"Is he dead?"

    "I dunno."

    "Well, poke 'im."

    "Ew! No!"

    "Come on! I'll get a stick!"

    "I dunno.....looks pretty bad."

    "Think we should tell someone?"

    "Heeelllppp....."

    "Ack! He ain't dead!" the first child squealed, tugging on the other's sleeve.

    The other child slowly back up. "I'm gonna get help" He ran off.

    "Hey! Wait for me!" The other child followed in quick pursuit.

    "Ugh....." Rufus Shinra, badly burned but still breathing, put a hand to his head. Sephiroth....WEAPON.....the Sister Ray.....Meteor....the blast....Shinra....it was all a blur. He had been killed....then how was he alive? He heard footsteps.

    "He fell through the roof! Right on the flowers!"

    "Yeah!"

    Rufus felt someone kneel besides him, then someone, with black hair, leaned over him.

    A woman. Rufus squeezed his eyes shut, hoping to make the image go away. The last thing he needed right now was more pain. He opened his eyes, but her figure remained, her large blue eyes studying his face.

    Finally she turned back to the children. "Jet, Buzz, why don't you go home? Don't worry, I'll take care of him."

    Rufus' heart nearly froze in his chest. Did she recognize him? What if she was a Shinra critic, a supporter of AVALANCHE? He suddenly realized he might be better off dead.....

    The children scampered off and the woman looked upon him again. He would have thought she was very beautiful, if he didn't despise all women, especially ones with black hair. She squinted, although she was searching for something in his eyes. Finally she smiled and stroked his head. "Well, you're quite lucky to be alive. I'm not sure where you came from, but you fell through the church roof." She paused and tentatively ran a finger over his blistered arm. "And these burns...." she shook her head. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that these seemed to have healed on their own."

    Rufus was confused. "...Meteor?"

    She seemed shocked by the question. "Meteor's gone, and so Sephiroth. Cloud Strife and his friends made it possible for Holy to save us all." She shook her head. "Why you must have been lying here for days."

    Rufus moaned. Cloud had taken care of Sephiroth? Then what had become of his beloved company....?

    The woman continued to talk. "Can you sit up?"

    Rufus nearly laughed at her. He had been unconscious for several days, yet she believed him able to sit up? Still he decided to give it a try. Surprisingly he was able to sit up without much difficulty.

    The woman didn't seem at all surprised. Instead she again gazed curiously into his eyes. "Pardon my asking, but were you in SOLDIER?"

    SOLDIER? What gave her that impression? Rufus cleared his throat. "No."

    She was finally surprised. "Are you sure?"

    Rufus glared daggers at her. "I believe I would know."

    The woman's eyes suddenly grew very wide and her hand flew over her mouth with a gasp. She slid away from him. "Rufus Shinra?!"

    Rufus turned away. "Guilty as charged."

    "I never would have thought that..." she mumbled, shaking her head. "Everyone thought you were dead."

    Rufus looked back at her. "I soon will be."

    She looked confused. "Excuse me?"

    "If you don't kill me, someone else will."

    She smiled and shook her head. "Why Mr. President, I don't think anyone would bother."

    He frowned. What was she talking about?

    "Actually I shouldn't call you President anymore..." she studied his face for a reaction.

    Rufus' eyes flashed. "What does that mean?"

    "I'm sorry to be the one who breaks this to you, but Shinra's finished. The company's been destroyed."

    Rufus shook his head and looked down at his lap. His hope was destroyed, yet, he remained. "Do you wish to torture me?" he snapped.

    "I thought it would be best to tell you," she said simply.

    Rufus lay back and collapsed in the flowers. "Leave me."

    She laughed, and Rufus set hi jaw, growing increasingly angry. "What do you find so humorous?"

    "Do you have any idea where you are?" she asked.

    Rufus thought for a moment. Then he sat up and glanced around. Actually, he hadn't a clue.

    She knew it. "You're still in Midgar. This is the Sector 5 slums."

    "The slums?!" he made a face of horror. Oh I've never been there-- to the slims, I mean....I wish I could say the same! Rufus put a hand to his head and moaned. Damn Vadra. Damn woman.

    "You said yourself you're not well liked. Anyone here would love to see you strung up."

    Rufus crossed his arms. "Let them come."

    She shook her head. "Listen, I'm not going to let them get to you, so you might as well cooperate."

    Rufus narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"

    "I'm Bria," she explained. "I'm actually from Gongaga, but I came here looking for my brother, Zack." She lowered her voice and added, "I haven't seen him since he joined SOLDIER."

    Rufus brushed off his filthy, tattered clothes. He made no reply.

    She continued, "at first I thought you were in SOLDIER..." she smiled and shook her head. "You have that glow in your eyes."

    Rufus immediatly froze. Glow, like in SOLDIER? "Pardon?"

    She looked at him strangely. "No one has ever told you?"

    Rufus was growing worried. "Told me what?"

    "That you've been injected with Jenova cells, just like members of SOLDIER," she said casually.

    Rufus suddenly grew cold, and turned away from her.

    "That's why you survived whatever it is you went through," she continued, "people injected with the cells of Jenova don't die too easily."

    Rufus squeezed his eyes shut. Why didn't anyone tell him? And why had his fahter cursed him like this? Was he just another failed Sephiroth clone like Cloud? Afterall, he didn't have a number....Rufus held his head in his hands. His fahter was long gone, yet he continued to make his son throughly miserable.

    Bria put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

    Rufus shook her hand off, and shot her a deadly look. "Let me be."

    "It's getting late," she said softly, "and the slums aren't exactly a safe place at night."

    He turned away from her. "I told you to leave me."

    For the first time she grew angry. "Shut up! Listen, I don't care who you are, were, or think you are. I will not leave you alone." She paused momentarily and spoke softer. "President Rufus, please. Let me help you."

    Rufus thought a moment. He was nothing, yet she still called him President? Pity? Perhaps, but right now it seemed to make little difference. Plus, as she had pointed out, he wouldn't die easily. "Very well." He went to stand, but found his legs to be too weak. He stumbled, and she caught him in her arms.

    "It'll be alright," she said gently, helping him to stand upright. "You can lean on me."

    As he dragged his feet out of the dilapidated church, Rufus only thought of what he had ever done to deserve this.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    Bria's living area was so small it could barely be called a home. It consisted of a bed and a small kitchen area, with minimal space between. As she set Rufus up on the bed, he finally took the opportunity to take a good look at her. She was tall, and reasonably thin, with a figure that belonged on a magazine cover. He hair was straight and black, and it reached halfway down her back. Her eyes, the only feature he had took notice of previously, were large and deep blue. She wore a tight black ensemble as clothing, and a complicated tool belt rested lazily on her hips. Her hair had been pulled back in the front, but some pieces escaped confinement to hang freely. All in all she was very beautiful, and Rufus found it difficult not to look upon her.

    "Sorry it's not palace," she apologized as she removed Rufus' torched shoes (with his permission) and laud them aside, "but I can't afford much better." She paused to look at his face. "Mind if I wipe the dirt from you face?"

    Rufus shook his head no, and wiped his hand across his face. Sure enough it left a streak of filth. Yuck.

    Bria came over with a moist cloth and gently wiped the grime from his face. When she finished she smiled assuringly at him. "Don't worry, you haven't a scar or anything." She crossed back over to the kitchen.

    "You are from Gongaga, yes?"

