Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy Seven: Shadows of the Light ❯ Arc One: Rebirth of ShinRa ( Chapter 15 )

Arc I: Rebirth of ShinRa

Part XV:

'A tunnel?!' Riya shook her head, 'I had no idea.' She kicked Siydi again, smiling grimly as the chocobo put on another burst of speed. 'The ShinRa building...I was right; he is planning on retaking Junon. There it is.' She smiled grimly as Siydi reached the mouth of the tunnel.

****

Ferris was pulled from his thoughts by Tseng and Silvara's low conversation and frowned in confusion. If she blushed a little more she might just catch on fire. 'What did he say to her?' He watched Silvara for a moment and lowered his gaze to the floor to hide the churning emotions in his amber gaze.

Silvara was like a burning presence in the room, invading his thoughts and drawing his gaze like a moth to a flame. 'I am so weak. When I see glimpses of her true self, the person who butchered Marcus and his bride, I can hate her.' He clenched his fists. 'The next moment she smiles or laughs...or I see her hugging her chocobo, like he was the only thing she had left in the world...now she's blushing like some school girl. Damn you Silvara.' He relaxed his hands, ignoring the small wounds his nails caused where they'd bitten into his palms, forcing himself to think of his brother and that horrible night. The memories brought the familiar flood of rage, banishing all other emotions.

His brother's pilot landing the small helicopter outside his home near Costa del Sol, the somber flight back to the still smoldering ruins of Marcus's estate. Learning of the murders from the elderly butler, viewing the remains. The rumors of the killer walking from the house just as it burst into the flames. His outrage that the authorities were willing to accept the fire as the cause of death, even with their horrific wounds-all of it forming a burning core of rage inside of him. A rage tempered by the sweet knowledge that it was all about to end. Something was happening though and he pulled himself from his dark thoughts long enough to notice that their little party was a few people short. Raven and Elena were gone...but then again. Raven would be unlikely to sit idly by as he tried to kill Silvara. Now seemed as good a time as any. Still, he'd seen the way Rufus and Raven watched each other when they thought no one could see them maybe he should help to find... 'No, she is with a Turk after all' he glanced at Tseng as the man turned to leave, 'Evidently Tseng is going to check it out as well.'

Ferris let his eyes narrow, 'Maybe that's for the best as well.' he'd seen the look in Tseng's eyes when the Turk had noticed the way he watched Silvara. Deciding Ferris moved towards Rufus. "I think Tseng is going to search for Raven and Elena. It's time, the fewer people around, and the less chance of someone being hurt. I kept my word, now I ask that you honor yours...no interference, from anyone." He met Rufus's eyes, hoping he could understand, knowing that no matter what happened, everything was about to change.

Rufus looked at Fenris with narrowed blue eyes. "I can't promise anything right now except that I won't interfere with you. But let me warn you don't let your passion to kill her blind you. Harm mine, I will harm yours, you should know that." He told him with an ice-cold tone. "I am not responsible for what happens to you or Silvara. I am only concerned about my Turks and Raven. So, watch yourself."

Ferris smiled sadly, 'An empty threat, everyone I care for is dead to me...or will be after tonight.' He smiled humorlessly, "You know me better, I would never endanger Raven or your friends, that's why..." He shook his head, "It doesn't matter, thank you President ShinRa." With a slight nod, Ferris turned on his heels and moved towards Silvara, his hand falling to the hilt of his sword.

*

Raven looked around at her companions and spotted an open door out of the corner of her eye. Curiosity getting the better out of her she slipped away from Elena's side and stepped across the threshold into a dark room. The door slammed shut behind her and she immediately spun around and started to bang on it. "Raven!" she heard Elena yell from the other side.

"Elena, go get help!" Raven shouted through the door. "This door won't budge!" Laughter suddenly erupted around her. She turned and lifted her crossbow in a defensive gesture. The darkness was thick around as she turned and tried to peer into it.

"I have waited a very long time for this." came a voice, familiar from the past. Light flooded the room and someone leapt down in front of her.

"Scarlet..." Raven growled. "I thought that you were dead. I was sorry that I missed the chance to kill you myself."

"As you can see, I am alive and well," she smiled with her hands on her hips. "And I will be the one doing the killing, just as the president ordered me to do three years ago. You ran away from me then, you can't run from me now!"

"I was only seventeen." I spat. "Still inexperienced in battle. A lot has changed since then Scarlet."

"Does Rufus know that his little princess is a trained assassin?" Scarlet's mouth curved into a twisted grin. "That she's not the sweet little innocent that he fell for. That she's a KILLER?"

"I did what I had to do," Raven faltered a little. "I had to survive."

"You had to survive by murdering others?" Scarlet chuckled.

"I never killed an innocent," Raven defended herself against Scarlet's mental attacks. "Everyone died to protect others. It was always a choice between one and many. And you certainly aren't no saint yourself."

"Just think of what your Cetran mother would think if she knew that her daughter was a murder!" Scarlet laughed. Raven, in a rage, lifted her crossbow. "Oh no you don't!" Scarlet's whip wrapped around it, pulling it free from Raven's grasp. Raven unsheathed her daggers and held them crossed in front of her.

"ANGEL BLADE!!"

The Cetran magic lit up the blades as they began to extend to twice their normal lengths. Raven put the bottom of the hilts together and in a flash they became the great double sword that she was known for. Her green eyes flashed as she lunged toward her enemy. The sword crashed against the mythril shaft of the spear Scarlet had torn from the wall. She brought up the other end, bringing it slicing up into Scarlet's left leg. Raven's ruthless expression did not change at the sound of Scarlet's scream. Scarlet retaliated by bring the spear up hard against Raven's stomach, she flipped it around, and then plunged the point into Raven's shoulder, pinning her against the wall.

"Rufus never told you about the day he left did he?" a wicked grin spread over her face as she pressed harder into Raven's shoulder, enjoying every second of her pain. "Two SOLDIERs held him down while I beat him with my whip. I hurt him pretty badly that day, not that I didn't enjoy it." She shrugged her shoulders. "But it was all because of you!"

