Pixel
The Pixie King
Someone requested a transcription of the audiobooks, so I figured I'd share the versions I've use, which are a mix of official translation, Xcomp's and a little bit of rewriting.
Case of Tifa
Case of Denzel
Case of Tifa
Tifa saw the last customer out of her bar before returning inside to clean up in the galley. The room was dimly lit, with minimal, but adequate lighting. Tifa stood alone in the gloom. Just days ago, she would have done the work without a care as she watched over her family, but now the water felt colder than usual, and the dishes seemed as though they would never get clean. Tifa tried turning on all of the lights that illuminated the bar to try to change the atmosphere. For a brief moment, the room lit up, but due to the instability of the electricity supply, it became dimly lit again. A surge of uneasiness came over her. She wondered if she was all alone in the house. As the thought crossed her mind, it proved too much for her, and she called out:
“Marlene!”
Before long, soft footsteps could be heard from the children’s room at the back of the bar, and Marlene appeared.
“Ssssh.”
She put her finger to her lips and frowned. Tifa apologized, but was relieved.
“Denzel’s finally fell asleep.”
“Was he in pain?”
“Yeah.”
“You should have given me a shout.”
“Denzel didn’t let me.”
“I see…”
Tifa looked as if she was blaming herself for not paying attention to the children.
“So, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, um... I just...”
Tifa tried to hide her feelings as best she could. Marlene looked around the bar, where only Tifa and her stood.
“Did you get lonely?”
This little girl saw through everything.
“I won’t be going anywhere.”
“I know. Thanks. You should sleep soon too.”
“I was just about to sleep!”
“(slight laugh) Sorry.”
TIFA NARRATION She's my daughter. That's how I introduced her to people. Her parents died not too long ago and she was brought up by her father's closest friend, Barret.
Tifa had known her for as long as she had known Barret- almost half of Marlene's life. So when Barret decided to head off to settle his past, it was only natural that Tifa would be the one to look after her.
Tifa left the dishes and followed Marlene inside. In the children's room were two beds, lined up next to one another. There, Denzel lay sleeping. The stigma on the eight year old's forehead was a painful sight. Nothing could be done to ease the symptoms as the boy suffered, and his condition wasn't improving at all. Denzel grimaced a little as Tifa wiped away the ichor oozing from the lesion on his forehead, but he continued to sleep. Marlene had been looking on, but now she had crawled under the covers of her own bed and called out Tifa's name.
“We’re here with you, but you’re still lonely, aren’t you?”
“…I’m sorry,”
“It’s ok. We’re the same.”
“Mm-hmmm.”
“I wonder where Cloud is.”
Tifa hung her head, unable to answer. Cloud was somewhere in Midgar. At first, she imagined how the worst could have happened.
"Maybe he had an accident while out on one of his jobs, or he was ambushed by monsters."
Soon, though, she realised he was still out there on jobs. There were people who had seen him out and about. He just went out, that’s all. Tifa was trying to convince the children that everything was ok, but she lost her composure. Before long, the children realized something was wrong.
“Why did he leave?”
TIFA NARRATION I didn't know. Maybe he had some problems to work through.
But Tifa remembered Cloud’s last smile. It had the kindness that made her think everything was fine.
TIFA NARRATION I wonder if I was mistaken.
That day, the chosen day; Meteor came hurtling down from the cosmos. The Lifestream burst out from the planet, converging above Midgar to destroy it. Tifa had watched the spectacle from the sky, aboard the Highwind, together with her friends.
TIFA NARRATION I thought it’d be fine if everything just washed away. Wash away my past. Our Past. And why not me too?
She could feel the inevitable terror that was going to come with the relief brought by the end of the battle.
TIFA NARRATION I wondered if I could continue living the way I was.
If someone else was faced with the same question, then she would tell them, without a moments hesitation, that they should live on no matter what. But when it came to herself, she was unsure.
Thanks to the Shinra Electric Power Company's development of Mako energy, the world prospered. Light overflowed the ground’s surface, but at the same time, the shadows turned a shade darker. The anti-Shinra group “AVALANCHE” worked to bring that darkness to the world's attention.
Mako energy was going to lead to the destruction of the planet. But Avalanche’s actions were all in vein, and the world remained unchanged. Once everyone saw the benefits of Mako, it was hard for them to turn their backs on it. Hoping to change that, Avalanche resorted to more extreme measures. In Midgar, the City of Mako, where lots of people lived, they blew up one of the reactors which produced consumable Mako energy.
Due to a miscalculation in the bomb they made, the destruction caused was beyond anything they had imagined, both to the reactor itself, and the surrounding area. In response to the incident, Shinra committed a brutal act in order to destroy the small group. The sector of Midgar, which was home to AVALANCHE’s hideout, was completely destroyed, inhabitants and all. As a result of AVALANCHE, indirectly or not, countless innocent lives were lost.
That was the group Tifa had joined.
She had considered that sacrifices were more or less unavoidable for their greater goal. They had always thought they were prepared to throw their lives away too, but as a result of what happened, they lost sight of their goal. During their long fight with Shinra, they soon found themselves fighting a powerful new foe, Sephiroth. Tifa, along with her childhood friend Cloud - the other remaining survivor of AVALANCHE, Barret - Aerith who they had met during all the chaos, and Red XIII, set out on their journey. After many events had unfolded, Cid, Cait Sith, Yuffie, and Vincent also became her companions, each with their own reasons.
It seemed a new friendship was blossoming, but as if there was a price to pay, Aerith’s life was taken.
Even in great sorrow, their journey wasn't over. It wasn't until Tifa felt the battle was heading toward its inevitable conclusion - be it victory or defeat - that she could finally look back on the events which led her there.
It all started when I was just a girl. There had been some trouble out at the Mako reactor, built near my hometown of Nibelheim, that threatened the town’s safety.
Sephiroth was dispatched by Shinra to resolve the problem, but he killed my father. I couldn’t bear the hatred I had for Shinra and Sephiroth. That was why I joined AVALANCHE. Yes. It started with my own personal grudge. The slogans AVALANCHE used, about how they were anti-Shinra and anti-Mako, were just what I needed to hide my true motive. But the many lives lost as sacrifices in saving the planet were too much. If all that was just for my own revenge, then…
TIFA NARRATION The sin held a role deep in my heart.
I wondered if I could live on with these feelings.
As Tifa looked down from the sky at what would soon be the ruins of Midgar, she was fearful of the future. But Cloud stood by her, gazing at the same scenery, smiling peacefully. It was a smile she hadn’t seen before during their journey. Cloud noticed her gazing at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Cloud, you’re smiling.”
“I am?”
“Yeah.”
“It all starts now. A new…”
Cloud searched for the right words.
“A new life.”
“I’m going to live. I think that’s the only way I can be forgiven. We've been through … a lot.”
“Yeah…”
“But when I think about how many times I’ve thought about how I was going to start a new life, it’s funny....”
“Why's that funny?”
“Because I’ve always failed to do it.”
“That’s not funny.”
“After this … I think I’ll be okay.”
Cloud became very quiet for a moment.
“Because I have you this time.”
“You’ve always had me.”
“What I mean is kind of different,”
Cloud answered with another smile.
Tifa went to see Aerith together with her friends; Aerith, fated to lie at the bottom of the spring in the Forgotten City for eternity. The world she saved in exchange for her life would be all right now. That’s what Tifa told her. She heard a voice asking if she was all right. She didn’t know if it was Aerith’s voice or her own. Tifa couldn't hold back the tears.
Right after Sephiroth took Aerith’s life, she had no time to grieve at all. There was sadness, but she channeled that sadness into anger and hatred toward their enemies. But now, the pain she felt when she visited this place tore her heart apart. As she fought the pain, she thought about the countless people she made feel like this as a member of Avalanche. She overflowed with tears again.
“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.” (as heartbreaking as you can)
She felt Cloud’s hand on her shoulder. He was holding onto her firmly as if he didn’t want her to go anywhere.
TIFA NARRATION For now, I’ll just let myself cry as much as I want. Then I'll be ready to be there for him.... because I don't know what to do all by myself.
Tifa and the friends she had journeyed with for the whole trial seperated just as easily as they joined. Vincent departed abruptly, like a stranger beside you on a train who had just reached their stop. Yuffie protested. It just wasn't right for them to split up this way after all they had been through as friends. Barret told her that they could see each other whenever they wanted, because they survived. Or maybe it was Cid.
After promising to reunite one day, Tifa, Cloud and Barret separated from the others, leaving for Corel Village. That was Barret’s hometown. For him, the tragedies that occurred there because of Mako were what started everything. Standing silently for a moment, he knew they shouldn't have come here. He too had to go on living, bearing sins.
They then went to Nibelheim. Tifa and Cloud’s hometown. They didn’t feel any nostalgia. They were only reminded of the horrors that took place in the town.
“I shouldn’t have come,...It draws me back to the past.”
Cloud’s words spoke for the way Tifa felt too.
They then went to Kalm. There waiting for them was Aerith’s adoptive mother, Elmyra and Marlene, whom they had left in her care. Both of them were staying with Elmyra's relatives, who owned a house there. Barret and Marlene were elated to see each other again.
Cloud spoke with Elmyra about what had happened to Aerith. They couldn't be sure how she was feeling, but the three of them apologized for not being able to save Aerith.
“You all did what you could. There’s no need for you to apologize,”
Tifa and the others couldn’t say anything in reply.
TIFA NARRATION Did we really do all we could?
There were many people who arrived in Kalm to take refuge. Ordinary homes became emergency shelters. The residents of Kalm didn’t charge them, even though they could have. Even the inn offered free rooms to those in need, but still more people had crowded on the street than it would allow. Everyone visibly had the same tired look. There were a great number of people who seemed to be infected with some kind of disease.
“The rumor said it’s an epidemic. I don’t want Marlene to be infected. C’mon, let’s go home.”
Barret held onto Marlene, with a fatherly look on his face.
“Yeah, let’s go home”
“Where to?”
“Our suspended reality.”
“What the hell do you mean by that?”
“Our normal lives.”
“And where do we have somethin' like that?”
“We’ll find one.”
Cloud looked at Tifa as he spoke.
“Right?”
“Yeah!”
Tifa nodded too, but just like Barret, she wondered where that normal life might be.
The four of them arrived back at Midgar. The city had recovered from all the shock and chaos that took place right after Meteor was destroyed. People were on the move again, looking towards their future… living each day as it came. Seeing this made Tifa blame herself again. When she looked at Midgar from the sky, she had thought that it would be fine if everything just got washed away, but she didn’t count on the many lives still down there.
I'll never forgive myrself for being so selfish.
She confessed to Cloud and Barret what she was thinking aboard the airship. Even though they understood how she felt, they reminded her that no matter where they are or what they do, they would never be able to get away from the guilt they feel.
“Since that’s the case, we’ll live on. We’ll live on until we pay back for our sins. It’s the only way,”
When Tifa and Cloud were alone, he looked hesitantly into her beautiful brown eyes
“It’s not like you to be troubled by your thoughts.”
“It’s… Just the way I am.”
“No. You’re much more cheerful and strong. If you’ve forgotten the way you were then, I’ll be there to remind you.”
“Oh, you will?”(playfull)
“Probably,”
The first thing they did was gather information in and around Midgar. There was a lack of materials, but above all, there wasn’t any information being passed around about where to get things. The three of them split up and went around sharing the information they gathered with those who were in need. They lent their strength to those unable to move on their own. At night, they slept beneath Midgar's Plate, which was rumored could fall at any moment.
One day, Barret came back with a wine bottle, heater, and several types of fruits. They were given to him as thanks for helping someone dismantle a house.
“I told you, just watch.”
With one hand, Barret deftly went to work preparing something similar to sangria. Tifa and Cloud sipped their drinks tentatively. Barret drowned himself in it as he pleasantly recounted his memories of more peaceful times. He told them how he once drank too much and wound up taking an unexpected fall into a well. He also reminisced about when he went to propose to his now deceased wife, too drunk to remember how he even got there. It had been a long time since Tifa and Cloud burst out laughing.
The next day, Barret had a serious expression as he spoke,
“How about we start a business and sold this wine?”
“‘We’?”
“No, you idiot! We can't draw customers! Tifa will do it.”
“Me?”
“You’re good at it.”
Not long ago, AVALANCHE’s hideout was at a bar named Seventh Heaven. It was what funded the members’ lives and activities. Tifa was the barmaid there, or more accurately, the bar’s manager. Barret continued.
“From what I see, the people of Midgar can be split into two types: those dilly dallying around who still can’t accept what’s happened to the city, and those who are working to live on. I understand how both types of people are feeling. Everyone is facing their problems but they’re just dealing with it in different ways, right? The solution to everyone’s problem is alcohol.”
“Why's that?”
“I dunno. But when we were half-drunk yesterday, we laughed. We forgot all sorts of things, right? That’s the moment we’re after.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Times like that are important, ain’t they? Hey Tifa, what do you think?”
Tifa couldn’t answer right away. She understood what Barret was saying, but opening up a bar felt like going back to her days in AVALANCHE. Cloud spoke up.
“Tifa, lets give it a go. If it gets too tough, we can just stop.”
“It won’t be tough. If Tifa doesn’t work, she’ll end up thinkin’ about all sorts of things. Then she’ll end up not being able to do anything.”
TIFA NARRATION That might be true.
The three of them began preparations. They decided to build in Edge, a new town springing up along the avenue stretching east from Midgar. The people they had aided quickly banded together, transporting materials from Midgar that would become the bar's beams and walls.
Barret shouted out his orders while Cloud went around correcting them in a low voice. Tifa, on the other hand, learned how to make Corel’s wine, and improved it so that it was better to drink. She also thought of the food she could put on their menu, using the steady supply of ingredients they could use. Marlene was like a mascot to the people who helped build their bar. She insisted she would be the new barmaid. It was hard work resolving the problems that arose every day, but there was some fulfillment. Sometimes, Tifa would find herself feeling guilty for her sins when she smiled , but someone would always call her over to ask about something, which interrupted those thoughts.
“A few days more and we might be able to open the new bar”
“What are we going to do about the name.”
There were a few suggestions, but Cloud’s one was boring, and Barret’s one made them think of monsters. In the end, the decision fell to Tifa. The two men promised they wouldn’t complain, no matter what she came up with. But with the grand opening only days away, Tifa had more work to do than ever, and no time to think of a name.
“Did you decide on the name?”
“We're still thinking. If you have an ideas, let me know.”
“I like ‘Seventh Heaven,’”
TIFA NARRATION “That was the one name I wanted to avoid. Just having the past in me was enough. I wasnt sure it was right to use a name that would remind me of it.”
“Why?”
“Because it was fun. If we make it Seventh Heaven it’ll be fun again.”
TIFA NARRATION “We had forgotten. We all had our ambitions, but Marlene wasn't part of that. To her, Seventh Heaven was a happy home where her family and friends were.”
“Hmmmm, Seventh Heaven…”
TIFA NARRATION “I couldn’t erase my past. I could only acknowledge it and live on.”
Tifa decided she was ready.
The first day of Seventh Heaven’s opening was a great success. Corel wine was something that you could make yourself if you felt like it, and the food was nothing special either. Because of the limited ingredients they had, they couldn’t make anything special. Even so, people sought places like this. A place where they could be with friends while drinking. A place where they could get over the depression of reality or maybe forget about reality and think of the future. People who didn’t have money were allowed to trade items to get a drink. They even prepared all sorts of juices, so that children could go in too. However, they only served the ones that got Marlene's seal of approval. She had become an indispensible presence in the bar. At night, before it got too late, she worked as a waitress. Customers who'd had too much were sent home without a second thought.
Barret would sip his drink in one corner of the bar. Maybe he thought he was the bouncer. Cloud’s job was to acquire the provisions and wine – but he didn’t know the names of most fruits and vegetables. Tifa was surprised at first, but came to accept that as a natural consequence of the life Cloud had led. It amused her that his new life was going to start with vegetable names.
Cloud wasn't the best at socializing, or more accurately, he was downright aweful at it. Yet, he would go negotiate with people to obtain the ingredients they needed, everyday, without objection or complaint. The process of negotiating carried more value than the price he paid. Cloud was taking small steps forward.
TIFA NARRATION: “He's pushing himself too hard for me. Will he leave one day, once the bar gets on the right track?”
Tifa shook her head, trying to drive that doubt away. She told herself she shouldn’t hope for anything more than this.
After the first week of being open, Barret, seeing how well the business was going, told the others that he leaving Marlene with them and going on a journey.
“I want to go on a journey to settle my past.”
Tifa was disturbed at Barret’s words, but Cloud nodded calmly as if he understood completely.
“What about me…? ... You think I don't?”
”Tifa, you can do that here... both of you. Don’t just take. Show that you can give too.”
After saying this, Barret said he still had to get ready and walked out of the bar.
“You knew about this?”
“Yeah..”
“Did you try to stop him?”
“Nah, I didn’t, because he would just say this is Tifa’s place.”
“…hmmm. I guess there's nothing we can do then.”
TIFA NARRATION “Does Cloud also think this? Actually, I wanted to ask him about that.”
Marlene, who had always slept in Tifa's bed, slept with Barret the night before he left. Their conversations could be heard late into the night.
Early the next morning, Barret set off.
Behind him Marlene shouted, “Send me some letters! Phone me, too!”
Barret lifted his artificial right arm up, which had a machine gun attached to it. He kept walking without looking back. It was the back of a figure who had no other way to live than to fight.
TIFA NARRATION ”I wondered just what kind of life he would find. I prayed that he would be able to stay far away from war. Not just take. I prayed he would be able to prove that he could give, too.”
“Don't worry, I'll be a good girl for them!”
Hearing those words, Cloud and Tifa exchanged glances.
TIFA NARRATION “... for us?"
“I’ll take care of Cloud and Tifa!”
Looking back, Barret shouted, “Do your best!”
His voice was a little shaky.
“Keep the family together and keep at it!”
TIFA NARRATION “Friends were a necessity to me so that I could live on without being suppressed by the guilt I felt. Even if they all bore the same scars, the same sins. We couldn’t live without comforting and encouraging each other. Maybe you could call that family. We just had to work together and do our best. Together with friend we can call family, there's nothing we can't get through.“
“I’ll put Cloud in our family too.”
“I appreciate that."
After Cloud thanked Marlene’s innocent offer with his usual serious expression, he glanced at Tifa. She nodded a little.
TIFA NARRATION: “Would this complicate things?”
Tifa decided that she would stop worrying about the relationship between the two of them.