    "Born and raised there, " she confirmed.

    "Didn't the Mako reactor there explode?" he asked.

    She was silent a moment before she answered with a soft, "yes."

    "Why are you showing me any kindness? My father's--no, my company was responsible for destroying your town."

    She spun around and spoke sternly. "Do I seem bitter to you? Do I seem as though I'm out for revenge? It's the past. I don't deal with what cannot be changed, only what can be, in the future. You're a human being in need. Who you are is irrelevant to me, understand?"

    He barely nodded. No matter what she felt towards him, he with held his trust. He hated all women. Phonys.

    Bria cleared her throat and came to sit at the foot of the bed. "So, what did happen to you?"

    The memories came pouring back.....the flames, the heat, the pain...."WEAPON," he answered simply.

    She made a disgusted face. "That would explain the burns."

    Rufus was curious about Jenova. Of course he knew about the original Jenova project that was responsible for Sephiroth's creation, but many questions scrambled in his brain. One word was most prominent. 'Why'? "What do you know about Jenova?" he demanded.

    She shook her head and moved across the room. She wore a somewhat guilty smile. "Mr. President, I believe you know far more than I do...."

    "My name is Rufus," he reminded her sharply, "don't be afraid to use it." He looked at her, almost pleadingly. "Please, Bria, tell me what you know."

    She stared back at him silently for a moment, looking straight into his eyes. "Are you sure?"

    He answered evenly, returning her gaze. "I would not have asked if I wasn't." Well then yes....my answer is yes....Rufus shook his head. Dammit...would she haunt him forever?

    Hesitantly Bria came back to sit besides him. "I have done much research on Jenova. During my search for my brother, I have come across a plethora of information." She paused and stared directly at him. "Have you ever been to the basement of the mansion in Nibelheim?"

    Rufus wordlessly shook his head.

    "Long ago, before you and I were even born, the Shinra scientists gathered in that mansion to conduct their experiments on the Ancients and Jenova. The library there is filled with books of their research. This is the very same library where Sephiroth drove himself insane. Are the names Gast, Hojo and Lucretia familiar to you?"

    "I know Gast, and Hojo, of course, but I am not familiar with the name Lucretia."

    "Sephiroth believed Jenova to be his mother. Jenova was a life form believed to be an Ancient. Long ago she infected the Cetra with a virus, destroying nearly the whole race. the remaining Cetra managed to destroy her. When she was found thousands of years later, the scientists once again mistook her for an Ancient. They believed if they inserted the cells of this legendary creature into human beings, they could produce creatures beyond description. Sephiroth was the first experiment, and from there every member of SOLDIER was injected with Jenova cells." She shook her head and continued. "But Jenova was not Sephiroth's mother. No, he had parents like everyone else."

    "Who?" Rufus asked quietly.

    "Reeve, the designer of Midgar, you know him, yes?"

    Rufus nodded eagerly.

    "I spoke with him briefly before he fled the city. He said Hojo nearly destroyed Midgar to give his son all the Mako energy he desired."

    "Hojo...." Rufus mumbled.

    "I believe Lucretia to be his mother, but I haven't any proof." She sighed.

    Rufus shook his head slowly. "What I do not understand is why I have been injected with the cells of Jenova. What purpose would that serve? And why was I never informed?"

    "I can't answer those questions," she replied. "Your father must have had some motivation behind the action. Perhaps he wanted a strong successor?"

    Rufus shook his head again. "All those men injected with the cells....they were all clones of Sephiroth....so Hojo said." He paused. "Have you heard of the reunion?"

    She nodded. "Yes, many men from around here left to attend."

    "It was the Jenova reunion," he explained, his voice overcome with fear. "All the clones were going to Sephiroth...and I was there."

    She shook her head. "Not everyone containing the cells of Jenova was made a clone of Sephiroth."

    "I beg to differ," he replied. "All who were give the cells were given a number. Sephiroth's number was one."

    "I know about that," she interrupted, "but you---"

    "I don't have a number," he confirmed as he neatly cut her off. "But that is irrelevant. You know a man by the name Cloud Strife?"

    She nodded. "I heard he was a clone."

    Rufus nodded. "He is. A failed one, according to Hojo, not even given a number." He stopped.

    Her eyes grew slightly wider, absorbing the initial shock. "No....you don't think...."

    Rufus could not look at her any more. "It is possible. Hojo never thought much of me."

    "Don't think that way," she insisted.

    He glared at her. "Why am I discussing this with you? You have no right to tell me what to think!"

    Bria simply stared back at him for a moment, retaining a serious face. "You should get some rest," she said. "You must be tired."

    He didn't answer her, he simply laid back against the pillows. Rufus closed his eyes and told her, "leave me alone."

    She did, and without another thought he fell asleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    Rufus awoke very slowly the following morning. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust, and for him to remember where he was. Lazily he sat up and looked around. Where was that girl?

    As if on cue she walked through the door, and smiled upon seeing him awake. "Well good morning, Mr. President. How are you feeling?"

    Actually he felt pretty good. "Better," he replied. He thought about making a comment about being called President of a company that no longer existed, but he enjoyed being addressed as what had once brought him so much glory.

    Bria continued to smile. "I'm glad." She stopped where she was and looked him up and down several times. She frowned.

    Rufus looked down self-conciously. "What?"

    "Your clothes," she explained. "They've had better days."

    Rufus had to agree. They most certainly had. "Your proposal?"

    She handed him a bag. "Already taken care of." She grinned at him.

    Rufus glanced into the bag and was shocked to find a beautiful set of clothes, black, to match his mood. He looked at her in shock. "But..." he trailed off, shaking his head. "I can't accept this." He glanced around at his surroundings. She was so poor.

    She shrugged. "If you're worried about the money, forget it. My treat. Besides," she began with a laugh. "I'm not really poor, I just try and skimp on where I stay."

    Rufus smiled back at her for half a second, before he realized what he was doing and stopped himself. "I'm grateful."

    She headed back for the door. "I'll let you change. Just give me a holler when you're done." Bria was gone.

    Rufus dressed slowly, amazed that someone would spend money on him stead taking it from him. These clothes had not come cheap. He couldn't help but be curious of her motivation behind helping him. No one did something for nothing. He checked his pockets for money before retiring his clothes for good. He was glad to find his wallet, containing nearly 4,000 Gil, perfectly intact. When he was through he opened the door to let Bria back inside.

    "Are they alright?" she asked.

    He nodded. "Quite."

    For a moment they were silent. "Well, I'm glad you approve." She raised her eyebrows and a had a look as though she had something to say to him.

    "Is there something on your mind?" he prodded.

    "I need to go to the Shinra headquarters, what's left of it anyway," she blurted out, "to look up information on my brother."

    Rufus flinched.

    She continued. "I would never force you into coming. I thought that maybe if you had some unfinished business..." she trailed off, unsure how to finish the statement.

    Rufus was thoughtful for a moment. How painful it would be to see the headquarters. Void of activity, standing like a deserted remembrance of what life once was. He didn't want to even so much as think about it. However, there was untapped information on Jenova. There was more he had to know. "I will accompany you," he finally decided.

    She studied his face, but didn't question his decision. "Very well. Keep your face towards the ground, and follow me closely. Alright?"

    Rufus nodded.

    Bria went and opened a long box that was stored on the wall. Inside were two rifles. She tucked one under her coat and stopped to look at the other before speaking to Rufus. "This is for your protection. Keep it under your jacket unless we run into trouble." She tossed it to him. "I trust you not to shoot me in the back."

