Chapter 2: "How Do We Know You Won't Betray Us?"

Elmyra stood, wiping her gloves on her apron. A strange sound had pulled her from her gardening work, like that of some large animal stirring the underbrush. She thought it odd, however, that now it made no sound, of anger or pain or otherwise. Perhaps it was injured. Curious but wary she investigated, pulling the handkerchief from covering her hair.

"Aeris!" Elmyra's daughter, a twenty-one year old brunette, lifted her head at the shout, having been working at the other end of the spacious garden—the only one of its kind, as flowers were rare in Midgar. She dusted off her dress and followed her mother's voice.

"Be careful, dear," Elmyra warned as she came near, brushing back the flower stalks with her foot so that she could see. It was a man, lying on his stomach with an enormous sword strapped to his back. He looked unconscious. "I found him a moment ago," she said, her voice strained with worry and apprehension. "Do you…recognize him?"

"No, not at all." She knelt down at his side, trying to see his face. "He's really handsome," she giggled, discovering long, sharp features. He almost looked familiar…

"Aeris, this is serious," her mother rebuked. "He could be after you."

Aeris wasn't listening, and tried to roll the strange man onto his back. It was harder than she thought it'd be. "Mom, can you help me? I want to see what's wrong."

"Aeris, be careful…"

"Ma'am?" Both women started as two figures came out of the woods. One was a lanky man in his twenties wearing black pants, boots, a jacket, and a cap. His companion looked older, sporting a dark green cape with long hair to match its shade, clad in some ornate leather armor. He also had a sword slung over his shoulder. It was the first man that had spoken, and he continued. "You having some trouble with that man?"

Aeris looked him over. He had a pleasant look about him and sounded easy-going, but the outfit gave him the appearance of a thief. "Who are you?" she asked curiously, without suspicion. "Do you know him?"

"The name's Locke Cole," introduced, squatting down so he could shake her hand. "My friend's name is Glenn. You look like you could use our help."

"He just wandered into our garden," Elmyra explained. "Do you know what's wrong with him?"

The man that was Glenn joined Locke and Aeris, with no trouble rolling Cloud onto his back. "The man is suffering," he said in a low, strange-sounding voice. It was deep and ruptured, like the croak of a frog. "Illness, or poison." He indicated to the pained look on his face, and placed Aeris' hand on his forehead; it was burning. He then pointed out an almost unnoticeable line of blood on the neck. "This, more likely than not, comes from an injection. Shin-ra drugs."

Aeris raised her eyes to him, and was startled to see that his were an intense gold shade. She'd never seen eyes that color. "Shin-ra? Why would they drug him?"

"We've been following him since he passed us in Sector Six," Locke said. "We were worried he was hurt, but he's also pretty strong, and we didn't want to approach him until he fell under."

"Help me take him back to the house." Aeris lifted the man's shoulder just enough to detach the large blade. "We'll be able to take care of him better inside."

"Aeris…" Elmyra bit her lip, obviously concerned. "Are you sure that's…"

"It's okay, Mom," she assured. "Come on, Mr. Locke—let's get him up, okay?"

"Hey, where'd the 'Mister' come from?"

Between the three of them, getting Cloud into the house wasn't very difficult, and Locke went back to retrieve the sword while Aeris arranged several pillows on the floor as a makeshift bed. She took over in his care, ordering the others about and doing most of the work herself. The strangers were amazed by her hospitality—she treated them all like old friends and, when she wasn't tending to her patient, insisted they allow her to serve them tea. They exchanged baffled glances and accepted.

"Hey, mister."

Cloud groaned, feeling a dull pressure on his forehead. There were people around him, hovering like shadows. His eyelids fluttered.

"Hello? Can you hear me?"

"Who…" He opened his eyes, gazing into the soft-featured face of a woman. She was smiling at him. "Ti…" He cult himself off, shaking his head. "Who are you?"

"It's okay," she said soothingly. "My name's Aeris. You're okay now. How do you feel?"

"Aeris…" He didn't recognize the name, or the face, and began to grow alarmed. "Where am I?" he demanded, sitting bolt upright. Aeris had to scramble backwards to avoid being hit. "What's going on, and—" He stopped, staring down at himself; he'd been stripped down except for his pants. "What did you do with my clothes?"

