Innocence
(Chapter 1-5)
By Kellios (Kellios11@hotmail.com)
 

Introduction


 
Final Fantasy VII (copyright Squaresoft) is a fantastic 
game that has been the discussion of so many debates for 
RPGs... even if the game was made 5 years ago. It is a game 
of love, life, death, friendship, corruption, evil, war, 
and everything else in-between. It is only an 
understatement that this game is truly a masterpiece. This 
game has changed the way I am. Silly, it seems that a video 
game may do that. But, books change peoples lives, TV shows 
change peoples lives, movies change peoples lives, 
paintings and drawings change peoples lives, why can't a 
video game, do it as well? Over 60 hours of loving and 
hating characters, exploring worlds made up in dreams, and 
looking at objects into a completely new frame of mind. A 
game that I don't even consider a game, but an experience 
in it's self. That said, Final Fantasy VII has done that to 
me.

The story takes 6 years before the game, revolving around 
Aeris, Tseng, and Zack. Since, there is very few 
information here; I have made a lot of things up. Alas, I 
have tried staying as true to the game as possible. They 
may be right, they may not be right, but this is how I 
think things came to be, or, a way of how things came to 
be. I may have pushed some ideas, or pushed the fate of 
luck and coincidence, but since the games is full of all of 
that on it's own, I'm entitled to add a bit of it on my 
own.  


I had a lot of freedom here, so I hope to cover as many 
plot holes as I can, or just to add another twist to the 
whole experience. Enjoy.


Squaresoft copyrights all characters, places, and ideas 
revolving to the game Final Fantasy VII.


-----------------------------------------------------------
---------------------

CHAPTER 1
 

Tseng sighed in disgust, as his friend was staring at all 
of the people and poorly laid out markets along the Wall 
Market. Living in the slums himself, he found all of these 
sights boring, dirty, and as lowlife as one human being 
could get. Alas, his friend and partner didn't think quite 
in those terms.

"For God's sake, Zack, we have a train to catch, let's get 
going, or we'll never make it back to Headquarters in 
time," Tseng snapped at his friend with long, wild raven 
colored hair. He turned around after watching a couple of 
prostitutes pass by, making their way back to the Honey Bee 
Inn. He grinned largely with large blue eyes.

"Ah, c'mon pal! You know I've never been to the Midgar 
slums before! All I've seen is that damn Shinra building 
and all the trains. This," He shakes his head towards the 
giggling prostitutes who saw him, "Is where everything 
lies!"

Tseng sighed, and grabbed Zack by the arm, "And I'm sure 
that your boss will be pleased to find that you've been 
down here looking at every single girl who passed by. Now, 
let's go," He stared into his friend's face, and then 
started off towards the direction of the train station. 
Zack stood there a moment, turned back to the girls, waved, 
and then ran up to join his partner.

"Wow... I've heard about the slums before, but this is so 
good! Sure, I've heard all about stories of people getting 
mugged, killed, raped, and all sorts of things. But this 
place doesn't even seem close to any of the stories I've 
heard back at home!"

"You don't know anything, Zack. You haven't been around 
long enough to know anything. Wipe that stupid grin off 
your face," Tseng remarked and turned to look at Zack while 
they were walking in the debris of trash and junk around 
them.

"You've just turned SOLDIER first class last week. Don't go 
thinking you are top shit," Zack was slightly surprised at 
the crude remark from Tseng, as swearing wasn't something 
Tseng thought as "polite."

"The slums are even more dangerous than what you've heard 
in your hometown. At anytime, these guys in their gangs 
will come down, and kill you. Even a SOLDIER first class. 
Even Sephiroth if it ever came down to it. This is how 
these people live, by killing. It goes with the old saying, 
'kill or be killed.'" Tseng concluded harshly, and nothing 
more after that. He kept walking as his friend stopped a 
moment to think of what he just said. Zack stared at the 
back of Tseng's long, black hair that flowed against his 
new blue suit. Tseng, a new recruit of the Turks, has been 
slightly uptight about it. Zack then turned around once 
more to get one last glimpse of the Wall Market, and then 
again hurried to Tseng's side. Zack, quite lost for words 
when Tseng looked at him, but Tseng in understanding, 
nodded at him, and the both of them continued to the old 
Train Graveyard.

 

"Last train to Shinra Headquarters leaving in 1 minute. I 
repeat, last train heading off to Shirna Headquarters 
leaving in one minute. Please take a seat once you enter 
your cabin and put all luggage away on the top compartment. 
Thank you," There was a large click of the loud speaking, 
and the train was steaming with mako and the horn blew. 
Tseng and Zack ran fast past people with hurried excuses 
and jumped into a car, handed one of the conductors their 
tickets, and made their way towards the Shinra executive 
seats. Luxury at it's best. They both sat at opposite ends 
on the seats, and looked out the window, seeing the train 
starting to depart slowly from the station. Zack was 
beaming.

"Exciting for ya?" Tseng gave him a nasty look, and turned 
back to the window as the train started to enter into the 
tunnel that circled around Midgar. Zack put on a mock 
apologetic face, "Awww... did I ruin your day by being late? 
Relax, man! We have our dorms, anyways, and today is an off 
day. Tomorrow is when everything starts up." Tseng said 
nothing, and Zack gave up on making conversation with his 
friend, and sat there, waiting for a stewardess to pass by 
with something to eat. Once she passed, Zack was enjoying a 
turkey sub and some water, while Tseng sipped slowly at his 
soda. Zack knew that Tseng was preoccupied with something, 
but knew not why.

"What's wrong?" He asked quietly. Tseng looked at Zack with 
a long, cold stare.

"I am just thinking of everything. This new job of mine 
must be getting to me, I just need time to think." Tseng 
soften up and took a sip of his soda, and then turned back 
to the window once more. Zack sighed and sank back into his 
seat.

"Ya know, when am I ever gonna get more than one sentence 
from you?" He murmured and continues to his sub, stomach 
growling with hunger. Tseng finished his soda, placed it on 
the oak table in front of him, leaned his head back, and 
closed his eyes. Zack sighed again, and pulled out a 
magazine that was on the door in a plastic bag with the 
Shinra logo on it. He flipped to a page, and started to 
read while the train kept going through its route.


