Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Great Tournament ❯ Let's Split Up! ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4 : What!? I DON'T snore! Besides how could I sleep when I have your stinky feet in my face - Yuffie

Cloud ran trying to make his way through the panicking crowd. 'What the hell is going on here?' He kept jumping up trying to spot a glimpse of pink but couldn't see anything in all the chaos.

"Out the way!" He barged past the people in front of him. "Coming through."

'Where would she go?' His mind was racing trying to understand everything that was happening. 'This place is huge finding her would be like finding a needle in hay stack.' He reached the lift shoot but hesitated for a moment trying to think where to go.

'Ok hold on a sec I need to think this through.' Cloud read the titles of each shoot trying to decide which one Aeris would have gone in. 'This makes no sense, why did she run?' The Gold Saucer was huge but then again there were only three ways out, the Station, the Gateway and the new Airport. 'Ok then she wouldn't use the Gateway that's a death trap and the airport seems unlikely unless she has an airship.' Cloud walked in front of the Station shoot. 'So that means if she's going to leave this place then she's going to have to using the ropeway.'

Cloud jumped into the shoot happy it was the right choice. As soon as he landed he shot off into a sprint towards the exit but was slowed down by the mass of people trying to push their way into the carriage. 'I need a better view.' Cloud looked round trying to find a high spot to look round, it seemed pointless to leave if Aeris wasn't even heading out this way. He turned back and headed for the ticket booth entrance and climbed up on to the roof, he stood on top of the 'Welcome' sign and looked down onto the crowed but he couldn't see her.

'Maybe I was wrong, perhaps she wasn't coming here after all but then where would she go?' As he finished his thought Cloud managed to spot a glimpse of pink clothing amongst the crowed. 'Then again.' He studied it from a second trying to catch the owners face. 'It's her!' Aeris was near the front of the queue to the carriage looking quite calm despite the total chaos that was around her. "Aeris!" Cloud shouted half knowing it was pointless there was no way she could hear him.

Cloud jumped off the roof and hit the floor rolling. 'Come on move faster.' He hit into the crowed pushing his way through not caring who was in his way. 'Come on get the f&%k out of my way.' He was nearing the front but it was too late, the propellers on the carriage started to turn and it started to make it's decent back down to Corel.

'God dammit!' He reached the front of the crowed looking round but there was no sign of Aeris. 'She must have gotten on, this is just great it's going to take the car another twenty minutes to get back up here and in that time she could be long gone.'

Cloud waited at the front frustrated making sure that he was going to be on the next trip but while he waited his mind started to question what was going on. 'What happened back there under the stands? Could it have been that bad? And why was Aeris here? How did she return from the otherworld, the Promised Land? Why did she run away?' Cloud put his hands over his face trying to come up with an answer to any of his minds questions. 'Well it's obvious that I'm not going to find out until I find her' He let out a heavy sigh. 'I wonder what happened to the others?'

Realizing he had left the arena without his companions Cloud couldn't help but wonder if they had managed to follow him or if they were still back there confused as he was, did they see Aeris too? 'Ughh, too many questions.' He stood there continuing to wait impatiently for the carriage to return. 'Hurry up already!'

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"What the $%£&'s going on?" Shouted Cid.

"I don't know, where's Cloud?" Tifa ran up to the arena realizing Cloud was nowhere to be seen. 'He's disappeared again.'

"He ran off that way." Red nodded his head towards the exit which Cloud had run through. "It looked as if he was following someone."

"Maybe the person who caused all this." Reeve added.

"It's possible but now what do we do?" Asked Red.

"We should go after Cloud." Tifa shouted thinking it was obvious.

"What about the situation here? Someone should stay to help, we may even find a clue to where Cloud ran off to."

"Red's got a point, maybe we should split up." Barret took a few steps over towards the exit. "There are two likely places Cloud's going to go, the Ropeway or the Airport."