The strange girl couldn't help but stifle a giggle. "Oh, sorry about that. You were pretty sick for a while. What's your name?"

He stared at her a moment, as if not comprehending the question. A brief investigation showed he was in a modest home, and he and Aeris were not alone: two men and an older woman were nearby, watching. "I'm…Cloud," he answered at last. "Cloud Strife. What happened?"

"Glenn says you were poisoned by Shin-ra, and you just kinda wandered in." She cocked her head to the side quizzically. "You some kinda criminal?"

Seated some ways away, Elmyra nearly choked on her tea. She sent her daughter a stern—if not exasperated—look. Locke shrugged to his companion.

"No. I'm…" Cloud paused. He was…he couldn't remember anything. His mind had become blank.

"You have the eyes of a SOLDIER," she suggested.

"SOLDIER. I was in SOLDIER," he responded before even realizing what he'd said. "First Class. But that was a while ago. Hey, what's going on?" He was suddenly suspicious, edging away. "Who are all you people?"

Aeris was still smiling, allowing him a wide berth. "It's okay; everyone here was helping you. That's Mr. Locke, and Mr. Glenn, and my mom, Elmyra."

"Hey, hey," Locke rejoined, "quit it with the 'mister'."

Cloud regarded him carefully, then the man's partner. He didn't know them. They didn't know him—or did they? "You were following me," he said abruptly, accusingly. "I remember your voice."

"Locke Cole, treasure hunter," he declared proudly.

"You're a thief?"

"Treasure hunter." The correction was so forceful that it startled all of them. "Not a thief, a treasure hunter, okay? Don't forget it."

Cloud shrugged—a gesture that seemed strange coming from him. "Whatever. Your friend a mercenary?"

"Sort of."

He raised an eyebrow, his suspicions raised again. "And you two always follow drunks?"

Locke shifted in his seat, uncomfortable with the way conversation was going. "So much for gratitude," he muttered indignantly. "Do a guy a favor…"

"Oh, let's not be silly," Elmyra interjected, hurrying into the kitchen to get them some refreshments. "Aeris and I grow our own fruit trees, and they're very good for you. Would anyone like some?"

"No." Cloud stood, trying to locate his clothing. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'd better go."

"Are you sure?" There was a note of disappointment in Aeris' voice that he heard clearly, but wondered at only briefly. "You're still not fully healed."

"I'm sure." He felt strange, as if many things had been taken from him—other than his shirt. He no longer remembered how he had come to this place, or what had occurred to make him come. Before that he had been…a mercenary. Yes, a mercenary looking to be hired. The answers came to his mind quickly, supplied, he assumed, by memories that were resurfacing. There was something he had to do.

Locke was there suddenly, holding out the man's bundle of clothing and shoulder armor. "Ya know," he started carefully, "I wouldn't recommend running out there again so soon. It's obvious that someone wants you out of the way, if you catch my meaning."

"I got it," Cloud snapped, growing annoyed. He struggled into his clothing, adding the steel shoulder pad and thick gloves. "I appreciate your help, but I'm fine now, so I'll be leaving."

"That's some thank you," Aeris said hotly. "But if you're going, why don't you take some of these?" She ran over to a small basket of the table, plucking out two small pink flowers. They were the same kind as the flowers that Cloud had collapsed among in the garden. "Lots of people that don't know where they're going end up here," she continued, holding them out. "I like to think that the flowers draw them, so I always give them some to take. Here."

He stared at her doubtfully, but instead of firing some annoyed quip, he only replied "Flowers are pretty rare in Midgar, aren't they?"

"Not in my garden they're not." Without waiting for his approval, she tucked the stems into his belt. "There. Now you can go."

"Thanks, I think."

"We can lead you back to Sector Six," Locke volunteered pleasantly. "Need a guide?"

"Actually…" Cloud thought back as far as he could, but all that resurfaced was the image of a brunette, her eyes fastened on him. "Do any of you know a girl named Tifa?" he asked, expecting none to reply. After all, there could only be one Tifa, and that she would end up in Midgar… He felt confused, but some part of him wanted to know.