-----------------------------------------------------------
 

"Tseng, wake up,"

His friend's voice and a slight shake suddenly awakened him 
from him. Tseng blinked a few times, ran his ran past his 
hair, and nodded towards Zack. The both of them tighten up 
the cabin, and exited out of the train into a large Square 
of people hurrying back home and to catch some trains. The 
"Loveless" posters were covering the buildings of the 
square. Zack looked up at them and smiled. He then noticed 
two other streetwalkers and gives the two girls a dashing 
smile. Tseng sighed, and looked back up to the poster. Zack 
did too after waving to the girls.

"Ever see that play?"

"No."

Zack chuckled, and Tseng rolled his eyes. They stepped off 
the platform of the train and started their route back to 
Headquarters.

"How 'bout movies? See that 'Terror On Terror Hill' one?" 
He grinned. Tseng shook his head and kept walking down the 
alley.

"Jeez man, at least take some joke! You're way too 
serious," And with that, Zack gave a friendly punch to 
Tseng's arm. Tseng turned around fast and had fiery brown 
eyes.

"Please leave me alone. I thought that was clear in the..." 
He looked passed Zack's shoulder with a shocked expression 
from those hard eyes. Zack turned around to see what Tseng 
was looking at. 

Among the crowd of people, he saw a girl, who looked to be 
slightly younger than he was. She had a long pink dress on 
with a red jacket over that. Amber brown hair, and a 
slender figure to herself, she was holding a wicker basket 
that had some flowers in them. Red roses and some lilies, 
to be exact. Zack smiled, turned back to Tseng, and then 
started to walk towards the girl who just finished selling 
a customer a flower. Tseng stayed behind, and pale, just 
looking at the flower girl.

"One flower for one gil!" The girl called out with a sweet 
smile. Zack put on a great grin, and walked up to her.

"Oh, hello there. Would you like to buy a flower? They 
don't grow anywhere else in Midgar," She smiled as Zack 
stepped up to her. He smiled and nodded.

"One gil, please," She held out a red rose to him.

"May I have two? My friend over there is a bit tense, and 
he might like one," He shouldered back to Tseng, who was 
still standing there with the same pale expression. The 
flower girl giggled.

"Not at all! Infact, your friend's flower is free," She 
giggled again, and took Zack's one gil, and handed him a 
Lily and a red rose.

"Enjoy them!" She called back, and then walked down the 
street, calling out for people to buy some flowers. Zack 
smiled as he saw her walk on by, and returned to Tseng, who 
looked pretty grim by now.

"Here, take the Lily. My favorite flower is the red rose, 
anyways," He said, and put the Lily in Tseng's breast 
pocket. Tseng flinched quickly as if the flower had bitten 
him. Zack chuckled.

"It's alright, just a flower. Yours was free, anyways," He 
teased, and held his red rose in his hand.

Tseng stood there for a minute longer, shook his head as 
just he had seen a ghost, and turned back to the alley that 
led down to Headquarters. Zack followed besides him and 
kept looking at the rose.

"That was awfully nice of her to give yours free. I mean, 
one flower for 1 gil? That's hard to live on... do ya know 
her?" He questioned Tseng. Tseng kept looking ahead and 
shook his head.

"We are almost at Headquarters, and I have a headache. I'll 
be going to bed. Enjoy your dinner," Tseng quietly remarked 
as the top of the building became visible. Zack, slightly 
confused on Tseng's attitude, shook his head at it, and 
proceeded into the building, and down to the cafeteria for 
something to eat, while Tseng made his way up to the dorms, 
rubbing his temples, but held the Lily in his hand.


-----------------------------------------------------------
---------------------

CHAPTER 2
  
"I'm going for a walk," A short, curt remark from Tseng's 
mouth befuddled his friend who was in the middle of reading 
a book.

"Huh? I though ya said you had a headache..."

"I do... and I need some fresh air. Stay here," And with 
that, he went out of the room. Zack looked behind his 
shoulder at the door, gave a shrug, and resumed to his 
book. He was reading an old favorite of his, The War of the 
Magi, by Terra Bradford. He had read it thousands of times, 
and just couldn't put it down. Each year, he would grab it, 
and read it again. Of course, it worked out for him that 
Tseng has also read the book, and the hundreds of others 
that were scattered around the dorm. Piles and piles were 
at the foot of both beds, not counting the shelves, tables, 
and even coasters as well. It was a not-so-neat library. 
Zack smiled at the countless of books around him, bathing 
in their intellect aura. Stretching slightly, he placed the 
book down on his bed, got up to get a drink from the little 
refrigerator that he shared with his roommate. He grabbed 
out a soda, drank, and accidentally spilling some on his 
bare chest. He shuddered quickly, and then chuckled at his 
mishap.

"A good thing he didn't see that... Me, in my sweat pants and 
no shirt, and him with his flannel shirts, 'I get cold' my 
ass. So freeze," He laughed again merrily, and walked back 
to his bed to continue his readings. "And where is he 
going? I've never seen him go out this late before, not 
even to a bar. He hardly goes to bars, anyways." He 
contemplated, but dismissed it with a shake of his head.

"Well, it's not like he's going to be getting himself 
killed... after all, he grew up in the slums. Unlike me, the 
'country boy.' 'Country boy' my ass too. I made it, first 
class," He smiled and looked up at the ceiling, "Everyone 
called me that, and look where I am. Even the great 
Sephiroth came down to the graduation, in the middle of 
that god forsaken war. We shook hands too." He took another 
gulp of his soda and turned back to the book, but nothing 
came up at him. "I still hafta have the mako processed into 
me, but if I can stand the physical test, then I should be 
fine with this mako, Jenova, whatever the hell it's called. 
Doesn't matter to me."

He put the book down with the corner folded over and 
twirled the can around in his hands, absently looking at 
it, "I will be like him. I will be known. I will be 
greater. All of you people who called me 'country boy,' you 
won't dare to call me that again!" He raised his voice a 
bit, and then suddenly looked around, and proceeded to 
laugh.

"Oh for fuck's sake, listen to me. I'm vowing myself to no 
one. Not like he'd care, anyways. I'm making an ass of 
myself," he chuckled again, sipping at the soda, "At least 
I won't be fooling myself if something happens to me. Like 
getting myself killed." He laughed once more, finished off 
the rest of his soda, and turned on the television to see 
what was happening in the Shinra news.


