Cloud was about to say something to ruin Zack's focus, when the light filtering from the doorway was blocked momentarily by a Tifa-shaped shadow. He stood back a little as she approached, as if he was afraid of being too close to her, especially in this place, but he did keep smiling.

"I hope everyone will come," Cloud said, staring at the ghosts that he alone saw. The sunlight dappled shadows shimmered at the edges of Zack and Aerith's forms, as if both were surrounded  by a haze of mako. His smile faded.

I let them die. They both chose to, for me. And I failed to do anything for them.

Cloud turned back to Tifa, the blond spikes of his hair swaying slightly. "Have you heard anything of Shinra lately? I hear they are still looking for Rufus."

"Trust me, they will." Tifa smiled and held Marlene gently before letting her explore around the church. Hearing Cloud's question, she blinked and looked back at him. "No, I haven't heard much." She sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "It's true they are looking for him.... It would be a shot of luck if they actually did find him."

(His hair can sway!? D: I never knew! xD)

(and he's up and playable. And his hair does sway, only in the movie though, in the game it's gravity defying.)

Vincent had just made it to the Midgar waistland. His trusted chocobo, whom he had named Hawkeye after a character in one of his favorite books from childhood, had surprised him, and gotten him here far sooner then he thought he would be. He was thinking of putting him into the Chocobo races. He quickly shook that urge away, because he would never go into the races himself, and no one else could ride Hawkeye. Well, other then Marlene and Yuffie, and Yuffie could only do it out of sheer stubbornness.

Vincent came to the Midgar gate to sector 6, and entered in. The church was very near the gate, so he continued to go to the church at a steady pace. He saw it now, and once he was near the entrance, he dismounted, and tied Hawkeye to a post. He walked the last few feet to the door, and pushed it open and looked inside.

"Mm." Cloud nodded slightly, agreeing with Tifa more out of hope than actually believing what she said. He strode towards Zack's ghostly figure as she spoke of what she knew on Rufus. Anything was possible though, even with those idiot Turks. "We should call Reno and them, see if they are willing to let some things slip."

Cloud watched Zack do squats for a few seconds, then began to count in random numbers just loud enough to be heard. He turned as the door of the church opened on one of the numbers he had been muttering to distract Zack. A familiar red-clad figure looked around it, and seeing him made Cloud smile.

"Vincent, glad you could make it. How did the monster cleaning go?"

(*hums the Cloud Song* xD)

"Some things?" Tifa questioned, looking over at him as she rose an eyebrow. It only took her a second to reconise the new shadow that had cloaked the floor of the church. She looked over and smiled seeing Vincent. She waved a bit before she yelped as Marlene rushed over and hugged Vincent in a welcoming way. "Vincent!" Marlene giggled before she let go and to the flowers again.

Vincent walked in once he saw that people were still there. "It's good to see you too Cloud," he said. He looked to Tifa and Marlene and nodded to them, greeting them as well. He had found a little friend in Marlene, as she seemed to be overly friendly to everyone after a short spot of shyness. She had gotten into the habit of hiding in his cape when she was meeting someone new, and he was around. He felt like an uncle in a way. Now that he thought about it, Barret was spending alot of time with Arieth's mother, maybe he was looking to get Marlene a new mom. "The cleaning is going well, but it will take a long while yet," he said. "Thats why I called to ask for help, but everyone seems really busy these days," he said.

Zack tried to concentrate on his squats but failed, jumping up his hands inching towards Cloud's neck, but pulled back as he was about to yell something. Quickly he covered his mouth and smiled sheepishly, looking around as if someone was there. He jumped to the side as he nearly gotten jumped on.


Cid just totally crashed from the roof, standing up in his usual cocky pose and smirked 'Well I'll be @#$%& saying this. Long time no see you scrawny assed @#$%&...' He slapped Cloud on his back harshly, taking a drag from his cigarette dangling in his (sexy) mouth.