    He tucked the weapon away safely and met her eyes. "I trust you not to shoot me in mine."

    Bria gave him a half smile and opened the door for him.

    Rufus headed out, thinking over the words he had just spoken. He may trust this stranger not to shoot him, but he could never trust her with anything else.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    Sector 6 was a disaster. Rufus had never been aware of just how terrible the conditions in the slums were.

    They came to a playground covered in debris. In the background was the ghostly remains of Sector 7. Rufus stared at it.

    Bria was several steps ahead before she stopped to check on him. "Shinra did that," she told him once she realized what he was gaping at.

    Rufus couldn't respond. What a horrible sight. He couldn't help but wonder if perhaps everyone at Shinra would have thought difficulty if they could have seen the consequences.

    "Come on, Mr. President," she finally spoke up, her voice gentle. "We're almost there."

    Rufus nodded and managed to dray his eyes away from that terrible sight. He walked up to Bria. "Where to now? We can't go through Sector 7."

    "We'll be going through Wall Market," she explained. "Stay close to me. Ever since Sector 7 was destroyed..." she didn't finish. She didn't need to.

    They moved on.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    Shinra headquarters. The building that had once stood at the center of Midgar now seemed like an afterthought. Rufus brushed his bangs aside and looked up at the towering structure.

    Bria stood off to the side, watching him silently. She was always watching him. However, it didn't bother him much.

    When he was ready he glanced back at her. "Let's go."

    They went inside, and Rufus and Bria looked around the lobby with caution. The building had obviously been deserted in a hurry. The effect was creepy.

    Rufus knew exactly where he needed to be. "Follow me." He walked swiftly towards the elevator. Bria followed him, still distracted by her surroundings.

    The elevator to the 59th floor was a long, cramped ride. Rufus took over the controls, and they were on their way up.

    "I've never been in this building before," she commented as they past the 10th floor. "To reach the headquarters...." she nodded slowly, "this was my ultimate dream."

    Rufus cleared his throat. "You said his name was Zack?"

    She nodded. "He left home ten years ago to join SOLDIER, but we never heard anything from him." She sighed. "I left home to find him, or at least a trace, but I became distracted by Jenova. I heard that SOLDIER members were injected with it, and  I wanted to know what they did to my brother." She shook her head slowly, a sad sort of smile on her lips. "I don't even know if he's alive....but I won't stop until I know."

    Rufus nodded. "Something I can understand." The elevator stopped and they stepped onto the 59th floor. He headed right for the next elevator.

    Bria followed. "Another elevator?"

    They stepped inside the glass elevator, and Rufus inserted his slightly melted keycard. "Every floor above this one can only be accessed by authorized personnel."

    She glanced out the window at the view as they soared up. "Even if is is Midgar, it's still quite a view."

    Rufus looked up, but he failed to see the beauty in Midgar, especially after what he had seen these past few days. the elevator stopped at the 62nd floor. "Hopefully something here will enlighten us."

    They stepped off and headed through the set of doors before them.

    "These libraries are mostly for reference, but perhaps they may prove useful." Rufus pushed his bangs back. "Shall we?"

    The pair tore through the four libraries, leaving no book unscrutinized.

    "This is useless," Rufus sighed, shelving his last volume.

    "If I see one more map of Midgar I'll scream," Bria sighed, slamming shut her last book. "The information we're looking for has most likely been classified."

    Rufus didn't answer.

    "I'm assuming you know where to go from here," she persisted.

    Rufus ran his fingers through his hair. "I don't know...."

    "You were President of the company," she said in disbelief, "don't play dumb."

    "Don't ever speak to me like that," he snapped, eyes flashing. "I don't even know why I'm cooperating with you."

    "No one's holding a gun to your head," she fiercely reminded him.

    "Come." Rufus stomped from the room and back into the elevator.

    After an awkward silence she spoke to him again. "I apologize for my rude behavior. It was uncalled for."

    It took Rufus a moment to reply. "Let's just get through this." The elevator stopped several floors later. "Hojo's laboratory."

    The laboratory had an odd, chilling feel to it, as though eerie creatures were lurking behind each corner. Bria closely followed Rufus off the elevator and kept alert.

    The former President seemed to have no question about where he wanted to go. He went rummaging through several cabinets while she browsed the computer.

    "Just as I suspected." Rufus removed a stack of files stamped confidential.

    Bria stared at the hopeful papers, eyes sparkling. "Do you think those files will satisfy us both?"

    Rufus shook his head. "No. Let's continue." Holding the papers with great care, they stepped back on the elevator. There passed a silence before Rufus spoke. "Perhaps you've heard of a man by the name of Heidegger?"

    "Yes."

    "He was in charge of the army, the Turks and, of course, SOLDIER." the elevator stopped and the doors opened. "Perhaps he has information regarding your brother's fate."

    "I can only hope," she replied, the hope in her eyes practically glowing.

    Off the elevator and through the double doors. Heidegger's office was a disaster.

    "Slob," Rufus muttered as he rummaged through the papers scattered across the desk.

    Bria searched the file cabinets, her hands shaking. Would her years of searching end here?

    "Disorganized bastard," Rufus complained as he tore open an unopened letter. He scanned it quickly.

    Bria spotted a large file on SOLDIER behind one on the Turks. She made a grab for it.

    Rufus read the letter, growing pale in the face. "I don't think we should be looking here?"

    Bria was flipping through the SOLDIER file. "Why?"

    Rufus shoved the letter into his pocket. "I want to go to Nibelheim."

    "Nibelheim?" she questioned. "Why? I've been there. I told you what I learned."

    He stared out the window like he was in his own world. "I need to go there."

    She shrugged and went back to the files. "Fine. No one's stopping you."

    Rufus turned to her. "You must accompany me."

    She slowly looked up at him, a confused look in her eyes. "Me? Why?"

    "I need an escort," he explained. "The former President of Shinra cannot simply go strolling around wherever he wants anymore." He paused and made a disgusted face. "I don't want my head paraded through the streets."

    She didn't answer right away. "I don't know...it might be too dangerous."

    Rufus retrieved the letter from his pocket and held it in front of her face. "You see this letter? Here is what has become of your brother. His file has been shipped to Nibelheim. You won't find it here."

    "But I searched that whole library!" she protested, getting to her feet. "There is nothing there I could have overlooked!"

    "This letter is fairly recent. They sent your brother's file, plus a handful of others to the mansion in Nibelheim." He glared at her, his voice filled with strong conviction. "Mine was too."

    "Yours?!" She was taken aback. "Why would you have a file?"

    He said nothing as he turned away. "Why do you suppose?" he said quietly.

    Bria cleared her throat. "We have no choice then. We must go to Nibelheim." When he failed to reply she continued. "It will be a difficult journey."

    Rufus nodded. "I know."

    "You'll have to trust me," she said firmly.

    Rufus hesitated. Could she tell he was wary of her? Though he was not completely at ease, there was no other choice. He needed to have someone to lean on, and besides Bria there were no other options. "Very well," he answered finally.

    "And I will trust you."

    He shot her a sharp, but curious glance. "How will you need to trust me when I depend on you to protect me life?"

    She evenly replied, "I will trust that you'll respect me and stop being so cold."

    Rufus didn't reply. He just looked away.