-----------------------------------------------------------


The broken stained glass littered to floor beneath the 
windows as Tseng sat down in a pew, and watched the 
flowers. A small street light a few hundred feet away was 
the only source oh life that came into the rundown church. 
He rubbed his temples and closed his eyes, laying his head 
back on the hard wood pew.

"Of all people for him to see, it had to be, didn't it?" 
Tseng signed to himself and relaxed into a comfortable 
position on the pew, "He has no idea of the city life. 
Thank God he's going to have the final stages of his 
training soon, otherwise he's going to get himself killed 
in the streets, the arrogant bastard. She smiled at him the 
way she did for me..." Tseng groaned out in pain from his 
headache and pinched the bridge of his nose, tensing up his 
fist and then relaxing it.

"Why am I complaining? Maybe this headache is just 
bothering me. I shouldn't talk of him that way. He's the 
closest friend I've had..." The street light seemed to dim as 
Tseng slowly went on whispering, "After all, Hojo was very 
pleased with him, and he's so oblivious to it. Hojo looked 
at him the way he looked at Sephiroth. Maybe... just maybe, 
this war will end..."


-----------------------------------------------------------

"Tseng?"

"...H-huh? A...?"

Stiff and cold, Tseng slowly got up and sat up, looking 
into bright emerald eyes.

"Tseng! You're all right! I'm sorry, I thought you were 
hurt or something..."

Tseng shakes his head, and suddenly looks around 
frantically, "What time is it?" The flower girl shakes her 
head and places her hand on Tseng's arm to comfort him.

"Very early, a little after five,"

Tseng looks back into those glowing green jewels and 
nodded. He stood up slowly and stretched a bit, trying to 
rid all of the stiffness. The girl smiled, nodded, and 
walked over to the flowers, bending down, and started to 
either put some into her basket, or just prop them up. 
Tseng watched her carefully, like a precious gem.

"It's been some time since you've been here, hasn't it?" 
The girl remarked but doesn't turn around.

"...I had a headache last night, so I just came here to 
relax."

"I see you still have that flower that I gave to your 
friend." From her tone, Tseng could tell she was smiling.

"He put it there, thanks for the lily..."

"Oh silly, you don't have to be so formal. I know that your 
favorite flower is the lily," She brushed off her hands 
from the damp soil, and turned around on the hardwood 
floor, looking up at the dark haired man before her, "So 
who's your friend?"

"A new SOLDIER. He ought to be having the mako process done 
to him in a week or two. Not from the city either, I bet 
you could tell." She nodded.

"The way he was looking at those prostitutes would tell 
everyone that he's not from any city. Or any town, for that 
matter." Tseng smiled.

"Aeris... for old times sake, care to join me for a cup of 
coffee over at the Candlelight?"

"Yay! I'd love to!" Aeris jumped up and walked to Tseng's 
side. Tseng smiled, and led out the door, towards Sector 5.

Adjusting her flowers and brushing off the dirt on the way, 
she was delighted to sit at the little table right next to 
the window overlooking the sector. She sipped slowly at her 
mocha while Tseng was almost done with his.

"I was surprised to see you there, Tseng. It's been so long 
since you've done that. I thought you got hurt or 
something."

"You know better," Tseng smiled. Aeris giggled.

"Well, you never know! You were looking pretty pale when 
your friend stopped to buy a flower from me,"

"I told you, I had a headache," She shrugged, and finished 
up her coffee, and looked at the old beat up wall clock. 
Tseng looked at it too and sighed,

"Well, I think it's time for me to head off. Thanks for 
joining me for coffee,"

"Thank you for the coffee! You ought to sleep on that pew 
more often," She grinned.

"I wouldn't be able to work then, since I'd be so stiff," 
He smiled, and stood up. So did she, and both of them 
walked out the door, and towards the Shinra Headquarters. 
They both soon reach the front steps, and Tseng turns to 
Aeris,

"Now, go before anyone sees you. Again, thank you for 
joining me." And he head off into the building. The brown 
haired girl just stood there a moment, and then started 
towards the train station, hoping to catch the morning 
rush. 


-----------------------------------------------------------
---------------------

CHAPTER 3

"Where the hell is he?"

His roommate's bed empty, and Zack's eyes still full of 
sleep, he turned on the TV again to watch Shinra news, and 
if there are any announcements for the new first class 
SOLDIERS. Throwing on his uniform of midnight purple 
sleeveless shirt, with a dark blue pair of pants, he runs 
his hands wildly through his hair after the shower he just 
had. The kettle singing with steam in the kitchen, Zack 
walked over and poured himself some instant coffee with 
vanilla cream to go along. He then went to set at the small 
couch, took a sip of his coffee, placed it onto a coaster 
(or book) and listened to the news. Startled and slightly 
worried seeing his friend's bed empty, Zack wondered where 
he could be.

"Maybe he stayed at an inn or something. Or, he's already 
at work. He's been killing himself over that job," Zack 
pondered to himself and took a sip of his coffee when he 
heard the door open and close with a very tattered Tseng.

"Where the hell have you been, man?!"


Tseng rubs his eyes and replied quietly, "I slept in one of 
the inns in the Wall Market. I was feeling too awful to 
risk myself going through the slums at night to come back 
to Headquarters."

"You shoulda called..."

"I'm sorry."

And that was that for Tseng's outing at night. Zack gave 
him a strange look and continued with his coffee, watching 
the news, while Tseng changed out of one navy suit and into 
another.

"Today is the Presidents birthday, and therefore everyone 
employed to Shinra has a half day in honor of our 
President's birthday. Work will resume tomorrow at seven am 
and end at ten pm to makeup for the loss of time today. 
Professor Hojo, would you please stop by the lab to meet 
with Professor Trepe. That is all the announcements for 
now."

Grinning largely, Zack turned to his roommate, "Care to 
have lunch at the Candlelight?"

"How about Elly's Kitchen?"

"Alright," Tseng nodded, and got himself a glass of milk, 
and gulped it down while Zack was tidying up his bed and 
placing some books on the side of the bookshelf. Tseng 
rubbed his eyes again, and started out for the door.

