Chapter 3

“You're what?” asked Terrea, dumbfounded.

“Two people in one,” said Tenshi, “The... other me is called Akuma. She's generally much more hotheaded and short tempered, but extremely protective.”

“Sounds like a bad combination, if you ask me,” said Shayla. Then Terrea laughed.

“Hahaha, Tenshi and Akuma!” she blurted, but was silenced by an icy look from Rain.

“I don't get it...” said Shayla.

“My name, Tenshi, means angel,” came the reply, “And Akuma means demon. We're opposites, like our names.”

“So you're Tenshi right now,” said Shayla. Tenshi nodded, “And we'll know if you're Akuma because...”

“She has green eyes,” Tenshi finished.

“I don't get it,” Terrea said, “How can your eyes change colour like that?”

“There are a lot of things,” Tenshi replied, getting off the bed, “That don't get, Terrea, and most of them you never will get.”

“We should go find Venne,” said Shayla after a few minutes of silence, “We haven't gotten our reward.”

“Yeah,” Tenshi said quietly, “Lead the way.”

*~*~*~*

Tenshi woke up in her hotel room in Sector 7. It had been eight days since the death of Asi, five days since the death of Shayla. Asi's supporters, the bizarre, golden-cloaked claymore-wielding cult had gone after Shayla and Tenshi. Akuma fought for Tenshi, but Shayla hadn't survived the struggle. She had killed three enemies when a fourth clubbed her over the head. Akuma killed the fourth and Tenshi rushed Shayla to the nearest medical centre. She slipped into a coma and never woke up.

Akuma had moved on, but Tenshi still felt terrible for the death, and felt as if she was responsible. Terrea and Rain, and even Venne for a little, comforted her, for Shayla put up a good fight, and Tenshi tried her best to save her.

Tenshi sighed and went to the washroom for a shower. After she was done, she shook Terrea awake and told her to get her belongings.

“We're leaving this dump,” Tenshi said.

“Wh-why?” Terrea asked, startled.

“I just,” Tenshi started, “I just can't function here anymore. I have to keep moving.” They both knew, though, that Tenshi was referring to the guilt of Shayla's death, but neither wanted to say it.

The two left within the hour, and headed toward Sector 8, on the intention of passing through to Sector 1 and up onto the plate, where Tenshi would eventually notify Venne of her resignation and leave for Gongaga or Nibelheim.

As they trekked through the large cobblestone square at Sector 8's heart, music tugged at Terrea's ear.

“Do you hear that?” she asked. Tenshi gave a slight nod and looked over to where the soft strains of peaceful music wafted from. On the fountain's rim was a stereo, and beside the fountain was a dark blue mat, on which a girl posed. Tenshi had seen these displays before on her travels. The performer would hold a pose for as long as they could, while onlookers could try and distract them. Human Statues, they were called.

The girl performing the display seemed not much older than Terrea, maybe around 18 or 19; such a convincing performance was astounding for a girl of that age. She wore bright clothes to attract onlookers. Her shirt was bright yellow with pink skulls, and Tenshi could see the safety pins that attached it to her fishnet undershirt to keep the yellow shirt from riding up. She wore black skinny jeans with rhinestone studs down the legs, and black convers. Her hair was dyed so blonde it was practically white, but dark brown roots were barely visible. It was tied up in a rosette pattern with a small ponytail shooting out of the centre. Tenshi guessed that it would be about mid-back length untied. On her arms she wore gold bands, right near her elbows, and on her hands were black leather gloves, one of which had the finger and thumb torn off.

The girl was positioned in a very challenging pose: she was upside down (hence the safety pins), with the heels of her palms together. From there, she stood up utterly straight, but with one leg cocked at a 45 degree angle. Three children were gathered around her, poking her and even tickling her, but she wouldn't waver. The occasional passer-by tossed a few gil into the jar at the front of her mat.

Tenshi and Terrea walked over to her. Terrea joined the children in poking the girl, and Tenshi placed five gil in the jar. She went around to the other side to see the girl's eyes were screwed shut, and she seemed to be muttering something. Tenshi bent down and whispered in her ear (which must have had at least four piercings) “Boo!”

“Aaah!” cried the girl, toppling over onto her mat, “Crap, you got me,” she laughed.

“I couldn't resist,” Tenshi smiled. The children ran away to their parents, laughing.

“Ah well, I had a good run,” she said, checking her oversize watch, “26 minutes. A new record for that pose. I'm Rivera.”

“I'm Tenshi, and this is Terrea,” Tenshi said. Terrea waved brightly.

“So do you like this kind of thing?” Rivera asked, “The display, I mean.”

“Yeah, although I've never seen it in Midgar before.”

“My aunt is from Nibelheim; that's where she picked it up.”

“Makes sense,” said Tenshi, “It was nice meeting you, Rivera.”

“Nice meeting you too!” Rivera called as they left.