    Bria didn't pursue the issue. "Are you ready to leave?"

    "Go ahead. I'll meet you at the elevator."

    She simply nodded and left the office.

    Not be cold, he thought bitterly as he searched the desk drawers. If she had any idea....then she would understand. He ran across Heidegger's stash, a whopping 10,000 Gil. Rufus pocketed the cash and left the office in a hurry. At least that human horse was good for something.
 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    Back in the elevator Rufus stared down at the readout panel with a blank expression. Did he want to leave right away? He could continue upwards, to see where weapon hit.

    "Have you anymore unfinished business?" she asked gently, as though she had been reading his mind.

    "No." Without another thought he pressed the button for the lobby, and the elevator soared down.

    "May I read the letter?" she requested.

    "No," he answered flatly, pushing back his bangs.

    "Why not?" she asked, an edge to her voice that was not quite kind. "I want to know who's files were sent."

    "No," he said again. "It's not important."

    "What is in there that you don't want me to see?"

    He gave up and threw the letter at her.

    She shook her head at him before reading it. Slowly her eyes glided over the page. "You, Zack and....Cloud Strife?"

    "Everybody's boy next door," Rufus muttered bitterly.

    Bria gave him a strange look as they stepped off the elevator. "Mr. President?"

    Rufus turned, eyebrows raised. "Yes?"

    "I think it's best that we dye that hair of yours."

    For the first time in awhile, Rufus showed real emotion. A look of shock passed over his paling face as he put a hand to his head. "My hair?"

    She crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow. "Ah, so we are attached to something." Shaking her head she walked towards the exit.

    Rufus hurried after her. "Are you serious?"

    She stopped to explain. "Yes. Who's not going to recognize that golden blonde head of yours? If you dye it black, we'll be able to pass as brother and sister."

    Rufus was not too thrilled with the prospect. "If it's the only way..." he grumbled unhappily.

    She smiled, and he wondered if she was glad to see him unhappy.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    Rufus examined his black hair in the mirror. "This looks terrible."

    She laughed. "Nonsense. You're still as handsome as ever." She shook her head. "I've never seen anyone so attached to their hair."

    He shot her a nasty look. "How would you like to dye your hair blonde?"

    "Hey, you're lucky you have hair at all after what WEAPON did to you," she pointed out.

    Rufus knew she was right, but failed to acknowledge it. He sat across from her at the small table she had set up. "So what are our plans?"

    Bria looked at him and got a funny little smile on her face. She shook her head, laughing silently to herself.

    Rufus frowned. "What? Is it about my hair?"

    "No....it's just so....surreal. Who would have ever thought I would be in the same company as Rufus Shinra."

    "And I never saw myself lying unconscious in a bed of flowers," she pointed out, "or living in the Midgar slums. Life is unfortunately unpredictable."

    She made no verbal reply, but just nodded and gestured to what she had written on the paper in front of her. "Getting out of Midgar on anything other than foot is difficult and will attract too much attention. This, I suggest we travel on foot to the chocobo farm located here." She pointed at her crudely drawn map, "and ride them to Junon. From there it will be easy to catch a boat across the ocean." She looked up at him. "Okay so far?"

    Rufus' disgusted expression showed his general lack of enthusiasm. Riding Chocobos? He had never done that before and he wasn't accustomed to traveling on foot. Still, he realized there was no other alternative, and her way was best. "You realize I am extremely well known in Junon."

    She nodded. "We'll deal with it. Don't worry." She pointed again at the map. "From Costa del Sol we can easily get a transport to Nibelheim."

    Rufus nodded. "So the hardest part will be getting off this continent."

    She nodded. "That's about it."

    He continued to nod, unsure of what to say now.

    She spoke instead. "I suggest you turn in, we'll have to get up early tomorrow. You can have my bed. After all, you're still recuperating."

    Rufus only nodded again, avoiding the obvious thank you.

    Later, as he struggled to fall asleep, he wondered why she was so overly kind to him. True, she had made it clear that each person was important to her, but no one could be *this* nice. Was there some underlying force? No matter. All the kindness in the world wasn't going to melt his bitterness away. Women were vile. Bria was no different.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    "Wake up, Rufus...er, Mr. President, wake up!"

    Rufus lazily opened his eyes to find Bria's smiling face leaning over him. "Good morning."

    He made a face. "What time is it?"

    "Four A.M," she reported. "Come on. We have to get going."

    Rufus sat up and stretched luxuriously. "Four A.M," he mumbled, getting to his feet. "Insane."

    She handed him the same rifle he had carried yesterday. "You never know what we might run into out there."

    Rufus studied the glowing orbs in the weapon. "What kind of materia is this?"

    "You have restore-all, comet, HP plus and lightning," she explained. "I've collected a lot during my travels."

    She liked to travel....she sold materia...they were all the same...."What types do you have?"

    "Heal, HP plus, Barrier, Ice and, best of all, Odin summon materia."

    "Summon materia?" he questioned, somewhat disgusted. "Isn't that....junky?"

    She shook her head. "You've been talking to too many executives."

    They both were outfitted with bags containing supplies, then with one last look, they left Midgar behind.

    Rufus Shinra was ever so glad.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    Rufus had been expecting a lengthy journey, but hours had passed without a building or person in sight.

    Rufus was growing tired and cranky, just like a little boy. "Are you sure this is the right way?" he asked yet again.

    "What have I told you?" she replied, somewhat out of breath. "I could find my way blind folded."

    Rufus plodded along, a considerable distance behind Bria. This had better be the most difficult part of the trip.

    "Look, here's the swamp," she announced, turning around to wait for him. "We're almost there."

    Rufus trudged forward, but found himself to be sinking slightly. Dammit, I'm in the swamps, he sighed upon looking down.

    "Rufus!" Bria was suddenly flying towards him at top speed.

    He looked up at her in confusion. What was she screaming about?

    "Rufus! Get outta the swamp!" she kept on coming at him.

    Why? He looked and saw a gigantic creature swimming towards him. Rufus froze. What the--

    The creature rose from the swamp, preparing to strike. Just as it was coming down upon him, Bria grabbed him firmly by the arm and yanked him towards dry land. They both tripped and ended up in a heap on the ground. Bria was coughing uncontrollably.

    Rufus was enflamed. He picked himself up, brushed himself off and yelled at her. "Are you crazy, rushing in like that?! You could have been killed!!"

    She stopped coughing long enough to choke out, "so could you."

    "I would have been fine," he assured her, even though he wasn't so sure. When that thing had coming rising out of the swamp, he had sworn his heart skipped several beats.

    She sat there, still coughing. Why did she keep doing this for him?  "Uh....are you....alright?" he asked softly.

    She nodded and finished her coughing. "Yeah." Bria looked up at him with a smile. "Don't do that again."

    "Do what?"

    "Scare me like that!"

    Rufus almost smiled, but he caught himself yet again. He offered his hand to help her up and she accepted.

    After brushing herself off, she pointed ahead towards the horizon. "Look, I can see the ranch. Come on." And just like nothing at all had happened, she began the journey again.

    But something *had* happened to Rufus Shinra. Perhaps this woman was a step above the rest....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    After what seemed like years and years to Rufus' tired feet, he and Bria arrived at the chocobo ranch.
    "You stay here while I go ask about borrowing chocobos," Bria instructed. "Don't talk to anyone, okay?"

    He nodded. "I won't."

    She went into the house.