"Get there right after you are finished today," And out he 
went.


-----------------------------------------------------------


"Zack?"

"Hmm?"

Zack walked over to Kain, his boss. Class had just finished 
for the day. A small quiz was given out, which Zack himself 
had no trouble with. Devoted to his work and his dream job, 
Zack worked the hardest in his class, and had many friends 
within the other SOLDIERS. A prankster as well, last April 
Fool's day proved to be legendary throughout the entire 
academy for SOLDIER training.

"Zack, I would like to ask you something. I know that you 
are going to be getting your mako treatment next week. 
After that you are a full fledged first class SOLDIER." 
Zack nodded somewhat timidly at his teacher, and Kain went 
on.

"For the next batch of students that are going to be coming 
through the academy, I am going to need some help. You are 
one of the best students besides Sephiroth to have come 
along since the idea of SOLDIER was brought into the world. 
I was wondering if you could help me teach with the new 
students, tell them what's good and what's not good, in 
order for them to be the best. And just be there when I 
need someone to demonstrate with. Think you are up for the 
job?"

A large grin came about Zack's face, "Kain, I would love to 
help ya. Anything I can do for. I'm greatly honored."

Kain's green eyes glowed with a combination of mako and 
happiness, "Great! Thank you very much, Zack. I look 
forward to it once your treatment is done. Stop by my 
office once you feel good enough to start working. You are 
dismissed."

Almost jumping for joy, Zack walked out of the room with 
one of the largest smiles.

"He compared me to Sephiroth! The great Sephiroth!" Giddy 
beyond belief, he headed out the door towards Elly's to 
meet up with Tseng.


-----------------------------------------------------------


"Professor, what is this beast?"

"He is what you see. And he's the last of his tribe. I was 
enthralled when I saw him," Hojo replied when the cage was 
brought into the lab, Tseng staring at the red creature 
inside.

"I found him off the canyons of Cosmo Canyon. It is obvious 
that his ancestors lived there. He is beautiful, isn't he? 
My little specimen... I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw 
him."

The cage loaded into the large lab by a truck, the red 
beast roared savagely at Hojo, who's nose was right up to 
the cage, and he was smiling.

"He's still young. These creatures live far longer than 
humans. They've been known to live as long as a thousand 
years. Or, that is what I gather from old research that I 
have studied about them," Hojo snickered, and turned to 
Tseng with a twisted smile.  


"The species have been given many names, and one is not 
commonly used. Alas, I shall just be giving it a number. 
Now, which one was I up to?" Hojo gave a thoughtful look, 
and headed towards his desk, bumping into Tseng as if he 
were nothing but a filing cabinet. Tseng in disbelief 
watched Hojo for a minute rummaging through papers and 
books on his desk. He then turned to the beast, who was 
still roaring loudly at the tamers who had helped bring in 
the cage. The beast was about three feet tall, six feet 
long. Baring its teeth, and swiping with it claws, it 
walked up to Tseng with ferocious pale yellow eyes, or 
rather one eye. Its right eye had a scar over it, most 
likely from a battle. The eye entranced Tseng. It had a 
look of superior intelligence. The beast was growling 
quietly to Tseng, who just looked at the massive form of 
muscle and flesh before him.

"Ah, here we go," Hojo ripped a page out of one of the 
journals on the desk, "Thirteen. That is what we are up to. 
Well then." He gave another twisted smile, and walked to 
where Tseng was standing. The creature gave a large roar at 
Hojo, which nearly blew Tseng away. Hojo just had a smirk 
on his face.

"Red XIII. Meet Mr. Gabbiani of the Turks. Oh, and you are 
going to be needing a tattoo, aren't you, my little 
specimen?"

Red XIII roared even louder and even gave a swipe at Hojo, 
which did nothing as long as there was cage separating the 
two. Tseng just stood there in awe. Hojo gave one last look 
to the beast, and waved his hands to the trainers.

"Go give it a sedative, and then give it a tattoo. Put it 
into the area I have designed, and make sure to place some 
food and water there as well. I have him now, and he needs 
to calm down, and get used to his new surroundings. After 
all, he is going to be very helpful in my project," Hojo 
gave a cold snicker. Tseng just watched as the cage was 
being put into another large room that was set up as its 
new home. Hojo suddenly stopped snickering and cleared his 
throat. He turned around and without looking to Tseng, 
"Whenever you can find her, do so. It's time to try again." 
And with that statement, Hojo walked out of the room, 
leaving Tseng there.

Tseng just stood dumbstruck and watched as the trainers 
administrated a sedative and the crimson beast soon settled 
down. Horrified from the encounter, he went off and out of 
the lab and off to meet his friend at Elly's. 


-----------------------------------------------------------
 

Zack already at a table, and reading the Shinra Times by 
the time Tseng got there. He scuttled into his seat, and 
his friend gave him a raised eyebrow.

"I was held up at the lab. Hojo has a new toy to play 
with,"

"I figured ya got held up somehow..." Zack responded with a 
distant tone. Tseng peered over to what he was reading.

"Any news of the War?"

"It seems that Wutai may be giving in soon. Although with 
their fearless leaders of the past, I doubt they will give 
in all that easily."

"Who is their current leader right now?"

"The Kisaragi Dynasty... Gogo, to be exact. It's been a long 
time from this War now... one of Shinra's longest. But, with 
now the new backup from Junon, it's not looking all that 
good for Wutai now. And now Sephiroth has raided a small 
village on the outskirts of the main city. An ambush, many 
of their warriors were killed."

"They are proud dynasty, I highly doubt they will give in 
that easily."

"Yeah, but I don't know how many more casualties they can 
take... and all the innocent slain. Women and children. I 
don't know how he does it... going into every battle, and 
staining that sword of his with blood."

"He's been trained with no heart... amazing what training can 
do to a person."

"Yeah, I'd say so... all the other SOLDIERs seem to have 
somewhat of a heart... but then again, I'm not official a 
full fledged SOLDIER, nor have I been in battle yet."

The waitress came at that time, and the two of them 
ordered. A beer and turkey sub for Zack, and a Caesar salad 
and Coke for Tseng. Once ordered, they resumed to their 
conversation.

"So how many villages has Sephiroth conquered now?" Zack 
looked down at the paper.