"Tifa?" Locke shook his head. "Sorry."

But Glenn spoke up then, for the first time in Cloud's memory. "The owner of a bar in Sector Seven has a name as such. Tifa Lockheart, if my recollection serves me."

"Can you take me there?"

"Certainly."

Aeris gazed at him with a thoughtful expression. "Is Tifa…your girlfriend?" she asked after a moment.

Cloud shook his head, letting the memories come to him. "I haven't seen her in years. We were in the same town for a while. I…just wanted to see if she lived here." He felt as if there might be something more, but the girl was watching him with relief, and he decided to say no more on the subject. "Anyway, I have to go."

"Take care of yourself."

The group moved outside. It was late morning, though it was impossible to tell that from simply looking about—Midgar had long since been pulled into perpetual night from the plated city that hung over them. With final thank yous and farewells, Cloud set off with his two guides. Aeris watched them go, but then grew puzzled; Sector Seven Slums were north, but they were heading east, in the wrong direction. Elmyra must have noticed this as well, but she told her daughter not to pay attention and led her inside the house. After all, they must have known a shortcut of some sort, and could take care of themselves. To this the girl nodded, and helped to clean the place where Cloud had slept.

"This is total crap," Barret snarled, pounding his fist on the table. "We've got nothing to do with this Shin-ra bullshit, and your girlfriend's pushin' us around like one of 'er rookie trainees. Why're we taking this?"

Sabin ran a hand through his shortly cropped sandy hair, having taken much abuse from his comrades over the last hours. "Listen, there's nothing I can do, okay? What's she gonna do if I tell her we won't look for him? She's a general, for god's sake."

"We don't even know what the hell he is—we're wasting time."

Tifa entered the bar's back room then, and both men fell silent. She caught on immediately. "You guys are pretty dumb, thinking I don't know what you're talking about," she laughed.

"Well, we…" Sabin scratched his head. "Sorry, Tifa."

"Listen." She put her hands down on the table, capturing their attention. "I'm positive this is the same Cloud Strife I used to know, and right now that general is the only way I have of finding out what Shin-ra did to him."

Barret glanced up at her, catching a tone in her voice that he didn't recognize. "What, he one'a your old boyfriends or something?"

Before she could answer, Celes was there, her pale eyes ceasing all other thoughts they might have had. "I've got a lead," she said, her voice crisp and clear, just like her gaze. "One of the people around here said he saw someone like Cloud heading in the direction of Sector Five, so that's where we go."

"We don't work for you," Barret snarled contemptuously. "Don't order us around."

She turned her cold stare on him, and even as large as he was, he couldn't help but look away. "I am going after him," she told him quietly. "If you don't want to come along, then fine. I'll go alone. But I will go." She spun on her heel and swiftly left the room.

Tifa watched her back a moment, then followed just as swiftly. Sabin joined her and, after muttering "Aw hell," Barred went as well.

Cloud glanced about him, trying to take not of all his surroundings. Something was strange. He didn't know Midgar at all, but something in him was restless. "We're not going to Sector Seven, are we?"

"No," Locke replied, smiling grimly. "We're not."

His fists tightened, and he forced himself not to let his anxiety grow. "Where are we going?"

"Back to Sector Six."

"May I ask why? No, wait." Cloud stopped, turning to face his guides. "A mercenary and a thief; why do I even bother asking?"

"Treasure hunter," he corrected, "and it's not what you think. There's no bounty on you, and there's not much you have worth stealing, except that materia you're carrying."

"Oh?" Cloud straightened—he didn't even remember which materia he was carrying. "How do you know it's worth stealing?"

Locke shrugged. "Well, members of SOLDIER usually carry good materia."

"I'm not in SOLDIER anymore."

"Good enough."

Glenn stepped in front of him, pulling the sword off his back; the blade was just as long as Cloud's but half as thick, and it glowed a faint emerald hue that stood out oddly against the black of the slums. Tiny veins of a darker color snaked across its surface. "To do this before the girl would be dishonorable," he said loudly in that same strange, low voice. "Here, we finish it."

