Assassins in Gaia

After collecting the drops, the group of teens went on to do what they had originally planned which was hunting. They didn't manage to catch a Capra but they caught a Muntjac, that too a large one. Julian and Kunsel worked together to catch around twelve hares. Out of the twelve they let the five thinner ones go while the seven plump ones were tied up and put in cages. To say Desmond and Brian were not pleased to learn they were attacked was a big understatement. Angeal was very livid Zack and Kunsel didn't return when they realized they were in danger.

Ace, "Calm down, Lt Angeal. We couldn't have been able to leave, even if we wanted to."

Zack nodded, "Yeah! It was waiting for us in a trap. It made a trap for us, Angeal."

Desmond, "Looks like we are making a sweep of the forest either way."

Vincent nodded, "At least the areas that you kids hunt in."

Cloud, "Fine by me."

Angeal sighed, "This case became more complicated. I just know it."

Brian, "It's Shinra."

The ladies in Nibelheim were quite pleased with the hunt results and thanked them before opening a feast. It would take time before they could get back to having normal meals again with the lack of groceries. But till then community feasts and food would help in filling everyone's bellies. The three SOLDIERs were invited to the feast as well, despite Angeal's reluctance, he was feeling guilty for the trouble. Vincent set him straight though and reminded him, it was not him who place the reactor there. Kunsel took the chance to exchange contact information with Cloud, Tifa, Ace and Julian.

Zack, "Tell us when you come to Midgar. We can work out a schedule and help you get settled in."

Julian, "I appreciate it. My high school results will be out in two months. I will probably go there a week after results are out. Mom will want to celebrate."

Cloud grinned, "You'll be the first person to pass high school."

Tifa nodded, "Yeah! We are proud of you."

Julian, "We don't know if I have passed yet guys."

Ace, "We believe in you Illya. You will pass."

Julian smiled at them and the group went on to enjoy the community feast. They spent two more days together when the Turks came and cleared the reactor out. One of the Turks who went by Tseng followed Vincent and Desmond around. Cloud and Ace guessed he probably had many questions. As it turns out they were almost right in their guess. Tseng had been informed by Veld and did have questions and he was also curious about who Desmond was. Desmond didn't tell them what they talked about and Ace didn't push, he had an inkling though.

The Turks however didn't venture into the forest like they had thought. The dark suit wearing adults mostly stayed busy moving things from the reactor and although they sent curious looks towards the pair they did not bother them. According to Zack, Turks were like a big family and family always came first, even before their loyalty to Shinra. Well, that is as long as they don't cause death to other Turks which Vincent had not. Ace gave a relieved sigh at that, he didn't want to get involved in another fight for survival. They had to leave two days later once the last items was moved.

Zack, "So, I overheard from the Turks, I'll get promoted soon, thanks to my performance here."

Ace, "How does that work exactly?"

Kunsel, "Well, SOLDIERs are judged on a lot of thing, one of them being our ability to get along with the locals."

Tifa, "Ah! You got a good rep going with us."

Julian, "And thanks to that with the village. Well not completely as our parents are still wary buy it's not so bad."

Cloud, "And shutting down the reactor also helped in making the adults friendlier too."

Zack, "The Turks saw that and they reported it, so now after going back we'll be slotted for promotion."

Kunsel, "We still need to undergo training and do a handful of missions first of course but yes, we'll be promoted faster then normal."

Cloud, "That's a good thing right?"

Zack, "Yeah, if I am a Second I will get the choice to pick my own missions. So if there is a mission here, I'll be able to visit you guys."

Tifa, "Nice!"

Kunsel, "We gotta go."

Julian nodded, "Take care! If thing go well for me, I'll see you in two months or so."

Ace, "Safe travels you guys."

Tifa, "You know our address, keep in touch."

Kunsel, "We will."

Cloud stood on his tip toes and gave Zack's cheek a peck, "Take care of yourself. Do not be reckless. I believe in you. And good luck!"

Zack blinked then blushed grinning and picked Cloud up in a hug getting a squeak, "I will do my best Cloud. I will get that promotion and come visit you as soon as I can."

Angeal gaped before shaking his head, 'To be young.'

Cloud laughed, "Okay! Okay! Put me down!"

Zack was grinning as they left Nibelheim and went towards Rocket town where there was a helicopter waiting for them. Tifa was squealing while Julian pat Cloud's back and Cloud's face turned red when he realized what he did. The girls and boys, when they heard that Cloud gave his first kiss to a SOLDIER, grumbled but didn't complain about it. The SOLDIER did take care of Cloud every time he went to the forest so they would let it pass. But if he hurt their bundle of sunshine however.... Zack shivered during training.

Two months after the SOLDIERs had left the results for the exams came out. Turns out Julian and another girl from Nibelheim, Navra got into the top ten. They didn't reach the first place as it was held by a Denny Cobalt from Midgar. But Julian got the seventh place and Navra got fourth place, among the five hundred students who wrote the exam that year and even beating Julian. Navra blushed as the ladies and girls squealed and congratulated her on getting a spot in the top five. It was already rare for anyone from Nibelheim to get in top ten and even more rare to get in top five.

Navra decided to leave for Rocket town where she applied for an accountant while Julian decided to follow his plan. He met up with Zack and Kunsel after two weeks and the two helped him settle down in Midgar. They showed him around the giant city and plates, the lower plates had Julian cringing. It reeked of mako the lower you went, they of course didn't go anywhere near the mako plants but still.

Julian, "Did the two of you intentionally get me an empty barrack?"

Zack, "It takes a few months to a year to fill them up. And the account department has been hissing about spending extra more then necessary to maintain them."

