Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Legend of the Final Materia ❯ Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Selphie walked by and noticed something wrong with Shukera. Smiling, she joined Shukera on the floor thankful that Irvine fell asleep. She didn't have the chance to talk to her since they left Balamb.

Shukera looked up at Selphie then looked away, "You couldn't sleep either?? It seems to be going around tonight." She shrugged and crumpled up the note in her hand. "It's nothing really." She tossed the note and Selphie caught it.

Selphie read then note then sat back and asked, "Shukera, I'm curious, does Sephiroth have anything personal against Reno?"

Shukera shook her head. "There's nothing I can think of. Sephiroth is incapable of being jealous, so don't even go there!"

More memories of the past filled her mind. The night she was inducted into Soldier was the night Reno was accepted into the Turks. They had gone out together and drank a bit too much. But what happened after that was a blank. Something happened that night that changed everything. That night was never discussed between either one of them and she wondered why.

Selphie looked at Shukera. She could tell she was on to something by the look on her face, "What is it??"

Suddenly Shukera gasped as it all came back to her. "Oh no!! Why didn't I think of that before?? The night I was inducted into Soldier Reno and I went out to celebrate. We both got drunk and I went with him back to his place. Well, one thing led to another…and…" Her face reddened a bit. "How could I have forgotten that??"

Selphie snickered, "He couldn't have been that good if you forgot!!" But she saw the look on Shukera's face and her smile faded.

Shukera paused as more came back to her, "The next day I woke up next to him and…" She brought her hand to her face and blinked, "I woke up to find my brother standing there. He beat Reno up for what he did with me, put him in the hospital. I was so enraged!! I went to see Reno in the hospital and Sephiroth saw me there."

Selphie shook her head, "So you think this is a personal vendetta against you two??"

Shukera shook her head, "Are you kidding?? Nothing Sephiroth does is personal. He doesn't get involved in those kinds of things."

Selphie looked away as she thought about it, "So what happened after you joined Soldier?? Why are you not with Reno??" She couldn't help but smile; this was getting good!

"We had a fight about four years ago and haven't been the same since…" She stopped in the middle of talking as it all came to her.

Selphie's smile faded as she looked at Shukera, "What happened?"

"The night I was promoted to captain Reno was at my apartment. We got into an argument…"

Shukera shouted, "Reno what happened between us meant nothing!!! I was so long ago, why are you bringing that up now??"

In the shadows a figure stood listening through the cracked door, eyes of maco stared in surprise.

Reno spat, "NO I GUESS NOT!!! I HAVE BEEN REPLACED APPEARENTLY!!! YOU MOVED ON TO SOLDIER AND NOW IM NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!!"

Shukera glared, "I was a kid Reno!!!! How can you even say that!!!
We were being rebellious, nothing more!!!"

Reno spat, "Right!!! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A BITCH!!!" He snickered and placed his hand on his hip, "I guess the rumors about you are true!!"

She drew back her fist and punched him in the stomach. "Bastard!!!"

Reno doubled over and spat through the pain, "I wonder...did you even tell Sephiroth that I was the first??"

Shukera narrowed her eyes at him, "Sephiroth has nothing to do with this!!!"

Reno laughed as he stood up, "Yeah, well, that's not what I hear." He walked to the door, "But I guess being on the rebound will do that to you." He narrowed his eyes angrily and added, "Since you follow him around the same way you used to follow me around...you must be nothing more than a bitch in heat!!!" He slammed the door behind him as Shukera threw a dagger at him. The dagger stuck in the door and she lowered her
head. "Bastard!!!! I hate you!!!"

The memory of the argument stabbed her in the heart. "I tried to forget it; I wanted to believe it never happened. Reno…Sephiroth…they were so different after that."

Selphie smiled, "You don't want to know what I think, so I'm going to say nothing."

Shukera shrugged, what was there to say?? What happened between Reno and her was a lifetime ago. There was no sense in worrying about it now and bringing up old memories that were too painful to recall. "Just leave it alone. There's nothing I can do to change the past. We make choices that we have to live with for the rest of our lives. This is one of those choices." Her eyes teared as she lowered her head, "Reno chose to join the group to help…and he died because of me."

Selphie shrugged, "Maybe. Look Shukera, I have something on my mind that I have wanted to say to you. Now that we are alone and on our way to save our home, it's the time to say it. I believe…you should think about how much Reno means…meant to you."

Shukera sighed, "No use in thinking about it now. Reno was nothing more than a good friend. And to be honest…I'm not ready to talk about him in past tense. Let's just…forget we had this conversation." Recalling those memories were more than she could handle.

Reno, Seifer, Sephiroth, Aerith, herself; peoples lives were touched and forever changed by Shin Ra. Shukera thought about how much they changed her own life as she replied, "Shin Ra has a way of destroying people. Once they get their claws into you, they wrap them tightly and begin to suck the life right out of you."

Shukera jumped when her computer started peeping. She wiped the tears from her eyes as she reached for it. She retrieved the message as she sat against the wall. The message read:

"Hey your brother here!! I got your message and everything is prepared for your arrival. Sephiroth is already here along with some girl who accompanied him. Damn, she's worse than Scarlett, if you can believe that one!! The three of them are taking over Shin Ra and trying to hold it together. Be careful Shukera!!!"

Shukera typed a quick message: "I need to know if Reno is really dead. It's vital that I know. And I don't want to hear any crap about it either!! If he's still alive, by chance, then get him out of Shin Ra as soon as you can!!! Just tell the others I am coming with reinforcements. Take care brother. See ya really soon!!!"

Movement caught her eye as she looked next to her and found Seifer stirring. He sat next to her and glanced at Selphie.

Slowly he began, "I feel terrible for the way I acted… Things are not really clear and I don't remember it all, but I know that I pushed my friends away from me and plotted against you. I almost destroyed my home again! Agh!!!" Seifer punched the wall of the ship and lowered his head. Not wanting to look at Shukera, he rested his arm against the wall and leaned his head against it.

Shukera glanced at Selphie, not really sure as to what to do. "Its alright Seifer. Maco messes with your mind and makes you do things you wouldn't normally do."

Seifer lifted his head slightly as he replied, "You don't understand Shukera! I almost had you killed!! Shukera…" Seifer finally turned around and faced her but said nothing.

Shukera shook her head, "I'm going to protect you and make sure you get home in one piece!!"

Seifer smirked as he cocked his head to the side. "Who's going to protect you??"

Shukera folded her arms and stared at him. "I don't need protection. Shin Ra made me into what I am today and they know what I'm capable of!"

Seifer stepped closer to her and placed his hand on her chin and gently turned her face upward. "Would you be able to fight Sephiroth?? You know, it may come to that."

Shukera glared at him as anger flashed in her eyes, "If that's what I have to do to protect you, then Sephiroth is as good as dead."

Seifer lowered his head and kissed her tenderly. She backed away from him and turned her face away. "Don't…I…can't."

Selphie's grin slowly grew wider as she snickered knowingly. "Don't worry Shukera, we will find out the truth about your friend."