    Rufus hung around the fence, and a few chocobos came over to inspect him. "Stop it," Rufus muttered, shooing the creature away. "Knock it off."

    "Yo, Cloud! Why you always gotta check on this @#%$ bird!"

    Rufus froze. He knew that voice, and he knew that name....

    "Barret, a gold chocobo is very rare. We have to keep it in top shape."

    "You care more about the @#%$ bird than you do about us!" a third voice added.

    Rufus recognized that voice too. It was Cid Highwind, that damn pilot from Rocket Town. His heart beating wildly in his chest, Rufus looked down at the floor and prayed they would take no notice of the strange man with the black hair leaning casually against the fence.

    Out of the corner of his eye he saw them all file into the house where Bria had just entered only a minute ago.

    Rufus was terrified. What if more members of his band came poking around? Surely his most mortal enemies would have no trouble recognizing him with only a different color hair. Suddenly the disguise just didn't seem like enough.

    Bria thankfully exited the house (or was it a barn?) at that moment and quickly walked towards him. "Did you see them?"

    "Yes."

    "Did they see you?"

    "No."

    She sighed in relief. "Well let's get out of here. Choco Billy lent us these two chocobos." She gestured to the two birds behind the fence.

    Rufus brushed his bangs out of his face.

    "There's no turning back now," she told him. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

    "I have no choice," he explained, climbing over the fence. "I have to go."

    Bria followed him, a slight smile on her lips.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    "Whoa! Ack! Hey, stop! Bria! There's something wrong with mine!" Rufus held onto his chocobo for dear life as it did whatever the hell it wanted.

    Bria shook her head and chuckled. "Just get it under control. If you can run the largest company on the planet, you can ride a chocobo."

    Rufus took a deep breath and sat upright. She was right. He wasn't about to let some dumb bird get the best of him. "Where to?"

    "Over the swamp and through the Mythril Mines. Once we arrive on the other side of the mountains we head east for Junon."

    Rufus uncertainly glanced over at the swamp. "What about the monster?"

    "The Midgar Zolam? Don't worry. The chocobos are faster than it. We'll be just fine." She studied his expression a moment. "Okay?"

    He nodded stiffly. "Let's go."

    They began to cross the swamp, and Rufus pushed his chocobo extra hard so he went flying past Bria and to the safety of the other side.

    Bria trotted over on her chocobo. "Told ya."

    Rufus gave her a look and steered his chocobo into the mines.

    The duo rode uneventfully through the mines, but ran across something unexpected as they headed east towards Junon. The land had been divided, and a river leading to a large lake disturbed their progress.

    "What's this?" Rufus questioned. "You didn't mention there was a river in our path."

    She slowly shook her head. "This didn't use to be here."

    "What did this?" Rufus thought aloud.

    Bria knew right away. "WEAPON."

    WEAPON.....it had destroyed everything.....he could close his eyes and see the hot blaze of light that took away everything: by leaving him alive. He could still see it coming towards Midgar...he thought he had everything under control...."Uh!" Rufus put a hand to his head and lost his balance. He fell off the chocobo and landed on the ground in a heap.

    "President Rufus!" Bria was off her chocobo in a flash. She knelt besides him. "President Rufus, are you alright?"

    Rufus groaned and opened his eyes. "Don't call me that."

    "Huh?"

    "Don't call me President anymore. It's gone. It's all....gone..." he looked off to the side.

    "Are you alright?"

    He sat up and ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah. I....it's just...." he sighed.

    "It's okay," she assured him, helping him to his feet. "Right now we have to think of a way across this river. The chocobos won't cross water."

    Rufus was determined not to let WEAPON ruin his plans once again. There would be a way.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    The pair stumbled into Junon as the sun was setting. They were both exhausted.

    "There are no hotels in this town," Bria remembered.

    "I think I know a place where we can stay," he told her. "We just have to go down the elevator."

    There was a lone Shinra guard in front of the elevator. Although Rufus was dying to deal with the man himself, he let Bria do it.

    "Can we use the elevator?" she asked.

    "Ten Gil," the guard told her.

    "Ten Gil!" Rufus exclaimed, forgetting how he was supposed to keep his mouth shut. "Why?"

    "You have no right to question me, citizen," the guard snapped. "Pay up or you don't ride."

    Rufus was ready to deck the jerk, but he clenched his fists and held off. Citizen, please! Who did he think signed his paychecks? Used to anyway.....

    Bria unhappily produced the money, and they boarded the elevator to Junon.

    Once they were alone she said, "watch yourself, Pres- uh, Rufus. To everyone but me you're nobody."

    Rufus nodded as he mumbled, "not something I'm used to." He had gone from everything to nothing. what a transition.

    The elevator stopped and Rufus and Bria stepped onto the streets of Junon.

    He told her, "follow me," and headed down the street.

    She followed him until they reached a tunnel, and a car attached to a track. A large red banner was hung on the side. The words RUFUS: NEW AGE were clearly visible.

    Rufus stopped to look upon it. How proud he had been when he first saw that banner. A new age, a new hope. Now that crummy banner was all that was left of his dreams. It hurt him so much to look upon it.

    Bria came up behind him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come on. It's getting late."

    He nodded, ignoring the tears creeping up in his eyes. There was no excuse for that crap now. They boarded the car and entered the building located at the top. He led her through a series of passages until they reached a room filled with desks. At the front was a huge window that overlooked the ocean. The sun was just setting and the view was spectacular.

    "Oh, wow," she breathed, rushing over to take in the sight. "I've never seen anything so spectacular in all my years of traveling."

    Rufus strolled up besides her and looked out over the ocean. But he couldn't think about the sunset. Instead he remembered standing at this very window, ordering the Junon cannon to be fired at WEAPON.

    Bria looked over at Rufus who stared venomously out the window. "You're not seeing the sunset."

    "It's WEAPON," he replied. "Always WEAPON."

    She seemed shocked. "WEAPON was here too?"

    "It was everywhere," he replied darkly.

    She hesitated before speaking again. "Rufus, I've avoided this topic, but if you ever feel the need to discuss anything, I'll listen."

    She sounded so concerned, but that just wasn't a possibility. He shook his head. "That won't be necessary."

    She shrugged and sat down, leaning against the wall to sleep. "Well if you change your mind..." she trailed off and closed her eyes.

    The sun had set, but Rufus hadn't noticed. He just wanted to rest. No more thoughts on Jenova or WEAPON. As he settled back against the wall he thought about Bria. He couldn't feel the same towards her now as he had in the beginning, When she had pushed him out of the monsters way he had been so angry. What if she had been injured? There was no denying that he cared for her. After all she had done for him, how could he not? But he was still puzzled. Why would anyone waste their time with such a famous, unfeeling, "evil" person? Was it all a test of whether he was a phony, pretending to be cold and impenetrable? Rufus hated to admit it, but he was afraid. Afraid he would slip up and show Bria he cared, that she was breaking into the seemingly sealed vault. That wasn't the Rufus Shinra the world knew. The Rufus Shinra that had a heart came before his father's death---before Vadra. Vadra had transformed him into something that was working out pretty well. But as he glanced over at Bria before drifting off to sleep, Rufus couldn't help but feel that maybe that something wasn't operation properly anymore.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    He awoke at sunrise to find Bria still fast asleep. It was too early  to catch a boat, so he deiced to let her have her rest.