"About ten small villages outside Wutai, five that are more 
north and closer to the coast, and two other larger towns 
south of the main city. Almost all of the sub-cities have 
been conquered by Shinra, and so likely the next move would 
be to attack the main city of Wutai it's self."

"But with the War lasting this long, there must be 
something good coming from Wutai."

"Well, of course. They have struck us very hard. In one 
battle, Sephiroth barely made it out alive. He and only 
half a dozen survived that battle. The camps have also been 
ambushed, and, at one point, it seemed that Wutai had 
regained the continent from the skirmishes that Wutai has 
won. But, Shinra reassembled their defenses, and made a 
strong attack to one of the larger towns. This, was about a 
few years ago. Since then, Shinra has bee slowly edging 
their way to the main city."

The both of them received their drinks and sat a moment in 
silence, when Tseng suddenly spoke up, "How is it that you 
know so much of the War? That all can't be in the paper."

Zack's cheeks flushed slightly, "Well... ya're right. The 
paper has only little updates."

"How do you know then?"

"Kain. We've been talking endlessly on the topic. He gets 
the reports from Wutai from the Shinra SOLDIERs that have 
been sent there to battle. Since Kain is high up in 
authority, he helps control the system of who goes to war 
or not."

"Do you think he'll send you off?"

"No."

Tseng gave Zack quite the look from his tone of confidence 
in his voice. At that moment, their food came, and both 
started right on in, while Zack explain what Kain had said 
earlier to him in the day. Tseng acknowledged it all and 
finished up his salad while Zack was finishing his sub.

"Remember the flower girl from the other day?"

Startled by the question, Tseng gave his friend a surprised 
look, "Why... yes. What about her?"

"Odd that she gave ya that flower for free, considering 
what she asked for it. 1 gil for a flower..." Tseng nodded, 
and Zack went on, "I think I may go and tell her thanks for 
the flower."

Another expression of shock came over Tseng's face, "Well... 
you don't know where she is."

"Ah, don't worry 'bout it!! I know I'll find her. I won't 
get myself killed either." Zack smiled, and handled the 
bill that the waitress gave at the end of the table. Tseng 
looked off to the side.

"....Okay. Be back by dinner if you are out long. Remember 
what this place is." Zack nodded, and both of them got up.

"Right, I'll meet you back at the dorm. I'll see ya later," 
And with that, Zack head off back to Sector 5 while Tseng 
headed towards the train station feeling nauseous.


-----------------------------------------------------------
---------------------

CHAPTER 4


"Flowers, for only 1 gil! Flowers..." She trailed off as a 
dark haired man came up to her. She giggled and gave a 
lovely smile, "Hello there. It's nice to see you again."

Zack smiled and nodded, "Yes... well, I came back to thank ya 
for the free flower for my friend yesterday. He's been 
quite stressed and... what's so funny?" He cocked his head to 
the side while the flower girl was chuckling away.

"Oh, I'm sorry! You're friend just reminds me of someone I 
know." 

"How so?"

"Ah, just in his appearance." The girl gave a lovely smile.

"Well, if ya don't mind, I wanted to buy another flower." 
The flower merchant gleamed.

"Of course! Here," She handed Zack a flower, and he placed 
one gil into her palm, "There we go! Thank you very much!"

Zack smiled, and gave the rose a smell. He sighed and turns 
back to the flower girl with a dashing smile.

"Mind if I ask you something?"

"Hmm?"

"What is your name?" The flower girl giggled and her 
Emerald eyes glistened.

"Aeris. Aeris Gainsborough. And yours?"

"Zack Cole. A pleasure to meet you, my dear," he gave a 
soft kiss to her hand. She chuckled once he let go of her 
hand.

"Do you mind joining me for coffee? I'd love it if you 
would come with me... and don't worry, it's on me." He beamed 
at her.

"How will I know you won't take me anywhere, kidnap me, and 
kill me?" Zack seemed very taken aback.

"I... I was just trying to be nice... shit..." He rubbed the back 
on his neck and looked away. Aeris grinned.

"You aren't from around here, are you?" Zack shook his 
head, and she continued, "It's obvious. I know you mean 
well, I was just trying to freak you out. How well did I 
do?" She smirked and Zack's lips began to curl.

"Well, you got me."

"Hmm, usually I scare most men away," She giggled again.

"How about to the Candlelight?"

"Ooooh! I love that place!"

"Okay then, let's go!" The two of them marched off towards 
the Candlelight, Aeris with her arm around Zack's own arm. 

Just off to the side of the main Wall Market, the 
Candlelight was famous for it's mean mochas. Nightly, there 
were the local bands that played there and the karaoke that 
followed. The caf‚ was only matched by Elly's Kitchen 
inside the heart of the Wall Market, and the 7th Heaven 
that was in sector 7. The slums claim to fame were small, 
family run businesses. The two made casual talk about the 
area until they finally reached their destinations. Once to 
their tables, Aeris started to giggle.

"You're extremely happy today."

"Oh! I just feel very good today. Lots of flower buyers 
already."

"Is selling flowers all you do?"

"Well, yes. But I've been doing it all my life, so I have 
regular customers."

"What's your favorite flower?" Zack grinned, Aeris 
chuckled.

"Oh, I've always fancied lilies or daisies myself. But it 
really doesn't matter to me. I love them all." Zack was 
about to open his mouth until the waiter came up, and the 
both of them ordered. The band then started to play this 
very fast swinging music that made Aeris laugh and clap her 
hands to the couples who were dancing very fast. Zack just 
chuckled and shook his head.

"What's wrong, can't dance?" She teased him. He gained a 
little color.

"Not exactly."

"Good, I can't either." The both of them laughed, and then 
just started tapping their feet to the beat. The couples 
moved along with the fast beat, and the swing was soon 
over. Mochas served, Zack took a swing while Aeris just 
sipped.

"So, Zack, let's hear about you," She smiled with her 
emerald eyes, "What do you do?"

"I work at Shinra, I'm going to become a first class 
SOLDIER. Well, technically, I am, but I need to do one more 
testing before I'm certified." Aeris' gleam was lost for a 
moment, but came back to her.

"What type of test do you have to do?"