"You sadistic bitch!" Raven yelled as she kicked Scarlet hard in the stomach. The spear pulled free as Scarlet fell backwards. With lightning speed - Raven unleashed the Ultimus Angel limit break, continuously slashing at the woman until she was thrown back against the wall bleeding from several near lethal wounds. "This ends now!"

"I.... I will not... lose!" Scarlet screamed as she fell on a lever. The double sword spun across the floor after it slipped from Raven's grasp.

Raven screamed in horror as the floor fell from under her. She miraculously caught herself on a pipeline running under the building, leaving her dangling hundreds of feet over the ocean. Scarlet laughed madly then hurried out of the room before she could crumble to the floor unconscious. Raven knew that she was alone and her heart began to pound fiercely in her chest, making it hard to breath. A scream tore from her lips as her left hand, bloodied from the wound on her shoulder, slipped free. She stared at the open floor above her. There was no way to climb out. Scarlet had the last laugh after all. "Somebody help me!!!"

*

Rufus turned away from Fenris, and started towards the door when Elena came running into the room. "Raven.. She needs help. We.. got cut off from each other the door.." Rufus didn't waste time except to ask her where the door was. Elena ran out of the door with Rufus following her.

*

Tseng watched as Elena and Rufus ran out of the room. He looked over at Reno and Rude. "Go help them." He told them and watched as they ran out after Rufus and Elena. Tseng then turned to look at Silvara. His hazel eyes narrowed as he saw Ferris walk towards Silvara with his hand on his sword's hilt. He started back towards Silvara he reached up over his head and felt the twin hilts of his katana's that crossed his back under his suit jacket. He drew one of them and finished walking to Silvara's side still watching Fenris with narrowed ice-cold eyes. He slipped off his suit jacket in case Fenris drew his sword. He already knew he would though. He could feel it and see it in his eyes. The other hilt was showing now, but he didn't really care about it or the fact that the shoulder holster holding the Outsider was showing as well. His world seemed to shrink to just Ferris's movements.

He waited for the attack; he had fought this kind of battle before but had lost that time. Of course that had been before he had joined the Turks at 15. He soon rose in rank to become the Leader of the Turks at 25. He had lost maybe a year of practice thanks to Sephiroth's blade, but he was still the Leader of the Turks. Before ShinRa's downfall his name alone could make grown men wet themselves. So he waited for any sign from Fenris, any sign, a move towards drawing the sword, or a movement of any kind.

*

Rufus watched as Elena stopped in front of one of the doors. He tried the handle, locked. He started aim his shotgun at it, but was stopped by a hand on his arm. When he looked up he saw Reno shake his head then he looked over at Rude who stepped past them both and gripped the handle. He gave a massive shove and there was the sound of something breaking then the door swung open. Rufus started to go in and again was held back. He started to snap at Reno, but then saw that most of the middle floor was gone. If he had went running into the room like he had been about too.. he would have fallen to most likely his death. His heart went right up into his throat until he heard the small shout for help.

He felt Reno release him and he walk towards the gaping hole in the center of the room. He looked down and saw a shadowed figure. "Raven!" he yelled. He saw the figure move slightly. He looked around saw a whip lying on the edge of the floor and ignoring the memories it caused he reached over to pick it up. He looked over at Reno then made a motion for him to come over to where he was. After he did he handed the handle of the whip to him. "I want you to hang on to this.. Have Rude help you if you need to because I'm going down there and I'll need you to pull us back up." He then took the other end of the whip and ignoring Reno's protests he wrapped it around one wrist and jumped into the hole.

Rufus landed on the pipe he had seen the shadowed figure holding on to. "Raven..." he said into the darkness. He heard something faintly, then carefully walked towards it feeling the whip bite into his wrist. He ignored it as he found her. He bent down and caught her by the arm and lifted her up so she could get her feet under her. Then carefully he unwrapped the whip from around his wrist to tie it around her right wrist. 'That way' he thought 'if one of us loses their grip, at least she won't be the one to fall.' He knew though it might hurt her wrist if she was to suddenly have weight put on it, but Reno would be able to pull her up. 'Hopefully we won't find out..' he thought as he shouted to Reno to begin as he wrapped his arm around her and took a hold of the whip as he saw the whip go tight.

Rufus saw the floor come into view he let go of the whip to grab the hand he was offered. He looked up to see Reno pull him and Raven up. Glancing behind him, he saw Rude holding the handle of the whip. After he was fully on the floor he picked Raven up and carried her away from the hole. Untying the whip from her wrist, he quickly looked her over. His eyes narrowed as he saw the blood and the wound in her shoulder. His lips pressed into a tight line as he looked up at Reno and Rude, then to Elena who ducked her head to avoid his sharp cold eyes. Looking back at Raven he asked. "Who did this?" His voice was devoid of emotion as he waited for her response, but his eyes had went from cold to a barely controlled fury at whomever had thought to have done this to her.

Raven winced at the pain in her shoulder and looked up at Rufus's angry face, thankful that he had gotten to her. "Damn Scarlet... still alive..." her voice was choked with pain. She squeezed her eyes shut and then cast a Cetran cure spell for energy then she opened her eyes again. "We were fighting. The moment I got the upper hand she threw that switch on the wall over there. The witch fights dirty."

Raven winced again but this time it wasn't from the pain but from the look on Rufus's face. She had never seen such cold anger on any man let alone the one she cared most for. She motioned for him to help her to her feet and he did, reluctantly. Raven watched as Reno bent to pick up her double sword. The moment his fingers touched it the weapon began to glow and transformed back into the twin daggers. He shrugged his shoulders and picked them up along with the crossbow and walked over to bring them back to their owner. She looked at Rufus who was supporting her and wondered what he was thinking about. 'What was he going to do?'

Rufus tried to hold his fury in check as he held Raven up. 'Scarlet...' he was filled with even more anger as he thought of that woman. He had thought her dead in the wreckage. She wasn't though and for some strange reason he was glad she didn't die in Midgar. He handed Raven over to Reno, and then suddenly turned to walk out of the room. 'I swore I would kill you and now I shall...' he thought silently going through the halls of the floor he was on. He heard something to his left, turned slightly to see something out of the corner of his eye. He spun seeing a flash of red and ran after it. He followed it into a room, and screamed "Scarlet! I know you're in here! Show yourself!"