    She trusted that he would not be so cold. Or at least she hoped she could. True, they barely knew each other, but this wasn't any ordinary journey. Rufus wasn't sure if he could lay down his life for her as she did yesterday, but he wanted her to think so. Instead of two people who just need to get to the same place, they should be partners. Yes. Partners relied on one another and helped one another. They didn't have to be friends, but they had to be there. Yes, Rufus decided. Partners.

    Bria was still asleep, but Rufus decided to wake her.

    "Bria." He gently shook her shoulder. "Bria."

    Her eyes fluttered open and looked up at Rufus, who stood above her. She smiled. "Oh, hey. Morning already?"

    "I've been thinking," he began, unsure of how exactly to word it. "What do you think of the idea of being partners?"

    She cocked her head to one side. "Partners?"

    "It means we look out for each other. We don't have to be friends, but we have to be there." He looked straight into her eyes.

    Bria looked at him the same way. "I like that."

    Rufus extended his hand to her, which she took, and he pulled her close to him.

    Bria stood smiling before him, and for the first time, Rufus Shinra smiled back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    The trip to Costa del Sol didn't take long. Rufus remembered his last trip over. Sephiroth and Cloud's gang had been on board. If that wasn't a nightmare...He had to keep his mind off the the past. There was only one way he could think of to do that. He turned to Bria. "Can you tell me about your travels?" he asked out of nowhere. "About your search for your brother?"

    Bria looked at him in surprise but nodded. "My brother Zack left home ten years ago to join SOLDIER. He was fourteen, and I was thirteen. For two years we heard nothing from him. Had he made it, or not? So when I turned fifteen I left Gongaga to search for him. I promised my parents I wouldn't give up until I found him. My parents were so heartbroken over the whole thing that I knew they would not rest until they found out what happened to Zack. It was hard at first. I lived off what little money my parents could give me, and did odd jobs to earn my passage from one city to another. I came to Nibelheim six years ago and I discovered the secret passage to the basement of the mansion. There I read about the Jenova project and SOLDIER and a bunch of other Shinra projects. I was shocked to find out about Sephiroth." She shook her head. "I knew before he did. Afterwards I left Nibelheim. When I heard about Sephiroth's death it frightened me. I knew Jenova would not let him die easily. Because I was afraid I never returned there. For the next five years or so I went where my money took me. At Icicle Inn I stumbled across some tapes made by Professor Gast that fulfilled my understanding of what Jenova really was. It was there that I first heard anything about WEAPON." She watched him carefully at this point. "I never thought I would ever see it." Quickly she cleared her throat and continued. "I went back to Gongaga when I could, which wasn't too often. Finally, about a year ago, I went to Midgar intent on living there and finding a job with Shinra. I thought if I got inside the company, I would find my brother." She laughed in a funny, sad sort of way before continuing. "They wouldn't hire anyone from Gongaga. I think they thought I'd just want revenge on the company since the reactor exploded." She laughed again. "I got kind of upset at the person who interviewed me. I told him that if they were looking to hire someone who liked the company, they would have to look on another planet."

    "Who was it that interviewed you?" Rufus asked.

    "Reeve actually. He didn't yell at me as any of the other executives would have. He just told me to leave...but he looked so sad." She shook her head. "I have nowhere else to go, so I stayed in Midgar. I figured if I stayed close to the Shinra I would have a chance at seeing Zack." She sighed, and she suddenly looked very sad. "But I never did."

    Rufus had no reply, so he just said. "Oh."

    "What about you?" she asked suddenly.

    Rufus froze. Oh no...."There's nothing to tell," he rushed, "I was President, WEAPON blew up my office, and I woke up in a flower bed. That's all."

    He could tell by the look in her eyes that she knew there was more to the story. But he would never tell her about Vadra. He had never told anyone.

    She said, "no, it's not."

    "What's important now is finding out what we're searching for," he replied. "Nothing else."

    She didn't press the issue.

    But she knew. Somehow she knew that someone had hurt him. Why wasn't she trying not to get it out of him? It was kind of disappointing....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    The weather was beautiful at Costa del Sol. The sky was clear and the sun shone happily. How lovely it was not to see meteor.

    Bria was thrilled with it. "I haven't been here in years."

    Rufus remembered the last time he was on this dock....

    "Come on, partner," Bria spoke up, interrupting his thoughts. She took him by the arm. "Let's get going."

    She led him towards the inn. "I'm going to check about getting a buggy in here, okay? Wait here."

    Rufus nodded and watched her go inside. He leaned against the building and watched some  children kick a ball around.

    "Hey, buddy," a nearby shopkeeper called over to him.

    Rufus turned. "Huh?"

    "You look like that dead bastard Rufus Shinra. If your hair weren't so dark, you'd look just like him."

    "Uh...." Rufus stuttered. "Yeah. I hear that a lot." Boy it had taken all his strength not to whip out his gun and pump that guy full of bullets. Is that how he was going to be remembered  as? 'That dead bastard'?

    "Yo, Cloud!" A voice called. "Why you walkin' so fast?"

    Rufus' eyes grew wide as he frantically searched the area. Why were they always a step behind him?

    He saw Cloud Strife waltz into his vision, Barret Wallace right behind him. Instead of that pilot though, Tifa Lockheart was his third companion. AVALANCHE's last living members. Rufus wondered it there was an AVALANCHE now that there was no Shinra. They would probably find something else to rebel against. That's the way those types were.

    Before Rufus could think any other nasty thoughts about Cloud's gang, he was terrified to see that other team members right behind them! The pilot, the ninja, the brightly colored animal, the scary looking guy and....Reeve?

    Reeve! Rufus' eyes nearly popped out of his head. Reeve! As if Cloud and his band of misfits weren't bad enough! There was nothing to do but run into the inn. So he did.

    And he made quite a commotion. As he came flying inside he drew the attention of the crowd in the lobby.

    Rufus stared in horror for a moment. He could feel his face turning red. Quickly he shifted his gaze to the ground.

    Bria came over to him. "What happened?"

    Rufus said one word. "Reeve."

    Bria's face grew pale. "Who's he here with?"

    "Cloud."

    Bria brushed past him to check outside. Sure enough Cloud and his gang were gathered by President's Shinra's former home.

    "Come on, Cloud!" One of the group members, a female who Bria knew was not Tifa Lockheart, said. "Let's go in! It's hot!"

    The group began filing up the steps. Reeve was last.

    Bria thought for a moment. If Rufus wanted to be her partner he obviously trusted her to keep his identity a secret. For the most part.

    "Reeve!" She cried, heading over to where he was. "Reeve!"

    The former Shinra executive turned around, looking confused as to who called to him. "Bria?" He smiled.

    She nodded. "Can I speak with you...." she noticed another one of his companions was looking suspiciously at her. "....alone?"

    "Certainly." He trotted down the steps to meet her. "This is a surprise. What are you doing here?"

    Bria steered him away from where anyone could hear him. "What if I told you the President of Shinra was alive."

    The color drained from Reeve's face like water from a faucet. "I'd say you were lying."

    She shook her head. "Reeve, Rufus is alive. He fell into the slums after WEAPON attacked. I found him. He's alive. He's here."

    Reeve was besides himself. "I don't believe it. No one could have survived that. Not even him."

    "Then you know. You knew he had been injected with Jenova," she said seriously.

    "We all knew," Reeve explained, "everyone but him. We could never tell. He wasn't supposed to know."