"Alright then I'll head for the Airport if he isn't there I can scout round with the Highwind in case he gets off." Cid headed off towards the lift shoots.

"Cid wait up." Reeve ran up after him.

"What's the hold up?" Cid turned round and waited for Reeve to catch.

"Cait Sith's in the Highwind I can control him from in there otherwise I'm not going to be much use." He explained.

"Fine just stop yur yammering and get moving." Cid started towards the lifts once again.

"Right, now what about the rest of us?" Tifa turned round towards the rest.

"I think it would be best if I were to stay here and find out what happened." Red explained.

"Mm ok then so that means were going to have to split up in to two groups, one to head North from Corel to Costa de Sol if he plans to go off this continent then that's the fastest route and the second to go South to Gongaga and Cosmo Canyon just in case." Now that Cloud was gone it was up to Tifa to make the strategies. 'Not to shabby either. I mean I've watched Cloud enough times.'

"Well I know this area better than anyone so I guess I'll check around Corel and the head down to Gongaga." Reasoned Barret.

"Ok I'll head North to Costa de Sol and if need be cross over to Junon, Vincent do you want to come with me?" Tifa asked only getting a nod as a reply from Vincent.

"Oh Gawd a boat ride? I'm sticking to dry land." Stated Yuffie.

"So that means me and Vince will go North while Barret and Yuffie you guys go South after checking Corel." Happy with that sorted Tifa was already to go until she felts someone's hand on her shoulder.

"Huh?" She turned round to see Reno stood there. "Hey get the hell off!" She shouted slapping his hand off her.

"Hey wait a minute I'm not attacking you ok?" Reno at least looked sincere. "If I was you'd be on the ground by now."

"So what do you want? Not a re-match I hope since you would still get your butt kicked."

Reno looked at her for a moment as if he was going to throw his own insult back but then decided against it. "Look I'm here cause I need your help."

"Haha Yeah right why should we help you?" Asked Barret.

"Not me Elena." He turned and pointed over to the other arena, Rude was kneeling down over Elena's body which didn't seem to be moving at all.

Everyone ran over to where she was laid down, her eyes were closed.

"What happened?" Red asked noticing the bruises on her face and hands.

"She was trying to find out what happened when all this first started but when everyone started to panic she got knocked over and trampled when everyone made a run for the exit." Explained Rude.

"So what do you want us to do about it?" Questioned Barret not understanding why it's their problem.

"She needs to get to a hospital but we can't get her out of here very fast without an airship." Tifa understood what Reno was getting at.

"So why should WE help? The amount of times you've tried to kill us and now you want a favor." Barret jumped in before Tifa could speak.

"Look I wouldn't be asking you if there was another way but there isn't so are you going to help or what?" Reno was getting impatient.

"Look we'll help, Barret you and Yuffie get going to Corel and we will take care of this." Tifa turned to help Rude bring Elena to her feet. "Now go!"

"Oh all right I'm going, don't see why I have to get stuck with this little pest though." He glanced at Yuffie.

"Hey what's that suppose to mean? I'm very charming and helpful to have around." Yuffie boasted following closely behind Barret.

"Whatever just don't even think about trying to steal any of my materia."

"Hey I resent that!" The young ninja shouted pulling her hand away from Barret's back pocket. 'Think I'll wait till later to get them.' Hey wait a minute what about the prize materia? Are we just gonna leave it?"

"I'm not waiting around so that you can steal that materia!" He shouted already annoyed with the young ninja who had stopped to stare at he goal.

"But, but we need it. We can't just leave it here I mean look at it there's so much and Hey!" She was cut off when Barret decided to pick her up and put the ninja over his shoulder carrying her to the exit kicking and screaming.

Tifa shook her head happy to get rid of one problem but not on to the other. "Ok Red I need you to run ahead and keep Cid from leaving without us."

"On my way." Red quickly sprinted to catch up with the pilot.

"Now let's get moving." Tifa and Rude carried Elena off towards the lifts with Vincent and Reno following closely behind.