Scarlet came out from the shadows of one corner. "Did she fall?" she asked in that horrible voice of hers. He glared at her his blue eyes suddenly seeming to glow slightly as his temper flared again at the reminder of what she had just tried to do.

"No. She didn't." he told her his voice low with a deadly edge to it. He set the shotgun against the wall and pulled the rifle off of his shoulder. "I think I know what your problem is with her...she has my ...how would you say--attention--while you are shunned by all but the most desperate men. I can't stand your presence. I never could... you were so stupid some times...I think the only things my obtuse old man saw in you were the ideas for new weapons and an easy lay." His voice had lost is deadliness, but now was mocking. "And half of you *Ideas* were ripped off of other people...and that stupid laugh of yours. I don't which one of you was worst--that idiot Head of Security my father had or your braying laugh." He made a quick motion with the rifle that made an echoing click. He raised the rifle, aiming at her. He then fired hitting her in the shoulder.

"An eye for an eye.." he said as he lowered the rifle. He snapped the chamber open to reload it while watching Scarlet. His ocean blue eyes still glowing like the life stream it seemed. He slammed the bullet into the rifle then snapped it shut. Cocking it again he aimed for her legs. She tried to dodge the shot he fired but the bullet hit her in the knee of her left leg.

She screamed then fell to the ground. He reloaded the rifle again. He watched her pathetic attempt to drag herself away from him. "This is for all the people you've tortured, including Raven." he said raising the rifle to aim at the back of her head he pulled the trigger. Scarlet fell the rest of the way to the floor and lay still. He stood there rifle still raised for a few moments before lowering it. He then turned his back on her corpse and walked out of the room heading back to Raven.

*

Reno led Raven into the next room after he instructed Elena to retrieve some bandages. He helped her to sit down on the floor. Raven crossed her legs and started to tear the sleeves off the shirt. Elena came rushing back into the room and handed the box she carried to Reno.

"Of all the weapons on that wall and she had to grab a spear," Raven mumbled while Reno wrapped her shoulder up. She wiped the blood off of her face that had trailed down from the scratch over her eye. Her eyes green widened when she heard the gunfire. She knew that it was Rufus who had done it. Reno let go of her arm and she hurried to her feet. "He found her. Scarlet's dead."

Ignoring the protests of the Turks, Raven ran into the corridor that she had seen Rufus disappear into earlier. She heard Reno's footsteps behind her but didn't stop, he was only doing as Rufus instructed by following her. She stopped, out of breath and looked back at the Turk. " You have to come back with me," he said grabbing her arm. "Rufus will return soon."

"I can't wait," Raven told him standing to her full height. They heard footsteps and Reno quickly pulled her into the shadows away from view. Once Rufus came into view Raven pulled away from the surprised Turk and threw her arms around Rufus's neck so fiercely that he nearly toppled backwards.

Rufus was slightly surprised when Raven threw herself on him. When he recovered enough to pull back and look at her, he asked her. "What are you doing out here? Are you alright?"

Raven smiled happily and kissed him quickly on the cheek. "I'm fine now that I got my shoulder covered - I couldn't wait to see you so I came to look for you," she admitted. "Don't be mad at Reno, he tried to stop me."

***

Silvara turned emotionless eyes towards Ferris as he approached. She had expected this moment and felt a cold detachment settle over her mind, banishing thoughts and emotions from the coming battle. 'It is time,' she thought with a hard smile as her hand fell to her dagger, 'I've done what I could, in the end it just boils down to skill...and determination.' Nodding, she smiled in answer to the man's unspoken challenge.

Then Tseng was beside her, a chilling expression in his eyes and a wicked looking katana gripped in his hand. 'Tseng?' She couldn't hide her startled confusion, and actually took a small step away from him, 'What?' This was what she'd sensed in him outside the mansion, the cold confidence of a trained killer; this was the leader of the elite Turks. It wasn't fear that caused her to back away though, it was the fact that this man, who barely knew her, was standing by her side...ready to protect her. One part of her mind insisted that Tseng would have done the same thing for any woman in a similar situation, but she couldn't stop the sudden warmth that spread through her. Instead of being outraged by his implication that she needed protection, Silvara found herself deeply moved. "Tseng...Thank you," her voice was a soft murmur as she hesitantly placed her small hand on top of his, gently pressing downward as if to lower his weapon. "I can't let you do this though, I have to fight my own battles." Her eyes were soft as they met his, but then hardened with a quiet determination, "Please understand. I have to do this."

Without waiting for his reply, she turned to face her enemy, all gentleness and warmth vanishing from her lavender eye as she let herself focus on her actions. Ferris had nearly killed her in Junon, and now he knew how she fought. It would take all of her experience to defeat him. She grinned fiercely, "Lets do this."

Ferris arched a brow in surprise as Tseng stood by Silvara, 'Why is he getting involved?' His question was answered when he saw Silvara touch his hand and murmur something in a soft voice. A sneer curled Ferris's lips, 'Clever girl, though I wouldn't have thought Tseng would fall for something like that.' As Silvara moved towards him, Ferris drew his sword and stared coldly at her would be defender, "My quarrel is with the bounty hunter, Tseng, you're interfering in matters that don't concern you." Anger swelled within him, but his voice was void of emotions, "Be warned." With a fluid motion he drew his sword and watched with glittering eyes as Silvara walk towards him. 'Her claws are poisoned, can't let her get close enough to use them.' A fleeting but humorless smile crossed his face at her cocky challenge, "So willing to die?" Briefly touching his blade to his forehead in a mocking salute, he laughed and quickly parried the small dagger that she hurled at his chest.

Silvara watched Ferris deflect the small blade and she let the grin fall away and replied to his taunt with an emotionless voice, "I killed your brother but I had my reasons. I understand why you're doing this." Her eyes hardened. "This is your last chance to walk away."