Cloud unhooked his sword from its harness on his back, and noticed something peculiar: a green light similar to the sword's shone through his gloves in thin lines, like roman numerals. Confused and wary, he tried to shake off the effect, but had no luck. He ignored it. "I don't mind slicing you in half," he taunted easily, "but isn't this a little…odd? Or did you plan this from the start?" He glanced about as those people on the street began to back off, realizing the beginning of a battle.

"The start."

"Thought so."

Locke sat down leisurely on the edge of a nearby magazine stand, crossing his arms with amusement. "Don't feel too bad, spiky," he called. "We pull this all the time."

Cloud regarded him briefly, then turned his focus back to Glenn. He didn't understand what was going on or why these two were after him, but they meant business. There was a cold gleam of hatred in the man's yellow eyes, and he wondered vaguely if it was truly directed at him, or some other. Perhaps they had met once before.

"Prepare yourself." Glenn bent down into a readied position, sword held ready. Cloud's lips twisted in a smile.

The first charge came and passed faster than Cloud expected it would, but his instincts held true, and he dodged effectively. An instant later Glenn was there, striking with his sword in a blow he almost didn't block in time. Their blades locked with such force that his hands trembled with the resounding vibrations. They exchanged a round of clashing steel before leaping back again.

"You're strong," Glenn muttered appraisingly, hiding his surprise that they hadn't finished already. "Not many hold out long against me. Truly of SOLDIER, First Class."

"You sound as if you'd know." He searched the man's eyes for that familiar glow of Mako energy; it wasn't there. "You were never in SOLDIER."

He nodded barely, using the pause in their battle to notice the crowd they'd accumulated so quickly. They kept their distance. "I've fought First Class SOLDIER members before. I watched them draw their last breath. I will watch your last breath as it leaves your lifeless body."

"Tough words."

His eyes narrowed. "They should be."

The second attack was one of magic, and Cloud involuntarily set up a barrier to counteract its affect. A steady stream of water beat against it, surrounding him though denied of its victim. After a moment it dissipated and he countered with his own assault of fierce ice. With a wave of his had Glenn deflected the crystals, sending them careening back towards their origin. They smashed harmlessly against the steel of Cloud's sword.

"Looks like you're evenly matched." Locke wandered into the space between them, thumbs hooked easily through his belt loops. "Need some help?"

"I've not found a match for my strength yet," Glenn grumbled in reply, adjusting the grip on his sword. "And not in this boy."

Cloud's eyes narrowed, glaring at the smaller man's turned back with anger at his casual indifference. "Are you going to talk or are you going to fight?" he yelled.

Locke cocked an eye back, turning to face him. "Oh, you want to fight me?" He laughed, as if he'd asked to do something utterly ridiculous. "Imagine that."

"One or both, I'll kill any opponent."

"Oh really?" He pulled a short dagger out of his belt, letting it dangle at his side. "You got it, Spiky."

Locke charged first, sweeping past him though not doing any damage. Glenn attacked after his comrade had danced out of the way with another water wave. This time, however, Cloud's barrier failed and he was thrown violently into the dusty street. Heavy with the water's weight, his hair fell into his eyes, obscuring his vision. He slapped it aside with annoyance.

The treasure hunter loomed over him, laughing as he kicked him mockingly in the shoulder. "Looks who's on his face!" he declared, and he could hear members of the crowd jeering him playfully. "Can't do the spell without the materia." Cloud cursed to see the man slipping several colored spheres into his pocket. When did he…?

"Are you finished?" Glenn asked impatiently.

"Yeah, you can kill him now."

"Wait!"

The three glanced up to see a young girl pushing her way through the crowd—Aeris. She ran up to them without hesitation, kneeling by Cloud and covering him protectively. "What are you doing?" she demanded, her hot temper not as effective as she would have liked. "I thought you were trying to help this man."

Locke shrugged. "I was; now, Glenn's going to kill him. He was in SOLDIER—we're doing him a favor."

"He's not in SOLDIER anymore," she retorted before he had a chance to reply for himself. "Leave him alone."

"I cannot do that." Glenn came forward, raising his sword.