Carrying Elena Tifa couldn't help but still think of Cloud and where he ran off too. 'I hope he's ok.'

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Cloud ran down the street as fast as he could hoping to catch up with Aeris, after finally getting off the Gold Saucer she had about a half hour head start in front of Cloud. Corel was a much bigger place than it use to be, in fact it had doubled in size since Cloud had been here last year and this didn't help at all when trying to find someone.

He noticed a man tidying up his garden, surly he would have seen her if she had gone past. "Hey you."

"Huh? Who me?" The middle-aged man stood up pointing to himself.

"Yeah you." Cloud ran up to him. "Have you seen a girl come past here in the last half hour? She's about the same height as me, long pink dress, green eyes, cute face."

The man stood there for a few seconds thinking. "Well em let me see." Cloud waited impatiently tapping his foot.

"Mmm Oh yeah I remember her." The man said clipping a few twigs off his tree.

"Well? Which way did she go?"

The guy looked in both directions of the street slightly mumbling to him self. "Well em I think she, Oh no that was yeah haha silly me."

Cloud was developing a nervous twitch in his eye. "Which Way?" He shouted. 'This guys as bad as the Chocobo Sage!'

"Hmm Oh yes, she was heading up through town towards the train station." He pointed in the direction.

'North huh I guess that means she's heading towards Costa de Sol, maybe trying to get off this continent. If I hurry I can catch her before she gets on a boat.'

"She was in such a rush never stopped to say hello when she passed you know young people are getting more and more thoughtless these days always having to run off you know what I mean?" He looked round at where Cloud had been stood noticing he wasn't there anymore. "Young man?" He spotted Cloud already halfway down the next street. "Yep always in a rush."

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Tifa reached the Highwind glad that Red had been able to keep Cid from taking off. "Looks like we made it."

"I'm never going to get back into the air waiting for your sorry slow asses to catch up." Exclaimed Cid walking down the ramp to meet Tifa.

"Aww Cid that's the sweetest thing you've said all day." Said Tifa sweetly.

"Yeah yeah just hurry up will ya." Cid ran back up the ramp and went inside waiting for them to bring up Elena.

"Come on then lets get her up." Rude and Tifa dragged Elena up the ramp while Reno and Vincent waited on the platform neither saying a word.

They laid Elena down in the operation room when Cid walked in. "So explain to me why were helping this bunch of losers."

"Because they asked us." Said Tifa simply.

"Yeah and..." He questioned.

"That's it."

"Oh well, as long as I know." He waved his hand and started to walk back to the cockpit. "So where to then?"

"There's a hospital on the North end of Corel we need to get there." Tifa followed Cid to the front of the Highwind.

"No problem, everyone aboard."

Tifa turned to Red. "Hey can you call the others up, we'll set of in the Highwind while you stay here to check out what happened."

Red nodded wondering why he'd been chosen as messenger boy, just cause he had four legs didn't mean he liked running back and forth. "Right I'll call you if I find anything." Red set off back to ramp.

A minute later Reno and Vincent walked through the door. Vincent took his usual spot near the weapons control panel while Reno walked over to Rude and started talking.

"Right that it? Can we go now?" Cid looked round for any objections and just before he flipped the switch to raise the ramp. Rude headed out the door while Reno walked over to him.

"Rude's going to stay here to find out what happened." Reno turned to Tifa. "I don't think many people are going to be very cooperative to a talking cat."

Cid cursed under his breath and lowered the ramp again waiting until he saw Rude exit on the monitor, another little extra Cid had installed.

"Well that's it." Reno sat down on one of the seats. Tifa just nodded and gave Cid the signal to lift off but who glanced round just waiting for the next interruption.

"Finally." He started the engine and the ship began to slowly shake while the thrusters deployed. The Highwind took off and left the Gold Saucers docks flying off towards Corel, Cid had to be careful not to get too close to the ropeway wires while flying he'd already been scolded by Dio three times for hitting them.