"Scared? YOU SHOULD BE!" Ferris snarled as he leaped at her, his sword sliding harmlessly across the glossy black scales of the armor as she managed to leap away. Designed to be lightweight and extremely flexible, the cured dragon hide looked like a leather bodysuit, but the scales could turn glancing blows so Silvara's arm remained unmarked. 'Damn, has he gotten faster?' She quickly parried his next blow with her dagger and lashed out with her claws. Ferris easily dodged the swipe and brought his sword around, his rage lending strength and speed to his attacks.

This time, even with Silvara's catlike reflexes, the blade sliced through her armor and carved a bloody furrow into her arm. If she hadn't managed to block at the last instant, the blade would have cut into her throat instead. 'It's a start.' He leaped away, wrenching his body away from the silver flash of her talons and then watching with amusement as she clasped her hand against the small wound. "First blood Silvara," he snarled, "if you beg for mercy, I'll kill you quickly. I don't believe in torturing my enemies."

Tseng had stepped down because she had asked him to, but when he saw the blood hit the ground he didn't care any more. He shouldn't have stepped away. He stepped forward and in a single fluid motion he had the katana's point just above Ferris's throat. "One more move against her.." He said coldly as he reached above his head with his other hand and drew the other katana. He lowered it even with its twin. "I can not let you proceed. If you still wish to, you will have to go through me first." He stated holding the katana's steady at Ferris's throat. His hazel eyes were completely devoid of any kind of emotion as he faced him, waiting for his next move.

Silvara felt a flash of anger as Tseng came between the, anger tinged with concern that he'd be hurt trying to protect her. She was about to tell him to back off when Ferris laughed softly, the sound sent chills racing down her spine. Glancing at him, she could only watch in amazement as Ferris just closed his eyes, a wry smile forming on his lips, 'What?' The fascination turned to a cold dread as she realized what was happening. 'No, I've got to do something.' Ferris began opening his eyes, the warm amber glowing brightly with an unnatural light. 'No!!' She glanced at Tseng and knew what she had to do even as she moved towards him. 'He doesn't know what Ferris...I've got to stop this!'

In a fluid movement, almost to quick to be seen, Silvara stepped behind Tseng and gently drew a single claw against the back of his neck. At the sharp pain, he whirled to face her but the sleep potion was incredibly potent, already his eyes were turning glassy. She glared at Ferris as she stepped between the two of them, "Leave him out of this, this is between you and me Nothgalea!" It was an unnecessary warning; Ferris had already backed down and was watching her with a horrified expression. 'Idiot probably thinks I poisoned him,' she thought as she turned to face Tseng.

Silvara felt tears well up into her eyes at the expression on his face and she pulled him against her as he staggered, whispering into his ear, "I'm sorry Tseng. Please understand." Twin tears tracked down her cheeks, "I can't let someone get hurt trying to protect me. I'm not worth it." His eyes were drifting shut and she smiled softly as she helped lower him to the floor. "When you wake up, try not to hate me, okay?" She propped him against the wall, out of harm's way and stared at him for a moment before walking away towards Ferris.

****

Riya gave Siydi his lead as they sped through the tunnel, even with her own excellent night vision, the chocobo could see better than the human's he carried. It was best to let him run at his own pace rather than travel afoot, especially since enclosed places tended to spook him. She nodded as Reeve told her the intersection wasn't far and cursed both Ferris and Silvara in her mind for putting her through this. There was no way around it, even if she did manage to stop them from killing each other, she'd probably loose one or both as a friend. 'If I'm not already to later.' The thought brought a cold anger to her heart, if either of them had been harmed; Rufus was going to pay. Even if it meant, she'd have to go through the Turks. "Starting with Reno."

Reeve turned his head towards her voice. "Starting with Reno? What do you mean?" He asked her quietly. Then he said "We're here, we'll have to either dismount and lead the bird inside, or leave him here. But either way we have to go through that tunnel to get into the Building."

"We'll leave him here, he's too difficult to control when he gets around Silvara, especially if she's in any sort of danger." She swung from his back with a practiced grace, and then dodging the sharp beak as Siydi decided to try biting her again. She shook her head as she turned to the tunnel. "No guarantee he wouldn't turn on me." She took off at an easy sprint down the smaller tunnel, with Reeve close behind her.

"Reno is the one who locked me into that room at the mansion. I don't know if Ferris or Rufus gave the actual order, either way if my friends have been harmed I'll...It was so dumb!! I knew something was going on, and then when he took us upstairs to the room but I thought I could just pick the lock and follow them...then it took so long to get the damn thing to open." She realized she was rambling and forced herself to calm down. "It doesn't matter, it's not your problem."

***

Ferris let his power fade away as Silvara raked her claws across Tseng's neck. He'd been ready to use a spell of greater wind to knock the Turk from his path, but he hadn't planned on killing him! He sighed in relief as he remembered that Silvara had used a different colored potion on one set of talons and judging from the way Tseng was acting, they gray liquid she'd used on that hand was some sort of tranquilizer. Ferris chuckled and shook his head in admiration that the fragile looking woman walking towards him had just managed to knock out the leader of the Turks.

Still, he was surprised she'd risked it, the drug had seemed to work quickly, but there had still been a few seconds before it had taken effect. Enough time for Tseng to kill her several times over and considering that she'd just drugged him, it would have been a perfectly understandable reaction. 'She did that to protect him...in her own way she was trying to keep him out of this so he wouldn't get hurt.' He frowned as she walked back towards him, ignoring the tracks of moisture on her face. "You know he'll be furious when he wakes up, not that I'm complaining." He let his mocking gaze sweep the room before taking an offensive stance. "Alone at last."

*

Reno and Elena walked back toward the broadcasting area to speak to the rest of the others leaving Rufus with Raven and Rude. As they neared the room Reno heard a voice. "Alone at last.."

He stopped putting an arm out in front of Elena to stop her as well. She gave him a strange look, to which he told her. "I have a feeling that we better stay out here for a few minutes." She looked towards the room's door then back at Reno.

"Why? Rufus told us to tell the rest that he had found Raven."