"A mako infusion. It's something that makes the SOLDIERs 
stronger, and able to take much more physical punishment 
than that of someone without the infusion. It's one of the 
reasons why Shinra has been getting ahead in the War." 
Aeris nodded and took a sip of her mocha. Zack did the 
same.

"Originally, I was supposed to go to the War, but Shinra 
has called off sending anyone there for the moment, so once 
I'm a full fledge SOLDIER, I'm going to be helping in the 
academy for training."

"When do you get your mako infusion?"

"In a couple of days."

"Are you nervous?" 

Zack laughed, "No, I'm not. I know of older guys who've 
done it from my old hometown, and they seem just fine."

"Where are you from?"

"A small, worn town. Gongaga..." Zack trailed off and gulped 
down the rest of his mocha. Aeris still sipped at hers and 
the music started up again. This time a blues tune. Aeris 
soon finished hers and smiled once the tune was done.

"Thank you very much for the coffee, Zack." She smiled.

"Thank you for joining me." Aeris nodded, and Zack paid. 
The two then went back outside to an early evening rush of 
the crowd.

"Here, I'll walk you home," Zack smiled and Aeris chuckle. 
The two started towards the end of sector 5. They walked 
quietly through the crowd, until it became just the two of 
them once they entered a wide space with trash and junk all 
about.

"Do you walk home by yourself all the time?"

Aeris giggled, "Of course, silly. I work alone." Zack's 
eyes almost bulged out of his head.

"What? It's dangerous!" Aeris now had to stop suddenly, she 
was laughing so hard.

"Oh, my 'knight in shining armor!' I'm just fine. I've 
walked this way home every since I started selling flowers, 
and I never have been mugged."

"But what about the gangs..."

"I know all the people from the gangs. In the very small 
school that's now closed up, all the kids from there were 
in gangs. I have never been in them, but they don't bother 
me. I've been with the boys of the gangs, anyways. If 
anything, I'm very safe walking home." Zack was in 
disbelief.

"But... what if someone older...?"

"Zack, I can fight. See?" She held out the staff that was 
tied to an old belt that she had had over her shoulder. 
Zack looked at it, and nodded.

"Oh..." He blushed horribly. Aeris grinned.

"Aww... you're so cute when you blush! I ought to see it more 
often."

"Well, in that case, would you like to meet again?"

"I'd love to! How about tomorrow for another coffee?"

"I'll pick ya up then after I'm done with my work, if ya 
don't mind a late coffee."

Aeris grinned and clapped. Zack was also smiling and soon 
the two reached a large house that was to the side of the 
main sector 5 area. Aeris like a schoolgirl merrily skipped 
up to the steps. Zack stood at the bottom, and waved.

"I'll see ya up tomorrow then."

"Right. Good night, Zack!" Zack smiled and nodded. She went 
inside, and he started walking to the train station.


-----------------------------------------------------------
 

Tseng growled when he heard Zack open and close the door, 
"You're out late. Too late for what SOLDIER likes and what 
I like."

"Sorry, I was having coffee with someone." Tseng raised his 
eyebrow.

"Who?"

"Remember that flower girl?" A blank stare was on Tseng's 
face, and a little nod signified that he was listening 
instead of looking sick.

"Ya okay? Anyways, yeah. Her name is Aeris. Sweet girl, 
real nice. I like her. We're going to meet again for 
another late coffee again tomorrow, so don't be too uptight 
'bout me being out late."

Tseng stood up and stormed to the kitchen and took out a 
soda. Zack got up after him and watched Tseng from the 
kitchen door jam.

"Tseng, what's the matter with ya? You've been really testy 
since the last time ya took me to the Candlelight."

Tseng did nothing but shake his head, down the soda, and 
went back to his bed, and flipped the TV on. Zack remained 
at the door jam and just observed.

"What's eating ya?" No response. Zack just snorted, "Fine. 
I'm gonna go to bed. I don't wanna deal with ya when you're 
pissed like this."

Tseng didn't speak, so Zack sighed, changed, and hopped 
into bed, "I'll see you in the morning. Don't stay up too 
late." Zack muffled into the pillow. He didn't hear Tseng 
move, just a flash against the wall from the TV flickering 
and the soft song of a broadcaster. Soon darkness came over 
him.


-----------------------------------------------------------
---------------------


CHAPTER 5


Tseng was working well into his lunch break, and he didn't 
care. He didn't feel like seeing anyone, talking to anyone, 
much less be in the room with anyone. He was only thinking 
of one thing.

Deskwork that had long needed to be done, was finally all 
finished with. Tseng straighten out from his chair, 
stretched, and yawned. He looked up at the clock, and saw 
that it was well past three. Business for President Shinra 
had been running real slow, and the veteran Turks did 
nothing but pile their work on the new recruits. Tseng, not 
quite a new recruit anymore, and the work pile on him has 
been less and less. He stands up, and clears his desk back 
into the neat order that has always been Tseng's way. He 
passed veteran Turk Kilav on the way out. Kilav, a medium 
height man, bright olive eyes, spiked dirty blonde hair, 
and a scar in the shape of an "X" on his left cheek bone. 
He had bragged about how he had gotten the scar, but each 
time it was a different story than what he had said before. 
No one exactly knew how he had managed to get the scar on 
his face.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Gabbiani. On your way out now?"

Tseng nodded and replied quietly, "At least we are lucky 
enough to have a couple easy days going for us, sir."

Kilav gave a hearty laugh and beamed at Tseng, "Well, good 
sir, I was just thinking of going out myself. Was gonna go 
grab my jacket and head on over to some place on the 
Surface. Or maybe I pay a visit to the Honey Bee Inn." 
Kilav grinned a maniac-like grin and shivers went down 
Tseng's spin.

"Yes, sir. Do have a good time. I'll report to you first 
thing tomorrow, sir." Kilav just laughed again and gave 
Tseng a slap on the back.

"No need to keep 'siring' me, Tseng! C'mon, we are Turks 
now. Like brothers. Family, we are. And we look out for 
each other. Even the new recruits. Sure, they may be as 
dumb as an ass when getting down to the real business, but 
ya have somethin' special. I see it in ya. We are now on a 
first name basis, and no need for this 'sir' shit." Kilav 
grabbed Tseng's hand and shook it hard. Tseng had a 
stupefied smile on his face.