Kunsel, "So, we proposed we allow one person to stay in the empty ones and let them maintain it. Just keep it clean and orderly and it'll be fine."

Julian lifted his eyebrow, "Wao!"

Zack laughed, "Yeah!"

Julian hmmed as he looked at the street, "Do you enjoy the plays?"

Zack, "They are cool."

Kunsel, "Genesis has taken to quoting them too. It is kind of funny to see the people make a face at it."

Julian nodded, "I'll tell him, people love his plays."

Zack, "You know the writer?"

Kunsel went after the brunette, "Illya! Come on! You know who it is."

Julian just gave them a knowing smirk before heading to the Shinra building, "It's getting late. We should go, especially you two. Didn't you say you have missions tomorrow?"

Zack whined while Kunsel sighed but they followed their friend back to their quarters. They knew how stubborn Julian could be after all. One of the scientist had exclaimed he was fine physically and mentally to undergo the SOLDIER regime. But he was turned down by Julian very sharply and politely. Zack had sniggered the whole time seeing the flummoxed expression on the scientist's face. The man had tried to entice him with the benefits and rewards but was turned down again. Julia bluntly told him, he was wasting precious time and money on a lazy person who just wants a leisurely life, and to be a SOLDIER meant dangerous missions. Regular army was only for ten years but SOLDIERs were more than ten years and he was too lazy for that. The scientist had left grumbling about lazy brats and teens.

The year passed and Zack and Kunsel were promoted to second class and the war with Wutai was simmering in the horizon. Zack introduced Julian to Sephiroth and Genesis saying he knew the author to their favourite plays. But Julian hit Zack over the head and told them he was not spilling the tea no matter what. The two First Class SOLDIERs looked at them amused as Angeal called them for lunch. They would be leaving one by one soon starting with Julian's barrack followed by Genesis's team. Cloud, Tifa and Julian's parents had written to him worried about him and mentioned Ace had gone to Wutai to scope it out. Julian raised an eyebrow at that but didn't question it, Ace had always been a wild card.

Cloud and Tifa came to Midgar together a month after Tifa turned fourteen. They along with a few other kids had cleared their own exams and wanted to get a job outside their town. Tifa wanted to open her own bar, she had taken to brewing alcoholic drinks like a fish to water and had the idea of making it a business. It was Navra's idea mostly, she had missed Nibelheim wine and ranted to Tifa about it. Tifa had been wondering what to do with herself after she finished training with Master Zangang and Desmond. Navra then gave her a great idea to sell alcohol from Nibelheim to the world outside. Cloud was helping her find a place which could double as a home and a bar for her. Zack who returned two days after they reached Midgar joined them on the building hunt.

Zack knew a guy who build a decent bar but couldn't run it properly. They found him and bargained the price of the building before buying it at a ten percent discount. It still ate at Tifa's savings despite the discount but she was too happy to get a place to be bothered. The boys and other four Nibelheim teens helped her set things up the following days. From prepping the basement for alcohol storage to setting the kitchen up. The upper levels had rooms that could be rented out and Cloud, Lily, Madison and Jacob decided to do just that. The girls took one room and the boys another room and paid Tifa for it, who was flustered at first but the four of them convinced her to keep the money to maintain the bar.

Cloud joined Shinra as he wanted to be closer to Zack and despite better judgement decided to try the SOLDIER program. Tifa and the others were not happy about that choice but didn't discourage him. Instead, told him to be careful and if he wanted to quit or anyone made him uncomfortable they would have his back. Cloud smiled thanking them and during the tests for SOLDIER, he managed to impress his trainers. He was a little disturbed by Hojo though who looked a tad too excited with his results for comfort.

The Professor however lost interest when the mako tests came out with his body showed allergy to mako. His presence was a bit of a conundrum for the SOLDIERs and troopers. During monster missions he used his fire, thunder and heal Materia at the same level as a Second class SOLDIERs but he was a trooper. He became the ace player for his group and although he was not the leader he took charge during the attacks. It helped that Cloud had good relationship with the 'beautiful' Tifa from Seventh Heaven bar and got them discount for the deli food and drinks.

Cloud rolled his eyes at the obvious crush his teammates were sporting for his childhood friend but didn't stop them. He knew, they would not hurt her if they didn't want two Second class SOLDIERs on their case. A year went by in Midgar and Tifa met a lovely redhead who would bring her flowers in exchange for her famous chocolate drink. It was Tifa's own creation to make a chocolate drink for adults and if she was trying to impress the flower lady. No one, but Cloud needed to know her crush, Cloud of course encouraged her, she deserved to be happy too.

Aerith was curious about Seventh Heaven, she had heard about the new upcoming bar that troopers, SOLDIERs and even normal citizens loved to visit. According to one of the kids, who helped her one of the troopers was the pretty owner's sibling, apparently, and they came to Midgar together. The two siblings were both good looking but the guy already had a lover although his sister didn't. She went to the bar one day, unable to contain her curiosity and was greeted with laughter and happiness of the people. The life stream that was always wary was also purring and content in the back of her head. She figured it was a good thing and went to the front to be greeted by clear, bright and happy smile.

Aerith found herself fighting off a blush and ordering a strawberry martini. Tifa, the owner gave her a glass with extra strawberry in it and Aerith was hooked. She kept visiting and met her friends and brother who was not her brother but best friend. She even met Cloud's lover, Zack who she was wary of first but warmed up to after a few meetings. He was very handsome and if Aerith was being honest someone she would have been interested in if she had not run into lovely Tifa first. And she said so as well making him laugh and nod in agreement he would probably have done the same if he didn't meet Cloud before. They became good friends and life went on till a certain mission happened.