Reno shook his head sadly at her.

"You never change do you?" he laughed briefly at her expression went from confusion to a glare before looking back at the door of the room. He had a bad feeling about what he thought was happening in there and he didn't really want to step into the middle of it nor did he want Elena to get into it either. Just then he heard a voice behind him.

"What is going on here? I thought you we're suppose to be talking with Tseng and the others that came with us." Reno turned to see Rufus with one hand on Raven's arm and Rude behind them.

"Where's Silvara?" Raven asked hurriedly, her eyes widening. When she didn't get an answer she pulled away from Rufus and barged through the door. The sight that greeted her was no surprise, but she couldn't let Fenris kill her - not after she had tried to help her. Just then Raven's eyes rested on her old friend - the one who had helped her when Rufus wasn't around. "Tseng!" she dropped down to her knees beside him and felt for a pulse. It was there, he was only sleeping - she put her hand on his forehead and closed her eyes. Within moment the soft white light surrounded him and his eyes fluttered open. "My god, I hope you're alright," she whispered as she stood up. What was she going to do? How could she stop this fight? At that moment Fenris drew blood. "No! Silvara!" She started forward but Tseng's hand stopped her. "Let me go Tseng I have to help her!" He didn't let go - she dropped to her knees and buried her face in her hands, to use anymore of her Cetran magic may very well kill her. The wound on her shoulder rendered her defenseless.

"I won't let him hurt her." Tseng whispered so that only she could hear. The words immediately calmed her. Tseng never lied.

"Elena," Raven said quietly. The female Turk helped her up and they walked to the door together. "I have to get out of this room."

Elena guided Raven from the room - they walked across the hallway to another room. "Elena, do you think you could find me some clothes?" Raven asked. Elena nodded. Raven told her what she needed and the Turk hurried away to get them. Raven just felt like being alone to think about all that had happened. Ten minutes later Elena returned and left the room so Raven could change in peace. Raven changed into the tight black pants and tucked in the white tank top, then she pulled on the knee-high leather boots, she had been wearing, over the pants. Lastly she put on the black shirt. It was difficult because of the wound on her shoulder. Later she would have to do something about it.

Curious Raven glanced around the room. Above her there was a large banner that said CANNON. Is this where the cannon once was?' she climbed the two sets of stairs and walked through the door at the top. She entered the dark room and stumbled through the desks and computers to the enormous wall sized window overlooking the ocean. The sky was losing its darkness with the coming of the morning. Light orange reflected off the clouds and the ocean glittered in the pale light. Raven closed her eyes. She was exhausted. She opened them again. There was the empty space that once held Junon's greatest weapon.

'I hope that Silvara will be alright - Tseng please keep your promise - are you going to do anything to help her Rufus?' At that moment the light began to glow on the pendant around her neck. The red flash lit up the darkness around her. Her green eyes widened. 'What had Silvara said? It warns it's wearer of hidden danger....' Raven spun around and peered into the darkness. "Whose there?!"

Her voice made him stir in the shadows of the room. He cursed himself - he hadn't thought she had heard him. 'Of course she can hear you fool, she is a master of stealth herself.' His lips curved up in a smile. He had almost turned around but the pair on the black chocobo showed him the way here. It had been easy from there - and quick. He almost wished that he had brought Marron into Junon with him, but he left him outside to wait.

"I would have thought you smarter Cetra," Siiro laughed. "After you are wounded. Only you would be fool enough to run away from your protectors unguarded." He stepped out of the shadows and took pleasure in Raven's surprised expression. Ha! She was afraid. She was weak and afraid of him. 'I'll just give her a small dose. She is too weak to handle more.'

"I should have known it would be you," Raven whispered as calmly as she could. What she really wanted to do was scream at him but it wouldn't help. Her only hope was that someone was near by to help her. Siiro stepped towards her with the poison but the sound of the door opening made him stop.

"Maybe another time," he growled. Then he disappeared into the shadows.

Rufus stepped inside the room shutting the door behind him. He walked towards where Raven stood. He had sworn he had heard two voices in here. He scanned the room as he walked up to her looking for the owner of the second voice. "Raven.. are you alright?" he asked her as he neared where she was. He had seen the fright in her eyes as he walked closer to her. "Who was here? I heard someone else's voice, who was it?" he asked her looking into her green eyes as he finally closed the space between them.

***

Silvara leaped away from Ferris's blade but the movement left her open to his dagger. She saw the silver flash and twisted her body, but she was unable to stop the shriek of rage and pain that tore from her throat as the blade grazed her hip and bit into her thigh. She lashed out blindly and Ferris fell backwards, leaving the blade lodged in her flesh. Silvara quickly staggered backwards, yanking the dagger free and pressing a hand to the wound and watched as her blood welled up around her fingers, and began winding down her leg. It was a careless mistake; she'd never left herself open like that before. She rushed him, claws flashing as they sought his skin, but he blocked her every move.

For some reason, she couldn't focus on the battle, it was if she was watching her actions from a great distance and her movements felt sluggish. She was going to die. The thought kept repeating over and over in her mind, she was going to be killed by this man. She could read it in his cold amber eyes, eyes that blazed with pure hatred. 'His eyes.'

Staring into their hard depths, Silvara felt something within her cry out in grief and terror and her surroundings dimmed. In that instant, she found herself in the tiny dark room that had served as her prison, facing her tormentor, her captor...another man with burning amber eyes.

"NOOO!!" The wild cry took them both by surprise, bringing Silvara back to herself, freeing her from the haunting visions. With an enraged shout, she hurled herself at a surprised Ferris. She became a deadly whirl of claws and daggers, completely oblivious to her own safety. Nothing mattered but bringing death to the man before her.

Ferris found himself facing an enraged Silvara and his sword flashed in the light as he parried her attacks. He'd see the look in her eyes, the knowledge that she was about to die and had thought she was defeated, but now Silvara fought like a woman possessed. He smiled grimly as she forced him back; this was the side of her that lurked behind the girlish mask she wore. This was what his brother had been up against; the creature attacking him now had killed Marcus, who couldn't tell one end of a sword from another. A well-placed kick brought him to his knees and he barely managed to catch her claws on his sword. He saw a brief flash as her other hand swept in with his dagger and quickly slammed his fist against her injured thigh.