*~*~*~*

“VP's floor,” Tenshi said as she stepped into the elevator, alone. Terrea was waiting in the Shin-Ra building's lobby.

“Yes ma'am, going up,” said the elevator operator, and Tenshi fel the push of an elevator starting.

What would he say to her resignation? What would she say to him?

You should just let me handle it.

No, this is something I have to do.

“Venne!” Tenshi called as she walked up to the VP's desk, “I quit, and I'm leaving Midgar.”

“Why Tenshi, why would you do that?” Venne asked with a slight smirk, “You're the best mercenary I've had in months!”

“I'm not going to be responsible for third-party deaths!” she replied.

“Oh, you mean Shayla!” Venne said, visibly relaxing.

“Wh-- how can you speak of her so casually!?” Tenshi cried, making the secretary look up from her work.

“Tenshi, I put her on that job with the intention she'd die! I put you with her because I knew you could handle yourself better.”

“I-- I don't--” Tenshi stammered, so frustrated she could cry.

“Tenshi, that mission killed two birds with one stone. Asi and Shayla, they were the birds.”

“Wait. You're saying...”

“Precisely,” Venne said, now smiling, “Did Rain tell you about his mission? To keep tabs on a certain Turk? The only reason he was laid off was because I had the means to finish her off!”

“That means Shayla was with...”

“Asi. Good job!” Venne laughed. For some reason, Tenshi found the smile gracing his hard face quite... comforting, “Asi may have committed the crime, but Shayla was behind it. I put Rain on her case after she started acting suspiciously, and then I found out her motives. To work Shin-Ra apart from the inside. So, with that mission I sent you two on, I was just sealing both their coffins and protecting the company.”

“Ugh, whatever. I'll stay with you,” Tenshi sighed.

“I knew you'd say that,” Venne said, and with that Tenshi left.

Tenshi took the elevator down to the 'ground' floor and stepped outside.

“How'd it go?” Terrea asked as Tenshi passed.

“Come,” Tenshi said flatly, grabbing the raven-haired girl by the wrist.

“Wh-wait, where are we--?” Terrea asked, practically being dragged.

As they 'walked', Tenshi explained the whole Shayla situation, and had finished by the time they had reached the Sector 8 above the plate.

“This is madness!” Terrea cried, “Why did she--”

“That's exactly what I asked.”

*~*~*~*

“You sensed it too, huh?” she asked, rolling up the thin blue mat for the second time that day. He nodded.

“She's infected with Mako,” he replied. His voice was barely a whisper, for bringing it any louder would make it rasp.

“It's one with her blood,” she said, picking up the stereo, “It won't kill her, unless...”

“Unless more is put in,” he finished, “Rivera, I want you to keep an eye on her.”

“Sure thing,” Rivera said, and smiled sweetly. She picked up her rolled mat in one hand, stereo in the other, and walked off. He watched her go.

Octavius Tethynox stood up. He had been sitting on the fountain's rim -- a much nicer fountain than the one in the slums directly below. Octavius was a dark youth, abnormally pale and relatively gaunt. He brushed his long straight dyed black hair from one eye, letting it hang over the other.

Day in Midgar wasn't very different from night, with the exception that there were more lights on. Octavius melted into the shadows at 'night', virtually unnoticeable, and feared by those who saw him. For only eighteen, he was an imposing individual.

He walked through the alley, his black trench coat billowing behind him. He was nothing like his twin. She was bright, cheerful, and klutzy, but Octavius was solemn, dark, and thoughtful.

Sector 8 was quiet that evening; the sound of Octavius's boots hitting the cobblestones could be heard echoing. He disappeared in and out of the alleys, preferring their dark over the main roads' bustle and noise. Unlike the slums, the alleyways above the plate were much more peaceful. He wound his way through the own until he reached the local hotel. The person he was looking for was in there, he knew it. He opened the door and stepped into the lobby.

“You've chosen a very foolish hiding spot,” he said with a thin, slight smirk.

*~*~*~*

Rain Amida was just coming down the stars when he watched a stranger enter the hotel. He wore a high-necked black trench coat with three belts wound over his torso. The coat his his shirt, but black skinny jeans could easily be seen dressing his legs. He wore black boots that made a soft thud whenever he took a step. The youth was very pale, with long black hair that reached his shoulder blades, and three piercings: ears, through which he'd threaded a thin black cylinder with a small sphere over the front of his earlobe; a black ring over his left eyebrow, and snakebites sporting small black studs.

The youth walked not toward him, but past him, to the burly man standing in the doorway to a hall. The man had extremely well defined pectorals and arms that looked like small tree-trunks. His hands were wide, and a six-pack of abs were visible under his thin shirt. His thighs and calves were also corded with muscle. The man's hair was a seemingly natural silver, for his almost diagonal eyebrows were the same tint. His hair was tied behind his head in four spiked ponytails that spread out behind his head like the wings of a dragonfly. His bangs were raised from his face and spiked outward. Under his imposing appearance, though, his eyes were a bright, attentive blue, watching the situations around him with interest. His face was clean shaven of all facial hair, making him look quite young.