Cloud rose to his feet, pushing Aeris behind him. "This is so stupid—"

"All of you hold it!" Two more figures emerged from the ever-growing audience, dressed in dark navy suits and sunglasses. "You're all under arrest!" a man with red hair shouted, carrying a long metal rod. His partner was bald and unarmed.

"Oh, Reno." Aeris was momentarily surprised, but then smiled and waved to him. "Hello!"

The man who'd spoken glared at her, annoyed. "Don't act so happy," he admonished. "I'm here to kidnap you, ya know."

Cloud blinked. "Kidnap?"

Locke glared at the number of intruders accumulating. "This is weird," he muttered, scratching his head. "Shin-ra Turks after a girl? What's going on?"

Down the street Celes rounded a corner and came into view. She frowned at the scene. There's Cloud, but who are those other three? And what are Reno and Rude doing here? Cloud's not Turk business…

"Reno!" She entered the clearing, leading Barret, Lucca, Tifa, and Sabin. She didn't know what was going, but it was obvious that two Shin-ra Turks wouldn't be enough to handle Cloud if he decided to fight them. "What're you doing here?"

"Could ask the same of you," the red head retorted. "Where have you been?"

Locke surveyed the scene, utterly confused. "What the hell is going on?" he asked loudly, waving his hands in the air, as no one had answered his first question. "Where'd all these loons come from?"

"We're just here for the girl," Reno said easily, indicating Aeris with his rod. "The rest you can sort out yourself."

Celes closed her eyes briefly, letting everything absorb into her mind. There were too many people involved now, and she didn't want to deal with more explanations. If they were after the girl…fine. It wasn't her concern. But the people she was with now… A noise caught her attention, and she turned her head to the sky. Helicopters? This has gone too far…and if Shin-ra finds out I let Avalanche slip away…She chose the only option.

Barret never saw the blast that hit him. All he remembered was a cold impact against his chest, and the earth striking him in the back. He was immediately unconscious.

"Barret!" Tifa moved to help him but was restrained, and pulled swiftly out of the way of another ice blast. She stared at Celes in shock and betrayal, gripping her shoulder that had begun to throb. "Celes!" she hollered, staying close to Sabin. "What are you doing?"

"Don't look so devastated," she sneered. A strong wind began to blow, and the crowd dispersed as two Shin-ra helicopters began to descend with lights blazing. I must have interrupted something big she thought to herself, now glad that she'd chosen the option she did. Her eyes caught sight of Aeris across the square. That must be Aeris Gainsborough. I should have known, with Reno and Rude involved. She glanced back at Tifa.

Sabin pushed Tifa behind him protectively, a flash of panic skating up his spine. "You were planning this all along?" he demanded incredulously. "You little—"

"Spare me your injustice." Celes turned away as the helicopters landed, two more navy-suited figures climbing out: one a black-haired man, the other a blond woman. She motioned for them to come forward.

"We've gotta get out of here," Sabin whispered, starting to pull Tifa back. A little ways away, he could see Cloud and his strange group becoming quickly surrounded by the navy suits as well as several soldiers. More soldiers were heading towards them. "I should have known."

"We can't leave Cloud and Barret," Tifa replied. "We—"

"Don't move."

They turned to see Lucca holding a gun on them, but by now both were beyond wasting time. Sabin snatched the gun out of her hand and Tifa knocked her down. "Come on." He snatched her hand and bolted into a back alley, hoping to find some escape.

"But Barret—"

"Later."

Meanwhile, Cloud was having problems of his own. He pulled Aeris to him and kept between Glenn and Locke, who were gaping at the surrounding soldiers in apparent shock. "Stay close," he whispered, not understanding the sudden responsibility he felt towards the girl. "Don't move—I'll get you out of this."

"I can take care of myself," she replied, and though her words implied arrogance, her tone was bright and without edge. "It happens."

"Hey hey hey, what's with all this shit?" Locke struggled to pull his arm away from the soldier who'd grabbed it. "I haven't done anything!"

Celes, who had just supervised Barret's loading onto one of the helicopters, strode bravely over. "Leave those two out," she commanded, coming up behind the leader of the navy-suits. "It's Cloud we're after."