It had been several months since they opened the bar. There was a call from Cloud, who was out collecting provisions. He wanted to know if it would be ok to print up a lifetime voucher to eat and drink for free at Seventh Heaven, in exchange for something. Tifa agreed, never asking what it was for. She knew Cloud must have wanted something desperately if he was offering to trade something like that.
It was night, and Cloud came back on a motorcycle. It was a model unlike any she had seen before. Since then, he had been adjusting it whenever he could spare the time in between his jobs. He brought engineers he had met to discuss modifying his new bike. It seemed quite a few people came to help Cloud complete the modifications. Marlene and her young neighbourhood friends watched. The sight reassured Tifa.
"We really are becoming a family."
There were many times when Cloud had to leave Midgar for their supplies. The destination was mainly Kalm. He usually had to rent a bike or a truck, or sometimes a chocobo, but now that he had his own bike that he could use freely, he would be able to take longer trips. Sometimes he would bring home rare foods to surprise Tifa.
One night, there was a call for Cloud. After talking on the phone for a while, Cloud said he had to go out for a while.
“Where are you going?”
“How should I tell you this…”
Cloud explained how there had many times when he was asked to deliver things while coming back with supplies. The caller was one of the store owners who shared some of his vegetables with them. It seemed there was something he desperately needed Cloud to deliver that night. Cloud gazed at Tifa like a kid who just had his secrets revealed.
“Why are you looking at me like that?
“Well… I’m sorry I kept quiet about it.”
(slight laugh)“About what?”
Tifa was smiling a little.
“Doing things without consulting you.”
She burst out in laughter. Cloud told her about how he got paid a little for delivering items. He explained how he felt guilty spending it all on the modifications for the bike. Tifa thought he was just like a kid.
TIFA NARRATION “It may have been a little sad that Cloud had found another world that I didn’t know about, but the fact that his world was expanding was a welcoming thought. Maybe this is kind of what a mother feels like."
Tifa walked Cloud outside, enjoying the new feeling that was welling up inside her.
Tifa learned to cope with the sins in her consciousness.
"There's no forgetting what happened. A day may come when I'm punished. But until that day, I'm going to look ahead and live on, not just taking, but proving to myrself that I can give too."
Tifa encouraged Cloud to turn the delivery service into a legitimate business. They could just take requests at the bar. As for dealing with calls, Marlene or herself could do it. Cloud was hesitant, but after sleeping on it, he came around to the idea.
"I didn't really understand his reasons for hesitanting. but I figured he was just holding back for some reason."
And so, that was the start of the Strife Delivery Service. Midgar was the center of their business, but they also delivered all over the world... well, anywhere Cloud could reach by bike. Just like Seventh Heaven, the business was a great success. At that time, sending things wasn’t so easy for people. Monsters were still roaming and many roads were still cut off after the Lifestream burst forth from the ground. The work, which involved travelling from one corner of the world to the next, wasn't something just anyone could do, but it was the kind of job he had been seeking, and his services were in high demand. Tifa thought it was wonderful how Cloud, who wasn’t very sociable, was doing a job that connected people.
After Cloud started his delivery service, their family life changed quite a lot, and not in a good way. Besides the morning and late at night, Cloud was hardly ever home. Naturally, that meant there were fewer chances for the three of them to talk. Tifa tried closing the bar once a week, but that didn’t necessarily mean Cloud could do the same. He almost never turned anyone down.
TIFA NARRATION “I just wanted us to be able to take a day off together now and then, but maybe that was a little selfish of me.”
During that time, it was Marlene who noticed a change in Cloud. She told Tifa how Cloud would sometimes space out and not listen to her.
TIFA NARRATION “Cloud never really approached Marlene to talk in the first place, but I’m sure he never ignored her if she talked to him. I knew that Cloud was, in his own way, trying to get along with Marlene. I figured that was just how people who weren't comfortable around children managed to cope.
I told her that Cloud was probably tired, but it bothered me. Marlene is a child who is sensitive to the changes in adults.”
On their day off, Tifa and Marlene were cleaning the room Cloud used as an office. Lots of receipts lay scattered about. One of them caught Tifa’s eye.
Client – Elmyra Gainsborough
Item – Bouquet
Destination – The Forgotten City
Tifa put the receipt away with the others as if nothing happened, but her hands were trembling. Delivering packages around the world also meant he was traveling around his past. She knew that Cloud was in great pain after Aerith's death.
"He wasn't able to protect her. Cloud was trying to overcome that and live on. But going back to the place where she was taken from him might tear his heart apart even more."
It was night, and they had closed the bar. Cloud was drinking, even though he rarely did. His glass was now empty. There was something she wanted to talk to him about. Tifa thought about it before going over and filling his glass.
“Mind if I join you?”
“I want to drink alone.”
Hearing that, Tifa lost her composure “Then drink in your room.”
Barret would call from time to time. He almost never talked about himself and usually asked how Marlene was doing. Every time, he would talk to Marlene at the end. She must have assumed Tifa couldn't here her sad voice as she spoke to her father.
“Cloud and Tifa aren’t getting along very well.”
“No matter what feelings Cloud and I have between us, we can’t drag Marlene into it”,
Tifa made every effort to talk to Cloud. When Marlene was near, she talked about things that she felt wouldn't be too serious. Cloud seemed bewildered by the way Tifa changed, but guessing at what she was doing, he always went along with it. They got Marlene to join in with the conversations too.
TIFA NARRATION “I thought it was going pretty well, but I couldn’t talk about what I really wanted to talk about. I just didn’t know what to say.”
One morning, Tifa shared a funny story she heard from a customer.
“That’s really something that can’t be done,”
“It can’t be done!”
All the adults were surprised and looked at Marlene.
“You’ve told us that story before and Cloud just gives the same answer everytime!”
TIFA NARRATION “It wasn't going well. But we were together. It was because we were family. We lived in the same house, and we were living by working together . Maybe there wasn’t much conversation or many smiles, but we were family”,
After checking that Cloud was asleep, she spoke softly to him.
“We’ll be all right, won’t we?”
Of course, there was no answer. All she heard was him breathing softly as he slept.
TIFA NARRATION “I wondered if the fact that he was sleeping here meant that he was part of the family.”
“Do you love me?”
Cloud opened his eyes, with a perplexed look on his face.
“Hey, Cloud. Do you love Marlene?”
“Yeah. But... sometimes I don’t know how to approach her.”
“Even though you've been together this long?”
“Maybe that just isn’t enough.”
“Same with you and I?”
Cloud didn’t answer.
“Sorry, weird question. I....”
“Don’t apologize. It’s my problem.”
Cloud closed his eyes.
“Why can't it be ours?"
There was no answer
Not long after that, Cloud brought Denzel home with him. He was unconcious when he was carried into the bar. He had used Cloud’s phone, which was left with his bike, to ring the bar. Picking up the phone, Tifa was worried about what happened to Cloud at first, but soon she realized there was something wrong with the boy. Cloud found him, as he lay on the ground. Tifa listenened as Denzel cried out in pain, unable to do anything to help him. Then she heard footsteps. It was Cloud. He picked up the phone.
“What’s wrong? Is the boy ok?”
“He seems to be in pain.”
“Why don’t you bring him back with you?”
“It looks like he has Geostigma.”
Tifa couldn’t reply to what Cloud said right away. Geostigma was a disease that spread throughout the world since the day the Lifestream halted Meteor. It’s cure hadn’t been found yet. The patients also varied. Some would look healthy so no one would suspect that they were sick, but some died right after they contracted the disease. Then, the most important point for Tifa; there was a rumor that Geostigma was transmittable. It could infect someone in the family. Based on Tifa’s experience, she believed that it would not be transmittable or else many healthy people in the world would have died already, though she still felt uncomfortable. Moreover, the rumor was persistent no matter what the truth was; consequently it might affect the image of the bar. However, she already told Cloud to bring him home, she couldn’t go back on her word because of rumors.
“I heard Geostigma in’t contagious.”
Cloud knew what she was thinking from her hesitation. She realized that Cloud really wanted to bring this child home.
“Yeah, bring him with you.”
“I’ll bring him through the back door. Is there anyone that can look after Marlene?”
“Yeah.”
Hanging up the phone, Tifa wondered at Cloud’s concern for Marlene and the bar. In the end, she understood. Cloud thought that she would oppose. Even so, he wanted to bring him back. Tifa wanted to know the reason, but as soon as she saw Denzel, those questions faded away, and she knew she had to take care of him.
"There are lots of children with the stigma. They're building homes for them, because of all the children who lost their parents. Yet, why did he bring Denzel here?"
Just as Tifa was about to ask him, Cloud muttered something.
"This kid came to my place."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean..."
Once Denzel had recovered his strength, Tifa listened to his story about everything that happened to him before he arrived there.
TIFA NARRATION “Denzel was supposed to come here. His parents were among the victims when Sector Seven was destroyed.. It was destroyed because of AVALANCHE. That’s why we had to take responsibility and raise him. He met Cloud so that he could come to me.”
Tifa told Cloud and Marlene that she wanted to welcome Denzel into their family. Cloud nodded silently, but Marlene was full of joy.
At first, Denzel was persistent in helping them as thanks for taking care of him, but his heart began opening to them as he helped with the bar and Cloud's work.
The number of customers had visibly decreased. The reason was clear. But, Tifa, Cloud and even Marlene never mentioned it.
It was night, and the bar was closed. Tifa was cleaning up in the kitchen. She looked up from the dishes towards the centre table. There sat the president of the Strife Delivery Service—Cloud—and his two assistants, Marlene and Denzel. Denzel often suffered because of Geostigma , but on the days when the fever and pain subsided, he would hang around with Cloud.
Usually, Cloud spent most of his days out at work. So once he was home, it was Denzel’s precious time to spend with his hero. Yes, Cloud was a hero to Denzel. Saving Denzel as the symptoms of Geostigma appeared without warning, suffering with the fear of death.
The way Cloud carried himself, the bike he rode around... it was everything Denzel looked up to. Denzel wanted to ask everything about Cloud’s past. Even if he had questions Tifa could have answered, he would always wait until Cloud returned home. Once, half jokingly, she told him that she was the one who cooked the meals. Denzel put on a grown up voice and informed her that he was the one who cleaned up the bar and the house.
It was true, Denzel did a very thorough job of cleaning. When she asked him if it was his mother who taught him how to clean, he answered no. Days later, Cloud told her about the woman who taught Denzel how to clean. Tifa was a little hurt that Denzel had told Cloud and not her. It troubled her.
"Why does he talk to Cloud and not me?"
One day, she tried asking one of the older children who came into the bar. His answer was that boys were just like that. There really wasn’t anything to worry about. They were just a normal family.
The answer didn’t make her understand, but the words “normal family” relieved Tifa.
After the bar was closed, Cloud, Marlene and Denzel sat around their usual table. You could say they resembled a young father with his two children. If Tifa sat with them, sbe would be welcomed with smiles.
Cloud had a map spread out on the table. He always made sure to check the routes that he intended to use to make deliveries the next day. Denzel and Marlene were sorting receipts. When there were any words that Marlene couldn’t read, she would ask Denzel. He would then teach her like an older brother. When there were words that even Denzel couldn’t read, he would ask Cloud. He had the habit of handing them a pen after telling them how to read them. He said that if they couldn’t write it, then they wouldn’t be able to remember it. Looking at the names of places on the receipts, the children would ask Cloud what they were like. Cloud’s descriptions were concise. There are lots of people. There are very few people. There are lots of monsters, so it’s dangerous. Taking the north route is safer. They were descriptions that would make you ask, “is that all?” but the children seemed satisfied. Soon, Tifa wanted to talk too. When she added in more detail, Denzel would ask Cloud if it was true. It annoyed Tifa a little, but she thought it was fine.
TIFA NARRATION“That’s probably what normal families are like.”
Tifa wondered if they became a real family after Denzel appeared. Cloud was clearly taking less jobs. At night, he would always make sure he had time to spend with the children. The silly little conversations he had with Tifa were also back.
“Did you fix the problem?”
“Which problem?”
“Your problem.”
“Oh…”
Cloud thought about it.
“It’s ok if you don’t want to tell me.”
“I can’t really explain it well…”
Cloud searched for the right words.
“I didn't fix the problem. Well, I don't think I'll ever fix it. You can’t retrieve lost lives.”
"..."
“But maybe we can save the lives who are in a crisis just now. Maybe even I can do it.”
“You mean Denzel?”
“Yeah.”
“Hey, do you remember what you said when you brought Denzel here?”
“What did I say?”
“You said, 'Denzel came to my place'"
“Well…”
Cloud had an expression like a kid who thought he would get scolded.
“Tell me. I’ll decide whether I should be angry or not after I listen.”
Cloud nodded and continued.
“Denzel had collapsed in front of Aerith’s church. That’s why I thought Aerith lead him to me.”
Cloud couldn't look Tifa.
“You went to the church?”
“I didn’t intend to hide it from you.”
“But you did.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You didn't do anything wrong. I’m not saying you couldn’t go. But next time, I’ll go with you.”
“I understand.”
“And Cloud, you’re wrong.”
Cloud looked at Tifa with a puzzled expression.
“Aerith didn’t bring Denzel to you.”
“Ahh, I only thought that…..”
“You're not listening to me. Aerith brought Denzel to us.”
Cloud gazed into Tifa's eyes again, and finally smiled. It had a kindness to it, as if to say "everything will be alright now"
**
Days after having that conversation, Cloud left.
"Was the future I saw in that smile just an illusion?"
She kissing her sleeping children goodnight and went into Cloud’s office. She brushed away the faint layer of dust from the photo they had taken as a family. She picked up the phone and dialed. After several rings, the messaging service took over.
“Marlene!”
Before long, soft footsteps could be heard from the children’s room at the back of the bar, and Marlene appeared.
“Ssssh.”
She put her finger to her lips and frowned. Tifa apologized, but was relieved.
“Denzel’s finally fell asleep.”
“Was he in pain?”
“Yeah.”
“You should have given me a shout.”
“Denzel didn’t let me.”
“I see…”
Tifa looked as if she was blaming herself for not paying attention to the children.
“So, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, um... I just...”
Tifa tried to hide her feelings as best she could. Marlene looked around the bar, where only Tifa and her stood.
“Did you get lonely?”
This little girl saw through everything.
“I won’t be going anywhere.”
“I know. Thanks. You should sleep soon too.”
“I was just about to sleep!”
“(slight laugh) Sorry.”
TIFA NARRATION She's my daughter. That's how I introduced her to people. Her parents died not too long ago and she was brought up by her father's closest friend, Barret.
Tifa had known her for as long as she had known Barret- almost half of Marlene's life. So when Barret decided to head off to settle his past, it was only natural that Tifa would be the one to look after her.
Tifa left the dishes and followed Marlene inside. In the children's room were two beds, lined up next to one another. There, Denzel lay sleeping. The stigma on the eight year old's forehead was a painful sight. Nothing could be done to ease the symptoms as the boy suffered, and his condition wasn't improving at all. Denzel grimaced a little as Tifa wiped away the ichor oozing from the lesion on his forehead, but he continued to sleep. Marlene had been looking on, but now she had crawled under the covers of her own bed and called out Tifa's name.
“We’re here with you, but you’re still lonely, aren’t you?”
“…I’m sorry,”
“It’s ok. We’re the same.”
“Mm-hmmm.”
“I wonder where Cloud is.”
Tifa hung her head, unable to answer. Cloud was somewhere in Midgar. At first, she imagined how the worst could have happened.
"Maybe he had an accident while out on one of his jobs, or he was ambushed by monsters."
Soon, though, she realised he was still out there on jobs. There were people who had seen him out and about. He just went out, that’s all. Tifa was trying to convince the children that everything was ok, but she lost her composure. Before long, the children realized something was wrong.
“Why did he leave?”
TIFA NARRATION I didn't know. Maybe he had some problems to work through.
But Tifa remembered Cloud’s last smile. It had the kindness that made her think everything was fine.
TIFA NARRATION I wonder if I was mistaken.
That day, the chosen day; Meteor came hurtling down from the cosmos. The Lifestream burst out from the planet, converging above Midgar to destroy it. Tifa had watched the spectacle from the sky, aboard the Highwind, together with her friends.
TIFA NARRATION I thought it’d be fine if everything just washed away. Wash away my past. Our Past. And why not me too?
She could feel the inevitable terror that was going to come with the relief brought by the end of the battle.
TIFA NARRATION I wondered if I could continue living the way I was.
If someone else was faced with the same question, then she would tell them, without a moments hesitation, that they should live on no matter what. But when it came to herself, she was unsure.
Thanks to the Shinra Electric Power Company's development of Mako energy, the world prospered. Light overflowed the ground’s surface, but at the same time, the shadows turned a shade darker. The anti-Shinra group “AVALANCHE” worked to bring that darkness to the world's attention.
Mako energy was going to lead to the destruction of the planet. But Avalanche’s actions were all in vein, and the world remained unchanged. Once everyone saw the benefits of Mako, it was hard for them to turn their backs on it. Hoping to change that, Avalanche resorted to more extreme measures. In Midgar, the City of Mako, where lots of people lived, they blew up one of the reactors which produced consumable Mako energy.
Due to a miscalculation in the bomb they made, the destruction caused was beyond anything they had imagined, both to the reactor itself, and the surrounding area. In response to the incident, Shinra committed a brutal act in order to destroy the small group. The sector of Midgar, which was home to AVALANCHE’s hideout, was completely destroyed, inhabitants and all. As a result of AVALANCHE, indirectly or not, countless innocent lives were lost.
That was the group Tifa had joined.
She had considered that sacrifices were more or less unavoidable for their greater goal. They had always thought they were prepared to throw their lives away too, but as a result of what happened, they lost sight of their goal. During their long fight with Shinra, they soon found themselves fighting a powerful new foe, Sephiroth. Tifa, along with her childhood friend Cloud - the other remaining survivor of AVALANCHE, Barret - Aerith who they had met during all the chaos, and Red XIII, set out on their journey. After many events had unfolded, Cid, Cait Sith, Yuffie, and Vincent also became her companions, each with their own reasons.
It seemed a new friendship was blossoming, but as if there was a price to pay, Aerith’s life was taken.
Even in great sorrow, their journey wasn't over. It wasn't until Tifa felt the battle was heading toward its inevitable conclusion - be it victory or defeat - that she could finally look back on the events which led her there.
It all started when I was just a girl. There had been some trouble out at the Mako reactor, built near my hometown of Nibelheim, that threatened the town’s safety.