“You've chosen a very foolish hiding spot,” the youth said.

“I'm leaving tomorrow, Octavius, you know that,” the muscular man replied. His voice was soft and knowing, and Rain predicted his age at 25 or so.

“You should be leaving tonight, Lexus. This is a very popular spot for Turks.” said Octavius.

“What do you want from me?” Lexus replied.

“Rivera and I found... another. By talking to her you may be able to beat this little problem of yours.”

The lobbyist looked suddenly quite worried. Octavius whipped around and looked her in the eye. She didn't meet his gaze. He walked slowly over to her, his head slightly cocked. In a flash, he pulled a small blade from behind the second belt on his torso and plunged it into the lobbyist's chest, killing her instantly.

“Undercover Turk,” he said, pulling the blue card from her shirt pocket, “Low level, too. That's why she didn't move faster than me.”

Octavius then turned to Rain, who was watching the situation from the base of the stairs. Rain held his gaze.

“Leave,” he said simply.

“No,” was the simple answer, “Why haven't you killed me yet?”

“You want to die?” Octavius asked, pulling the blade from the Turk's corpse.

“I'm just curious.”

“You won't report what you've heard, and you won't hear any more.”

“You're quite attentive, Octavius, but for the latter, I will stay here.”

Octavius visibly flinched at his name, but regained his composure as fast as he lost it, remembering that Lexus had mentioned it.

“Then I will leave,” Octavius said. He sheathed his blade and simply walked out the door. Lexus looked at Rain, then left in the same manner.

Rain shook his head in confusion, then continued to the Hotel restaurant, where he was headed before. He surveyed the room, then went to a table where a single person sat. The restaurant had a high golden ceiling and cream walls, and many ornamental plants. The amber lights gave the room a sunlit feeling, even though it was always black as night outside.

“Hey,” he whispered, sitting down across from her. Tenshi looked up and smiled, but the gesture was insincere. Her eyes betrayed her true feelings.

“What's wrong?” Rain asked.

“I'm just... confused,” she replied, picking at her lunch with her fork. Fish and chips, a Junon dish. Rain disliked how the few people above the plate got good food while those below... well, their food was not so good.

“About what?”

“Rain... that job you got, the surveillance thing, was it assigned by Venne Shinra?”

“Yeah, it was,” Rain replied.

“What did you know about the target?”

Rain sighed, “It was Shayla, that Turk you were with. She's showing--”

“Was, Rain,” Tenshi cut in, “Shayla's dead.”

“Dead? Are you sure?”

“About as dead as this fish,” she said, poking her lunch again, “Venne set the entire thing up so he could put away Asi and Shayla at once.”

“I knew it wouldn't be long,” said Rain, “Venne only laid me off because he said he had found someone who could finish it up. I didn't expect it to be you, Tenshi.”

“Neither did I,” she said.

“I wonder who else he's hired,” said Rain, “He could have anyone under him.”

“I wonder if he's hired...” him.

Who?

I don't... I don't remember...

“Hired who? Tenshi?”

Tenshi suddenly looked as if she was about to cry.

“Tenshi, are you okay?” Rain asked.

What's the matter with you?

I... I can't remember!

“Tenshi?” he asked again, placing his hand on hers.

“I-- I've got to go, Rain,” she sobbed. She quickly got up and left the restaurant.

“Tenshi!” he called, going after her, but by the time he'd left the restaurant, she was gone. He sighed.

Tenshi threw the door of the Hotel suite open. Terrea looked up from her book.

“You okay?” she asked, as Tenshi walked quickly by. She didn't answer, but kept walking to her bedroom, where she threw herself onto the double bed and buried her face into the pillow.

Pull yourself together.

Stop.

What?

Stop!

Tenshi, you can't cry your way--

Stop! STOP! Just... just go away!

...

“Tenshi,” Terrea said softly, standing in the doorway.

“I can't remember,” she sobbed, “I can't remember!”

“Can't remember what?”

Tenshi looked up, her mascara and eyeliner streaking down her face. There was mascara on the pillowcase.

“When-- when I was growing up in Gongaga, there were- there were three of us. Me, R-rain, and, and,” him, “And I don't remember...” She began sobbing again.

“What's wrong with not remembering?” Terrea asked, sitting on the edge of the bed, “You'll remember soon enough.”

“N-no I w-won't,” Tenshi stuttered, “I won't remember this time. It's got my memory now...”

“You'll remember, trust me! This has happened to me before. Eventually, you'll just go 'Oh! That's who it was' and it'll be the end of it.”

“N-no, Terrea, I'll never remember...”

“Why not?” asked Terrea.

“I'm dying, Terrea, and my failing memory is just the prelude.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------