"Thank you.... Kilav. Again, enjoy your time. I'll see you 
tomorrow."

"Right on, Tseng... and do loosen your tie. Ya need to relax 
some,"


-----------------------------------------------------------
 

"Mr. Reeve, do lighten up. Frankly, you are disturbing my 
train of thought."

"Professor, this is extreme important."

"Good lord, Reeve, can't it just wait until I finish up and 
not have my hands inside a specimen? Honestly, whatever it 
is, it can wait just a moment and I can actually face you." 
Reeve opened his mouth, but then closed it again and shook 
his head. 

Reeve dressed in a dark blue suit, and the beginning of a 
goatee, with jet-black hair. A handsome, tall standing man, 
Reeve was on the other side of Hojo's lab, inspecting what 
was in the room and the Professor himself. Hojo tore off 
the rubber gloves that he had on, and with perfect 
precision the gloves hit the wastebasket. He proceeded to 
wash his hands in the nearby sink while his assistants took 
care of the creature he was working on. One female 
assistant looked like she was about to be sick, and Hojo 
gave her a cold stare. The assistant ducked behind one of 
the taller male co-workers that she worked with. Reeve gave 
Hojo a look and just sighed. Hojo into his own thoughts 
once again recorded something into one of his journals, and 
then wiped some of the sweat off from his brow. Taking a 
sip from his glass of water, Hojo beckons Reeve over. 

"Now, Mr. Reeve, what is it that could not wait and 
desperately needed my attention for?"

"President Shinra has asked for your presence three times 
this week, and each time you failed to appear."

"Are you his personal gofer, Mr. Reeve?" Hojo's cool tone 
started to anger Reeve.

"I am simply here on his behalf, as you should know he is 
presently in Junon with his young son."

"It's not like the boy knows his father, and vice versa. 
Frankly, that boy would get better 'love' if left with me 
to play with..." The hairs on Reeve's neck rose.

"The President has merely only asked for a progress report 
on the specimens you have collected, the Project, and how 
the fox-hunt on the Cetra is."

"Ancient, my dear boy, Ancient. Her blood isn't complete, 
and nor does she deserve the real name of that pathetic 
species, who died to so much vain. Or, almost nearly died."

"Professor, the President refers to her as a 'Cetra,' and 
that is the name we go by then. Surely..."

"The President has none of the scientific background to go 
calling Ancients 'Cetra' when they don't have the full 
blood." A moment passed with a cold pause, which ended in 
Reeve's sigh and shake of the head.

"Professor, I do not judge against your knowledge and sorry 
if I had offended you. But I have one last message from the 
President. He said before he left that if you fail to see 
him next time, consider yourself out of funds and out of a 
job. Now, if you would excuse me, I have a helicopter to 
catch and to report back to the President. Shall I tell him 
that he'll be expecting a visit from you once he returns 
back safely to Midgar?"

Hojo was steaming and Reeve knew it. Hojo stormed back to 
his desk full of papers, journals, and magazine cutouts, 
and wrote something down. 

"Please tell the President that if he wishes to know of my 
progress, please tell him to stop by my office, and that 
way I can give him a full detail on how everything is 
going." With that, Hojo slammed a journal shut, and entered 
a room that was marked "Authorized Personnel Only." Reeve 
smiled, shook his head once again, and headed off towards 
the helicopter pod that would be bringing him to Junon. 

"Another day, another favorite time with my favorite 
professor. Why the hell I'm in this job, will always be 
beyond me..."


-----------------------------------------------------------


"Welcome, new recruits of SOLDIER, to your training 
facility. Here is where the men are separated from the 
boys. True strength against just muscle. Bare will and 
power, against cowards. Here, you will become a true man of 
Shinra. And most of you will become men of SOLDIER. Men who 
will be proud of this planet and everything represented. 
Anyone who disagrees with me now, and is not willing to go 
through this training and sweat, then I don't know what you 
are doing here. And get out now. Because from here on in, 
your life is going to become a living hell before you ever 
see the light at the end of the tunnel. Three long years 
will be spent training and giving yourself up for your goal 
you have set here today. And now's the time to prove to you 
and your new classmates what you are made of."

Kain's words were hard and fierce as he looked on the new 
recruits who were sitting straight in the chairs of their 
new polished desks. Zack sat behind and away from everyone, 
just observing. Kain had said that he should watch a couple 
of classes from the teachers' point of view before actually 
helping out in class. And of course, tomorrow was the 
"final stage" of his becoming a full-fledged member of 
SOLDIER. The mako process. It seemed like no big deal. Give 
him a shot in his arm, and he had to stay in the hospital 
for the night. 

Zack just smiled and nodded when Kain pointed him out and 
introduced Zack to the rest of the class. A young teen with 
wild blonde hair caught Zack's eye. Immediately the class 
turned their attentions back to Kain, who began speaking 
once again. The memory of his own first day of class still 
remained with Zack. How could he forget when he first laid 
eyes on the fierce body that stood before him, only three 
years older now? 

Stretching out, Zack placed his hands behind his head and 
just watched as his mentor, and yet nothing processed. Of 
course, the first day of class was 3 hours long, but 
something else was occupying his mind.


-----------------------------------------------------------


She giggled silently when Tseng arrived in the doorway of 
the church; staying in the shadows and just watching her 
tend to her flowers. She knew he was there. She always knew 
when someone was in hiding. She was never surprised if 
anything dangerous was to happen. She would even know if 
the great Sephiroth were behind her. But, she remained 
"unknowing" and kept to her flowers. She smiled once she 
heard the footsteps finally start to get slightly louder 
with each step. She never stopped tending from her flowers.

"I figured you'd be back," Tseng stops in his tracks, and 
just watches her tend without her even turning to look at 
him.

"Why do you say that?"

"Don't be silly. I knew you'd come back once I met with 
your friend, Zack,"

Tseng sighed, and proceeded to sit on a pew, "So you don't 
think it's just because I want the pleasure of your 
company?" She stopped now, and turned her head to face him.

"Tseng, you never came after then, before the other day. I 
think it's a little late to say you want the pleasure of my 
company." A straining moment stood before the two, and she 
just went back to her flowers without saying anything. 
Tseng just sighed.