Silvara screamed and fell backwards, dropping the dagger, but she somehow managed to catch her weight with her arms and use her good leg to sweep his feet from under him. Before he could react, she was astride him and he dropped his sword to grab her wrists. He snarled at her as he strained against her weight, but in his position he couldn't throw her off of him without risking an injury from her poisoned claws. His eyes began to glow.

*

Tseng motioned Reno over to him. When the red-haired Turk was beside him he whispered his plan though he had the feeling he didn't need to keep his voice low the two wouldn't of heard him anyway. Reno looked at him coolly then when Tseng nodded he went to position himself.

Tseng went up to where Silvara was on top of Fenris. He grabbed her from behind while Reno struck Fenris in the shoulder with his Nightstick. Tseng heard the weapons discharge of the electric shock as he pulled Silvara away from Fenris. Twisting his wrist, as she fought him trying to get out of his grip, a small dagger fell into his had from the wrist sheath. He held it to lightly against her throat. "I'm sorry as well.. now if you'll stop fighting me...I wish to speak with you." He then spoke to Reno, "Watch him, if he wakes restrain him and if you care to talk with him."

He took Silvara out of the room to another across it. Once inside he released her. "Now...I want answers." He told her all trace of any warmth had gone out of his expression and his voice was cold as he spoke. "What the..." he stopped and then sighed. Looking away then back toward her, he spoke again this time with a small trace of the early warmth returning to his voice, but not his expression. "I want to know what is between you two."

Silvara was still trembling with rage as she faced Tseng and it was several moments before she could answer him. "Damn you Tseng, why did you...." her eyes flashed angrily as she held his gaze, "I'm sorry about drugging you, but you don't know anything about him, about me!" She shook her head, seething with frustration, "I don't need, or want, anyone's protection!"

Silvara's eyes hardened as she clasped her hand to the wound on her shoulder, "If you must know, I killed his brother. Ferris is merely trying to avenge his death." As the words echoed in the small room, a shiver racked her body and a flood of memories filled her mind. It was the first time she had ever spoken them aloud and a wave of sadness flowed over her, "Marcus and Ferris. I'm...it doesn't matter."

All emotion bled out of her face as she met Tseng's eyes, "Why did you stop us? I could have ended it tonight." Silvara felt the hot sting of tears and quickly lowered her gaze to the ground. "I'll have to face him again." Her voice was thick with her unshed tears, "This won't end until one of us dies." She hastily brushed her eyes, struggling to take control of her emotions. Silvara glanced up at him and frowned in concern, "I'm really sorry about drugging you though, are you okay? How'd you manage to shrug off my sleep potion?"

Tseng watched her silently any anger that had been left behind about the drugging faded away as he saw the unshed tear in her eyes. He softened his face and voice as he spoke again. "Raven found me it seemed and woke me up. She asked me to keep you safe."

He looked into her eyes silently, ".. and why do you have to face him again.. I have killed whole families under the orders of ShinRa and I am ashamed of it sometimes.. but it was under orders so there was no way not to do it.. I have always managed to talk to any missed members of the family out of revenge." He stopped a little surprised at himself revealing that much about himself. He sighed looking away from her to the room they were in.

" Will you still join me for something to eat? We could finish talking while we eat.." He said to her quietly. He couldn't place why he felt he had to ask her, and why he would be hurt if he got what he expected.. for her to tell him no. He waited for her answer while silently raking himself for being this weak around her. 'If Tazien were here he'd have me whipped for showing so much weakness as I have. I shouldn't have even let her get close enough to drug me.. and I really shouldn't even be trying to get her interested in me.. I shouldn't even be interested in her for phoenix sake.'

****

Riya felt a surge of relief as she saw the doorway ahead of her. She glanced at the guard's body nearby, noticing the gaping wound on his throat. Casting a quick glance back at Reeve she gestured to the corpse, "Well at least we won't have to worry about guards." Turning she strode into the next room and shook her head at the feathered shaft, protruding from the guard's skull. "Silvara." She shook her head sadly, "They shouldn't be too difficult to find, c'mon!"

****

Ferris groaned softly as the darkness receded. As soon as the throbbing in his skull subsided enough that he knew he wasn't about to die, he risked opening his eyes. Silvara was gone; he'd seen Tseng as he pulled her from him just before he'd been struck by lightening. It didn't take him long to figure out exactly what had happened to him. "Reno." he called out the Turks name even though his eyes didn't want to focus on the man watching him. Ferris was pleased that he managed to keep a fairly pleasant tone to his voice as he addressed the Turk, even if it did sound like someone had punched him in the throat.

"That wasn't exactly sporting now was it? I'm getting my ass kicked and I'm the one who gets shocked. Fine friend you are." He didn't even bother trying to sit up, it would have hurt too much, but the mocking tone fell from his voice as he glared at Reno's blurry shape. "Would you mind telling me what is going on? First Riya, now Tseng. Every damn time...this is twice now someone has saved that little bitch." He groaned again, his headache wasn't going to be leaving him anytime soon, "All that for nothing, now I'm going to have to fight her again."

Reno grinned as Fenris woke up. "Sorry...Orders from the boss. Can't go against orders." He told him with amusement in his voice. "And what's going on you say..." the grin and the amusement left his face and voice and the emotionless mask came back down over his face as he spoke again. " Well I don't know what Riya has to do with this, but I think you're blind if you couldn't see why Tseng saved the bounty hunter. And I don't think you should fight her anytime soon." He walked over tapping his Nightstick against his shoulder as he put a hand above Fenris to help him to his feet. "You think you can stand?" he asked looking down at him.

Ferris glared Reno for a moment before allowing the Turk to help him to his feet. When he didn't fall flat on his face he managed a dry, "So it would seem." Then disgust twisted his aristocratic features as he thought about Silvara and Tseng. He angrily brushed his auburn hair back behind his shoulders and shook his head in annoyance. "Well orders or no, next time you whack me with that thing, I'm going to cram it somewhere." He smiled briefly to show that he was teasing and then groaned at the lingering pain from Reno's weapon.