Sephiroth was dispatched by Shinra to resolve the problem, but he killed my father. I couldn’t bear the hatred I had for Shinra and Sephiroth. That was why I joined AVALANCHE. Yes. It started with my own personal grudge. The slogans AVALANCHE used, about how they were anti-Shinra and anti-Mako, were just what I needed to hide my true motive. But the many lives lost as sacrifices in saving the planet were too much. If all that was just for my own revenge, then…
TIFA NARRATION The sin held a role deep in my heart.
I wondered if I could live on with these feelings.
As Tifa looked down from the sky at what would soon be the ruins of Midgar, she was fearful of the future. But Cloud stood by her, gazing at the same scenery, smiling peacefully. It was a smile she hadn’t seen before during their journey. Cloud noticed her gazing at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Cloud, you’re smiling.”
“I am?”
“Yeah.”
“It all starts now. A new…”
Cloud searched for the right words.
“A new life.”
“I’m going to live. I think that’s the only way I can be forgiven. We've been through … a lot.”
“Yeah…”
“But when I think about how many times I’ve thought about how I was going to start a new life, it’s funny....”
“Why's that funny?”
“Because I’ve always failed to do it.”
“That’s not funny.”
“After this … I think I’ll be okay.”
Cloud became very quiet for a moment.
“Because I have you this time.”
“You’ve always had me.”
“What I mean is kind of different,”
Cloud answered with another smile.
Tifa went to see Aerith together with her friends; Aerith, fated to lie at the bottom of the spring in the Forgotten City for eternity. The world she saved in exchange for her life would be all right now. That’s what Tifa told her. She heard a voice asking if she was all right. She didn’t know if it was Aerith’s voice or her own. Tifa couldn't hold back the tears.
Right after Sephiroth took Aerith’s life, she had no time to grieve at all. There was sadness, but she channeled that sadness into anger and hatred toward their enemies. But now, the pain she felt when she visited this place tore her heart apart. As she fought the pain, she thought about the countless people she made feel like this as a member of Avalanche. She overflowed with tears again.
“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.” (as heartbreaking as you can)
She felt Cloud’s hand on her shoulder. He was holding onto her firmly as if he didn’t want her to go anywhere.
TIFA NARRATION For now, I’ll just let myself cry as much as I want. Then I'll be ready to be there for him.... because I don't know what to do all by myself.
Tifa and the friends she had journeyed with for the whole trial seperated just as easily as they joined. Vincent departed abruptly, like a stranger beside you on a train who had just reached their stop. Yuffie protested. It just wasn't right for them to split up this way after all they had been through as friends. Barret told her that they could see each other whenever they wanted, because they survived. Or maybe it was Cid.
After promising to reunite one day, Tifa, Cloud and Barret separated from the others, leaving for Corel Village. That was Barret’s hometown. For him, the tragedies that occurred there because of Mako were what started everything. Standing silently for a moment, he knew they shouldn't have come here. He too had to go on living, bearing sins.
They then went to Nibelheim. Tifa and Cloud’s hometown. They didn’t feel any nostalgia. They were only reminded of the horrors that took place in the town.
“I shouldn’t have come,...It draws me back to the past.”
Cloud’s words spoke for the way Tifa felt too.
They then went to Kalm. There waiting for them was Aerith’s adoptive mother, Elmyra and Marlene, whom they had left in her care. Both of them were staying with Elmyra's relatives, who owned a house there. Barret and Marlene were elated to see each other again.
Cloud spoke with Elmyra about what had happened to Aerith. They couldn't be sure how she was feeling, but the three of them apologized for not being able to save Aerith.
“You all did what you could. There’s no need for you to apologize,”
Tifa and the others couldn’t say anything in reply.
TIFA NARRATION Did we really do all we could?
There were many people who arrived in Kalm to take refuge. Ordinary homes became emergency shelters. The residents of Kalm didn’t charge them, even though they could have. Even the inn offered free rooms to those in need, but still more people had crowded on the street than it would allow. Everyone visibly had the same tired look. There were a great number of people who seemed to be infected with some kind of disease.
“The rumor said it’s an epidemic. I don’t want Marlene to be infected. C’mon, let’s go home.”
Barret held onto Marlene, with a fatherly look on his face.
“Yeah, let’s go home”
“Where to?”
“Our suspended reality.”
“What the hell do you mean by that?”
“Our normal lives.”
“And where do we have somethin' like that?”
“We’ll find one.”
Cloud looked at Tifa as he spoke.
“Right?”
“Yeah!”
Tifa nodded too, but just like Barret, she wondered where that normal life might be.
The four of them arrived back at Midgar. The city had recovered from all the shock and chaos that took place right after Meteor was destroyed. People were on the move again, looking towards their future… living each day as it came. Seeing this made Tifa blame herself again. When she looked at Midgar from the sky, she had thought that it would be fine if everything just got washed away, but she didn’t count on the many lives still down there.
I'll never forgive myrself for being so selfish.
She confessed to Cloud and Barret what she was thinking aboard the airship. Even though they understood how she felt, they reminded her that no matter where they are or what they do, they would never be able to get away from the guilt they feel.
“Since that’s the case, we’ll live on. We’ll live on until we pay back for our sins. It’s the only way,”
When Tifa and Cloud were alone, he looked hesitantly into her beautiful brown eyes
“It’s not like you to be troubled by your thoughts.”
“It’s… Just the way I am.”
“No. You’re much more cheerful and strong. If you’ve forgotten the way you were then, I’ll be there to remind you.”
“Oh, you will?”(playfull)
“Probably,”
The first thing they did was gather information in and around Midgar. There was a lack of materials, but above all, there wasn’t any information being passed around about where to get things. The three of them split up and went around sharing the information they gathered with those who were in need. They lent their strength to those unable to move on their own. At night, they slept beneath Midgar's Plate, which was rumored could fall at any moment.
One day, Barret came back with a wine bottle, heater, and several types of fruits. They were given to him as thanks for helping someone dismantle a house.
“I told you, just watch.”
With one hand, Barret deftly went to work preparing something similar to sangria. Tifa and Cloud sipped their drinks tentatively. Barret drowned himself in it as he pleasantly recounted his memories of more peaceful times. He told them how he once drank too much and wound up taking an unexpected fall into a well. He also reminisced about when he went to propose to his now deceased wife, too drunk to remember how he even got there. It had been a long time since Tifa and Cloud burst out laughing.
The next day, Barret had a serious expression as he spoke,
“How about we start a business and sold this wine?”
“‘We’?”
“No, you idiot! We can't draw customers! Tifa will do it.”
“Me?”
“You’re good at it.”
Not long ago, AVALANCHE’s hideout was at a bar named Seventh Heaven. It was what funded the members’ lives and activities. Tifa was the barmaid there, or more accurately, the bar’s manager. Barret continued.
“From what I see, the people of Midgar can be split into two types: those dilly dallying around who still can’t accept what’s happened to the city, and those who are working to live on. I understand how both types of people are feeling. Everyone is facing their problems but they’re just dealing with it in different ways, right? The solution to everyone’s problem is alcohol.”
“Why's that?”
“I dunno. But when we were half-drunk yesterday, we laughed. We forgot all sorts of things, right? That’s the moment we’re after.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Times like that are important, ain’t they? Hey Tifa, what do you think?”
Tifa couldn’t answer right away. She understood what Barret was saying, but opening up a bar felt like going back to her days in AVALANCHE. Cloud spoke up.
“Tifa, lets give it a go. If it gets too tough, we can just stop.”
“It won’t be tough. If Tifa doesn’t work, she’ll end up thinkin’ about all sorts of things. Then she’ll end up not being able to do anything.”
TIFA NARRATION That might be true.
The three of them began preparations. They decided to build in Edge, a new town springing up along the avenue stretching east from Midgar. The people they had aided quickly banded together, transporting materials from Midgar that would become the bar's beams and walls.
Barret shouted out his orders while Cloud went around correcting them in a low voice. Tifa, on the other hand, learned how to make Corel’s wine, and improved it so that it was better to drink. She also thought of the food she could put on their menu, using the steady supply of ingredients they could use. Marlene was like a mascot to the people who helped build their bar. She insisted she would be the new barmaid. It was hard work resolving the problems that arose every day, but there was some fulfillment. Sometimes, Tifa would find herself feeling guilty for her sins when she smiled , but someone would always call her over to ask about something, which interrupted those thoughts.
“A few days more and we might be able to open the new bar”
“What are we going to do about the name.”
There were a few suggestions, but Cloud’s one was boring, and Barret’s one made them think of monsters. In the end, the decision fell to Tifa. The two men promised they wouldn’t complain, no matter what she came up with. But with the grand opening only days away, Tifa had more work to do than ever, and no time to think of a name.
“Did you decide on the name?”
“We're still thinking. If you have an ideas, let me know.”
“I like ‘Seventh Heaven,’”
TIFA NARRATION “That was the one name I wanted to avoid. Just having the past in me was enough. I wasnt sure it was right to use a name that would remind me of it.”
“Why?”
“Because it was fun. If we make it Seventh Heaven it’ll be fun again.”
TIFA NARRATION “We had forgotten. We all had our ambitions, but Marlene wasn't part of that. To her, Seventh Heaven was a happy home where her family and friends were.”
“Hmmmm, Seventh Heaven…”
TIFA NARRATION “I couldn’t erase my past. I could only acknowledge it and live on.”
Tifa decided she was ready.
The first day of Seventh Heaven’s opening was a great success. Corel wine was something that you could make yourself if you felt like it, and the food was nothing special either. Because of the limited ingredients they had, they couldn’t make anything special. Even so, people sought places like this. A place where they could be with friends while drinking. A place where they could get over the depression of reality or maybe forget about reality and think of the future. People who didn’t have money were allowed to trade items to get a drink. They even prepared all sorts of juices, so that children could go in too. However, they only served the ones that got Marlene's seal of approval. She had become an indispensible presence in the bar. At night, before it got too late, she worked as a waitress. Customers who'd had too much were sent home without a second thought.
Barret would sip his drink in one corner of the bar. Maybe he thought he was the bouncer. Cloud’s job was to acquire the provisions and wine – but he didn’t know the names of most fruits and vegetables. Tifa was surprised at first, but came to accept that as a natural consequence of the life Cloud had led. It amused her that his new life was going to start with vegetable names.
Cloud wasn't the best at socializing, or more accurately, he was downright aweful at it. Yet, he would go negotiate with people to obtain the ingredients they needed, everyday, without objection or complaint. The process of negotiating carried more value than the price he paid. Cloud was taking small steps forward.
TIFA NARRATION: “He's pushing himself too hard for me. Will he leave one day, once the bar gets on the right track?”
Tifa shook her head, trying to drive that doubt away. She told herself she shouldn’t hope for anything more than this.
After the first week of being open, Barret, seeing how well the business was going, told the others that he leaving Marlene with them and going on a journey.
“I want to go on a journey to settle my past.”
Tifa was disturbed at Barret’s words, but Cloud nodded calmly as if he understood completely.
“What about me…? ... You think I don't?”
”Tifa, you can do that here... both of you. Don’t just take. Show that you can give too.”
After saying this, Barret said he still had to get ready and walked out of the bar.
“You knew about this?”
“Yeah..”
“Did you try to stop him?”
“Nah, I didn’t, because he would just say this is Tifa’s place.”
“…hmmm. I guess there's nothing we can do then.”
TIFA NARRATION “Does Cloud also think this? Actually, I wanted to ask him about that.”
Marlene, who had always slept in Tifa's bed, slept with Barret the night before he left. Their conversations could be heard late into the night.
Early the next morning, Barret set off.
Behind him Marlene shouted, “Send me some letters! Phone me, too!”
Barret lifted his artificial right arm up, which had a machine gun attached to it. He kept walking without looking back. It was the back of a figure who had no other way to live than to fight.
TIFA NARRATION ”I wondered just what kind of life he would find. I prayed that he would be able to stay far away from war. Not just take. I prayed he would be able to prove that he could give, too.”
“Don't worry, I'll be a good girl for them!”
Hearing those words, Cloud and Tifa exchanged glances.
TIFA NARRATION “... for us?"
“I’ll take care of Cloud and Tifa!”
Looking back, Barret shouted, “Do your best!”
His voice was a little shaky.
“Keep the family together and keep at it!”
TIFA NARRATION “Friends were a necessity to me so that I could live on without being suppressed by the guilt I felt. Even if they all bore the same scars, the same sins. We couldn’t live without comforting and encouraging each other. Maybe you could call that family. We just had to work together and do our best. Together with friend we can call family, there's nothing we can't get through.“
“I’ll put Cloud in our family too.”
“I appreciate that."
After Cloud thanked Marlene’s innocent offer with his usual serious expression, he glanced at Tifa. She nodded a little.
TIFA NARRATION: “Would this complicate things?”
Tifa decided that she would stop worrying about the relationship between the two of them.
It had been several months since they opened the bar. There was a call from Cloud, who was out collecting provisions. He wanted to know if it would be ok to print up a lifetime voucher to eat and drink for free at Seventh Heaven, in exchange for something. Tifa agreed, never asking what it was for. She knew Cloud must have wanted something desperately if he was offering to trade something like that.
It was night, and Cloud came back on a motorcycle. It was a model unlike any she had seen before. Since then, he had been adjusting it whenever he could spare the time in between his jobs. He brought engineers he had met to discuss modifying his new bike. It seemed quite a few people came to help Cloud complete the modifications. Marlene and her young neighbourhood friends watched. The sight reassured Tifa.
"We really are becoming a family."
There were many times when Cloud had to leave Midgar for their supplies. The destination was mainly Kalm. He usually had to rent a bike or a truck, or sometimes a chocobo, but now that he had his own bike that he could use freely, he would be able to take longer trips. Sometimes he would bring home rare foods to surprise Tifa.
One night, there was a call for Cloud. After talking on the phone for a while, Cloud said he had to go out for a while.
“Where are you going?”
“How should I tell you this…”
Cloud explained how there had many times when he was asked to deliver things while coming back with supplies. The caller was one of the store owners who shared some of his vegetables with them. It seemed there was something he desperately needed Cloud to deliver that night. Cloud gazed at Tifa like a kid who just had his secrets revealed.
“Why are you looking at me like that?
“Well… I’m sorry I kept quiet about it.”
(slight laugh)“About what?”
Tifa was smiling a little.
“Doing things without consulting you.”
She burst out in laughter. Cloud told her about how he got paid a little for delivering items. He explained how he felt guilty spending it all on the modifications for the bike. Tifa thought he was just like a kid.
TIFA NARRATION “It may have been a little sad that Cloud had found another world that I didn’t know about, but the fact that his world was expanding was a welcoming thought. Maybe this is kind of what a mother feels like."
Tifa walked Cloud outside, enjoying the new feeling that was welling up inside her.
Tifa learned to cope with the sins in her consciousness.
"There's no forgetting what happened. A day may come when I'm punished. But until that day, I'm going to look ahead and live on, not just taking, but proving to myrself that I can give too."
Tifa encouraged Cloud to turn the delivery service into a legitimate business. They could just take requests at the bar. As for dealing with calls, Marlene or herself could do it. Cloud was hesitant, but after sleeping on it, he came around to the idea.
"I didn't really understand his reasons for hesitanting. but I figured he was just holding back for some reason."
And so, that was the start of the Strife Delivery Service. Midgar was the center of their business, but they also delivered all over the world... well, anywhere Cloud could reach by bike. Just like Seventh Heaven, the business was a great success. At that time, sending things wasn’t so easy for people. Monsters were still roaming and many roads were still cut off after the Lifestream burst forth from the ground. The work, which involved travelling from one corner of the world to the next, wasn't something just anyone could do, but it was the kind of job he had been seeking, and his services were in high demand. Tifa thought it was wonderful how Cloud, who wasn’t very sociable, was doing a job that connected people.
After Cloud started his delivery service, their family life changed quite a lot, and not in a good way. Besides the morning and late at night, Cloud was hardly ever home. Naturally, that meant there were fewer chances for the three of them to talk. Tifa tried closing the bar once a week, but that didn’t necessarily mean Cloud could do the same. He almost never turned anyone down.
TIFA NARRATION “I just wanted us to be able to take a day off together now and then, but maybe that was a little selfish of me.”
During that time, it was Marlene who noticed a change in Cloud. She told Tifa how Cloud would sometimes space out and not listen to her.
TIFA NARRATION “Cloud never really approached Marlene to talk in the first place, but I’m sure he never ignored her if she talked to him. I knew that Cloud was, in his own way, trying to get along with Marlene. I figured that was just how people who weren't comfortable around children managed to cope.
I told her that Cloud was probably tired, but it bothered me. Marlene is a child who is sensitive to the changes in adults.”
On their day off, Tifa and Marlene were cleaning the room Cloud used as an office. Lots of receipts lay scattered about. One of them caught Tifa’s eye.
Client – Elmyra Gainsborough
Item – Bouquet
Destination – The Forgotten City
Tifa put the receipt away with the others as if nothing happened, but her hands were trembling. Delivering packages around the world also meant he was traveling around his past. She knew that Cloud was in great pain after Aerith's death.
"He wasn't able to protect her. Cloud was trying to overcome that and live on. But going back to the place where she was taken from him might tear his heart apart even more."
It was night, and they had closed the bar. Cloud was drinking, even though he rarely did. His glass was now empty. There was something she wanted to talk to him about. Tifa thought about it before going over and filling his glass.
“Mind if I join you?”
“I want to drink alone.”
Hearing that, Tifa lost her composure “Then drink in your room.”
Barret would call from time to time. He almost never talked about himself and usually asked how Marlene was doing. Every time, he would talk to Marlene at the end. She must have assumed Tifa couldn't here her sad voice as she spoke to her father.
“Cloud and Tifa aren’t getting along very well.”
“No matter what feelings Cloud and I have between us, we can’t drag Marlene into it”,
Tifa made every effort to talk to Cloud. When Marlene was near, she talked about things that she felt wouldn't be too serious. Cloud seemed bewildered by the way Tifa changed, but guessing at what she was doing, he always went along with it. They got Marlene to join in with the conversations too.
TIFA NARRATION “I thought it was going pretty well, but I couldn’t talk about what I really wanted to talk about. I just didn’t know what to say.”
One morning, Tifa shared a funny story she heard from a customer.
“That’s really something that can’t be done,”
“It can’t be done!”
All the adults were surprised and looked at Marlene.
“You’ve told us that story before and Cloud just gives the same answer everytime!”
TIFA NARRATION “It wasn't going well. But we were together. It was because we were family. We lived in the same house, and we were living by working together . Maybe there wasn’t much conversation or many smiles, but we were family”,
After checking that Cloud was asleep, she spoke softly to him.