"Sorry. I just haven't been the same. Work's been giving me 
trouble. Well, it's lightening up now, but you get the 
idea." A nod and a sound that resembled an "uh huh" came 
from the young girl tending to her flowers in the pristine-
like church, and he continued, "So what do you think of 
him?"

"He's very na‹ve. Maybe too much for his own good, and 
especially here for Midgar."

"Yeah, it's a hassle for me to keep him from staring 
everywhere and looking like a tourist. All the gang members 
need now is just a neon sign that points to him and says 
'rob me.'"

Aeris giggled and turned back to face Tseng with a bright 
smile, "Keep on bothering him about it. I think once he 
gets mugged for the first time, then he'll stop."

"I just hope that mugging won't get to his head and get 
himself killed."

"You're very protective over him, you know."

"Yeah, I do. I just can't stand it when Shinra takes boys 
from all around the world and suddenly just dumps them into 
the bottom half of Headquarters. In the slum areas."

"We've always known Shinra and their bad taste. Why do you 
stay?" She was sitting facing him now, and the interest in 
her eyes was provoking Tseng.

"I sometimes don't know myself. I really have no where to 
go otherwise."

"That's what you always tell me. But search down. Really. 
Why do you stay?"

Tseng thought a moment, and then shrugged, "I don't 
understand exactly what you're saying to me. I stay simply 
because it gives me money, food, and a roof over my head. 
Nothing else can really be as secure as that."

The young woman nodded, and stood up, dusting the dirt off 
from her long, pink dress. Tseng stood up as well.

"Want another flashback and have a late lunch while I'm in 
the right mood?" Aeris pondered for a moment, then smiled.

"Okay. Let's stop home first and I'll leave a note for 
mom." Tseng nodded, and let Aeris walk down the aisle first 
before he started to follow himself.


-----------------------------------------------------------

 
"Oh, and Zack, one last thing."

"Yeah?" Tidying up the classroom after class was over. 
Lectures he had heard when he himself was a new recruit 
came flooding back through him as memories swarmed him up.

"Remember, you're 'final stage' is tomorrow. Meet me here 
at 7, pronto. I don't wanna have one of my finest students 
late just because he overslept, like you've done many times 
to my own class." The two men grinned and chuckled.

"Yeah, I was late for a helluva lot of your classes, wasn't 
I?" Zack smirked and rubbed the back of his head. Kain just 
looked at Zack, and burst out laughing. Zack turned a 
slight shade of pink and laughed along with him.

"Uh huh, you were. God knows the hell they'd do to you if 
ya was late tomorrow. You better not be, or I'll personally 
make sure you'll never complete your full training." Said 
in a joking matter, but Zack knew the seriousness of Kain's 
words. Time passed as the two of the finished up with the 
ordering of the room and then sat down on a couple of 
chairs and laid back a bit.

"Any news on the War, Kain?"

"Seems like Wutai has regained some towns, and have some 
forces coming from an unknown source. Or, something they've 
been hiding for quite awhile."

"What do you mean?"

"Like Wutai has been training children to become warriors 
at a certain schooling. There are many islands off of the 
Wutai Continent, and no one has actually thought to check 
the islands to see whether they've been holding citizens of 
Wutai or not. Frankly, it was quite the ambush, and had 
Sephiroth's army in quite the vice. Wutai to their left, 
and the new army to their right. No one quite knows exactly 
where Sephiroth is, but was reported he was alive."

"Anyone been following up on these islands?"

"Tried. They are a strong, force, since they have cannons 
that fired from far away and manage to blow Shinra to ashes 
before they can get anywhere near the bases of the islands. 
They've been shooting planes out of the sky, too. I guess 
Wutai has been saving their schools' as a last retreat, or 
the schools' were just getting' sick of their homeland 
being attacked and whatnot. 

"A Wutai that was in the program a long time ago said that 
the schools there do nothing but train, no matter what 
happens on the outer world. Even if their homelands are at 
stake, they won't go and fight. Apparently, they've changed 
their mind since then." Kain shrugged.

"Some motivation they must have got, or the city itself was 
on its knees begging to the school to come and help."

"Probably the latter, but no one can say for sure. How the 
hell would a courier get all the way to the islands and not 
be spotted by anyone? Tough to tell in this case."

"So how many towns have they taken back?"

"Last time I heard, about a town a day. Pretty damn good 
odds there. Giving the city itself a chance to heal and 
unleash some hell of an attack. Shinra needs to get back on 
their feet soon, or there will be a huge upset in this 
War."

Kain stood up, and so did Zack. Kain grabbed his suitcase, 
and looked at Zack once again, "You better be here on time, 
or you're head's on a spike and will be displayed in my 
room." Kain then walked out of the room leaving Zack to 
think of the ultimatum.


-----------------------------------------------------------


"Thanks for the meal, Tseng," Aeris brought up as they 
walked down back towards the church.

"Sure, thanks for your company."

"You know I'm seeing him later."

"...Yes, I know."

"What do you want me to say when we meet up?"

"...I honestly don't know. I'll judge on what the say when I 
see him later tonight." Aeris nodded, and the two reached 
the entrance of the church.

"Again, thank you Tseng. It's been really nice seeing you 
over the last couple of days. It really has..." She reached 
up and gave Tseng a small kiss on his cheek. Tseng smiled 
and turned a slight tone of pink.

"My pleasure. After all, you've met my friend, so maybe it 
was good for me to finally say hello."

Aeris giggled and shook her head, "You..."

By the time they reached the church, the distant sound of 
the train was leaving the station and heading to one of the 
many sects of Midgar. 

"Don't get him in trouble, like getting mugged or 
anything," Tseng teased and Aeris sniggered. 

"I'll do my best to protect him!" She smirked and the two 
of them laughed and not a bad feeling was anywhere close to 
them.

"Goodnight, Tseng. I will be seeing you around. I better be 
seeing you around again."

He smiled maliciously in a joking matter, "As long as I'm 
still here in Midgar and I have a friend like him, I'll 
make sure to see you."

She nodded, and entered the church. The same familiar creak 
that he had listened to thousands of times over made Tseng 
feel like he was at home. After all, he was at home. Home 
in the slums, home in this church, and home in the feeling 
of his heart. And yet it did not feel complete.