The mirth left his face, "You wouldn't be so quick to use that if you'd ever been on the receiving end." He smiled at the image it conjured in his mind and then ran his hand through his hair in frustration, "Damn it, Silvara and Tseng. That's just what I need. Maybe you could just shoot me with that thing again, it'd be the end to a perfect day."

Reno grinned again at Fenris. Then he spoke without mirth in his voice, "As a matter of fact I have been on the receiving end of this. Lets just say the one who trained me or.. one of the people who did took it and used it on me when I wasn't quick enough once." He then frowned slightly as he thought of that day with Tazien. He then replaced the frown with another grin as he pushed the memory out of his mind. "If you really want me to," he said with a mock swing of the Nightstick at Ferris's chest.

*

Silvara stared at Tseng and quickly lowered her eyes as a tear slipped down her cheek. '...I have killed whole families under the orders of ShinRa and I am ashamed of it sometimes.. but it was under orders so there was no way not to do it...' She absently brushed the tear away and just stood there a moment, gazing at the floor as his words echoed in her mind. 'I'm ashamed too, but I had a choice, Tseng,' a sad smile crossed her face, 'what does that make me?'

She sensed him waiting for her reply and forced herself to meet his gaze and a confused frown shaped her lips. 'Why does he seem so...vulnerable...and why should I care?' Silvara was startled to find that she did care, and knew that her next words had the power to hurt the man before her. It was a humbling thought. She just stared at him for a moment, and the confusion and the small frown fell away, replaced by a soft smile as she shyly nodded. "Yes...that would be nice."

Tseng just stared at her for a minute before he really heard her answer. He realized what she had said; he smiled slightly at her then frowned as he remembered her wounds. "We need to get you patched up first I think, or would you like to eat then we can find Rufus. I believe he can help us or the girl, Raven, could. What do you say?" He asked her softly while coming up to her offering his arm to her so as to help keep weight of her leg wound. "I think there should be some bandages in this other room," he said as he led her to the room a couple of doors down from the one they had been in.

Silvara smiled gratefully at Tseng, allowing him to help her. Now that the haze of anger and adrenaline was fading, her wounds had begun to throb. It seemed that as soon as she began to notice just how much they hurt that the strength faded from her body. The room began to dim, "Tseng," she managed to murmur his name before sinking into the darkness.

*

Ferris started to apologize to Reno for dredging up painful memories and the quickly took a step back as he made a playful swat at him with the weapon. "Gods no!! I'm going to be sore for days as is between that thing and Silvara, I'd rather have to..." He broke off his words at the look in Reno's eyes, "What?" Turning, Ferris followed his gaze to the doorway and cursed softly, "Hello Riyathena."

Riya just stared at them both, feeling the last fragile hold on her temper snap. She'd followed the trail of dead guards and forced doors to this room and what she saw enraged her. 'I've just been through hell and back worrying about you and Silvara, and all you can say is hello?!' Her eyes narrowed and anger radiated from her in a nearly tangible wave as she smiled at Reeve. "Excuse me for a moment."

As always, it struck him like a blow when he realized just how beautiful Riya was. He felt as if there was a giant fist clenched in his chest and he couldn't tear his eyes away as her graceful stride covered the distance between them. She was obviously furious, but that was to be expected, but it only served to bring out the fairness of her skin and the golden flecks in her hazel eyes.

Riya touched them both with her frosty glare before turning to Ferris. "I'm glad to see you both in such high spirits." Her hand clenched at her side as Ferris's eyes slid over her body, as intimate as a caress, and the sudden tightening in her throat disgusted her. Shaking her head, and cursing herself for a fool, Riya snarled at him. "Tell me, where is Silvara?'

With great effort Ferris wrenched his eyes from the body hugging armor Riya wore as her question finally registered in his mind. A brief flash of anger rose within him and he matched her glare with one of his own. "She's perfectly safe, I haven't harmed her," he remembered the gash on Silvara's arm, "much." He felt his stomach turn with self-loathing as tears glimmered in her eyes, then the breath left him in a painful whoosh as Riya drove her fist into his stomach.

She wasn't done. As he folded over, her other fist caught him square in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. 'Be damned if this isn't the second time today a woman has set me on my...where did Riya learn such a mean hook?' He stared up at her as she belted out a string of impressive obscenities. 'Well at least someone finally taught her how to curse.' He pillowed his arm behind his head, content to let her vent her anger from the relative safety of the floor. Besides, knowing Riya as he did, he wouldn't make it to his feet anyway until she was good and ready to let him up. He focused on her mouth, wondering what she'd do if he just leaped up and kissed her. It would shut her up, and she probably wouldn't take a swing at him...as long as he didn't let go, but once he did...no, the floor was definitely the better option. He was pulled from his thoughts as Riya thrust her hand towards him.

Riya watched him study her hand with suspicion, " I won't hit you again." Ferris grinned and rose unaided to his feet and Riya lashed out with her hand, slapping him hard across the face. His eyes sparkled with mocking amusement as he absently rubbed the developing handprint and she nodded with cold satisfaction. "Now, I won't hit you anymore." She stepped forward, driving her forefinger into his sternum. "I'm assuming you told laughing boy over there, to keep me occupied so I wouldn't interrupt the little party you had planned." Her eyes narrowed menacingly, "If you ever try something like that again, you won't live long enough to regret it. Now where is Silvara?!"

Ferris smiled and his voice was warm as he caught her hand in his own, pressing it to his hest. Amusement sparkled in his eyes, "I am sorry Riya, believe that in my own way, I was trying to protect you." He released her hand and the smile slipped away. "Silvara is with Tseng." She turned and stormed out of the room and he sighed tiredly as he admired her departing form. His jaw hurt, it was probably going to bruise but he couldn't help the smile that curved his lips. 'To think I let her slip away from me.'

