Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy Seven: Shadows of the Light ❯ Arc One: Rebirth of ShinRa ( Chapter 10 )

Arc I: Rebirth of ShinRa

Part X:

Ferris smiled wryly at Reno's question before laughing softly, "I have no idea. Right after Silvara and I fought, Raven came into the Tavern and said something about Sierra being in Junon. Since I'd just had my throat cut, my mind was naturally on other things, but Silvara realized I'd heard too much and used some sort of sleeping potion on me." He frowned thoughtfully, "I don't remember much after that, but I do seem

to recall there being a few others...hmmmm." He shook his head in annoyance, "But it could have just been the potion playing with my mind." His thoughts kept returning to the woman outside and he had to move away from the window to take his eyes off of her. 'Damn it, you're acting like some kid with a crush when you should be focusing on more important things.'

"Either way with Reeve's group they should be more than..." He fell silent a moment before voicing his suspicion. "Reno...I know Reeve and his followers are willing to join forces with the mercenaries to overthrow Sierra, but wasn't Reeve involved in some sort of scandal in the ShinRa organization?" His eyes narrowed thoughtfully, "Right now, Sierra is the greater threat, but what's to stop him from trying the same thing with Rufus once Sierra has been dealt with? Obviously you know him better than I do...can he be trusted?"

Reno looked at Fenris silently. He moved away from the window and sat down on a desk near one of the fireplaces in the library. After a few minutes he spoke quietly. "Before I'd would of said that Reeve was something of a .. hmmm maybe coward is to strong but it fits for now. Anyway that was before he constructed that thing.. CaitSith and met AVALANCHE. He changed I believe after the fighting with them through that cat thing I think. Now, I think through if you gain his trust and he says he's your friend then he is, until you do something that breaks that trust. He's -maybe-- I don't know--tougher now than he was.

When you see people you care about die for no real reason, because of someone and nothing done about it you tend to harden your heart against the world I think. Maybe he isn't that far because he is married to someone. She helps him, but I think we can trust him. If he goes against Rufus it will be because ShinRa did something to warrant it.. not just because of who he was...So I think as long as Rufus keeps his goals shortened .. maybe to just this continent, I think Reeve will leave him alone. And the scandal at ShinRa is old news that should be dropped now." Reno's voice held a cold dangerous edge as he finished speaking. He looked at Fenris with cold emotionless ice blue eyes.

*

Silvara slipped silently through the mansion, her light tread muffled by the thick carpets. Between the high-handed way Rufus had hired her and Riya's little lecture, it hadn't been a very good day for her pride. There wasn't much she could do or say about her friend's attitude, like Silvara, Riya had lost everyone she'd ever cared for so she tended to be overprotective. Rufus ShinRa was another matter. 'If I'm going to be working with that arrogant little...I WILL NOT be treated like one of his flunkies.' Her eyes narrowed and flashed angrily in the pale light, 'I'll follow his orders, hell, I'll even be civil about it, but if he EVER pulls something like that again...Turks or no, I'll slap that smug look right off...ahha, here we go.'

Silvara paused just outside the study in the deep shadows of the doorway, her angry words locked in her throat. There, sleeping peacefully on the sofa, was Raven. Her first impulse was to rush in and awaken the slumbering woman, to find out if she was truly unharmed and to apologize...for leaving her. Then Raven shifted and the light fell on her pale face, allowing Silvara to see the dark smudges under her closed eyes and guilt was like a clenched fist in her chest, 'Of course she's exhausted you idiot.'

Wraithlike, she slipped unnoticed into the room and gazed down at her sleeping form, 'Raven, I'm so sorry...for everything. You just get some sleep, there'll be time for me to talk with you later.' She glanced up at the figure by the window and couldn't entirely stop the rush of gratitude that bubbled up inside of her.