    "Well he knows now. And he wants to know why."

    Reeve shook his head. "That I don't know." He paused before continuing. "But no one could have survived that, Bria. Jenova or not."

    "Then why is he here?" she darkly posed.

    He sighed and shook his head. "I don't know what to think. And what's with you bringing him here? He has the most recognizable face short of Sephiroth."

    "We need to get to Nibelheim," she explained. "The hotel is out of transports and it's too far to walk. Can you help us?"

    Reeve seemed reluctant. "We have the Highwind, but---"

    "The Highwind!" she interrupted. "Reeve you have to take us to Nibelheim."

    Reeve shook his head. "I-I can't."

    "Why not?" she snapped. "He's a person too! How would you feel if you woke up tomorrow and you found out you were a clone of Sephiroth? Wouldn't you want to know why?"

    Reeve hesitated. "We would have to hurry. Go get Rufus and I'll meet you in the Highwind."

    Bria smiled widely and happily clapped her hands together. "Oh, Reeve, thank you! Thank you so much!" She kissed him on the cheek and headed back to the Inn.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    Rufus watched Bria and Reeve stone faced through the window. She told him. He knew it. Now he would tell the whole band. Why? Why would she do that? And why did she look so happy? Rufus clenched his teeth. This couldn't happen. Not again.

    Bria came inside, grinning for ear to ear. "Come on. Let's go."

    Rufus shook his head and flatly refused. "No."

    Her smile faded. "No? What are you talking about? Do you want to go to Nibelheim or not?"

    "Why did you tell?" he snapped.

    "Is that what this is about?" she asked. "I had to. He won't tell anyone. I trust him."

    "I don't."

    "Ru--uh....I would never put you in danger," she said with complete seriousness to her tone. "I told Reeve because I trust him and I knew he would help us. If I didn't trust him, I would have sooner walked all the way to Nibelheim than put in the any more danger than you already are every day." She kept her eyes intensely focused on him. "We're partners. I would not betray you." Her voice seemed to be shaking as she finished.

    Rufus maintained the same look she did. She had never let him down, and he had no reason to believe she would now. "Let's go."

    Her smile reappeared, but it seemed a shaky now.

    They left Costa del Sol behind them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    Reeve seemed very nervous to have Rufus aboard, but he tried to hide it. "Mr. President. I'm so glad to see you alive, sir."

    Rufus walked right past him, and Reeve fell in step next to the once leader of the world.

    "Don't address me as that any longer," Rufus explained. "That is all gone."

    "Unfortunate," Reeve put in.

    "Bullshit!" Rufus snapped, stamping his foot on the ground and startling both Bria and Reeve. "You were always just waiting for it all to crumble. You couldn't wait to be free, so don't try to pretend."

    Reeve froze as the former President's intent, Jenova fused eyes bore into him. "R-Rufus, I, uh..."

    Rufus turned and stalked away. "Leave me alone."

    Reeve turned around and helplessly looked at Bria.

    "Don't worry," she assured him. "He's lost his life and this airship just brings back memories of when he was somebody."

    Reeve nodded. "In his wildest nightmares Rufus Shinra never saw himself as just another face."

    Bria agreed. "The pain is so obvious he's hurting me. Why won't he just admit it?"

    "The President--er, Rufus, is not very fond of women," he explained. "He's been that way. He won't ever tell you anything. That's not the way he is."

    She shook her head. "He wasn't always like that. Something happened....I just don't know what."

    "He's colder than Icicle Inn," Reeve told her.

    "He's already starting to melt."

    "Bria," Reeve said, taking her arm to make her stop walking. "after you're done in Nibelheim, why don't you come back with me?" He gave her a hopeful look.

    Bria's eyes sparkled. "Oh, Reeve. A week ago I would have jumped at the chance." She looked in the direction where Rufus had disappeared only a minute earlier. "But Rufus needs me. He would never admit it, but he does. I'm the only one he trusts. I can't just leave him." She looked back at him. "You understand?"

    He squeezed her hand. "I have to."

    She smiled. "Thanks Reeve." She began to walk away, but Reeve called after her.

    "Bria?"

    She turned, eyebrows raised.

    "Uh...nevermind."

    With one last smile, she was gone.

    Reeve sighed. The words 'I love you' just wouldn't come.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    Rufus stood at the head of the bridge, silently watching the landscape pass below. Bria came up besides him, but she said nothing.

    "You left out how you knew Reeve so well," he said coldly, as he continued to stare straight ahead.

    "What?"

    "In your story," he continued. "I don't recall the part where you became best buddies."

    She gaped at him. "What's the matter, Rufus? Why is this bothering you so much?"

    "Is it hard to see I don't like him?" he snapped.

    Bria narrowed her eyes. "You don't like many people, do you?"

    Rufus turned away from her. "I don't like anyone."

    She fought off tears. How could he say that, after all she had done for him....it was a crushing blow. "Well you won't have to worry about dealing with me anymore. After Nibelheim I'm going off with my 'best buddy' Reeve and you can live your own life by yourself." She stomped away from him, leaving the bridge.

    Rufus suddenly felt terrible. That hadn't gone the way he'd hoped....had he really lost Bria?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    "Just call me when you want me to pick you up," Reeve was saying to Bria as Rufus hung around in the background. "Okay, Bria?"

    She nodded and let him kiss her. "Thanks again for the life."

    Reeve smiled and stroked her cheek. "Any time." With a look in Rufus' direction he turned and left Nibelheim.

    "I hope he gets sunburn," Rufus mumbled to himself.

    Bria came up to him. "Look, even though we had that disagreement, we're still partners, and we stick together until we're finished here, okay?"

    Rufus wished he could apologize and have her on his side again. But he couldn't. "Agreed."

    "Well let's go check into the hotel. Then we can go...." she vaguely pointed towards the mansion.

    Rufus turned to look and stood in awe. What a magnificent sight. Beautiful, yet spooky.

    "Ru- uh, Zack! Come on!"

    Bria's calling to him brought him back to reality. Zack? he turned and followed her into the Inn.
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    Once they were alone upstairs, he questioned her about the name. "You called me Zack. Why?"

    She shrugged. "I can't be calling you Rufus, so I called you Zack." She looked at him. "Do you object?"

    He shrugged. "I wish I could go by my own name...." he mumbled. Bria wasn't supposed to hear him, but she did.

    "Well, are you ready to go into the mansion?" she asked.

    Rufus nodded. "Yes."

    She studied him. "Are you scared?"

    "Only of what I will find regarding myself," he replied evenly.

    She secured her gun. "Very well then, Rufus Shinra. Let's see if any one of our quests stop here."
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    The door to the mansion eerily creeped open as Bria pushed it cautiously.

    "Boy it's different," she muttered upon seeing the interior.

    Rufus swallowed nervously. What did *that* mean?

    The pair walked slowly inside and the door slammed shut on ti's own power, making them both jump.

    Bria took a deep breath. "Okay, let's go. Follow me." She started for the stairs, Rufus behind her, clutching the handle of his gun.

    Once upstairs they walked down a bare hallway, with creeky wooden floors. Rufus gripped the handle  of his gun harder.

    They reached a small room, and Bria approached a portion of the wall and pushed on it. A door flew open, revealing a twisting pathway.

    "This way," she told him. And they headed down.

    At the bottom of the path was a damp, dirty hallway that made it seem as if they were going to a dungeon rather than a library.