“We’ll be all right, won’t we?”
Of course, there was no answer. All she heard was him breathing softly as he slept.
TIFA NARRATION “I wondered if the fact that he was sleeping here meant that he was part of the family.”
“Do you love me?”
Cloud opened his eyes, with a perplexed look on his face.
“Hey, Cloud. Do you love Marlene?”
“Yeah. But... sometimes I don’t know how to approach her.”
“Even though you've been together this long?”
“Maybe that just isn’t enough.”
“Same with you and I?”
Cloud didn’t answer.
“Sorry, weird question. I....”
“Don’t apologize. It’s my problem.”
Cloud closed his eyes.
“Why can't it be ours?"
There was no answer
Not long after that, Cloud brought Denzel home with him. He was unconcious when he was carried into the bar. He had used Cloud’s phone, which was left with his bike, to ring the bar. Picking up the phone, Tifa was worried about what happened to Cloud at first, but soon she realized there was something wrong with the boy. Cloud found him, as he lay on the ground. Tifa listenened as Denzel cried out in pain, unable to do anything to help him. Then she heard footsteps. It was Cloud. He picked up the phone.
“What’s wrong? Is the boy ok?”
“He seems to be in pain.”
“Why don’t you bring him back with you?”
“It looks like he has Geostigma.”
Tifa couldn’t reply to what Cloud said right away. Geostigma was a disease that spread throughout the world since the day the Lifestream halted Meteor. It’s cure hadn’t been found yet. The patients also varied. Some would look healthy so no one would suspect that they were sick, but some died right after they contracted the disease. Then, the most important point for Tifa; there was a rumor that Geostigma was transmittable. It could infect someone in the family. Based on Tifa’s experience, she believed that it would not be transmittable or else many healthy people in the world would have died already, though she still felt uncomfortable. Moreover, the rumor was persistent no matter what the truth was; consequently it might affect the image of the bar. However, she already told Cloud to bring him home, she couldn’t go back on her word because of rumors.
“I heard Geostigma in’t contagious.”
Cloud knew what she was thinking from her hesitation. She realized that Cloud really wanted to bring this child home.
“Yeah, bring him with you.”
“I’ll bring him through the back door. Is there anyone that can look after Marlene?”
“Yeah.”
Hanging up the phone, Tifa wondered at Cloud’s concern for Marlene and the bar. In the end, she understood. Cloud thought that she would oppose. Even so, he wanted to bring him back. Tifa wanted to know the reason, but as soon as she saw Denzel, those questions faded away, and she knew she had to take care of him.
"There are lots of children with the stigma. They're building homes for them, because of all the children who lost their parents. Yet, why did he bring Denzel here?"
Just as Tifa was about to ask him, Cloud muttered something.
"This kid came to my place."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean..."
Once Denzel had recovered his strength, Tifa listened to his story about everything that happened to him before he arrived there.
TIFA NARRATION “Denzel was supposed to come here. His parents were among the victims when Sector Seven was destroyed.. It was destroyed because of AVALANCHE. That’s why we had to take responsibility and raise him. He met Cloud so that he could come to me.”
Tifa told Cloud and Marlene that she wanted to welcome Denzel into their family. Cloud nodded silently, but Marlene was full of joy.
At first, Denzel was persistent in helping them as thanks for taking care of him, but his heart began opening to them as he helped with the bar and Cloud's work.
The number of customers had visibly decreased. The reason was clear. But, Tifa, Cloud and even Marlene never mentioned it.
It was night, and the bar was closed. Tifa was cleaning up in the kitchen. She looked up from the dishes towards the centre table. There sat the president of the Strife Delivery Service—Cloud—and his two assistants, Marlene and Denzel. Denzel often suffered because of Geostigma , but on the days when the fever and pain subsided, he would hang around with Cloud.
Usually, Cloud spent most of his days out at work. So once he was home, it was Denzel’s precious time to spend with his hero. Yes, Cloud was a hero to Denzel. Saving Denzel as the symptoms of Geostigma appeared without warning, suffering with the fear of death.
The way Cloud carried himself, the bike he rode around... it was everything Denzel looked up to. Denzel wanted to ask everything about Cloud’s past. Even if he had questions Tifa could have answered, he would always wait until Cloud returned home. Once, half jokingly, she told him that she was the one who cooked the meals. Denzel put on a grown up voice and informed her that he was the one who cleaned up the bar and the house.
It was true, Denzel did a very thorough job of cleaning. When she asked him if it was his mother who taught him how to clean, he answered no. Days later, Cloud told her about the woman who taught Denzel how to clean. Tifa was a little hurt that Denzel had told Cloud and not her. It troubled her.
"Why does he talk to Cloud and not me?"
One day, she tried asking one of the older children who came into the bar. His answer was that boys were just like that. There really wasn’t anything to worry about. They were just a normal family.
The answer didn’t make her understand, but the words “normal family” relieved Tifa.
After the bar was closed, Cloud, Marlene and Denzel sat around their usual table. You could say they resembled a young father with his two children. If Tifa sat with them, sbe would be welcomed with smiles.
Cloud had a map spread out on the table. He always made sure to check the routes that he intended to use to make deliveries the next day. Denzel and Marlene were sorting receipts. When there were any words that Marlene couldn’t read, she would ask Denzel. He would then teach her like an older brother. When there were words that even Denzel couldn’t read, he would ask Cloud. He had the habit of handing them a pen after telling them how to read them. He said that if they couldn’t write it, then they wouldn’t be able to remember it. Looking at the names of places on the receipts, the children would ask Cloud what they were like. Cloud’s descriptions were concise. There are lots of people. There are very few people. There are lots of monsters, so it’s dangerous. Taking the north route is safer. They were descriptions that would make you ask, “is that all?” but the children seemed satisfied. Soon, Tifa wanted to talk too. When she added in more detail, Denzel would ask Cloud if it was true. It annoyed Tifa a little, but she thought it was fine.
TIFA NARRATION“That’s probably what normal families are like.”
Tifa wondered if they became a real family after Denzel appeared. Cloud was clearly taking less jobs. At night, he would always make sure he had time to spend with the children. The silly little conversations he had with Tifa were also back.
“Did you fix the problem?”
“Which problem?”
“Your problem.”
“Oh…”
Cloud thought about it.
“It’s ok if you don’t want to tell me.”
“I can’t really explain it well…”
Cloud searched for the right words.
“I didn't fix the problem. Well, I don't think I'll ever fix it. You can’t retrieve lost lives.”
"..."
“But maybe we can save the lives who are in a crisis just now. Maybe even I can do it.”
“You mean Denzel?”
“Yeah.”
“Hey, do you remember what you said when you brought Denzel here?”
“What did I say?”
“You said, 'Denzel came to my place'"
“Well…”
Cloud had an expression like a kid who thought he would get scolded.
“Tell me. I’ll decide whether I should be angry or not after I listen.”
Cloud nodded and continued.
“Denzel had collapsed in front of Aerith’s church. That’s why I thought Aerith lead him to me.”
Cloud couldn't look Tifa.
“You went to the church?”
“I didn’t intend to hide it from you.”
“But you did.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You didn't do anything wrong. I’m not saying you couldn’t go. But next time, I’ll go with you.”
“I understand.”
“And Cloud, you’re wrong.”
Cloud looked at Tifa with a puzzled expression.
“Aerith didn’t bring Denzel to you.”
“Ahh, I only thought that…..”
“You're not listening to me. Aerith brought Denzel to us.”
Cloud gazed into Tifa's eyes again, and finally smiled. It had a kindness to it, as if to say "everything will be alright now"
**
Days after having that conversation, Cloud left.
"Was the future I saw in that smile just an illusion?"
She kissing her sleeping children goodnight and went into Cloud’s office. She brushed away the faint layer of dust from the photo they had taken as a family. She picked up the phone and dialed. After several rings, the messaging service took over.
Case of Denzel
Midgar was divided into two very different worlds. An upper city; a steel acropolis high above the ground, known as the Plate. Then there were the slums; areas beneath the plate that never saw daylight. The people who lived there led chaotic, but hardy lives. It was thought that this thriving light and shadow, built by a single enterprise called the Shinra Electric Power Company, would be a sight that endured forever.
Four years ago, when the Lifestream came flowing out of the ground, many residents believed that Midgar would crumble and fall. With only their personal effects in hand, they fled their neighbourhoods, and yet, the people were unable to distance themselves from the city of steel for long. Perhaps they thought they could return to their normal lives of blissfull ignorance if they stayed close.
Before long, a new town called Edge was built along the avenue stretching east from Midgar, Edge's main avenue started at the border of Midgar's Third and Fourth Sectors. The town then expanded to the north and south from there. From a distance it seemed a magnificent city, but most of the buildings were actually constructed from Midgar's debris. The streets smelled of iron and rust.
Johnny ran a cafe that sat along the main avenue. It was a humble establishment in a patch of open ground, with a stall, some tables and a few chairs, where he could do some simple cooking. He named the cafe "Johnny's Heaven". It was named after "Seventh Heaven", a bar that once existed in the slums of Midgar's Sector Seven. Johnny had been in love with the barmaid there for a long time. Her was Tifa.
Several months after the bar was lost during Sector Seven's collapse, Tifa reopened a new Seventh Heaven in Edge. At the time, Johnny was among the masses who couldn't figure out how to go on, and was moved by the strength of spirit with which Tifa lived. And so, with those thoughts in mind, she became more than just the former object of his unrequited love, but a respected figure in Johnny's heart.
I'm going to live just like Tifa. But how? I know! I'll run a business too. I'll give hope to those who have lost their way.
That was the start of Johnny's Heaven. Customers who came there were subjected to the tale of "Johnny Reborn" again and again.
As a result of that, many of them visited the new Seventh Heaven, wanting to see Tifa, and wound up becoming her regulars. Unaware of this, Johnny continued to open 6 days a week waiting for an audience who would listen to his tale of love and hope.
Eventually, someone did come. It was a boy. It was pretty rare for a child to come in alone. He was Denzel, a young boy who was special to Johnny. He was part of Tifa's family. Johnny was going to put all his heart into his service for Denzel.
"Make yourself at home, Denzel."
Johnny bowed deeply, lowering his head. But Denzel only glimpsed at him for an instant before heading to the farthest table from the stall.
"Come sit a little closer."
"No. I'm meeting someone."
He's here to meet someone? He's dating already? But he's still a kid... Well, whatever. I'll watch over him. This is all part of my special service.
"On a date, ey? Go get her kiddo."
"Coffee please."
Is he ignoring me? Ah, he must be shy.
"Give me a shout if you're stuck. I know how to talk to the ladies. Trust me..."
Suddenly, Denzel stood up from his seat.
Was he angry?
Johnny was watching Denzel, but the young boy's gaze was directed at the entrance. A man in a plain suit was standing there.
"Welcome", Johnny greeted the customer, but averted his gaze. He was Reeve, a former Shinra executive. It was the first time Johnny had seen the man, who was now leading the WRO, up close. He had a reputation for bringing death.
What business does a guy like him have in my shop?
Reeve glanced around at his surroundings cautiously as he walked over to Denzel's table, and sat down. It seemed a habit of his. Something struck Johnny's mind.
Reeve was inviting Denzel to join the army. I have to stop them somehow. If something like that was to happen in my cafe then I wouldn't be able to face Tifa again.
With that in mind, his expression remained calm as he glared at Reeve.
"A coffee, if you don't mind",
Johnny was shocked at how dignified he seemed.
"Yes, of course."
Johnny stood up straight as he answered, then scurried back to the stall.
"Not an easy person to deal with."
Denzel was surprised that the head of the WRO himself would come to interview him. He stood there, unable to get as much as a greeting out.
"Have a seat."
Reeve's voice snapped him out of it, and he nervously sat down.
"Now then, Denzel. I'm short on time, so let's get right to business",
"I should warn you up front, our organisation has changed. Gone are the days when we welcomed just anyone into our ranks. If it's volunteer work you're after, contact your local leaders. The WRO is an army now."
"Yes, sir. I'm prepared for the dangers."
"Im sure you are... All right, tell me about yourself, starting with your background."
"My background? I don't - I mean, I'm only 10."
"Yes , I know. But even a 10 year old must have a background?"
"eh..." sigh
Denzel was the only son born to Abel, a workaholic employee of Shinra's Division Three, and Chloe, a sociable woman with a knack for housekeeping. The three of them lived in Shinra's employee housing area on the Sector Seven plate. Abel, who was born and raised in a provincial town, was satisfied that he could raise his family in the upper levels of Midgar's acropolis. However, he believed he always needed goals in life, and his new one was to live in the executive housing area of Sector Five.
When Denzel reached the age of seven, Abel was promoted to head of division. That meant he had the right to live in the Sector Five housing. Hearing the news, both Chloe and Denzel prepared a surprise party. Sumptuous food and child-like decorations welcomed home the man of the house. It was an enjoyable dinner. Denzel listened to his gleeful father tell jokes, and talk about his life.
"Denzel, you're very lucky to have been born my son. If you'd been born in the Slums, you'd have to eat rats instead of chicken."
"They don't have chicken?"
"They do, but because everyone is so poor, they can't afford it. They have no choice but to catch rats with spears. Filthy, grey rats."
"Ewww... Sounds disgusting."
"So, how do they taste?",
Abel winking at Chloe. She pointed to Denzel's plate.
"Well, Denzel?"
Denzel grew uneasy, looking back and forth at his parents faces and his plate. His father looked down, trying not to laugh. Denzel remembered one of his mother's sayings.
"There's no meaning to life without smiles"
They're both trying to scare me again. "Neither one of you is fooling me, ok!?"
* * *
"What mean parents."
"They just liked to joke. I didn't mind being teased."
"I'll tell you this, but as far as I know rats weren't eaten in the slums. The rats in the slums at that time were..."
"I know. I know about it well."
"Oh? Did something happen?"
"...It's a long story."
* * *
The phone rang while Denzel was watching the house. It was Abel.
"Where's your mother?"
He seemed angry.
"She's out shopping."
"When she gets home, tell her to call me back right away... Nevermind, I'll call her."
He knew his father was troubled, and grew anxious. He couldn't settle down, so he turned on the TV and waited for his mother to come home. On the news, they were showing Mako Reactor One, which had been blown up just days ago by a group calling themselves Avalanche.
"Dad's been busy because of this. That's why he was cranky. Not because of me or mom"
After about an hour, it wasn't his mother who came home. It was Abel.
"Where's your mom?"
"She's not back yet."
"Okay. I'm going to look for her."
Abel was out of the house before he even finished the sentence. Panicking, Denzel went after him. They went to the market and found Chloe right away. She was happily talking with the butcher. Abel told Denzel to stay put and walked toward the shop. Without a word, he grabbed his wife's wrist and practically dragged her away.
When he heard his mother's protests, Denzel tensed up.
"Would you let go of me! What's going on?"
Abel looked around him and lowered his voice.
"They're going to destroy Sector Seven. We need to hurry and take shelter in Sector Five. There's a new company residence for us there."
"Destroy it?"
"The scum that blew up Reactor One... Well, they've picked their next target."
Denzel looked at both of his parents' faces. There was no sign of them stifling laughter. This was no joke.
"... Number Seven?"
He grabbed both of his parent's hands
"Come on, lets hurry and go."
But the two didn't budge.
"But we can't just... What about the neibours, Our friends?"
"There's no time, Chloe. Besides, this is classified. I'm breaking rules here. They just made me head of division."
Irritated, Chloe shook her wrist free.
"Denzel. Go with your father. I'll catch up with you soon. Don't worry."
After giving Denzel's hand a firm squeeze, Chloe left and started to run.
"Chloe!"
Abel ran after his wife, but after a few steps he came to a halt. Seeing how much his father was suffering, Denzel's heart ached.
He wanted to go after her, but I was holding him back.
"Denzel, we need to go."
"No! We can't leave mom here!"
"Mom will be just fine. You can't blame her for caring."
A tall man was dragging a suitcase along as he walked at the borders of the Sixth and Seventh Sectors. Abel called out to him. When the man realised who was calling out to him, he quickly ran over.
"You're still here, sir? The Turks have already deployed. By now they must be nearly finished planting the explosives. One of my buddies has a vehicle prepped, we should...."
"Not in front of my son"
"... Sorry, sir."
Denzel knew quite a lot about Shinra, thanks to all he had heard from his father since he was little. The Turks were the ones who did all the dirty work.
"What did he mean that the Turks had planted the bombs? Are the Turks with Avalanche?"
He stared at the ground, wondering what they were talking about. Sensing his father's gaze, he looked up.
"Arkham, could you take my boy over to Sector Five? The housing area, number 38."
Abel never took his eyes off his son.
"No!"
"Do as I say. Go with Mr. Arkham. Im going to bring back your mom"
"...We'll go together."
"Arkham, can I count on you?"
"Of course, sir."
"Here's the key. I'll leave it with my son."
From the inside pocket of his suit, he produced a key, and forced Denzel to close his hand around it.
"Dad..."
"I bought us a new big-screen TV. Watch that while you're waiting for us."
After ruffling his son's hair, Abel gave him a gentle push toward Arkham and started running in the direction of the Sector Seven. Denzel almost lost his balance, but Arkham was there to catch him.
"All right, lets get going. I'm Arkham. I work for your Dad. Its nice to finally meet you. Your Dad never stops talking about..."
Denzel squirmed and tried to run off, but Arkham stopped him.
"I understand how you feel. But I can't disobey your father's orders. For now, lets just go to Sector Five. After that, you're free to do whatever you like. OK?"
The new house, nestled in a rows of cookie-cutter homes, was empty, except for a big box holding the TV. Arkham took it out of the box and hooked up the cables.
Together they watched the news. They were still airing the video of Mako Reactor One exploding. All Denzel could think about was when Arkham would leave.
"I'm hungry."
"You got it. I'll go pick something up"
Just then, the entire house shook. A huge explosion could be heard in the distance. As Arkham opened the door, they could hear the screams of twisting metal coming from outside.
"Stay here."
"Wait, what about -- ?"
Just as Denzel was about to follow, there was an anouncement on the tv.
"Breaking News"
"We interrupt our regular broadcast for this breaking news. We have unconfirmed reports that sector seven has just exploded. Yes, there seems to have been a tremendous explosion..."
Footage of an entire town caving in appeared on the screen. It took Denzel a few moments to recognise it a Sector Seven, where he and his family had been just hours before. The scene changed.
"You are now watching live footage from Sector Seven."