Tifa walk up the stairs to open deck wanting some fresh air but was surprised to see Reno stood there looking over the side. Before standing out here it would be very hard to hear anything thanks to all the thrusters but now it calmly quite just the sound of the air been pushed aside could be heard. Since transforming the Highwind into its mark 3 form after Holy was launched Cid had played around with what he could attach and remodel for the past 2 years, now it was called the Highwind Mark. 7 although Tifa couldn't really see the difference.

Her attention came back to Reno who hadn't noticed her entry. He was leaning over the side in heavy thought 'Or it could just be a hangover knowing Reno' She shook her head trying to be serious. 'He's probably just worried about Elena. I'm still not sure why I agreed to help them out myself but, I guess really it was the right thing to do.'

"You gonna stand there forever?" Tifa jumped slightly not entirely sure how long Reno new she was there.

"No I just came up for some air, didn't know anyone else would be up here." She walked over to the opposite side from Reno and leant on the railings. "So what brings you up here? I didn't see you as the 'sight seeing' type."

Reno gave here a quick smile but then turned to the scenery again. "I don't like been cooped up, its too boring." He turned round and copied Tifa's slumped position on the railings. "And at least now up here there's a beautiful view."

Tifa glanced over the side wondering why she was making small talk with a guy she couldn't stand. 'And did he just say that? Sounds more like something Aeris the flower girl would have said not Reno of the Turks.' "I guess so, this planet is quite beautiful when you take the time to look at it."

Reno stood up straight and made his way over to the door. "Yeah, but I wasn't talking about the planet." He winked at her and then walked through the door still smiling.

'What did he mean by that? Did he just make a pass at me?' Tifa shivered at the thought. 'Oh god I think I need to take a cold shower just thinking of that.'

She looked over at the scenery deciding to think on ahead instead of just daydreaming. 'That's what Cloud would do, he would stand there at the front planning out his actions carefully deciding where to go next. But now it's my turn again I have to lead everyone... But what am I really doing? Cloud ran off, the Gold Saucers in chaos so what am I to do about it?' She hit her fists down on the metal rails.

'Why couldn't he be more responsible? Was it that important that he had to run off without telling us? Sometimes he can be just like a child not thinking about anyone else but himself.'

Corel was coming up on the horizon she could see the outskirts of the city. 'I wonder what he's thinking now? Even when we went out he never told me about his thoughts or feelings.' Tifa had finally worked up the nerve to ask Cloud on a date a few months after Meteor but things didn't go so well. Cloud was still convinced that he could still bring Aeris back from the dead, that he could find the Promised Land and that was constantly on his mind. Although he did try hard to make Tifa happy when they went out she could tell that there was something missing inside of him.

After awhile Tifa gave up with her love for Cloud or rather better put changed the way she did. She still loved Cloud but after the years they had been in each other's company he had become more like a brother, always looking out for her when she was in trouble. Since both of them lost their family to Sephiroth neither of them had anyone left to turn to, both didn't want to go back to Nibelheim and after Tifa opened up her new bar in Neo Midgar Cloud decided to stay with her not really having anywhere else to go. After that Clouds journeys out to find the Promised Land slowly stopped and he started to become a normal person again.

'Still I guess it would have been nice if he had found a way to bring her back. It's not as if I didn't like her when we first met but we were both after the same guy even though the thick headed dimwit didn't even realize it. I still miss her though, she was my first real girl friend I had since I left Nibelheim, I know we didn't get chance to have long talks over the phone about what happened with our day or go out shopping together but it was nice having another girl to talk to now and then.'

Tifa looked over the side realizing that they were over the city now and Cid was getting close to the hospital. She turned and walked over to the door feeling a little bit better after relaxing in the cool wind.

Reno and Vincent had Elena and were carrying her to the ramp when Tifa walked down the stairs. "Were almost there, I suggest you ask around if anyone has seen Cloud while we take Elena to the hospital." Said Vincent still with no real emotion in his voice. Tifa had tried to get him to have some fun when Vince dropped by the bar but he was still the same old 'I have yet to pay for my sins' Vincent.

