Final Fantasy Main Story RP Arc X

"You've got a big mouth for someone who can't attack me," Cloud said in a teasing manner as he moved his hand back. "I'll keep attacking you until you attack me. Come on, Kadaj. This is important."

He whipped his hand, sending two balls of fire in different arcs, going to hit Kadaj at different times.

Rosso's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits as she watched the Cetra.

I do not trust her, she is not one of us and yet she assumes her position, She thought to Nero with a sneer, as her hands tightened to fists. Her instincts were only ever useful in combat and it was the only time that she listened to them, but the way the Cetra was, assuming that she had some say in the way things were was enough to keep a closer eye on her. It will not be wise to rely on her and her abilities too much.

Angesal watched the two for a few moments, smirking to himself, Kadaj certainly was stubborn, but he did have a point. Although he was impressed with Cloud's ease with materia.

He looked over to Cloud, "Perhaps having him on the defence will encourage him to attack reflexively?" he suggested.

"Are you tapping into your inner-Sephiroth, talking about burning villages?"

The kid showed enough battle awareness for this: Cloud lunged up in a flash. He merged his blade mid-air and twisted his wrist, bringing his weapon down on the other.

In truth, it would hit the ground next to the silver haired teen, but it would be a close call nonetheless.

As he'd died, he'd had a lot of regrets – things that he'd done and even worse, things that he hadn't. Once he joined the Lifestream though, all of his worries seemed to have just faded and he'd become at peace with himself, he was content. It was difficult though, he was doing his best to remain a conscious presence in the collective, he liked to keep an eye on things and know what was going on, but the longer he spent there, the more he could feel himself fading, it was something he was not happy about.

Nearby, he could feel something...a dark taint filling the Lifestream, most of the unaware souls were taken by it, not knowing any different. It was something that he would not get taken by. He was distantly aware of the conduit...the Cetra being taken from the Lifestream, pulled out by this corruption. It ebbed closer and closer, seeping into everything. As she was dragged out, he noticed it – a small tear between the Lifestream and the living world. It was a chance to escape the corruption. He was nothing if not a survivor.

Using every last inch of his willpower, he forced himself to break away from the collective even as it tried to pull him back, he had to draw on everything that had created his determination and will to survive - a rough life in the slums, fighting his way up the corporate ladder in Shinra...surviving after he left. He focused on something that he knew was still there...still alive...pouring everything into getting through the small tear before the corruption sealed it up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

As he came around Lazard felt the hard ground beneath him...he actually felt something for the first time in what seemed like forever. Being an incorporeal awareness in a collective hadn't suited him in the slightest. Taking a slow breath, he couldn't help but smile to himself. He was alive again.

Now what did he do with himself?

Not fully being part of the collective, he had not learned of everything that had happened in the living world, but he knew enough to know that things were getting worse...and whatever was corrupting the Lifestream was a danger that needed to be dealt with. Where did he start?

He had heard that some of the SOLDIERs had returned to the living world, typical for him to be left behind, he rolled his eyes to himself and shook his head, sniping to himself about his situation, mostly caused by his own actions was not going to get anything done.

He looked around for a moment, trying to get his bearings, he could see something in the distance, but it was not clear, absently he took out a cloth from his jacket pocket and removed his glasses to clean them but part way through he just stared at them...he couldn't have come back with perfect eyesight even? He was exactly how he had been before the experiments turned on him. In a way he was grateful for that, but perfect eyesight wasn't too much to ask, was it?