There was nothing there. Sector Seven was gone. Denzel burst out the house. The streets were in chaos. People were running all over the place shouting that Sector Five would be next.
He ran as fast as he could and didn't stop, even with the chaos around him. He made it to Sector Six, completely out of breathe. Soldiers were putting up a barrier. Denzel approached, trying to get a look at Sector Seven. There was nothing there. It was as though nothing ever had been. He could see Sector Eight in the distance. The joins for the Sector Seven Plate were peeking out.
"Whoa, kid! You wanna get hurt?."
"Where do you live?"
Denzel pointed into the empty space.
"I see... Damn shame, that."
The soldier's voice was gentle.
"Where are your parents?"
Again, Denzel pointed into the space where Sector Seven used to be.
*The soldier let out a sigh*,
He stood next to Denzel and placed his hand on his shoulder
"This is Avalanche's doing. Don't you forget it. When you get bigger, you pay them back for what they've done."
"... You have to go. You can't stay here"
The soldier turned Denzel toward Sector Six and urged him away.
He started to walk absent-mindedly. The voices of concerned strangers passed in one ear and out the other.
Which place was going to be next? ... Dad! ... Will it be alright here? ... Mom! ... I won't forgive those Avalanche scum! ... What are the Shinra doing! ... Dad! ... Mom, where are you?
The pathetic child's voice was the only one he couldn't tune out. When he realised it belonged to him, he couldn't walk any further. Tears came welling up.
"Is it true Shinra did it?"
"Yes."
Reeve looked away from him. It seemed he was determined not to show any signs of emotion.
"Do whatever you like with me, if you despise me for it."
Denzel shook his head.
**
The next day, Denzel awoke to find himself in the new house in Sector Five. Beneath him was a matress that couldn't have been there the day before, yet there he was, lying on it. Someone had left a note and a pastry at his bedside.
"I'm at the office. I'll drop by to check on you once in a while. Don't wander off too far. Everyone is riled up just now, so it's pretty dangerous. More importantly, it would be very hard to find you. You're a pretty important boy. P.S. I borrowed the mattress from the neighbour, so please make sure to return it. - Arkham."
They aired the footage of Sector Seven's collapse on the tv, over and over again. Denzel heard Shinra's announcement that Midgar was safe now. His own parents might be dead; they could say it was safe all they wanted, but he wouldn't buy it.
"Now that it's so safe, does everyone get to live happily ever after? Does that include me?"
Denzel tried to eat the pastry. Before taking a bite, he noticed that he had inadvertantly squashed it, and the cream in the middle was oozing out. Anger surged in him. He threw the pastry at the TV, and stormed out of the house.
It was quiet. He could see the Shinra Building towering over the center of Midgar.
"Dad might be alive. He might be at the office with Mom. At a time like this, he must be way too busy to get away. There are lots of Shinra houses around here; maybe somebody knows Dad. I hate talking to grownups I don't know; but I've gotta suck it up and ask."
He went to the house to the right and rang the doorbell. There was no answer. He tried opening the door. It wasn't locked, so he poked his his head inside.
"Hello?"
He waited for a moment, but as before, there was no answer. Arkham had borrowed the mattress from this house, it seemed.
"What are we, thieves? Taking stuff without asking? Is that how we have to live now, stealing and doing whatever else it takes?"
The house on the left, the one across the street, the one next to that. They were all empty. Everyone had left. He went to check the houses further down the street. On almost every door was a piece of paper which stated that the tenants were taking temporary refuge and where they could be contacted.
No one was left. It didn't seem possible that his parents were at the office. If they were, they would have come here. Even if it was impossible for Denzel's father to come, his mother certainly would have.
The hope he held onto was shattered as he walked away. Before he knew it, Denzel noticed he had completely lost his way. He couldn't remember how he got there, or even where he came from. Tears flowed down his face. They weren't so much tears of sadness, but more of anger.
He stopped and sat down in the street, but jumped when he realized he had sat on something sharp. It was a small model of one of Shinra's airships. A kid must have dropped it.
Denzel picked it up and threw it as hard as he could at the closest house.
"I hate everyone!"
The sound of a glass breaking echoed through the deserted street, followed by a woman's voice.
"Who's there? Who did this!"
Before Denzel realized what he had done, an old lady came out of the house in front of him. Maybe she wasn't really that old, but to Denzel, anyone over a certain age was old.
"You did this?!",
She was holding the model airship infront of Denzel. He gave an honest nod.
"Why would you...?"
"Are you crying?"
Denzel shook his head in denial, but he couldn't hide his tears.
"Where do you live?"
He couldn't bring himself to answer her. Tears welled up and would stop.
"Well, why don't you come inside?"
The inside of Ruvie's home seemed very different to Denzel's, it felt very cozy. The wallpaper was printed with lots of flowers, the upholstery had a similar pattern. The actual flowers that decorated the room were artificial, but still the room had a sense of warmth and tranquility. Denzel took a seat on the sofa and looked at Ruvie. She was struggling to patch up the shattered glass window with a plastic bag.
"When my son gets home, he'll be able to fix this up right as rain. This should do for now."
"I'm sorry, Ms. Ruvie."
"If times weren't how they are, I'd go give your parents an earful."
"My mom and dad, they're..."
"What, you expect me to believe they left you here and just ran off?"
"... They were in Sector Seven."
Ruvie stopped what she was doing. She sat down on the sofa and held Denzel in her arms.
Once he had calmed down, she suggested they go outside. They decided to go look for his house. The two of them walked hand in hand. When Denzel reached the age of six, he had stopped holding hands with his parents. It made him look uncool. But right now, he never wanted to let go.
The Shinra employees among the residents were staying at headquarters, working to resolve the situation. Their families were taking refuge in Junon or Costa Del Sol. Ruvie remained behind because, as she explained it, if you're going to be alone no matter where you go, then theres no place better than your own home. Eventually, they found Denzel's house.
"Thank you very much. And about the glass... I'm sorry."
Ruvie nodded silently. As Denzel opened the door, she peered inside the empty house.
"What are you planning to do with a house that doesn't have anything? Come to my house, OK?"
And so, that was how Denzel came to live with Ruvie.
When Mako Reactor One was destroyed, Ruvie knew that trouble was on its way, so she bought lots of food. The storage shed in her back garden was full of canned food and nonperishables.
"There's no need to worry when you're prepared."
Ruvie was busy everday. Cleaning the inside of the house, cleaning the outside of the house, preparing food, her sewing. Denzel helped with everything but the sewing. Before she went to sleep at night, she read a book. Ruvi picked thick, challanging books. When Denzel asked if it was any good, she replied, "Not one bit". They were her son's, she told him. For more than five years, she had continued to read them, thinking they might help her understand her son's work. She laughed when she realized they were only good for putting her to sleep.
Ruvie leant Denzel an encyclopaedia of monster, telling him it would be useful. That too belonged to her son, he had read it when he was around Denzel's age. It contained descriptions and colour illustrations of monsters. The same thing was written on every page; If you encounter a monster, run. Then tell an adult.
"... if I run into a monster right now, am I really supposed to tell Ruvie? She doesn't look like she'd be a very good fighter. Would I have to fight it, then? Am I strong enough to? Could I win?
I'm completely useless. Thats why my parents didn't want me to go with them"
* * *
The sun had grown stronger and Denzel was soaked with sweat.
"Damn... this heat."
Denzel took out a hankerchief to wipe away his sweat.
"What an adorable pattern. Like a little girl's."
"Yes, sir. "
Denzel smiled, staring at his hankerchief.
* * *
One morning when Denzel awoke, Ruvi was there holding a shirt by the collar.
"Denzel. Put this on. I made it for you, but this was the only fabric I could find."
On the white shirt was a patern of little pink flowers. It was something that Denzel would have normally flatly refused to wear, but he put it on, delighted.
"Thanks, Ms. Ruvie."
"Well, I had extra fabric. Here."
She held out a handkerchief with the same pattern. There must have been a lot of extra fabric, judging from the number of handkerchiefs she had made. Denzel took just one, and folded it neatly into his pocket.
"Denzel...",
The smile faded from Ruvie's face,
"I don't know how to explain this..."
Denzel considered what she might say to him. The words he feared most came to mind; Get out. The very notion made him tremble with anxiety.
"Lets go outside."
Ruvi went outside into the back yard. Denzel hesitated, but eventually followed. He walked along the thick bed of soil and stood next to her. She stood gazing at the sky.
Denzel looked too. There was a great black spot up there. It was a truely ominous sight. Only blue and white belonged in the daytime sky. Surely any other colour spelled gloom and turmoil.
"They're calling it "meteor." That's about all I know about it. But they're saying that thing is going to crash into the planet... and put an end to everything"
Ruvi took two cans out of the shed and handed them to Denzel.
"How do you prepare for something like that, for crying out loud?"
That day, Ruvi didn't clean, sew or do anything else. She just sat on the sofa thinking.
She did, however, make several phone calls. Whoever it was, they werent answering. Denzel thought she must have been calling her son. He was having trouble visualising what Meteor's impact would be like. More importantly, he had a question to ask, but he couldn't find a way to bring it up. As night fell, Ruvie began to clean as if to announce her return to reality.
"Denzel, you're doing it all wrong. Haven't you been watching how I clean?"
That was the Ruvie he knew.
It was night and the two of them sat side by side on the sofa, reading their usual books.
"Denzel. I intend to wait for the end right here. If the planet is going to be destroyed, one place is as good as another. What will you do? If you plan to go somewhere else, take any food in the house with you. I know you're still just a boy, but I think you should choose where you face the end."
Denzel thought carefully about what Ruvie said. Finally, he asked the question he had been longing to ask all day.
"Is it okay if I stay here?"
Ruvi looked up from the book at Denzel and smiled.
After that, she carried on the way she always had, except she never cleaned outside. The yard work was Denzel's job now.
He saw construction had started at the Shinra building. In no time at all, they installed an enormous cannon.
"Shinra's gonna get rid of meteor for us"
"That company always finds a way to screw up,"
In the end, the cannon fired just one beam at an unseen target before collapsing in a wreck. As if that weren't enough, the Shinra Building itself was attacked.
"What kind of monster is out there?"
He couldn't even begin to imagine a monster that could destroy buildings. Up in the sky hung Meteor, unchanged. All hell may have broken loose elsewhere, but Denzel's days were peaceful
There were times when he couldn't suppress his longing to see his parents and wept aloud, but Ruvie's embrace would always comfort him. If the end was to come while he slept next to her, then he really didn't mind.
What robbed Denzel of his peace in the end wasn't Meteor, but an angry torrent of light. The Lifestream may have been a force of good that effectively destroyed Meteor, but the dense life energy also worked its destruction on people.
The chosen day, Denzel and Ruvie were in bed, about to fall asleep. Outside, they heard a fierce wind howling. But it was too loud to be just the wind. Soon the entire house began so shake.
The end had come. Denzel hoped it would be over quickly, but as more time passed, the worse the tremors grew. And noise grew too, it crescendoed to such a roar, like a train speeding past the house. Denzel held on tightly to Ruvie, shutting his eyes trying to brave it as best he could, but five minutes proved to be his limit.
"Miss Ruvie, I'm scared."
She sat up, and just as she went to turn on the light, the flower patterned curtains turned bright white. It was as though the whole house was engulfed in light.
"Cover yourself with the blanket."
As Ruvie left the bedroom, the shaking intensified and the flowers on top of the dresser fell to the floor. Denzel lept out of the bed and went after Ruvie.
She stood, staring at the living room window - the one she had crudely patched up with nothing but a plastic bag. The plastic had swelled up and looked ready to burst at any moment. Ruvie ran to the window and used both hands to hold it in place.
"Denzel! Get back inside!
Denzel was trembling. He couldn't move, as if his feet were stuck to the floor.
It was me who broke the window. It must be my fault that this is happening.
Ruvie left the window and rushed over to Denzel. He clung to he even as she forcibly pushed him back into the bedroom. At that moment, the prastic burst and a dazzling wave of light came flooding into the house. Ruvie quickly shut the door
"Denzel, you keep the door shut."
"Miss Ruvie!",
Denzel cried as he grabbed the doorknob and tried to open the door.
"Denzel, stop it!"
"But-!"
Denzel tried at the doorknob again.
Ruvi stood there with her back towards the door. Feet apart, and arms extended, taught across the doorframe
"Keep it closed!"
Beyond Ruvie, he saw a stranded wave of light crash into the walls an rebound. It writhed violently inside the room, like a glowing snake running wild.
I didn't think it was a monster from the monster encyclopaedia. Should I run and tell an adult about it. No, in this house, I must stand and fight.
"Miss Ruvie!"
The light lunged at her as he yelled. A short moan could be heard. The light morphed into what looked like a slender piece of rope, forcing its way into the bedroom through the gap between Ruvie and the wall.
Ruvie fell crumpled where she stood as Denzel got thrust back unconcious.
"I don't know how long I was lying there. When I came to, the whole house was in shambles.
Miss. Ruvie was lying on the floor. I called her name and she opened her eyes just a little... and said "Im glad you're safe" in a soft voice. Then she asked me to hold her hand. So I held my hand out. She took it... but there was no strength in her at all"
"My son's hand is too big. I can't get mine around it anymore" she said. And I thought, "Good thing I'm a kid." Then she asked me what it looked like outside. I was worried about her, but I went out to look. It was morning. The whole area was just like the inside of the house, in shambles."
Denzel hung his head and continued his tale, while Reeve closed his eyes mournfully and listened.
* * *
After heading outside, Denzel turned around and looked at Ruvi's house. He could see that all of the windows had been blown out. Looking around he saw that it was the same with all of the other houses in the area. There were houses without roofs, houses with big gaping holes in the walls. Denzel now knew that it would have turned out the same way, whether he broke the window or not, but he got mad at himself for thinking it.
Miss Ruvie went through such a horrible ordeal just to protect me and here I am acting as if I had nothing to do with it.
When he went back inside, it looked like Ruvie was sleeping. She had such a peaceful look on her face. Disconcerted, he gave her shoulders a little nudge.
"Miss Ruvi. Hey"
She showed no signs of waking.
"Miss Ruvie?",
This time he tried shaking a little harder.
A stream of black fluid dribbled from the corner of Ruvie's mouth. Seeing it was a sign of death, he hastily wiped it away. The black stuff was oozing from underneath her hair, too. Denzel felt sick. He bolted out of the house, gripped with fear.
"Dad, please. Mom, help me. Mr. Arkham. Anybody!"
There was nobody left, nobody to hold his hand and tell him that everything was going to be ok. All he could do was cry.
"Hey, don't cry",
Denzel felt a huge hand ruffling his hair. When he looked up, he saw a great big man with a jet black moustache standing there. Behind him was a small truck with around 10 people sitting in the back.
"What are you doing here? Didn't you hear them say on the TV to take shelter in the slums?"
Denzel felt like he would get scolded if he didn't give a satisfactory answer
"We didn't watch TV."
"No kidding you didn't. "We didn't know." "We thought we'd be okay." It's the same story with the whole lot of you! "
Everyone on the truck had sheepish looks on their faces.
"So, you got family?"
"Miss Ruvie's in the house."
* * *
"The Man's name was Gaskin. He helped me bury Miss Ruvie in the backyard. The people in the truck helped too. We buried her with her son's books and her sewing kit. Everyone was surprised how deep the soil in the backyard was. They said they usually hit the Plate right away."
"Perhaps she'd meant to grow vegetables. A lot of elderly folk from the country do that, you know.
"...I think it was flowers.",
Denzel looked at the floral pattern on his hankerchief.
"The house was full of flower paterns, and she had tons of fake flowers too. But I think what she wanted was some real ones.
She lived in Midgar because her son worked for Shinra. But she just wanted a nice place with soil, were she could plant some flowers and... eh, sorry. I'm rambling, huh?"
Reeve nodded as he listened.
sigh "no"
* * *
The truck carrying Denzel and the others eventually stopped at the train station.
"The train's aren't running. No prospects of them starting up again either. But lucky for us, the tracks still lead down to the city. We should be able to walk it."
"Is Midgar dangerous?"
"Well, I dunno. But I'll take my chances with good old solid ground"
He turned to Denzel,
"Careful you don't slip.Everybody's hit hard right now.You gotta look after yourself"
The truck did a U-turn and left. A large crowd had gathered at in the terminal. The white light affected the whole of Midgar. Those who had lost their homes retreated there, as well as those who thought the whole city might collapse around them. Even so, many of them were hesitant to walk down the tracks to the ground. There were no cheers to be heard that Meteor was gone, instead, people shouted their grievances with the botched and belated evacuation order. Denzel thought to himself that it was a good thing his father wasn't here to listen to this. He waded through the crowd to the platform and fell in with the procession down the tracks. He didn't know what was in store below, but seeing as Gaskin was the only one showing them the way, doing as he said seemed like the best course of action.
We didn't know what lay ahead but the only person leading was Gaskin. It was obvious that we had no other choice but to follow him.
Between rails and cross-ties, laid atop iron struts, Denzel could see the ground far below. They were far enough up that falling meant certain death, so he made his descent cautiously. The railway spiraled down around Midgar's perimeter and it was sickeningly long, but with his mind focused on keeping his footing, he never had to think about it
Suddenly they seemed to have come to a dead end. The adults had come to a halt. It was like being in a traffic jam. When he made his way to the front of the crowd. There was a boy of about three sitting precariously between the rails with his legs out in front of him.
If he was the cause of our delay, then I thought we could have just gone round him.
"Where's your mama?"
Suddenly, the boy started crying and yelling
"MOMMY!"
He tried to peer down below. He lost his balance and looked like he was about to fall, so Denzel darted forward and grabbed his arm.
Crowd noises
"Hey, that kid, he's marked."
"Don't touch him, you'll catch it!"
Denzel had no idea what they were saying.
"Hey, clear the road!"
Denzel looked up, like he wanted to object to whoever said that, but he didn't see who it was. With no other choice, he put his hands around the boy's waist and dragged him up onto an iron plate where it was safer.
I was wondering why no one helped, but I soon realized the reason why. The boy's back was soaked in a black substance.
The path was now clear, so people started to walk again. The boy kept crying.
"Mommy, it hurts"
Denzel remembered someone saying "You'll catch it." He wanted to cry. He was furious with the boy, but he immediately remembered Ruvie. How he had felt ill when the same black fluid came out of her, even though she had been so kind to him. How he had gotten scared and ran off. His heart was filled with guilt.
That was why I planned to wipe that sin away by helping the boy. I wanted Ruvie to forgive me.