She nodded trying not to make eye contact with Reno who still had that smile on his face from before. 'What is he up to?' "I'll meet you at the hospital in 20 minutes then we can start our search for Cloud."

"Heh where's spike boy run off to now?" Reno snickered.

"Non of your business!" Shouted Tifa.

"My aren't we touchy. I really don't know what you see in that guy."

"That guy saved this planet! So maybe you should give him a little more respect." Tifa was getting more and more annoyed with Reno now but after she finished her last statement he just burst out laughing.

"Hahaha give that brainless haha moron more respect haha stop you're killing me!" Reno was practically on the floor in hysterics holding his aching sides from laughing.

Before Reno could continue to make fun of Cloud, Tifa decided to show him that he was annoying her. As Reno opened his mouth to speak he was cut off by

Tifa's fist in his stomach. "Ughh." He dropped to his feet clutching his lower chest.

"Hmm dejavu don't you think?" Tifa teased walking over to Vincent helping him with Elena.

"I... ughh hate.. you." Reno managed to get out while scrambling to his feet.

"You're just saying that." She smiled while Reno gave her an evil look and mouthed 'I'll get you' but Tifa just waved back at him smiling.

The Highwind set down near the hospital and Vincent and Reno carried Elena who had stayed unconscious all the way. Tifa headed out while Cid waited in the Highwind planning out his air route, she turned and waved him off the gust of air blowing her hair around. "Right let's get to work."

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Cloud made his way out of the Corel Mountains surprised by the lack of monsters he'd come across. After Holy most monsters had been destroyed but because it was weakened by Meteor not all monsters had been wiped out. 'That's good thing at least, I know Aeris can defend her self but on her own against a pack of monsters I'm not so sure.'

The open grass plains appeared in front on him spreading for miles in all directions. 'At least some easy flat ground to cover traveling through mountains is a pain.' He headed out roughly in the direction of Costa de Sol. 'This would have been easier if I had thought to get a Chocobo first.'

The sun was setting sending the sky into a soft orange glow, just looking at it made Cloud feel sleepy. 'Just a few miles then I'll rest, I should find some cover by then.' Cloud rubbed his eyes trying to ignore the thoughts of sleeping, it had been a while since he'd been out like this tracking out in the open with no clear destination in sight, just following his senses on where to go. In all reality he didn't even no if he was on the right track Aeris could have turned off at any point or maybe the old man was mistaken. Either way he wasn't going to find out right now so it's just best to keep going.

Later the sun was almost gone and the last of the light faded over the horizon. Cloud kept going knowing it was not a good idea to camp out in the open, even if there was a lower amount of monsters it only takes one when your asleep.

'Is it just me or did my head suddenly double in weight?' Cloud felt more and more tired with each step but in his mind he felt something more than just sleep calling him. The slight pain in his head started to grow causing Cloud to have to sit down or else he felt like he was going to faint. 'No I remember this pain.' He tried to stand up but his legs refused to move. 'It's the same like from the Stadium when I touched this.' Cloud pulled out the small pink ribbon, he'd almost forgot about it. 'What's going on?'

Clouds vision blurred and his head fell back on to the grass. He looked up to the sky a few stars stared back glowing peacefully. The pain in his head seemed to cool and was replaced by a feeling he could not describe, it wasn't hurtful but not claiming either. Cloud felt his eyes grow heavier and he gave in to them wanting nothing more than to rest but he doubted that this feeling inside would let him. Slowly Cloud's thoughts left him sending him into darkness far away from his world.

"Do you remember the last time we were here?"

Cloud smiled and looked out of the small window. "Of course. How could I forget?"

"Do you remember what I said?"

"I don't see what this has to do with anything, why did you bring me here?" He looked back feeling annoyed that she was holding something back.