Tseng regarded her briefly. "I don't care about your SOLDIER members, Celes," he shot back. "I'm here for Aeris."

"It won't do you any good," Aeris said, trying to step out despite Cloud's warning. "You know I won't be any use to you."

They ignored her. "Then take them both," Celes advised, "and sort it out later." She paused as her eyes met Glenn's for the first time, stance shifting every so slightly. Her face tightened. "And take that man, too."

"Hey—wait—" Locke fought harder, but his smaller stature was no match for the Shin-ra soldiers. "We've got nothing to do with this!"

Glenn raised his sword to fight back, but Reno snuck up from behind, wielding the Electrorod he'd been carrying earlier. It flashed with a dull light, spreading an orange mist about his target. Slowly, it solidified into a translucent pyramid that entrapped the bewildered sword fighter. Reno leapt back with a laugh. "Gotcha!"

"What the hell?" Locke was dropped brusquely into the dirt, and he scrambled back to his feet. "Hey, you guys can't—"

One of the soldiers swung his rifle, smashing him in the gut. Coughing and sputtering, Locke dropped to his knees. "Damn…"

Tseng stepped forward in the distraction, snagging Aeris' wrist and dragging her into the line of soldiers before Cloud could react. Even as he moved to reclaim her, several rifle barrels jabbed him in the chest. Growling with frustration and anger, he was forced to stand still.

"I'm sorry about this." Celes faced him, her face dark with an emotion he couldn't place. She seemed familiar to him, but her identity remained misted in a memory beyond his reach. "I am, Cloud. You probably have no idea what's going on."

"Damn right." He surveyed the traps around him with a look of cool indifference, though inside he was raging. "Mind explaining?"

She nodded barely, but he gained the idea that she wasn't paying attention to him in the least. She'd been testing him, but for what? "I'm sorry," she repeated, then to Reno, "Get everyone loaded. I'll handle this one."

"Whatever. We got what we came for."

The soldiers began to back off, leaving Locke in the street and Glenn to pound with curses on his lips against the triangular prison. Cloud shifted from foot to foot in visible anxiety, fingers flexing around the handle of his weapon. "You want to fight me?" he asked coldly.

"No; I intend to." She reached behind her, drawing a sword he didn't know was there previously. It was an abnormal blade, slightly curved and tainted black as if it were not true metal. She held it in a way that made it seem very light and delicate in her hands, contrasting his blunt steel.

"That's an interesting weapon," he commented after having finished his short analysis. He was distracted momentarily as an eye caught his: Aeris', watching him as Tseng dragged her into the waiting belly of the first helicopter. She looked perfectly at ease and even smiled as their gazes met, as if assuring him. Then she was gone, and the heavy metal door slammed shut. There was nothing he could do to help her now, and his eyes flickered back between the machine and his opponent as it lifted awkwardly into the air and began to ascend once more. Celes saw clearly where he was looking, and woke him from his split attention by sliding easily into a readied battle stance. Cloud tore his eyes from the helicopter and faced her, his eyes growing cold.

She attacked, and they exchanged blows. The confrontation did not take as long as he'd imagined—her style left an opening that was very clear to him, and he brought he flat of his blade down on her shoulder. She crumpled. Startled by her sudden fall he stepped back, expecting her to get up once more and continue. Celes did climb to her feet, but something glinted in her eye, and she took a step back.

"Cloud!" He jerked around, catching sight of a figure hidden in the shadows of an alley. It was waving to him. "Come on—leave her!"

Without further hesitation Cloud turned and ran for the hideaway, pausing only to scoop Locke off the streets. He didn't know why he bothered. But soon he was in the cover of darkness and the man lead him away, deeper into the back streets.

Celes watched them go with a grim smile, one that quickly vanished as a soldier came up to her. "Shall we go after them?" he asked, rifle held ready.

She shook her head. "No. Let them go, for now. Just find some way to get that man—" she gestured to Glenn "—onto the helicopter."

"Yes ma'am."

After one last long gaze into the alley the general was convinced that her quarry was gone, and she turned back towards Glenn. Their eyes met for a split second before she moved on toward the second helicopter and quickly boarded. None of the soldiers noticed that her hands were shaking.