Denzel knelt down next to him
"Where's it hurt?"
"Back there, ahh"
"Your back hurts?"
"Yeah."
He carefully placed his hand on the boys back.
When I had a sore tummy, mom would rub it for me and the pain would go away. She did the same if I bumped into things. I might be able to use some of mom's magic too.
Denzel did his best to ignore the sticky black substance, and started to rub. Although it was painful at first, the boy soon fell asleep.
For three hour - maybe even longer - he continued to rub, taking breaks now and then. People ignored Denzel and the boy as they descended the tracks.
"He's dead you know."
Looking up, he saw the tired face of a woman. She had a baby fastened around her chest, and a girl about Denzel's age was holding her hand.
"That shirt looks like a girl's. It's so weird. Isn't it, mommy?"
Without uttering a word, the woman helped her daughter out of her blue jacket, and held it out to Denzel.
"Put this over him."
The little girl was relieved. She had been bundled up in three layers of clothes, and was soaked with sweat.
"You can have it. It belongs to my big sister. That's why it's so big."
Denzel looked at the boy curled up asleep next to him. It didnt sound like he was breathing.
Denzel was completely out of strength. The little girl took the jacket from her mother and wrapped it around the boy. His body was now completely hidden from view.
"He's with my big sister now."
"Thank you",
Just saying that all the energy he had. The mother started walking again and the little girl followed her. She slid he hand into her mother's. Both their hands were dyed jet black.
Gazing at the Chocobo on the bag the little girl was carrying, Denzel thought to himself.
Were they all going to die crying in pain with that black stuff flowing out? Was everyone going to die because they were ill?
* * *
"Back then, we didn't know a thing about the stigma. People exposed to the Lifestream oozed ichor from their bodies and died. Some said it spread through skin contact. Actually, it was remnants of Jenova mixed in the Lifestream... Well, even if people knew, it would have made no difference.
"Right, Especially to a kid"
"Yeah..."
"Up there on the tracks I thought "I wish I was grown up." Even if it meant just one less time I spent thinking about something I could never understand.
* * *
Denzel absentmindedly watched the people who fled to the station in the Slums. One by one, they descended from the upper levels, and still they kept walking as if they believed stopping would be their end. While he knew he should do the same, hecouldn't abandon the hope that he might run into a familiar face if he stayed put. All that drove Denzel while he was in that limbo was unbearable hunger.
Walking around the outside of the terminal looking for food, he saw a pile of goods stacked up a short distance away. Further on, he saw several men working away at something. It seemed they were digging a hole. The smell of decay hung in the air. A man came over carrying a young woman on his shoulders and gently lowered her into the hole. It was a makeshift grave. As Denzel made a hasty exit, he spotted a familiar backpack amongst the pile of goods. It had a picture of a chocobo on it. He was somehow compelled to pick up the bag and open it. Inside were some cookies and chocolate. Denzel thought about the little girl who owned it.
She's gone now.
"Eat up"
It was Gaskin. Denzel had a vaque feeling he had been wanting to run into him all along.
"Worried you'll catch the sickness? That's nothing but a rumour. I suppose it could actually be true, but right now? Just hearsay. Besides, you don't eat, you die. If you're gonna die, wouldn't you rather do it on a full stomach?",
That said, he reached into the backpack, snagged a cookie, and ate it
"mmm! Still good. They'll only rot if you leave them there. Eat up before they go to waste."
Denzel ate a cookie. The sweetness was comforting. He looked down at the bag,
"Thanks".
Gaskin gave Denzel's hair a good ruffle.
He was a different type of person compared to dad, but the way he ruffled my hair was the same.
For the next year or so, Denzel was living at that very spot. His first job was to find food among the goods.
He made friends right away. They were all children who had lost their parents. Gaskin kept making friends too. "Shit-for-brains who arent happy unless they're using their muscles", as Gaskin put it. Of course, he was affectionately referring to the group that first started burrying the corpses. Sometimes Denzel caught himself smiling. He felt he could be his old self again. However, about two weeks in, the number of refugees from Midgar dwindled and no more people died at the terminal. Their role there was just about finished. Denzel spent many sleepness nights worried about the future.
A lone man was out walking, as though he were searching for something. Eventually he approached Denzel and his friends and spoke to them.
"I'd like some iron pipes. The more, the merrier."
Denzel and his friends went to look for iron pipes. They managed to find lots of them in the debris of Sector Seven.
The man said his thanks and left. Since then, he came back many times. After the third visit, he brought friends with him who were also searching for things.
A new town had started to develop on the east side of Midgar. It turned out they were looking for materials to use there. The kids agreed to find what they were looking for in exchang for food.
Denzel and his friends soon took to calling themselves the Sector Seven Scavengers, or Triple S for short. There was plenty of work for them. They were proud of themselves for working and living like adults, and it was fun. There were nights when they cried and thought about their parents, but they always comforted each other. They were "all in the same boat", but destiny had not tied Denzel and the others as tightly as they thought.
One morning, Gaskin gathered the adults and kids of the Triple S, and suggested they move to the new town and pitch in with the efforts there. Just when they all seemed to reach an agreement, one of the children noticed something. He had seen Gaskin rubbing his chest now and then during his speech.
"Mr. Gaskin, are you feeling sick?"
"Just a bit"
When he undid the buttons of his shirt, he saw that he was soaked in the black liquid.
* * *
"Gaskin died a month later. We made sure to bury him in a special place. The good people always die, huh?"
Reeve nodded silently to Denzel's words. Denzel put the coffee to his lips. He really hated the bitter taste, but he wanted to be able to enjoy some day, like the adults did.
All of the adults had moved on now, but about twenty of the kids stayed behind as the Triple S.
They knew about the new town, known as Edge, and that it was growing in leaps and bounds. They also knew that there was a facility there for orphans. But they were helping with the building efforts right where they were, and got by without relying on adults. They saw no reason for them to leave. They also thought about how bad it would look to be called orphans and needing to be protected. Still, their pride couldn't stop the new town progressing. Soon, work was re-centred around large machinery brought in from various places. In the time it took Denzel and his friends to carry one short girder, a giant crane could lift up an entire house and carry it off. And so, even the proud members of the Triple S started to leave, one by one. Before long, only six members remained, including Denzel. All of them were starving. Eventually even the last girl left announced she was going to Edge.
* * *
Denzel laughed with a smile.
"What's wrong?"
Reeve looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"I hated that girl. The guys said a girl would just slow us down and stuff. But they all wanted to be in a group with her. Once there were less than ten people, she was a pain in the butt to work with."
Reeve laughed.
"But I realize now. All that meant was that I'd gotten to the point where I could - I don't know - worry and get mad about normal stuff again."
"You should be grateful to her."
"She's not around anymore."
* * *
When Denzel woke up, he learned that all that remained of the Triple S was him and another boy named Rix.
"What can two people scavenge? Screws and lightbulbs?"
"Think of the killing we'll make,"
"I'll go buy us some breakfast and look for some jobs."
"Hey, wait a sec."
Rix went over to where they hid their cash box and opened it.
"Hey, Denzel! We're in trouble!"
The change that remained in the box couldnt have bought them a slice of bread. The two of them sat silently for a while. Rix was the first to open his mouth.
"We'll just have to live in Edge now. Get food for free ."
"So that's it?"
"Yup, that's it. I ain't starving to death."
Suddenly, Denzel recalled something his father had said.
"Wanna catch some rats to eat?"
"Rats?"
"Yeah. I hear that everybody in the slums is too poor to eat anything but rats. My dad said so. Filthy, grey rats. This is the slums, and we're pretty poor."
"You serious?"
"Yeah, I'm gonn eat a rat. I'm gonna be a real kid from the slums."
Rick slowly got up and clapped the dust from his clothes. Denzel stood up too, and looked around.
"We need a spear."
"Oh yeah? Do it yorself. "
"huh?"
"I've been a kid from the slums since the day I was born."
Denzel realized his mistake and tried to smoothe things out.
"...I didn't know."
"So, what? You would have just refused to be friends with me if you did?"
"Of course not!"
"Whatever. You're just like all the snotty Plate kids."
"Rix..."
"Just so you know, thanks to the contaminated water you punks dumped on us, the rats here are full of nasty germs. Find one person who's gonna eat that."
Saying that, Rick left Denzel behind.
* * *
Denzel sighed.
"I didn't go after him. I didn't think he'd forgive me..."
"Why not?"
"Because he was right. I was a stuck-up kid from the Plate. I was used to the terminal and all the debris in Sector Seven, but I wouldn't be caught dead going to the other slums. I think that's why I didn't go to Edge either... because I thought of it as a slum. Poor and dirty"
"And Rix?"
"He's doing okay. But he still won't talk to me."
"Well, I'm glad you still have a chance to make up."
* * *
Denzel sharpened the ends of the steel rods he had gathered, and using them as spears, he went hunting for rats.
"I was ready to catch one of those rats and eat it. I had no money, no job. The slums would've been a step up. A Sector Seven kid like me could never be anybody in that world. But a rat full of nasty germs would solve that ploblem."
Loneliness had slowly stolen Denzel's will to live. His situation was no worse than when Sector Seven disappeared. But what made it worse was his presumption that nothing awaited him greater than his parents, Arkham, Ruvie, Gaskin, the Triple S, and all of the other encounters that had sustained him so far
He felt he would never smile again.
There's no meaning to life without smiles. Isn't that right, mom. A rat full of nasty germs should help me solve that problem
* * *
"Hey, now hold on a sec there!",
Without them noticing, Johnny was standing close by, listening to Denzel's story.
"I'm just saying what I thought at the time. But I was wrong. That's why i'm still around"
"Well, yeah... but..."
"... because you had the most fortunate encounter of your life"
"Just when things were looking the worst."
* * *
There were no rats to be found. He wandered around searching aimlessly, eventually arriving in the Sector Five slums. He found a church there that was starting to fall apart. A motorcycle hat been parked in front of it. It was like nothing he had seen before. But what really caught his attention was the mobile phone that hung on the handle.
A smile crossed Denzel's face. He figured it would be ok if he borrow it just for a second. He wondered if he'd be able to get through to anyone. Approaching the bike, he took the phone in his hand. As he dialed his home number, he imagined a phone ringing in the middle of the Sector Seven rubble.
"All Sector Seven lines are currently out of service."
Denzel had looked for his parents while working with the Triple S, but never found them. He no longer clung onto the hope that they were somewhere out there, alive.
"All Sector Seven lines are currently out of service."
With the phone still to his ear, he looked up. He could see the bottom of the Sector Five plate. He realized that on top of it, was Ruvie's resting place.
"All Sector Seven lines are currently out of service."
As he hung up, he thought about smashing is against the ground, but decided against it. He wanted to try dialling Ruvie's number, but he never learned it in the first place.
Denzel checked the phone's incoming calls. He decided to try the first number on the list. It rang. Someone picked up immediately.
"Cloud, what a surprise. You never call. Is something wrong?"
Denzel listened to the woman's voice silently.
"Cloud?"
"...No, I'm not."
"...Who, then? That's Cloud's phone, right?"
"I don't know."
"Who are you?"
"I don't know what I should do."
"Hey...Are you crying?"
"What's wrong? Are you all right? ... Coud? Are you there? Cloud?
He thought he felt tears flowing down his face. When he closed his eyes and went to wipe them, a surge of pain shot through his forehead. The pain caused his whole body to seize and he dropped the phone. He crouched there as the pain overwhelmed him. He felt a sticky fluid as he held his forehead. Denzel realised he really didn't want to die. But the pain wouldn't go away. All he could do was pray silently.
Don't let it be black. Don't let it be black.
He fought the throbbing pain and opened his eyes. His hands were jet black.
* * *
"I don't remember anything after that. When I woke up, I was in a bed. Tifa and Marlene were looking at me. ...The rest you already know, right."
"Sort of."
"I owe my being alive to so many different people. My parents, Miss Ruvie, Arkham, Gaskin, my friends from the Triple S. The living, the dead, Tifa, Cloud, Marlene. And, of course..."
"hmmm"
"I want to be like that for someone. It's my turn to do the protecting."
Reeve was silent.
"Please, sir, let me join,"
"No! N-O spells no!"
"Would you shut up!"
"But you're still just a kid!"
"That doesn't matter!"
"hmmm, Actually... the WRO no longer enlists children."
"There, told you!"
"Then... why didn't you just tell me in the first place?"
"Well, you see, I just decided. While listening to your story. Children have something only children can do. I want you to do that."
"...What is it?"
"Bring out the strength in us adults."
Denzel waited for him to continue, but Reeve stood up as if to say their talk was over.
"Oh, one other thing..."
Denzel looked at Reeve expectantly.
He took a hankerchief out of his pocket and waved it about. It had a pattern with lots of little flowers.
"Thank you for taking care of my mother."
Johnny had started to clean up after Reeve left. Denzel looked down at his own hankerchief, which he had set on the table.
"You know, kid... if you wanna fight, you can do it any time you want. You don't need to be in the WRO. Why's that so important to you?"
"Cloud..."
"What about him?"
"He's strong because he used to be in the army way back.I wanna be strong like that too"
"Times change, I think."
"How?"
"Well,let's see. Say, instead of some guy who swings around a sword... it's the guy who always knows how to take away the pain... which do you think would be more popular."
"It's not like I want to be popular, though."
Denzel remembered all of the hair ruffling and kind words, encouraging him. Men and women, adults and children - he would carry them in his heart for the rest of his life.
Four years ago, when the Lifestream came flowing out of the ground, many residents believed that Midgar would crumble and fall. With only their personal effects in hand, they fled their neighbourhoods, and yet, the people were unable to distance themselves from the city of steel for long. Perhaps they thought they could return to their normal lives of blissfull ignorance if they stayed close.
Before long, a new town called Edge was built along the avenue stretching east from Midgar, Edge's main avenue started at the border of Midgar's Third and Fourth Sectors. The town then expanded to the north and south from there. From a distance it seemed a magnificent city, but most of the buildings were actually constructed from Midgar's debris. The streets smelled of iron and rust.
Johnny ran a cafe that sat along the main avenue. It was a humble establishment in a patch of open ground, with a stall, some tables and a few chairs, where he could do some simple cooking. He named the cafe "Johnny's Heaven". It was named after "Seventh Heaven", a bar that once existed in the slums of Midgar's Sector Seven. Johnny had been in love with the barmaid there for a long time. Her was Tifa.
Several months after the bar was lost during Sector Seven's collapse, Tifa reopened a new Seventh Heaven in Edge. At the time, Johnny was among the masses who couldn't figure out how to go on, and was moved by the strength of spirit with which Tifa lived. And so, with those thoughts in mind, she became more than just the former object of his unrequited love, but a respected figure in Johnny's heart.
I'm going to live just like Tifa. But how? I know! I'll run a business too. I'll give hope to those who have lost their way.
That was the start of Johnny's Heaven. Customers who came there were subjected to the tale of "Johnny Reborn" again and again.
As a result of that, many of them visited the new Seventh Heaven, wanting to see Tifa, and wound up becoming her regulars. Unaware of this, Johnny continued to open 6 days a week waiting for an audience who would listen to his tale of love and hope.
Eventually, someone did come. It was a boy. It was pretty rare for a child to come in alone. He was Denzel, a young boy who was special to Johnny. He was part of Tifa's family. Johnny was going to put all his heart into his service for Denzel.
"Make yourself at home, Denzel."
Johnny bowed deeply, lowering his head. But Denzel only glimpsed at him for an instant before heading to the farthest table from the stall.
"Come sit a little closer."
"No. I'm meeting someone."
He's here to meet someone? He's dating already? But he's still a kid... Well, whatever. I'll watch over him. This is all part of my special service.
"On a date, ey? Go get her kiddo."
"Coffee please."
Is he ignoring me? Ah, he must be shy.
"Give me a shout if you're stuck. I know how to talk to the ladies. Trust me..."
Suddenly, Denzel stood up from his seat.
Was he angry?
Johnny was watching Denzel, but the young boy's gaze was directed at the entrance. A man in a plain suit was standing there.
"Welcome", Johnny greeted the customer, but averted his gaze. He was Reeve, a former Shinra executive. It was the first time Johnny had seen the man, who was now leading the WRO, up close. He had a reputation for bringing death.
What business does a guy like him have in my shop?
Reeve glanced around at his surroundings cautiously as he walked over to Denzel's table, and sat down. It seemed a habit of his. Something struck Johnny's mind.
Reeve was inviting Denzel to join the army. I have to stop them somehow. If something like that was to happen in my cafe then I wouldn't be able to face Tifa again.
With that in mind, his expression remained calm as he glared at Reeve.
"A coffee, if you don't mind",
Johnny was shocked at how dignified he seemed.
"Yes, of course."
Johnny stood up straight as he answered, then scurried back to the stall.
"Not an easy person to deal with."
Denzel was surprised that the head of the WRO himself would come to interview him. He stood there, unable to get as much as a greeting out.
"Have a seat."
Reeve's voice snapped him out of it, and he nervously sat down.
"Now then, Denzel. I'm short on time, so let's get right to business",
"I should warn you up front, our organisation has changed. Gone are the days when we welcomed just anyone into our ranks. If it's volunteer work you're after, contact your local leaders. The WRO is an army now."
"Yes, sir. I'm prepared for the dangers."
"Im sure you are... All right, tell me about yourself, starting with your background."
"My background? I don't - I mean, I'm only 10."
"Yes , I know. But even a 10 year old must have a background?"
"eh..." sigh
Denzel was the only son born to Abel, a workaholic employee of Shinra's Division Three, and Chloe, a sociable woman with a knack for housekeeping. The three of them lived in Shinra's employee housing area on the Sector Seven plate. Abel, who was born and raised in a provincial town, was satisfied that he could raise his family in the upper levels of Midgar's acropolis. However, he believed he always needed goals in life, and his new one was to live in the executive housing area of Sector Five.
When Denzel reached the age of seven, Abel was promoted to head of division. That meant he had the right to live in the Sector Five housing. Hearing the news, both Chloe and Denzel prepared a surprise party. Sumptuous food and child-like decorations welcomed home the man of the house. It was an enjoyable dinner. Denzel listened to his gleeful father tell jokes, and talk about his life.
"Denzel, you're very lucky to have been born my son. If you'd been born in the Slums, you'd have to eat rats instead of chicken."
"They don't have chicken?"
"They do, but because everyone is so poor, they can't afford it. They have no choice but to catch rats with spears. Filthy, grey rats."
"Ewww... Sounds disgusting."
"So, how do they taste?",
Abel winking at Chloe. She pointed to Denzel's plate.