"Do you remember?"

Cloud let out a sigh deciding to play along. "Yes I remember what you said, although I didn't understand."

"I know. I guess it was too soon to ask, you didn't understand who you were then." She gazed out the window. "I new that the real you was been held back, this cover you seemed to have over your real self was always in the way."

"What do you mean?"

"Before when you lied about your past in SOLDIER and Nibelheim."

"You knew? How? Why didn't you say something?" Cloud couldn't understand how she new he lied. She was not there when Tifa had helped in find his true self again or when he explained it in the Highwind.

"Remember when you and Zack left to become mercenaries?"

"Just a bit, I wasn't really in a fit state back then."

"Well he sent me a letter shortly after saying he was coming back, I was so surprised to hear from him. The last time was before he accepted that mission."

Cloud heart sank hearing her say Zack's name again. "Go on." He dreaded the end of this story.

"He explained everything that had happed but told me to keep quite about it until he returned but, he never did. Then I met you, at first I thought you were Zack, your hair was covered in black soot you looked just like him. But when I talked to you I realized you weren't but still I felt something special about you. Hmm"

She giggled. "You looked so dirty that day your face covered in dirt and your clothes were pitch black."

"Is there a point to all this?" Cloud didn't like to talk about the past, he didn't have too many good memories.

"I can remember offering you a flower for only a Gil."

"You mean they were more?" He asked surprised.

She nodded her head. "Do you really think I could live selling them for a Gil each? Flowers were very rare in Midgar once I sold one for a thousand." She giggled.

"So why the generous offer?"

"Like I said you looked like you just came from fighting a war."

"That's not far off." He remembered the bombing mission, his first even mercenary mission.

"I didn't think you'd have much money but still I was curious about you and I wanted to see what type of person you was, I felt like I would meet you again someday."

"I understand but you still haven't got to your point" He pressed.

"After spending time with you and hearing your story back in Kalm it was like you really was Zack. You acted just like him in ways but then again you did things that Zack would never do. And then when we reached Nibelheim and Jenova in her Sephiroth form down in the basement, I then realized the connection. You were his friend he was caring for when he wrote the letter, it all made sense. I realized that Zack must have been killed otherwise he would have been with you."

"So what does it matter? You have him again now right." Cloud hated this moment wishing it to be over, he just wanted to be left alone now.

She shook her head. "Do you remember what I said the last time we were here?"

"You asked me that already."

"Cloud!"

He gave her a quick look not wanting to make eye contact this was hard enough already. "Yes. You said you wanted to meet me."

"Do you understand what I meant now?"

Cloud shook his head, she leaned over to him taking his hand giving him a warm smile. "What I meant was I knew you were..."

Cloud opened his eyes letting the morning light wake him. He sat up trying to realize where he was. The sun was high in the sky and he realized it was late morning.

He stood up and looked around, the empty grass plains around him. 'A dream? I fell asleep.' Rubbing his eyes he tried to remember his dream. 'What I meant was I knew you were...' Cloud tapped his head. 'Were what? What was I? Aw man this is going to bug me.' He looked round noticing his sword on the ground.

'That wasn't a memory, although it really felt like I was talking. It was much clearer unlike a dream too.' He picked up his sword and put it in its sheath. 'Aeris. It was Aeris talking to me. Was she here? What was she going to say? Why did I feel so angry when she mentioned Zack?' Cloud looked back and could just barely see the tips of the Corel mountains, from there he set back on his course to Costa de Sol. 'Great just what I needed. More questions and no answers. Wonderful.'

With that Cloud started back into a run hoping to catch up the time he lost sleeping. If anything at all was good at least he was rested up, at this rate he'd reach Costa de Sol in a few hours.

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"Gawd! Why did I have to get stuck with you?"

"Hey look I didn't ask ya to come with me or anything, you were the one who said you hated boat trips."

Barret and Yuffie were about half way in between Corel and Gongaga traveling all the way through the night with Yuffie complaining all the way.