Sighing to himself, he replaced his glasses and started walking in the direction of the distant hill, he couldn't see clearly, but there appeared to be a road and buildings. It was the only thing really that stood out, so he made his way there.

~~~~~~~

It had taken longer than he thought to get there; a broken sign on the ground, half buried that barely read 'Healin Lodge'. It was a start, maybe he could find something useful there, although as he made his way toward he door, he was stopped by a couple of armed guards.

“What is your business here?”

Lazard sighed, it was going to be one of those was it? Just what he was in the mood for, “My business is none of yours,” Although on seeing the shifting grip on the gun, he changed his mind, he was not overly keen on dying again so soon, especially with what he had felt happening. “I am looking for something to drink, a car, directions and maybe a phone. Not necessarily in that order. No I am not armed, I am not working for anyone, I do not have the intention to harm anyone and I doubt I have any information that will be of use to your employer. I believe that is everything covered.”

The two exchanged glances before the one that was speaking looked back to the blonde, “...I see...” he muttered, taking in his appearance, he had an official look about him, and he certainly sounded like one of the higher up types, but what he was saying didn't quite add up, “Arms out,” he muttered and once Lazard had, his comrade frisked him, to make sure there were no weapons hidden. “With me, we will see what President Shinra wants to do with you,” he opened the door.

“...” Lazard groaned inwardly, he was aware of who was currently president and it was the one person that he was not particularly interested in dealing with right now. He was half tempted to turn away and carry on walking, but with the gun trained on him, he had little choice, he was not wanting to die so quickly, but perhaps he wouldn't live much longer anyway. Offering a thin, insincere smile he walked inside, followed by the guard with a gun trained on him. They seemed a little twitchy, had something happened recently?

He paused as he was walked by an open door that looked to be a kitchen, catching a glimpse of the younger man he'd had so many conflicting thoughts over, he wondered if he'd changed at all.

“Come on move,” The guard muttered, nudging him with the gun, intending to lead him to the cells before getting the President.

“I can assure you that is not necessary,” Lazard muttered as he looked over his shoulder to his 'escort'.

((Let me know if anything needs editing to fit more with what has been happening))

"Nothing would have burned," Cloud hissed. He didn't block, though.

He parried the attack with a large swing in an attempt to get distance between them.

As he swung, a green orb socketted to his blade began to shimmer a sapphire blue as a wave of water splashed out from his movement. His Watara spell surged out in a crescent towards the teen.

There had been nothing new that anyone could tell him when he arrived in Kalm. Still Kunsel had wanted to check himself in case anything had been missed. Nothing, or at least nothing that he knew about. So far he had just had to accept that there was no further information than what he had and that the group that had been there had divided.

Kunsel smothered a yawn as he flipped open his phone and checked over anything that had come in during his trip over. There was one from one of his friends from the WRO that had guard duty over in Healin. He paused for a moment and then a large grin broke. Well, this was interesting. Finally he drew up the old director's number.

Heya Director!
Long time no see, so how's the living treating you? Well
better than the dead I guess, but that's not saying much
I suppose. Say hi to the president for me!

Kunsel hit send and then drew up Zack's number.

How's it going buddy? Figure you've gotta be having fun
*nudge nudge* Anyways, you gotta tell me about it later.
If you don't I'll get it from Reno, but that's for later. I figure
you don't know who waltzed in. I do of course, but I see everything.
Take care, don't wear yourself out too much!

After the second message was sent Kunsel snapped the phone shut and headed back to the borrowed bike. Well it was time to head back to Healin.

Lazard followed Rufus into the kitchen and looked around absently for a moment, but instead of coffee, he made himself some tea before joining Rufus at the table. If Rufus could be civil with him, then he would return the favour.

Sipping his drink, he regarded the younger man for a moment, there wasn't the bitterness that there had once been, he was more than welcome to every thing that Rufus' father had ever favoured him with.

"You are looking well considering the state of things," he murmured after a while, just to break the silence.

Lazard nodded, at least with Rufus gone, even over night, it would give him some breathing space to see how things were around there without having to watch his back.

“I shall sort out anything that I might require with them,” he told him as he stood, moving to wash his now empty mug, he would not directly rely on Rufus for anything, his SOLDIERs were a different matter though, if they would even still want him there after the manner he'd abandoned the department.