"Well, Denzel?"
Denzel grew uneasy, looking back and forth at his parents faces and his plate. His father looked down, trying not to laugh. Denzel remembered one of his mother's sayings.
"There's no meaning to life without smiles"
They're both trying to scare me again. "Neither one of you is fooling me, ok!?"
* * *
"What mean parents."
"They just liked to joke. I didn't mind being teased."
"I'll tell you this, but as far as I know rats weren't eaten in the slums. The rats in the slums at that time were..."
"I know. I know about it well."
"Oh? Did something happen?"
"...It's a long story."
* * *
The phone rang while Denzel was watching the house. It was Abel.
"Where's your mother?"
He seemed angry.
"She's out shopping."
"When she gets home, tell her to call me back right away... Nevermind, I'll call her."
He knew his father was troubled, and grew anxious. He couldn't settle down, so he turned on the TV and waited for his mother to come home. On the news, they were showing Mako Reactor One, which had been blown up just days ago by a group calling themselves Avalanche.
"Dad's been busy because of this. That's why he was cranky. Not because of me or mom"
After about an hour, it wasn't his mother who came home. It was Abel.
"Where's your mom?"
"She's not back yet."
"Okay. I'm going to look for her."
Abel was out of the house before he even finished the sentence. Panicking, Denzel went after him. They went to the market and found Chloe right away. She was happily talking with the butcher. Abel told Denzel to stay put and walked toward the shop. Without a word, he grabbed his wife's wrist and practically dragged her away.
When he heard his mother's protests, Denzel tensed up.
"Would you let go of me! What's going on?"
Abel looked around him and lowered his voice.
"They're going to destroy Sector Seven. We need to hurry and take shelter in Sector Five. There's a new company residence for us there."
"Destroy it?"
"The scum that blew up Reactor One... Well, they've picked their next target."
Denzel looked at both of his parents' faces. There was no sign of them stifling laughter. This was no joke.
"... Number Seven?"
He grabbed both of his parent's hands
"Come on, lets hurry and go."
But the two didn't budge.
"But we can't just... What about the neibours, Our friends?"
"There's no time, Chloe. Besides, this is classified. I'm breaking rules here. They just made me head of division."
Irritated, Chloe shook her wrist free.
"Denzel. Go with your father. I'll catch up with you soon. Don't worry."
After giving Denzel's hand a firm squeeze, Chloe left and started to run.
"Chloe!"
Abel ran after his wife, but after a few steps he came to a halt. Seeing how much his father was suffering, Denzel's heart ached.
He wanted to go after her, but I was holding him back.
"Denzel, we need to go."
"No! We can't leave mom here!"
"Mom will be just fine. You can't blame her for caring."
A tall man was dragging a suitcase along as he walked at the borders of the Sixth and Seventh Sectors. Abel called out to him. When the man realised who was calling out to him, he quickly ran over.
"You're still here, sir? The Turks have already deployed. By now they must be nearly finished planting the explosives. One of my buddies has a vehicle prepped, we should...."
"Not in front of my son"
"... Sorry, sir."
Denzel knew quite a lot about Shinra, thanks to all he had heard from his father since he was little. The Turks were the ones who did all the dirty work.
"What did he mean that the Turks had planted the bombs? Are the Turks with Avalanche?"
He stared at the ground, wondering what they were talking about. Sensing his father's gaze, he looked up.
"Arkham, could you take my boy over to Sector Five? The housing area, number 38."
Abel never took his eyes off his son.
"No!"
"Do as I say. Go with Mr. Arkham. Im going to bring back your mom"
"...We'll go together."
"Arkham, can I count on you?"
"Of course, sir."
"Here's the key. I'll leave it with my son."
From the inside pocket of his suit, he produced a key, and forced Denzel to close his hand around it.
"Dad..."
"I bought us a new big-screen TV. Watch that while you're waiting for us."
After ruffling his son's hair, Abel gave him a gentle push toward Arkham and started running in the direction of the Sector Seven. Denzel almost lost his balance, but Arkham was there to catch him.
"All right, lets get going. I'm Arkham. I work for your Dad. Its nice to finally meet you. Your Dad never stops talking about..."
Denzel squirmed and tried to run off, but Arkham stopped him.
"I understand how you feel. But I can't disobey your father's orders. For now, lets just go to Sector Five. After that, you're free to do whatever you like. OK?"
The new house, nestled in a rows of cookie-cutter homes, was empty, except for a big box holding the TV. Arkham took it out of the box and hooked up the cables.
Together they watched the news. They were still airing the video of Mako Reactor One exploding. All Denzel could think about was when Arkham would leave.
"I'm hungry."
"You got it. I'll go pick something up"
Just then, the entire house shook. A huge explosion could be heard in the distance. As Arkham opened the door, they could hear the screams of twisting metal coming from outside.
"Stay here."
"Wait, what about -- ?"
Just as Denzel was about to follow, there was an anouncement on the tv.
"Breaking News"
"We interrupt our regular broadcast for this breaking news. We have unconfirmed reports that sector seven has just exploded. Yes, there seems to have been a tremendous explosion..."
Footage of an entire town caving in appeared on the screen. It took Denzel a few moments to recognise it a Sector Seven, where he and his family had been just hours before. The scene changed.
"You are now watching live footage from Sector Seven."
There was nothing there. Sector Seven was gone. Denzel burst out the house. The streets were in chaos. People were running all over the place shouting that Sector Five would be next.
He ran as fast as he could and didn't stop, even with the chaos around him. He made it to Sector Six, completely out of breathe. Soldiers were putting up a barrier. Denzel approached, trying to get a look at Sector Seven. There was nothing there. It was as though nothing ever had been. He could see Sector Eight in the distance. The joins for the Sector Seven Plate were peeking out.
"Whoa, kid! You wanna get hurt?."
"Where do you live?"
Denzel pointed into the empty space.
"I see... Damn shame, that."
The soldier's voice was gentle.
"Where are your parents?"
Again, Denzel pointed into the space where Sector Seven used to be.
*The soldier let out a sigh*,
He stood next to Denzel and placed his hand on his shoulder
"This is Avalanche's doing. Don't you forget it. When you get bigger, you pay them back for what they've done."
"... You have to go. You can't stay here"
The soldier turned Denzel toward Sector Six and urged him away.
He started to walk absent-mindedly. The voices of concerned strangers passed in one ear and out the other.
Which place was going to be next? ... Dad! ... Will it be alright here? ... Mom! ... I won't forgive those Avalanche scum! ... What are the Shinra doing! ... Dad! ... Mom, where are you?
The pathetic child's voice was the only one he couldn't tune out. When he realised it belonged to him, he couldn't walk any further. Tears came welling up.
"Is it true Shinra did it?"
"Yes."
Reeve looked away from him. It seemed he was determined not to show any signs of emotion.
"Do whatever you like with me, if you despise me for it."
Denzel shook his head.
**
The next day, Denzel awoke to find himself in the new house in Sector Five. Beneath him was a matress that couldn't have been there the day before, yet there he was, lying on it. Someone had left a note and a pastry at his bedside.
"I'm at the office. I'll drop by to check on you once in a while. Don't wander off too far. Everyone is riled up just now, so it's pretty dangerous. More importantly, it would be very hard to find you. You're a pretty important boy. P.S. I borrowed the mattress from the neighbour, so please make sure to return it. - Arkham."
They aired the footage of Sector Seven's collapse on the tv, over and over again. Denzel heard Shinra's announcement that Midgar was safe now. His own parents might be dead; they could say it was safe all they wanted, but he wouldn't buy it.
"Now that it's so safe, does everyone get to live happily ever after? Does that include me?"
Denzel tried to eat the pastry. Before taking a bite, he noticed that he had inadvertantly squashed it, and the cream in the middle was oozing out. Anger surged in him. He threw the pastry at the TV, and stormed out of the house.
It was quiet. He could see the Shinra Building towering over the center of Midgar.
"Dad might be alive. He might be at the office with Mom. At a time like this, he must be way too busy to get away. There are lots of Shinra houses around here; maybe somebody knows Dad. I hate talking to grownups I don't know; but I've gotta suck it up and ask."
He went to the house to the right and rang the doorbell. There was no answer. He tried opening the door. It wasn't locked, so he poked his his head inside.
"Hello?"
He waited for a moment, but as before, there was no answer. Arkham had borrowed the mattress from this house, it seemed.
"What are we, thieves? Taking stuff without asking? Is that how we have to live now, stealing and doing whatever else it takes?"
The house on the left, the one across the street, the one next to that. They were all empty. Everyone had left. He went to check the houses further down the street. On almost every door was a piece of paper which stated that the tenants were taking temporary refuge and where they could be contacted.
No one was left. It didn't seem possible that his parents were at the office. If they were, they would have come here. Even if it was impossible for Denzel's father to come, his mother certainly would have.
The hope he held onto was shattered as he walked away. Before he knew it, Denzel noticed he had completely lost his way. He couldn't remember how he got there, or even where he came from. Tears flowed down his face. They weren't so much tears of sadness, but more of anger.
He stopped and sat down in the street, but jumped when he realized he had sat on something sharp. It was a small model of one of Shinra's airships. A kid must have dropped it.
Denzel picked it up and threw it as hard as he could at the closest house.
"I hate everyone!"
The sound of a glass breaking echoed through the deserted street, followed by a woman's voice.
"Who's there? Who did this!"
Before Denzel realized what he had done, an old lady came out of the house in front of him. Maybe she wasn't really that old, but to Denzel, anyone over a certain age was old.
"You did this?!",
She was holding the model airship infront of Denzel. He gave an honest nod.
"Why would you...?"
"Are you crying?"
Denzel shook his head in denial, but he couldn't hide his tears.
"Where do you live?"
He couldn't bring himself to answer her. Tears welled up and would stop.
"Well, why don't you come inside?"
The inside of Ruvie's home seemed very different to Denzel's, it felt very cozy. The wallpaper was printed with lots of flowers, the upholstery had a similar pattern. The actual flowers that decorated the room were artificial, but still the room had a sense of warmth and tranquility. Denzel took a seat on the sofa and looked at Ruvie. She was struggling to patch up the shattered glass window with a plastic bag.
"When my son gets home, he'll be able to fix this up right as rain. This should do for now."
"I'm sorry, Ms. Ruvie."
"If times weren't how they are, I'd go give your parents an earful."
"My mom and dad, they're..."
"What, you expect me to believe they left you here and just ran off?"
"... They were in Sector Seven."
Ruvie stopped what she was doing. She sat down on the sofa and held Denzel in her arms.
Once he had calmed down, she suggested they go outside. They decided to go look for his house. The two of them walked hand in hand. When Denzel reached the age of six, he had stopped holding hands with his parents. It made him look uncool. But right now, he never wanted to let go.
The Shinra employees among the residents were staying at headquarters, working to resolve the situation. Their families were taking refuge in Junon or Costa Del Sol. Ruvie remained behind because, as she explained it, if you're going to be alone no matter where you go, then theres no place better than your own home. Eventually, they found Denzel's house.
"Thank you very much. And about the glass... I'm sorry."
Ruvie nodded silently. As Denzel opened the door, she peered inside the empty house.
"What are you planning to do with a house that doesn't have anything? Come to my house, OK?"
And so, that was how Denzel came to live with Ruvie.
When Mako Reactor One was destroyed, Ruvie knew that trouble was on its way, so she bought lots of food. The storage shed in her back garden was full of canned food and nonperishables.
"There's no need to worry when you're prepared."
Ruvie was busy everday. Cleaning the inside of the house, cleaning the outside of the house, preparing food, her sewing. Denzel helped with everything but the sewing. Before she went to sleep at night, she read a book. Ruvi picked thick, challanging books. When Denzel asked if it was any good, she replied, "Not one bit". They were her son's, she told him. For more than five years, she had continued to read them, thinking they might help her understand her son's work. She laughed when she realized they were only good for putting her to sleep.
Ruvie leant Denzel an encyclopaedia of monster, telling him it would be useful. That too belonged to her son, he had read it when he was around Denzel's age. It contained descriptions and colour illustrations of monsters. The same thing was written on every page; If you encounter a monster, run. Then tell an adult.
"... if I run into a monster right now, am I really supposed to tell Ruvie? She doesn't look like she'd be a very good fighter. Would I have to fight it, then? Am I strong enough to? Could I win?
I'm completely useless. Thats why my parents didn't want me to go with them"
* * *
The sun had grown stronger and Denzel was soaked with sweat.
"Damn... this heat."
Denzel took out a hankerchief to wipe away his sweat.
"What an adorable pattern. Like a little girl's."
"Yes, sir. "
Denzel smiled, staring at his hankerchief.
* * *
One morning when Denzel awoke, Ruvi was there holding a shirt by the collar.
"Denzel. Put this on. I made it for you, but this was the only fabric I could find."
On the white shirt was a patern of little pink flowers. It was something that Denzel would have normally flatly refused to wear, but he put it on, delighted.
"Thanks, Ms. Ruvie."
"Well, I had extra fabric. Here."
She held out a handkerchief with the same pattern. There must have been a lot of extra fabric, judging from the number of handkerchiefs she had made. Denzel took just one, and folded it neatly into his pocket.
"Denzel...",
The smile faded from Ruvie's face,
"I don't know how to explain this..."
Denzel considered what she might say to him. The words he feared most came to mind; Get out. The very notion made him tremble with anxiety.
"Lets go outside."
Ruvi went outside into the back yard. Denzel hesitated, but eventually followed. He walked along the thick bed of soil and stood next to her. She stood gazing at the sky.
Denzel looked too. There was a great black spot up there. It was a truely ominous sight. Only blue and white belonged in the daytime sky. Surely any other colour spelled gloom and turmoil.
"They're calling it "meteor." That's about all I know about it. But they're saying that thing is going to crash into the planet... and put an end to everything"
Ruvi took two cans out of the shed and handed them to Denzel.
"How do you prepare for something like that, for crying out loud?"
That day, Ruvi didn't clean, sew or do anything else. She just sat on the sofa thinking.
She did, however, make several phone calls. Whoever it was, they werent answering. Denzel thought she must have been calling her son. He was having trouble visualising what Meteor's impact would be like. More importantly, he had a question to ask, but he couldn't find a way to bring it up. As night fell, Ruvie began to clean as if to announce her return to reality.
"Denzel, you're doing it all wrong. Haven't you been watching how I clean?"
That was the Ruvie he knew.
It was night and the two of them sat side by side on the sofa, reading their usual books.
"Denzel. I intend to wait for the end right here. If the planet is going to be destroyed, one place is as good as another. What will you do? If you plan to go somewhere else, take any food in the house with you. I know you're still just a boy, but I think you should choose where you face the end."
Denzel thought carefully about what Ruvie said. Finally, he asked the question he had been longing to ask all day.
"Is it okay if I stay here?"
Ruvi looked up from the book at Denzel and smiled.
After that, she carried on the way she always had, except she never cleaned outside. The yard work was Denzel's job now.
He saw construction had started at the Shinra building. In no time at all, they installed an enormous cannon.
"Shinra's gonna get rid of meteor for us"
"That company always finds a way to screw up,"
In the end, the cannon fired just one beam at an unseen target before collapsing in a wreck. As if that weren't enough, the Shinra Building itself was attacked.
"What kind of monster is out there?"
He couldn't even begin to imagine a monster that could destroy buildings. Up in the sky hung Meteor, unchanged. All hell may have broken loose elsewhere, but Denzel's days were peaceful
There were times when he couldn't suppress his longing to see his parents and wept aloud, but Ruvie's embrace would always comfort him. If the end was to come while he slept next to her, then he really didn't mind.
What robbed Denzel of his peace in the end wasn't Meteor, but an angry torrent of light. The Lifestream may have been a force of good that effectively destroyed Meteor, but the dense life energy also worked its destruction on people.
The chosen day, Denzel and Ruvie were in bed, about to fall asleep. Outside, they heard a fierce wind howling. But it was too loud to be just the wind. Soon the entire house began so shake.
The end had come. Denzel hoped it would be over quickly, but as more time passed, the worse the tremors grew. And noise grew too, it crescendoed to such a roar, like a train speeding past the house. Denzel held on tightly to Ruvie, shutting his eyes trying to brave it as best he could, but five minutes proved to be his limit.
"Miss Ruvie, I'm scared."
She sat up, and just as she went to turn on the light, the flower patterned curtains turned bright white. It was as though the whole house was engulfed in light.
"Cover yourself with the blanket."
As Ruvie left the bedroom, the shaking intensified and the flowers on top of the dresser fell to the floor. Denzel lept out of the bed and went after Ruvie.
She stood, staring at the living room window - the one she had crudely patched up with nothing but a plastic bag. The plastic had swelled up and looked ready to burst at any moment. Ruvie ran to the window and used both hands to hold it in place.
"Denzel! Get back inside!
Denzel was trembling. He couldn't move, as if his feet were stuck to the floor.
It was me who broke the window. It must be my fault that this is happening.
Ruvie left the window and rushed over to Denzel. He clung to he even as she forcibly pushed him back into the bedroom. At that moment, the prastic burst and a dazzling wave of light came flooding into the house. Ruvie quickly shut the door
"Denzel, you keep the door shut."
"Miss Ruvie!",
Denzel cried as he grabbed the doorknob and tried to open the door.
"Denzel, stop it!"
"But-!"
Denzel tried at the doorknob again.
Ruvi stood there with her back towards the door. Feet apart, and arms extended, taught across the doorframe
"Keep it closed!"
Beyond Ruvie, he saw a stranded wave of light crash into the walls an rebound. It writhed violently inside the room, like a glowing snake running wild.
I didn't think it was a monster from the monster encyclopaedia. Should I run and tell an adult about it. No, in this house, I must stand and fight.
"Miss Ruvie!"
The light lunged at her as he yelled. A short moan could be heard. The light morphed into what looked like a slender piece of rope, forcing its way into the bedroom through the gap between Ruvie and the wall.
Ruvie fell crumpled where she stood as Denzel got thrust back unconcious.
"I don't know how long I was lying there. When I came to, the whole house was in shambles.
Miss. Ruvie was lying on the floor. I called her name and she opened her eyes just a little... and said "Im glad you're safe" in a soft voice. Then she asked me to hold her hand. So I held my hand out. She took it... but there was no strength in her at all"
"My son's hand is too big. I can't get mine around it anymore" she said. And I thought, "Good thing I'm a kid." Then she asked me what it looked like outside. I was worried about her, but I went out to look. It was morning. The whole area was just like the inside of the house, in shambles."
