actually threw money at him.

"Yay! Who wants their fortune told? The Mog will tell your future!"

The crowd went wild. Is this what Reeve does in his free time? Tseng thought. Disgusted, he got up and left the pub.

Dinner that night was a noisy affair. Aeris had made up with Elmyra, and the two, with Tifa and Tayeko's help, prepared dinner. Tifa, though not feeling well, was especially helpful in the kitchen, and impressed Elmyra with her cooking skills.

"My, to be so young, you have the talents of a gourmet chef!"

"I wouldn't go that far," Tifa said with a faint laugh, "But it does come when you own a bar."

When it was finally time to eat, the living room was uncomfortably crowded, people scattered all about. Elmyra even had to bring in extra chairs for everyone to sit. Cid had insisted they eat in the living room, as there was more room and no doubt access to the television.

Barret relaxed in the large recliner, Marlene in his lap. Zack, Aeris, Tayeko, and Sephiroth occupied the couch, and Tifa and Tseng, oddly enough, sat together on the loveseat. Cloud stayed away from the group, sitting on the stairs. Red XIII sat on the floor, as did Cait Sith, who really did more bouncing around then sitting. Cid, Yuffie, and Striker sat in the addtional chairs provided. Vincent stood in the corner, refusing the luxury of a seat.

"Put the goddamned news on!" Cid shouted, gravy dripping down his chin. He wiped it with his sleeve. "Shit," he cursed, setting down his fork and lighting a cigarette.

Elmyra frowned from where she was standing in the doorway to the kitchen. "A shame! cursing and smoking! I don't want it in my house! And at the dinner table no less!"

"Mom, please..." Aeris pleaded.

"There's a CHILD in the room for god's sake!"

Aeris glanced at Marlene, who thought she was caught in the act of stealing a roll from her father's plate. Aeris set her fork down.

"She's right. Cid, I think you should put that out."

"Damn," Cid muttered. "Fine." He took a final drag on the nicotine stick before slamming it into his plate to put it out, provided Elmyra had no ashtray available. He carefully put the half smoked cigarette back into the pack.

"Wonderful!" Elmyra yelped sarcastically. "Now he's ruining my plates!"

Cid chewed his food and shook a fist in the air. "I've heard enough from you, goddamnit!" he shouted. "Maybe if you had a fucking ashtray, you wouldn't have to worry-"

"Nobody here SMOKES!" she shouted back.

"Cid, Marlene!" Aeris exclaimed. "Watch your mouth!"

Cid looked sheepish. "Sorry."

"What happened to the news?" Striker asked.

Barret snatched the remote of the recliner's arm and turned the set on. He turned to the news.

This just in... the reporter at the desk blared. We go live to Junon, where President Rufus Shin-Ra has just arrived after spending the last two nights in a Midgar Hotel. Apparently, the brand new Shin-Ra building has been taken over by what sources are saying are Professor Hojo and the alien creature Jenova... both which are supposedly dead since AVALANCHE's destruction of Sephiroth. But then again, he doesn't seem to be dead either, hmm? "

"Damnit!" Cloud suddenly spoke. "They're making us look like fools!"

"Also, sources tell us that the Turks have left Shin-Ra. No other information is available at this time. We now go live to Phillip Booker in Junon."

"Thank you Tilly!" the reporter in Junon said. "I'm at Junon harbor right now where President Shin-Ra just arrived! He's going to pass by my left momentarily, where this limo is parked and we'll ask him some - Oh! there he goes!" Rufus came rushing by, Scarlet at his heels and SOLDIER and the paparazzi surrounding him. The reported got as close as he could.

"Mr. President! Could you please tell us what's going - "

"I don't have any time for questions!" Rufus shouted at the camera. "Out of here!"

"Wait! Tell us, is it true the Turks left because they were underpaid and forced to perform outrageous acts?"

Rufus gave the reporter a lethal look. "Out of my face!"

"That's perposterous!" Tseng shouted.

The report turned back to the camera as Rufus sped off in the limo. "Unfortunaltely, President Shin-Ra was not willing to lend us any more information, but the story is that Hojo and Jenova are inside the Shin-Ra building, not sure for what. It is confirmed that all employees inside the building at the time of the attack are now dead."

A frightened SOLDIER appeared in the camera next to the reporter. "It was horrible! Nasty monsters everywhere! We couldn't get in! The President had a fit!"

The reporter returned in the camera's view. "You heard it here first, folks. Back to you Tilly."

"Thank you Phillip. Though no other information is available at this time, citizens of Midgar are warned to stay as far away from the new Shin-Ra facility until it is declared safe. As for the whereabouts of the Turks, that information remains unknown. Live from Midgar, I'm Tilly Banks."

Everyone stared at the screen. Zack raised his hand.

"Should we go to the Shin-Ra building?"

People began to respond, but Cloud sharply cut them off. "No," he said. "We're not going anywhere. Jenova's no fool. She'll be here. We wait."

"I don't like the idea of her coming here with Marlene here," Barret complained. "And we got a pregnant lady here."

"Don't worry about me," Tifa said. "I'm still going to fight."

"Tifa, you can't!" Aeris exclaimed.

"Just watch me!"

"What about Marlene!" Barret hollered.

"We WAIT," Cloud repeated. He put his plate of untouched food down and stormed up the stairs.

Barret growled and banged his gunarm on the side of the recliner. "I'm beginning to wonder about him."

Tifa shook her head. "Just forget him," she said. "He'll get over it.

Elmyra turned the television off and stared at group. "I'm going to bed, which means YOU'RE going to bed. Get! Leave or go to bed!

Most of the group did not disagree, instead grumbled as they headed to where they decided they'd sleep.