Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy VII: Awakening ❯ Gallant Interruptions ( Chapter 38 )

The former lieutenant's steps were deliberate. The sword strapped to his back was heavy but it was nothing he could not handle. Two people were standing between him and the cabin in the distance. He knew there were going to be obstacles to contend with.

Yuffie put a hand to Phiphat's shoulder. "You can't see her now."

The boy nodded. "I know…I just wanted to thank them. I was angered when they admitted to being Shinra agents…They really did know my family. I had never known Shinra to be honorable."

"Hold on now. Those two just happen to be exceptions."

Phiphat offered her a small smile. He would miss Yuffie's enthusiasm when he returned home. "Tomorrow will be the last time I see you. I'm sure the temple misses me."

"Yeah…I bet they will." she dug her foot into the dirt. She wondered about what type of relation he had to Leira's SOLDIER friend. Would Phiphat have borne any kind of resemblance to him? "I sure hope so!!" she blurted out.

Phiphat's head twitched a little. "Hope…what?"

She held up two fingers. "Nah, it's cool…nothing…"

"Grant a traveler the right of passage?" A deep voice said in the Wutai language.

Yuffie looked up and Phiphat spun around. "You can't come through here now. It's off limits." the young monk stated.

The traveler was tall. Cloud's buster sword protruded from his back. Yuffie instantly remembered seeing someone that matched his height. "You wouldn't happen to be that Lieutenant guy that framed my best friend would ya?"

Phiphat eyed him before looking back at Yuffie.

The girl's hands were on hips and her left foot was tapping the dirt.

"No. I'm the man that killed the original lieutenant AND framed your best friend."

"Show your face, stranger." the little monk demanded.

The straw hat bowed. The man positioned his hands on either side of the circular straw hat. As his elbows straightened the hat was raised above his head. He tossed it at the couple, like one of Yuffie's oversized throwing stars.

The two jumped out of the discs way. Twenty Nine C stood in all his glory. The deep blue eyes and dark skin were easily recognized by the young ninja.

"Kimdo?!" Phiphat was completely baffled. He had been there when his relative's corpses had been brought to the surface. How was it that one of them stood in front of him?

"Pippy, he's definitely not your family!!" She grabbed the boy's robes and flung him out of harm's way.

The boy crashed sideways to the ground.

"Well, he is but he isn't…"

The clone lowered his chin to his underarm.