Denzel hung his head and continued his tale, while Reeve closed his eyes mournfully and listened.
* * *
After heading outside, Denzel turned around and looked at Ruvi's house. He could see that all of the windows had been blown out. Looking around he saw that it was the same with all of the other houses in the area. There were houses without roofs, houses with big gaping holes in the walls. Denzel now knew that it would have turned out the same way, whether he broke the window or not, but he got mad at himself for thinking it.
Miss Ruvie went through such a horrible ordeal just to protect me and here I am acting as if I had nothing to do with it.
When he went back inside, it looked like Ruvie was sleeping. She had such a peaceful look on her face. Disconcerted, he gave her shoulders a little nudge.
"Miss Ruvi. Hey"
She showed no signs of waking.
"Miss Ruvie?",
This time he tried shaking a little harder.
A stream of black fluid dribbled from the corner of Ruvie's mouth. Seeing it was a sign of death, he hastily wiped it away. The black stuff was oozing from underneath her hair, too. Denzel felt sick. He bolted out of the house, gripped with fear.
"Dad, please. Mom, help me. Mr. Arkham. Anybody!"
There was nobody left, nobody to hold his hand and tell him that everything was going to be ok. All he could do was cry.
"Hey, don't cry",
Denzel felt a huge hand ruffling his hair. When he looked up, he saw a great big man with a jet black moustache standing there. Behind him was a small truck with around 10 people sitting in the back.
"What are you doing here? Didn't you hear them say on the TV to take shelter in the slums?"
Denzel felt like he would get scolded if he didn't give a satisfactory answer
"We didn't watch TV."
"No kidding you didn't. "We didn't know." "We thought we'd be okay." It's the same story with the whole lot of you! "
Everyone on the truck had sheepish looks on their faces.
"So, you got family?"
"Miss Ruvie's in the house."
* * *
"The Man's name was Gaskin. He helped me bury Miss Ruvie in the backyard. The people in the truck helped too. We buried her with her son's books and her sewing kit. Everyone was surprised how deep the soil in the backyard was. They said they usually hit the Plate right away."
"Perhaps she'd meant to grow vegetables. A lot of elderly folk from the country do that, you know.
"...I think it was flowers.",
Denzel looked at the floral pattern on his hankerchief.
"The house was full of flower paterns, and she had tons of fake flowers too. But I think what she wanted was some real ones.
She lived in Midgar because her son worked for Shinra. But she just wanted a nice place with soil, were she could plant some flowers and... eh, sorry. I'm rambling, huh?"
Reeve nodded as he listened.
sigh "no"
* * *
The truck carrying Denzel and the others eventually stopped at the train station.
"The train's aren't running. No prospects of them starting up again either. But lucky for us, the tracks still lead down to the city. We should be able to walk it."
"Is Midgar dangerous?"
"Well, I dunno. But I'll take my chances with good old solid ground"
He turned to Denzel,
"Careful you don't slip.Everybody's hit hard right now.You gotta look after yourself"
The truck did a U-turn and left. A large crowd had gathered at in the terminal. The white light affected the whole of Midgar. Those who had lost their homes retreated there, as well as those who thought the whole city might collapse around them. Even so, many of them were hesitant to walk down the tracks to the ground. There were no cheers to be heard that Meteor was gone, instead, people shouted their grievances with the botched and belated evacuation order. Denzel thought to himself that it was a good thing his father wasn't here to listen to this. He waded through the crowd to the platform and fell in with the procession down the tracks. He didn't know what was in store below, but seeing as Gaskin was the only one showing them the way, doing as he said seemed like the best course of action.
We didn't know what lay ahead but the only person leading was Gaskin. It was obvious that we had no other choice but to follow him.
Between rails and cross-ties, laid atop iron struts, Denzel could see the ground far below. They were far enough up that falling meant certain death, so he made his descent cautiously. The railway spiraled down around Midgar's perimeter and it was sickeningly long, but with his mind focused on keeping his footing, he never had to think about it
Suddenly they seemed to have come to a dead end. The adults had come to a halt. It was like being in a traffic jam. When he made his way to the front of the crowd. There was a boy of about three sitting precariously between the rails with his legs out in front of him.
If he was the cause of our delay, then I thought we could have just gone round him.
"Where's your mama?"
Suddenly, the boy started crying and yelling
"MOMMY!"
He tried to peer down below. He lost his balance and looked like he was about to fall, so Denzel darted forward and grabbed his arm.
Crowd noises
"Hey, that kid, he's marked."
"Don't touch him, you'll catch it!"
Denzel had no idea what they were saying.
"Hey, clear the road!"
Denzel looked up, like he wanted to object to whoever said that, but he didn't see who it was. With no other choice, he put his hands around the boy's waist and dragged him up onto an iron plate where it was safer.
I was wondering why no one helped, but I soon realized the reason why. The boy's back was soaked in a black substance.
The path was now clear, so people started to walk again. The boy kept crying.
"Mommy, it hurts"
Denzel remembered someone saying "You'll catch it." He wanted to cry. He was furious with the boy, but he immediately remembered Ruvie. How he had felt ill when the same black fluid came out of her, even though she had been so kind to him. How he had gotten scared and ran off. His heart was filled with guilt.
That was why I planned to wipe that sin away by helping the boy. I wanted Ruvie to forgive me.
Denzel knelt down next to him
"Where's it hurt?"
"Back there, ahh"
"Your back hurts?"
"Yeah."
He carefully placed his hand on the boys back.
When I had a sore tummy, mom would rub it for me and the pain would go away. She did the same if I bumped into things. I might be able to use some of mom's magic too.
Denzel did his best to ignore the sticky black substance, and started to rub. Although it was painful at first, the boy soon fell asleep.
For three hour - maybe even longer - he continued to rub, taking breaks now and then. People ignored Denzel and the boy as they descended the tracks.
"He's dead you know."
Looking up, he saw the tired face of a woman. She had a baby fastened around her chest, and a girl about Denzel's age was holding her hand.
"That shirt looks like a girl's. It's so weird. Isn't it, mommy?"
Without uttering a word, the woman helped her daughter out of her blue jacket, and held it out to Denzel.
"Put this over him."
The little girl was relieved. She had been bundled up in three layers of clothes, and was soaked with sweat.
"You can have it. It belongs to my big sister. That's why it's so big."
Denzel looked at the boy curled up asleep next to him. It didnt sound like he was breathing.
Denzel was completely out of strength. The little girl took the jacket from her mother and wrapped it around the boy. His body was now completely hidden from view.
"He's with my big sister now."
"Thank you",
Just saying that all the energy he had. The mother started walking again and the little girl followed her. She slid he hand into her mother's. Both their hands were dyed jet black.
Gazing at the Chocobo on the bag the little girl was carrying, Denzel thought to himself.
Were they all going to die crying in pain with that black stuff flowing out? Was everyone going to die because they were ill?
* * *
"Back then, we didn't know a thing about the stigma. People exposed to the Lifestream oozed ichor from their bodies and died. Some said it spread through skin contact. Actually, it was remnants of Jenova mixed in the Lifestream... Well, even if people knew, it would have made no difference.
"Right, Especially to a kid"
"Yeah..."
"Up there on the tracks I thought "I wish I was grown up." Even if it meant just one less time I spent thinking about something I could never understand.
* * *
Denzel absentmindedly watched the people who fled to the station in the Slums. One by one, they descended from the upper levels, and still they kept walking as if they believed stopping would be their end. While he knew he should do the same, hecouldn't abandon the hope that he might run into a familiar face if he stayed put. All that drove Denzel while he was in that limbo was unbearable hunger.
Walking around the outside of the terminal looking for food, he saw a pile of goods stacked up a short distance away. Further on, he saw several men working away at something. It seemed they were digging a hole. The smell of decay hung in the air. A man came over carrying a young woman on his shoulders and gently lowered her into the hole. It was a makeshift grave. As Denzel made a hasty exit, he spotted a familiar backpack amongst the pile of goods. It had a picture of a chocobo on it. He was somehow compelled to pick up the bag and open it. Inside were some cookies and chocolate. Denzel thought about the little girl who owned it.
She's gone now.
"Eat up"
It was Gaskin. Denzel had a vaque feeling he had been wanting to run into him all along.
"Worried you'll catch the sickness? That's nothing but a rumour. I suppose it could actually be true, but right now? Just hearsay. Besides, you don't eat, you die. If you're gonna die, wouldn't you rather do it on a full stomach?",
That said, he reached into the backpack, snagged a cookie, and ate it
"mmm! Still good. They'll only rot if you leave them there. Eat up before they go to waste."
Denzel ate a cookie. The sweetness was comforting. He looked down at the bag,
"Thanks".
Gaskin gave Denzel's hair a good ruffle.
He was a different type of person compared to dad, but the way he ruffled my hair was the same.
For the next year or so, Denzel was living at that very spot. His first job was to find food among the goods.
He made friends right away. They were all children who had lost their parents. Gaskin kept making friends too. "Shit-for-brains who arent happy unless they're using their muscles", as Gaskin put it. Of course, he was affectionately referring to the group that first started burrying the corpses. Sometimes Denzel caught himself smiling. He felt he could be his old self again. However, about two weeks in, the number of refugees from Midgar dwindled and no more people died at the terminal. Their role there was just about finished. Denzel spent many sleepness nights worried about the future.
A lone man was out walking, as though he were searching for something. Eventually he approached Denzel and his friends and spoke to them.
"I'd like some iron pipes. The more, the merrier."
Denzel and his friends went to look for iron pipes. They managed to find lots of them in the debris of Sector Seven.
The man said his thanks and left. Since then, he came back many times. After the third visit, he brought friends with him who were also searching for things.
A new town had started to develop on the east side of Midgar. It turned out they were looking for materials to use there. The kids agreed to find what they were looking for in exchang for food.
Denzel and his friends soon took to calling themselves the Sector Seven Scavengers, or Triple S for short. There was plenty of work for them. They were proud of themselves for working and living like adults, and it was fun. There were nights when they cried and thought about their parents, but they always comforted each other. They were "all in the same boat", but destiny had not tied Denzel and the others as tightly as they thought.
One morning, Gaskin gathered the adults and kids of the Triple S, and suggested they move to the new town and pitch in with the efforts there. Just when they all seemed to reach an agreement, one of the children noticed something. He had seen Gaskin rubbing his chest now and then during his speech.
"Mr. Gaskin, are you feeling sick?"
"Just a bit"
When he undid the buttons of his shirt, he saw that he was soaked in the black liquid.
* * *
"Gaskin died a month later. We made sure to bury him in a special place. The good people always die, huh?"
Reeve nodded silently to Denzel's words. Denzel put the coffee to his lips. He really hated the bitter taste, but he wanted to be able to enjoy some day, like the adults did.
All of the adults had moved on now, but about twenty of the kids stayed behind as the Triple S.
They knew about the new town, known as Edge, and that it was growing in leaps and bounds. They also knew that there was a facility there for orphans. But they were helping with the building efforts right where they were, and got by without relying on adults. They saw no reason for them to leave. They also thought about how bad it would look to be called orphans and needing to be protected. Still, their pride couldn't stop the new town progressing. Soon, work was re-centred around large machinery brought in from various places. In the time it took Denzel and his friends to carry one short girder, a giant crane could lift up an entire house and carry it off. And so, even the proud members of the Triple S started to leave, one by one. Before long, only six members remained, including Denzel. All of them were starving. Eventually even the last girl left announced she was going to Edge.
* * *
Denzel laughed with a smile.
"What's wrong?"
Reeve looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"I hated that girl. The guys said a girl would just slow us down and stuff. But they all wanted to be in a group with her. Once there were less than ten people, she was a pain in the butt to work with."
Reeve laughed.
"But I realize now. All that meant was that I'd gotten to the point where I could - I don't know - worry and get mad about normal stuff again."
"You should be grateful to her."
"She's not around anymore."
* * *
When Denzel woke up, he learned that all that remained of the Triple S was him and another boy named Rix.
"What can two people scavenge? Screws and lightbulbs?"
"Think of the killing we'll make,"
"I'll go buy us some breakfast and look for some jobs."
"Hey, wait a sec."
Rix went over to where they hid their cash box and opened it.
"Hey, Denzel! We're in trouble!"
The change that remained in the box couldnt have bought them a slice of bread. The two of them sat silently for a while. Rix was the first to open his mouth.
"We'll just have to live in Edge now. Get food for free ."
"So that's it?"
"Yup, that's it. I ain't starving to death."
Suddenly, Denzel recalled something his father had said.
"Wanna catch some rats to eat?"
"Rats?"
"Yeah. I hear that everybody in the slums is too poor to eat anything but rats. My dad said so. Filthy, grey rats. This is the slums, and we're pretty poor."
"You serious?"
"Yeah, I'm gonn eat a rat. I'm gonna be a real kid from the slums."
Rick slowly got up and clapped the dust from his clothes. Denzel stood up too, and looked around.
"We need a spear."
"Oh yeah? Do it yorself. "
"huh?"
"I've been a kid from the slums since the day I was born."
Denzel realized his mistake and tried to smoothe things out.
"...I didn't know."
"So, what? You would have just refused to be friends with me if you did?"
"Of course not!"
"Whatever. You're just like all the snotty Plate kids."
"Rix..."
"Just so you know, thanks to the contaminated water you punks dumped on us, the rats here are full of nasty germs. Find one person who's gonna eat that."
Saying that, Rick left Denzel behind.
* * *
Denzel sighed.
"I didn't go after him. I didn't think he'd forgive me..."
"Why not?"
"Because he was right. I was a stuck-up kid from the Plate. I was used to the terminal and all the debris in Sector Seven, but I wouldn't be caught dead going to the other slums. I think that's why I didn't go to Edge either... because I thought of it as a slum. Poor and dirty"
"And Rix?"
"He's doing okay. But he still won't talk to me."
"Well, I'm glad you still have a chance to make up."
* * *
Denzel sharpened the ends of the steel rods he had gathered, and using them as spears, he went hunting for rats.
"I was ready to catch one of those rats and eat it. I had no money, no job. The slums would've been a step up. A Sector Seven kid like me could never be anybody in that world. But a rat full of nasty germs would solve that ploblem."
Loneliness had slowly stolen Denzel's will to live. His situation was no worse than when Sector Seven disappeared. But what made it worse was his presumption that nothing awaited him greater than his parents, Arkham, Ruvie, Gaskin, the Triple S, and all of the other encounters that had sustained him so far
He felt he would never smile again.
There's no meaning to life without smiles. Isn't that right, mom. A rat full of nasty germs should help me solve that problem
* * *
"Hey, now hold on a sec there!",
Without them noticing, Johnny was standing close by, listening to Denzel's story.
"I'm just saying what I thought at the time. But I was wrong. That's why i'm still around"
"Well, yeah... but..."
"... because you had the most fortunate encounter of your life"
"Just when things were looking the worst."
* * *
There were no rats to be found. He wandered around searching aimlessly, eventually arriving in the Sector Five slums. He found a church there that was starting to fall apart. A motorcycle hat been parked in front of it. It was like nothing he had seen before. But what really caught his attention was the mobile phone that hung on the handle.
A smile crossed Denzel's face. He figured it would be ok if he borrow it just for a second. He wondered if he'd be able to get through to anyone. Approaching the bike, he took the phone in his hand. As he dialed his home number, he imagined a phone ringing in the middle of the Sector Seven rubble.
"All Sector Seven lines are currently out of service."
Denzel had looked for his parents while working with the Triple S, but never found them. He no longer clung onto the hope that they were somewhere out there, alive.
"All Sector Seven lines are currently out of service."
With the phone still to his ear, he looked up. He could see the bottom of the Sector Five plate. He realized that on top of it, was Ruvie's resting place.
"All Sector Seven lines are currently out of service."
As he hung up, he thought about smashing is against the ground, but decided against it. He wanted to try dialling Ruvie's number, but he never learned it in the first place.
Denzel checked the phone's incoming calls. He decided to try the first number on the list. It rang. Someone picked up immediately.
"Cloud, what a surprise. You never call. Is something wrong?"
Denzel listened to the woman's voice silently.
"Cloud?"
"...No, I'm not."
"...Who, then? That's Cloud's phone, right?"
"I don't know."
"Who are you?"
"I don't know what I should do."
"Hey...Are you crying?"
"What's wrong? Are you all right? ... Coud? Are you there? Cloud?
He thought he felt tears flowing down his face. When he closed his eyes and went to wipe them, a surge of pain shot through his forehead. The pain caused his whole body to seize and he dropped the phone. He crouched there as the pain overwhelmed him. He felt a sticky fluid as he held his forehead. Denzel realised he really didn't want to die. But the pain wouldn't go away. All he could do was pray silently.
Don't let it be black. Don't let it be black.
He fought the throbbing pain and opened his eyes. His hands were jet black.
* * *
"I don't remember anything after that. When I woke up, I was in a bed. Tifa and Marlene were looking at me. ...The rest you already know, right."
"Sort of."
"I owe my being alive to so many different people. My parents, Miss Ruvie, Arkham, Gaskin, my friends from the Triple S. The living, the dead, Tifa, Cloud, Marlene. And, of course..."
"hmmm"
"I want to be like that for someone. It's my turn to do the protecting."
Reeve was silent.
"Please, sir, let me join,"
"No! N-O spells no!"
"Would you shut up!"
"But you're still just a kid!"
"That doesn't matter!"
"hmmm, Actually... the WRO no longer enlists children."
"There, told you!"
"Then... why didn't you just tell me in the first place?"
"Well, you see, I just decided. While listening to your story. Children have something only children can do. I want you to do that."
"...What is it?"
"Bring out the strength in us adults."
Denzel waited for him to continue, but Reeve stood up as if to say their talk was over.
"Oh, one other thing..."
Denzel looked at Reeve expectantly.
He took a hankerchief out of his pocket and waved it about. It had a pattern with lots of little flowers.
"Thank you for taking care of my mother."
Johnny had started to clean up after Reeve left. Denzel looked down at his own hankerchief, which he had set on the table.
"You know, kid... if you wanna fight, you can do it any time you want. You don't need to be in the WRO. Why's that so important to you?"
"Cloud..."
"What about him?"
"He's strong because he used to be in the army way back.I wanna be strong like that too"
"Times change, I think."
"How?"
"Well,let's see. Say, instead of some guy who swings around a sword... it's the guy who always knows how to take away the pain... which do you think would be more popular."
"It's not like I want to be popular, though."
Denzel remembered all of the hair ruffling and kind words, encouraging him. Men and women, adults and children - he would carry them in his heart for the rest of his life.