Fortunately, his back was to her and he couldn't see the tears that rose in her lavender eyes. 'Thank you Rufus.' She took a hesitant step towards him and felt her breath catch in her throat. Lost in his thoughts, his defenses down, Silvara caught a glimpse of something in Rufus's expression that brought a sad smile to her lips. 'Maybe I was wrong about you...I hope so.' She paused at the doorway and glanced back, her face an expressionless mask, then she slipped unnoticed from the study.

*

" Hey, I didn't mean any offense. Like I said, you know him much better than I do, so I'll trust your judgment." Ferris sighed wearily as he sank into a chair, "I just didn't want things getting anymore complicated than they already are." He rested his head against the back of the chair and stared up at the ceiling and his voice was quiet. "Yes, I can understand how something like that would change someone...it's inevitable. I just wonder if it's ever possible to go back, to find some way to regain that part of yourself that is lost."

He laughed off his question and rose in a fluid motion, not quite managing to mask the sadness in his eyes before he returned to the window. 'Even if you could find a way, would it really make a difference? Eventually we all loose something that's a part of us, loved ones, forgotten memories, and each loss leaves a wound that never fully heals.' He forced something that could pass for a smile as he scolded himself.

'Wow Ferris, every day is a party, huh? If you wanted to depress yourself, you could have just cut off your...' He did manage to chuckle at the physical complications that could arise from following that particular course of action. "I should go talk to her...after tonight, I doubt I'll ever have another chance." He hadn't meant to say those words aloud and smiled at Reno's questioning glance. "Just a loose end. If you don't mind..." After excusing himself, Ferris walked out of the library towards the courtyard entrance. "Why is everything so much simpler when I'm drunk?"

Raven stirred slightly and her eyes creep open a little. She looked through her eyelashes at the figure standing over her. 'Silvara?? I could swear that was her.' The figure disappeared and Raven's green eyes opened wider. She blinked several times trying to focus her blurry vision but was unsuccessful. She knew that it was hopeless to do anything but go back to sleep. 'I hope you forgive me Silvara for causing you so much trouble.' Raven's eyes lowered shut once again and she rolled slightly to lay curled up on her side. It was hard to do but she managed to pull it off comfortably. Luca hissed and growled at being disturbed from his sleep and climbed onto the arm of the chair and curled back up. "Rufus..." Raven mumbled in her sleep.

*

Siiro glanced around the shadowy tunnel and then motioned for his twin brother Marron to follow him, the coast was clear. The deadly looking pair slipped through the exit of the tunnel and then made their way to the beach close by. The mansion loomed over them, a shadow against the nighttime sky. They had made it this far and they didn't intend on failing just yet. They would complete their mission and find the ancient they sought. Then, once they had her, they would take her back to Sierra so he could learn the secret of materia poison immunity. Once this knowledge was learned Sierra could make an entire, invincible army and destroy the entire world! "There is too many people outside the mansion to sneak in just yet. Maybe we should wait until she comes out." Siiro told his brother.

"How do you know that she's in there?" Marron narrowed his eyes at Siiro.

"Just call it a hunch," Siiro grinned. "We have been on her heals for so long I have gotten a sixth sense about her. And just think, that damn Mura almost took the credit for all the work WE have been doing! We'll just wait. They will come out sooner or later."

*

Rufus raised his head to look out his window again. shaking his head once he was about to turn away when something caught his eye. He turned back to the window. He scanned the area around the beach and ocean, he could have sworn he had seen two figures there a minute ago...He noticed that darkness had fallen, time to go. He went over to the cabinet and opened the door, taking the magnum rifle out along with some extra bullets that he carried over to lay on his desk. He loaded the rifle, then picked up his coats. Putting them on his eyes passed over Raven briefly, shaking his head once again he turned back to his desk and picked up the extra bullets putting them in his coat pockets. He went back over to the cabinet after slinging the rifle over his shoulder to pick up his shotgun. He loaded it quickly and started to walk out of the study, stopping when he heard her say his name softly. He turned to look at her one last time before walking out of the study to find the others.