****

Raven's green eyes searched the darkness of the room for Siiro. He wasn't there anymore - she could sense it. "I- I thought I killed him," she stuttered when her eyes met Rufus's. "My god I hit him with my strongest spell and almost killed myself. He couldn't have survived it. I think that I'm seeing things." She slipped her hand into Rufus's for comfort and started pulling him to the door. "I have to see how Silvara is. Tseng better keep his promise." She could feel Rufus's blue-eyed gaze on her as the walked across the hallway. He knew that there was something she wasn't telling him; she knew that he wouldn't bother her about it until they were alone. 'It was just my imagination... I'm weak and I'm seeing things. Siiro is dead, I killed him years ago.'

Rufus pushed open the door and let Raven walk in under his arm. She sighed with relief when she seen that the fight had ended. Silvara was lying on the floor with Tseng kneeling next to her. The sight brought a smile to her lips as she walked over to the pair. "I'm sorry to interrupt," Raven said falling to her knees beside Silvara. "But I have to help her." Raven put her hand over Silvara and closed her eyes - whispering the Cetran spell in the ancient language of her ancestors. In moments the soft white glow surrounded Silvara, restoring her strength. Raven opened her eyes and looked at Tseng. "Do something about the wound on her leg. I don't mean to order you around but you seem to be the one who has taken charge over here. You know what you're supposed to do."

Raven got up and went over to where Riya and Fenris stood. She stood in front of him with her hands over her hips glaring at him. "I hope you're satisfied. I'll heal you but only because I sense some kind of poison in you. I can't just let you die, even after what you've done. But I'll warn you now - it wouldn't be wise to fight after this. You'll lose."

Raven lifted her hands and closed her eyes. The light that was as soft as moonlight surrounded him as it had done Silvara, restoring his strength and destroying the poison that lurked inside of him. She opened her eyes that still glowed with the Cetran magic then it disappeared. She glanced around the room and sighed heavily. "Please don't be angry with me for what I did." she said softly. She had not realized how weary she was - using her magic had not helped things either. Raven swayed a little then she leaned back against the wall behind her. "I'm afraid.... I over did it..." she slid down the wall and slipped into a deep sleep.

*

Reno looked over at Ferris after watching Riya storm out of the room. "Laughing boy? I swear Fenris.. You have a unique taste in woman.. I think you're going to be hurting like hell in the morning.." He shook his head as he finished speaking. Then he looked over at Reeve who still stood just inside the room. "So, Reeve. What are you doing here? Or am I correct in assuming you're the one who led her here?"

Reeve looked from the doorway over to Ferris and Reno. He raised one hand in an absent minded way to stroke the goatee again as he looked back at the doorway. "You could say that.. I had gone inside to use the phone when I heard the racket upstairs. I looked up there up, and then outside since I didn't find anything upstairs. I found her and another woman with an animal. The woman left for Riya's house while I lead her here. I'm surprised to see she left both of you in one piece considering the way she was talking on the way here..."

*

There was a soothing warmth and a wonderful sense of peace flowed over her as Silvara awoke. The floor was cold under her back and her leg still ached, but she could ignore the slight discomfort. A soft smile curled her lips as her eyelids fluttered open. For a moment everything was blurry, then she made out Tseng's face and smiled warmly at him as she tried to rise to her feet.

"Be still a minute Silvara! Raven helped you, but I need to take care of your leg." Riya sighed in disgust as she continued binding Silvara's wound and glanced at Tseng. She'd found Tseng carrying Silvara's unconscious body and had helped him bring her into the large broadcasting room where Silvara had left her pouch and bow, knowing that the bounty hunter always carried some bandaging cloths and healing salves along with her. There hadn't been enough to treat both wounds, but fortunately, Raven's healing magic seemed to have completely mended the deep gash on Silvara's shoulder. She glanced at Raven's sleeping form and then locked eyes with Rufus. "Is she going to be okay?"

Without waiting for his answer, Riya glared at Ferris, "Well you certainly did a fine job. You were only a hair's breadth from severing an artery here. If you ever come near her again Ferris I'll..."

"Yes, Riyathena. I got the general idea." Ferris moved from the wall and came to kneel beside the prone bounty hunter. He'd been about to answer Reno and Reeve when Riya had stormed back into the room with Tseng and an unconscious Silvara. He'd been even more surprised by Raven's words about the poison as she'd healed him. 'I didn't even notice that Silvara had scratched Me.' he thought as he glanced at the talons and found the small tear in the sleeve of his shirt. Evidently, there hadn't been enough of the poison in his system to notice it's effects, but he was still grateful that Raven had helped him. He smiled softly as he gazed at the dark haired beauty and then turned his attention to Silvara.

Silvara watched Ferris warily, but felt no real fear. She was still luxuriating in the lingering warmth of Raven's magic. Besides, Tseng and Riya were nearby. Her eyes drifted shut and when she opened them again, Ferris cursed loudly. Silvara's mind was still foggy from her recent fainting spell and the lingering effects of Raven's magic seemed to be making it worse. She frowned in confusion as Ferris stumbled back, nearly tripping on his own feet in his haste to get away from her. 'What's wrong with him?' She sat up and Riya turned to glare at her. "Silvara I said.... be still!!" A strange expression fell over Riya's face. "...Ohhh, Silvy...."

"What's the matter with you Riya?" Silvara yawned, unconcernedly and rose to her feet and then glanced around her in confusion when she realized everyone seemed to be watching her. 'Why are they all looking at me like that?' Even Tseng was staring at her. Something in his gaze penetrated the lingering haze over her mind and her eyes widened in horror. "No.. no!!" she felt her heart pound painfully in her chest and felt the overwhelming desire to run. Out of the room, away from them, anywhere just as long as she could escape.

Taking a firm grip on her fear, she forced herself to stand there and met their stares with a cold defiance as she wrapped herself in the icy cloak of her pride. She had nothing to be ashamed of, no reason to be afraid anymore, these people were not the ones who had hurt her. Still, something within her screamed in anguished fury as she stood before them, tears slipping down her cheeks as her lavender eyes glowed brightly in reaction to Raven's spell.