    "Come on," she encouraged. "The library is right ahead."

    As they entered, Rufus couldn't help but stand in awe in the doorway. The walls were lined with books from floor to ceiling. Somewhere in this place he was supposed to find answers? He didn't know where to begin!

    Bria looked at him. "Quite impressive, isn't it?"

    "I had no idea..." he breathed.

    "Let's start looking." Bria began to examine the papers strewn about the desks.

    Rufus turned to look at the books. There were many labeled 'Jenova Project', but upon checking the dates he found they were much too old to have anything about him.

    "What's this?" Bria muttered as she examined some strange tanks. "Writing?"

    Rufus came to her side and he too saw writing. It was as if someone carved it with their fingernail.

    "Apparently someone---someones actually, wanted out," she concluded.

    "I wonder why they enclosed people in tanks?" Rufus wondered aloud.

    She shrugged. "I'm not the former President of Shinra here." Bria walked into the other room in the back.

    Rufus followed her, glaring. Was she still mad? Why couldn't she just get over it? He couldn't apologize, but he could sling it right back at her. "Did you turn Reeve against my company?" he asked testily.

    "I did nothing but tell him what I thought," she explained. "Is it my fault he needed some enlightenment?"

    Rufus was fuming, and before he knew what he was saying, he demanded, "did you sleep with him?"

    Bria turned around, eyes flashing. "What are you accusing me of? Being a whore? As if that would be necessary. Anyone with of a quarter of a brain could see Shinra was more harmful than helpful. You sold your lies at high prices only to destroy lives with your crummy reactors! Everyday the people of Gongaga wake up to see that charred reactor staring them in the face. They got nothing from Shinra but dead bodies and debris! And we're supposed to love Shinra!?!" She shook her head. "No. I'm going to pretend you never asked that question." She glared at him, and the intensity reduced him to nothing.

    "Fine," he shot back, having nothing else to say. He tried his best not to cry, as he turned away from her.

    Bria in the meanwhile gathered up several similar looking pages that had been scattered around the room.

    "What's this?" she muttered.

    Rufus didn't turn around.

    "Why this is about the men in the tubes!" she paused. "One was in SOLDIER!" She paused again. "Why that's Zack's number! Zack was here! And so was...." she checked the other number against the chart she had gotten from the Shinra Headquarters that listed the numbers of every normal SOLDIER to serve within the past 5 years. "Cloud Strife?!" She read the other pages. "Why they were here with Sephiroth! And Cloud was injected with Jenova!" She flipped to the next page. "But they escaped! Their plan they described on the tubes must have worked!"

    Rufus turned to look at her over his shoulder. She was smiling happily as she flipped to the next page. Her eyes glided over the page and her smile instantly died. She read the paper again and again. Rufus was prompted to ask what it said, but kept silent.

    "He's dead...." she muttered, almost in disbelief. "Zack's  dead....Shinra soldiers....shot him right outside Midgar...." she looked up at him, her pretty blue eyes filling with tears.

    Rufus couldn't bear to watch her cry. He turned away and took a step.

    "Rufus..." she choked, stopping him in his tracks with her mournful voice. "Rufus, please don't walk away. Not now. Not at this moment."

    Rufus Shinra didn't think. He turned and ran over to the woman whose eight year search had resulted in heartbreak and embraced her and held her as tightly as he could.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

    Bria awoke very slowly the next morning. Her back ached, as she had spent the night in her clothes. Falling asleep after what she had learned yesterday was nearly impossible.

    But Rufus had stayed with her. He had abandoned his search in order to comfort her. He was so phony sometimes, caring for no one. What was he trying to hide?

    Bria glanced over at the other bed, but Rufus wasn't there. In fact, it hadn't been slept in at all! Quickly she was on her feet. He was at the mansion. He had to be. But why had he gone alone?

    In a flash, she ran from the Inn and through the town to the mansion. Ignoring all the creepiness inside she tore down to the library as fast as her legs could carry her.

    She reached the main room, but he wasn't there. "Rufus?" She hurried into the other room. There he was seated at the desk, a book open in front of him.  She stopped dead in her tracks.

    He was crying. The tears flowed freely down his face, silently and frequently. Bria didn't know what to say.

    "Don't look at me," he requested, turning his face away from her. "You can't see my like this."

    Bria hesitatingly took a step forward. "Rufus, it's okay."

    "No, it's not okay!" he yelled, slamming the book shut and practically leaping to his feet. "I am an experiment! Just another experiment!"

    "Rufus!" she exclaimed, coming over to him. "Calm down!"

    He stepped away from her, shaking his head. "You don't understand. My father created me as another test. He didn't want a son, he wanted another Sephiroth. Two powerful Jenova beings that would rule Shinra for infinity." He shook his head and the tears continued. "But Hojo messed up. He screwed me up, Bria." He pointed to himself in dismay. "His calculations were wrong, and I wasn't as powerful as they hoped. Hojo regarded me as a failure. I was a mistake, like Cloud, so they didn't give me a number. My father hated me. He didn't want me anymore, but my mother died and there was no time to start again. So he shipped me away, so he didn't have to look at me." He paused and took a breath. "I'm just a clone! Another fucking clone!"

    "No, Rufus," she said seriously, standing right into his eyes. "You're *not* just another clone. You're a person. You are Rufus Shinra."

    He took a step towards her, his eyes focused directly on hers. "I stand before you now as a man who waited so long to have the only happiness he ever had taken away from him in a ball of fire. A man who once was everything for the planet, whether he was a failed experiment or not it did not matter because he had control. No one could do anything without that his consent. He was the world. But now, that man, who was once so great, had fallen to become nothing. Now he is a fugitive more because of what he inherited than because of what he did. His own name, which was once regarded above all else had become his death sentence. He can't even have that anymore....and it's all just hysterical now, because from the beginning his father ruined his life by making him well off, then he piled all the evils he had done upon him when he died, only for him to now discover that he hated him, and never him to be President..." he changed his perspective. "My father has ruined my life more than WEAPON had. WEAPON may have reduced me to nothing, but my father made me hated. He made it so I can never be anything anymore at the age of 23. The world thinks I am dead. And frankly I wish I was. WEAPON didn't ruin my life when it blew me up--- it ruined it when I woke up alive." He stood directly in front of her now, looking down into her eyes. His tears had stopped, but his eyes were still red.

    Slowly Bria shook her head. "Oh, Rufus. There is no more Shinra. It shouldn't matter anymore...it doesn't to me..." she trailed off, unsure of where to go.

    "It does matter..." he looked away from her, tears resurfacing. "I am despised by all."

    Bria took his hand gently in hers. "That's not true. If I despised you, would I be here right now?" When he didn't answer she continued. "Rufus, I hated Shinra. But, I don't care who you were, just who you are. And what I see is a frightened, confused young man with a troubled past and who needs somewhere to turn." She paused before going on. "I'm right here, Rufus. You can turn to me. I won't walk away from you. Don't be afraid."

    Rufus looked back into her hopeful blue eyes and suddenly all the fear was gone. Bria wouldn't leave him. She wouldn't take his emotions and leave him empty. She was the only one who cared. She was the only one who could say his name and not feel hate.

    She took him in her arms and he lay his head upon her shoulder. Suddenly it didn't matter what lay before or behind him. As long as he was with Bria there was hope for Rufus Shinra, no matter what his name was. And the only thing he would have to fear was fear itself.

 part four