"Can't we take a break? My legs are killing me and we haven't eaten since yesterday." Yuffie wined.

"Look if we keep stopping were never going to make by sun set." Replied Barret.

"What so important about sun set its just another time of day."

"Yeah but I not going to share a tent with you ever again! I never new some body snore so much!" He stated. They had never thought about supplies when they left the Gold Saucer and with only one tent to share things hadn't put Barret in a good mood.

"What!? I DON'T snore! Besides how could I sleep when I have your stinky feet in my face." She shouted running in front of Barret.

"Yur jus making excuses, I don't think even Cid could make a noise like you did." He replied.

"I am not making excuse! Gawd Why did I have to get stuck with you? This is no way to treat a lady."

"Fine show me a lady and I'll be nice but you, you little pest are no lady. "Barret kept on trying to ignore her whining.

"I am too! I'm the daughter of the high lord of Wutai and that makes me a very special lady." She stomped her feet on the ground.

"Yeah sure your highness, I think it's getting past your nap time yur starting to have a tantrum."

"I AM NOT!" She screamed.

Barret tried to hide the fact he liked winding Yuffie up but after all trying to steal all his materia during the night he felt she deserved it. He looked ahead at the empty plains, the prison desert not too far to the left. 'Nothing so far there hasn't been any sign of Cloud. He could have gone anywhere.' He let out a sigh. 'I wonder if Teef's having any luck?"

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"How is she?"

Reno walked out of the hospital room with his hands in his pocket. "She'll recover but it's going to take some time."

"Well I guess that's it then. We've done our bit so this is goodbye." Tifa headed out the door but Reno quickly followed.

"Hey wait." He ran in front of her putting his hands on her shoulders.

"What is it?"

Reno suddenly looked shy as if he was actually going to be nice for once. "Look I know you didn't have to help us out here." He bit his lip.

"And..." Tifa was wondering if this was another trick.

"And its one of our rules not to leave to score uneven."

"So what do you want?" She asked.

"You said you were looking for the spiky headed jer.." He bit his tongue when Tifa raised her fist. "Well I'll help, that way were even for you helping Elena."

"What? You're kidding? The High And Mighty Turks want to help us?" Tifa burst out laughing.

"Look like I said its one of our rules." Reno repeated regretting saying anything.

Tifa stood there trying to come up with a decent reason not to bring him along. 'He's one of the Turks that's good enough isn't it? But then again they do have a lot of experience finding people.' "(Sigh) Fine you can come, but don't get any ideas."

"What ever do you mean?" Reno said with a smile. 'Heh this way at least I can get her back for earlier and not to mention the tournament."

"Ok let's go, I met someone who said he talked to a guy fitting Cloud's description earlier and that he was heading North." They headed out of the hospital. The Highwind had disappeared from sight, Cid was patrolling the harder routes and was to call Tifa on the Phs if he found anything.

'Something doesn't feel right.' Tifa had that thought in her mind for a while now but wasn't sure on how to feel about it. Something had caused havoc in the Gold Saucer, Cloud was missing and after his strange incident in the restaurant. 'Is it all just coincidence?'

They made their way down the street Vincent kept silent while Reno whistled to him self cheerfully.

"What's got you so happy?" Asked Tifa.

"Nothing much, it just feels good to get out for once." He carried on whistling.

"Uh huh so what's the real reason you wanted to tag along?" Tifa wasn't convinced that Reno was coming just because of some rule, its not like he follows any of the others.

"Well if you must know I wanted to stay in your charming company a little longer." He smirked.

"Of course you do." She smiled willing to play along. "Who wouldn't want to spend more time with a babe like me?"

Reno gave her another smile while Vincent was wondering how he had been dragged into another trip with these children. 'Maybe having to spend time with this lot is my punishment.' He glanced over watching both of them sticking their tongues out at each other. 'How this bunch ever defeated Sephiroth is still a mystery to me.'

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