Vincent looked to the best pilot and first astronaut of this world as he jumped in from the roof. He closed his eyes and reopened them, "Cid, you should really watch your language when your around young minds," he said, pointing out the young Marlene.

'Shut yer mouth ya ol' geezer~!' He scoffed, then pointed at Marlene 'That scrawny ass uses Barret's speech at times you know that.' Then he turned to Marlene, patting her on the head 'This time... I won't @#$%& lose from you.' He held up a box with a game, doing that signature smirk of his.


(I forgot Reno xD)

Reno let out a huff as he was ordered to land 'Ya know, one missile could be so much easier to get him out, yo.' He sneered, landing anyways and stepped out, his palms upturned as he shrugged 'Let's do this then... Man, I expect a raise from this.' He started pushing away several objects.

(I know your in the spirit of FF censoring, but you don't need to do it here you know. And Reno must feel neglected by you. Shame on you Jinny ^^)

Vincent sighed, and shook his head, not wanting to argue with the most stubborn man in the world next to Barret. He prayed that Cid and her Father didn't influence Marlene's language too much. Or Yuffie who had picked up some language herself......... the child was doomed from the start.

Tifa blinked and looked over at Cid before her eyes narrowed. Marlene looked up at Cid and grinned. "I won't lose!" She said confidently. It was hard to win at games with her. Tifa walked over and sighed before she  punched Cid across the head. "Watch your mouth Cid." She said, cracking her knuckles before Marlene tilted her head curiously. Aerith laughed softly as she watched the scene before she stood beside Zack, looking up at him curiously. "Something tells me you lost a bet. You've been awfully quiet."

tseng sighed as he heard renos idea and stopped digging "and it might also kill him in the process reno" tseng replied to him then returned to digging yanking at several larger peices of rubble and pulling them to the side when reno finally join him and elena. he heard reno's comment, his lip rased very very finely at it "if we find president rufus we my just get that" his voice showed nothing of his emotions or feelings. after about fifteen mins of digging they eventually uncoverd a small hollowed out space in the rubble big enough for a man to fit into "reno. check it out"

(<_< yes punch Cid even though Marlene uses more harsh words than he had up until now and that's Barret's fault =D)

Cid dropped his cigarette and stared at it 'Ya know... I'm not in the mood for this shit. I'm off.' And he was gone again. He had a nice piece of work to do back at home and to get his cigarette wasted like that. To hell with them then.


Zack looked almost as if he was down right insulted '...' He opened his mouth to say something but then closed it, turning away and crossed his arms over his chest. He had to persevere this, no matter how cute she looked in pink, his mouth had to stay silent. He had to keep focused even though he really wanted to talk and joke around like usual. But no, he had to become one with silence, he had to... What's that on the vampire's arm? Investigate Zack, investigate~!!!! He shook his head No... Do it~!!!!... I can't... I have to... I can't... I have to...  He opened his eyes and found himself oogling over Vincent's gauntlet.

Vincent merely sighed at Cid's actions. That man was a loose cannon, but Vincent guessed that irrationality was a gift humans had. After all, when Vincent was one he did many irrational things.

Vincent was about to call after the raging pilot when he felt a weird feeling. Like someone was staring at him. But he could see that most people were looking at the back of Cid. He shook his head, ignoring it.

(RUFUS)

The president lay in a rather deep hole, he was unconscious and his limbs lay sprawled at an odd angle on the debris, but he was alive. Barely. His suit was no longer immaculate, and one of his eyes was bruised and swollen. He did not respond at all to the knocking and shouting going on above him.

---

Cloud watched them joke around and sighed when Cid decided to leave. He could never get the man to stick around for long, but after the war everyone got so busy, and Cid had a lot to do, being an engineer.

He smiled a little seeing Zack bother Vincent, he wanted to make his mentor laugh, but maybe now wasn't the time. He cleared his throat. "Actually... I was wondering if anyone heard anything about Shinra lately."

Vincent shook his head, "I haven't, from what I understand the company is more or less finished, I doubt they will recover the power they once had anytime soon," he said.