Cloud listened to the roar of propellers overhead, still following the man while half dragging the thief behind him. He didn't know where they were or where they were going. He didn't have a choice, though. It didn't matter to him either, as long as it took him back to Shin-ra eventually. He had a score to settle.

Finally they halted, and Cloud gained his breath back quickly. Locke had not fared as well. "You goddamned bastard," he huffed, gasping. "You trying to kill me?"

"Listen, pal," he shot back angrily. "I just saved your bony ass, so don't piss me off. I could have left you with Shin-ra back there."

"I could'a handled it." He dropped down wearily, pulling off his cap. "Damn Shin-ra."

"You two okay?" Sabin looked them over, only slightly out of breath from the long run. He noted with some discontent that Cloud didn't even look tired. "You're in pretty good shape."

"I should be."

Tifa was already there, seated beside Lucca—her prisoner. Cloud looked much different to her than when she saw him the night before; withdrawn but intense, like she'd always known him. They hadn't been good friends back in their hometown of Nibelheim, but in growing she always felt as if she was being watched from a distance. Not like a spy—more like a guardian, constantly there but always in the shadows, an entity of comfort and control that she hadn't appreciated until it was gone.

His eyes shifted as if alerted by her thoughts, finally taking not of her existence there. She feared seeing his cold stare, but to her surprise, his gaze softened with recognition. "Tifa?" He came forward slowly, hesitant to approach. "You're Tifa, aren't you?"

She nodded dumbly, puzzled by his reaction—last time they met he'd tried to kill her. "Yes," she started carefully, "it's me, Cloud. Do you remember me?"

"Of course I remember." He crouched down in front of her, lip curling in a faint smile as he looked her over for the first time. His voice was quiet and almost careful, as if he were speaking to some lord or deity he dare not offend. "You look great. How long has it been? Five years?"

Five? It's been seven. She was about to correct him when Lucca pinched her arm and shook her head barely. Cloud's attention was on Tifa, and he didn't notice. "Yeah," she said at last, confused but relenting. "Five years. You look pretty good yourself." She felt a blush creeping up her neck; he didn't look good, he was absolutely gorgeous. The slender features of his face which had once appeared bony on him as a boy, now gave him a dark look, one devilishly handsome. The rest of him had changed too; instead of being gangly and awkward he was thickly muscled and moved with a kind of strange grace that fit him perfectly. There was also an air of cockiness about him, the only part of him that seemed out of place. She ignored this minor vagary.

"I don't mean to interrupt the wedding," Locke spoke up sharply, "but maybe this isn't the best time to reminisce. In case you didn't notice, a bunch of your friend's just got 'napped by Shin-ra."

"Celes took Barret." Sabin had a strange look on his face, and lifted his head to the sky to avoid it being seen. "And that sword fighter."

"And Aeris," Cloud added, rising. "We have to help her, too. She helped me before, and I owe her."

Lucca adjusted her glasses, and when she spoke, her words were crisp and serious. "I can get you into Shin-ra."

Everyone turned to stare at her. "Get into Shin-ra?" Locke exclaimed incredulously. "You're going to get us into Shin-ra?"

"Of course. I work for them." She stood. "I know the building."

"Wait wait wait; you're a Shin-ra?"

"Now hold on," Sabin interjected gruffly. "How do we know we can trust you, after what your friend did to Barret? You could lead us into another trap."

She put her hands on her hips, glaring at them with a look of utter annoyance. "Listen," she said in a low voice, "Celes could have toasted your asses in four seconds if she wanted to—she's top General of SOLDIER after all—so obviously she let you all go for a reason. We weren't going to betray you, but since the Turks showed up we had to improvise. You expect her to let them label her a traitor? Hell, no. They'd hunt her down—and us—like dogs." She made sure her words made sense to them, then continued. "We'll have to break into Shin-ra and get them out, right? They're probably all on floor 67, because it's the one that has the prisoner cells. If I know Celes, she's got something planned."

Sabin was still doubtful. "How do we know you won't betray us?"

"You don't." She smiled grimly. "But really, what choice do you have?"

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