When he reached the double doors that where open to the front lawn he paused then stepped out looking around at the people present. Looking over at Tseng and the other two Turks he spoke. "It's time.. Where is Reno, Ferris and did that woman accept my offer?" He felt some one tap him on the shoulder he looked behind him to see Reno. He walked further out the door as Reno went to speak to one of the woman down the steps.

*

Silvara brushed her dark hair from her eyes as she slipped out of the mansion, not wanting to face Riya, she'd used a side entrance and found herself alone on the lush grounds. A faint smile curved her lips, as she gazed around, taking in the subtle changes taking place in the fading light. In a few hours darkness would fall, but this was her favorite time of the day, when the shadows deepened and it became harder to separate the light from the darkness. When she was on the trail, this would be a time for preparation for a nightly hunt...but here, she could just relax, take some time for her own thoughts and just enjoy the gathering night. She wasn't sure exactly when Rufus wanted to leave, but she knew that they couldn't go without her noticing them.

A shadow separated from a darkened grove of trees and Siydi walked towards her. Silvara leaned against his side, taking comfort in his presence, aside from Riya, the chocobo was her closest friend. As she met his burning eyes, her relaxed mood slipped away. "What am I going to do Siydi?" She began taking off his riding tack, lightly buffing his glossy feathers with a soft cloth she kept in one of the saddlebags.

"Everything has changed, and I'm about to make it worse." Siydi regarded her with soulful eyes and cooed softly, sensing her distress. "I can't help it Siydi...whichever path I follow, I'll loose." She laughed softly as he spread his wings and glared out into the night, "no, you can't help me this time." She knelt down to examine his talons, frowning at the rugged tear and the small cut where claw met flesh. "Now when did you do that? Poor baby! Just hold still."

Pressing her hand over the wound, she began to chant softly under her breath as her eyes drifted shut. A gentle red glow enveloped her hand a brief flash of light in the darkness. "There you go." Grinning, she stood and admired her handiwork, while she needed potions and herbs for larger injuries, a wound this small was well within her powers. Siydi seemed to return her smile before turning and walking back into the darkness. Shaking her head Silvara laughed and sank down against the base of a tree. "You're welcome."

*

He'd wanted to speak to Riya...more than anything he'd wanted to explain to her, but what could he have said to make her understand? So instead Ferris left the mansion through one of the side entrances, and wandered through the gardens, waiting for Rufus to make his move. He'd been surprised to find Silvara walking the grounds and watched unnoticed as she tended to her chocobo, frowning at the small healing spell. 'How...' His thoughts were cut off by a slight noise and a smile spread his lips as he'd approached her seated figure. He stared down at her for a moment, grinning when she'd opened her eyes and frowned at him before closing them again. "Now that's no way to be, not if we're going to be working together." He chuckled at her unladylike reply, "Besides it's time to go." Without sparing her a second glance, Ferris turned and walked towards the courtyard.

Silvara opened her eyes and frowned after his departing form before rising gracefully to her feet. Siydi stepped out of the woods and hissed, "No, behave yourself." She moved to him and stroked his neck, "stay here and don't give Riya any trouble. I mean it!" She frowned at him until he cocked his head and whirled to stalk off into the trees. 'Just what I need...well, I don't have time for your sulks right now.'

Turning she sprinted after Ferris, flashing him a little smile as she passed him and beat him into the courtyard. Still dressed in the black body-hugging dragon scale armor of Riya's guards, Silvara managed to slip unnoticed to Rufus's side. Gracing him with a small smile, she began binding her dark hair at the nape of her neck with a leather thong and took a moment to check her supplies in the leather pack riding her hip. "Ready." Her smile softened and her voice dropped low enough that it wouldn't be overheard, "Rufus before we go, I wanted to thank you for rescuing Raven." Her eyes hardened, "Now, lets get going."