FF7(Private)

Cloud nodded and said, "Yeah and Tifa can I talk to you alone in the bar? Vincent keep Yuffie with you for me please?" "What! There's no secrets allowed for me Cloud!" Cried Yuffie loudly.

Moving even faster now Cloud was able to keep up with his opponent. Before he finally slashed him right across the front of his body sending him crashing into a nearby building. Both men were down now and Cloud came to a stop. Walking over to Reno he nudged him saying, "You can stop playing dead now... That's a very shallow wound. I should make it bigger for you knocking me out but I think I'll be nice this time." Reno sat up and said, "Sorry I was useless against either of them. Better off saving my own ass then being killed.: He winced and held his side as he stood up. He suddenly hit the ground with a thud when Cloud actually used his fist to punch him. "Once a puppet always a puppet. You're nothing but Shinra's lap dog..." Said Cloud walking back over to his friends.. "Hey what happened to being nice!" Said Reno as he sat up with a black eye now.

Dodging every last bullet including Tifa's punches. This guy was faster then the eye. He grabbed Tifa and spun flinging her so hard she ended up falling on Alicia. The two of them falling up against the wall a building. "Ugh some help you are!" Snapped Alicia shoving Tifa off her. Yuffie had gotten Cloud to safety. Leaning him up against a nearby wall sh said, "Alright now I'm mad!" Drawing her giant shuriken she threw it and it whizzed only to be caught by the larger man. He suddenly went crashing down though and Cloud appeared to standing behind him sword drawn in hand and boy did he look pissed. "STRIFE BEHIND YOU!!" Yelled Alicia and Cloud quickly blocked an incoming attack from the other man. Skidding back he blocked quite a few more slashes.

The bullets never made contact as another man appeared with a flash and sliced through them with his sword. Alicia shot forward fast and swung her leg toward the larger guy. But her leg was suddenly grabbed by him as he still held Cloud in his grip he flung her so hard she smacked right up against the building with a loud crash. That didn't stop Alicia though she stood up and quickly drew her two weapons saying, "Now I'm pissed!!" Yuffie came running out and both she and Alica ran forward and struck the larger guy. He went crashing down. Alicia grabbed Cloud only to let out a pained yell as she got slashed across her back by the other man. "You girl take him!" Said Alicia as she quickly handed Cloud over to Yuffie.

Reno ducked fast and the glass missed him. "Look we're not here to fight you. Would you rather have Cloud alive or dead? By us doing this we're not only protecting him bur ourselves as well." Said Reno getting on the defensive. "Yeah right you're just trying to save your own asses!" Yelled Yuffie. Something suddenly came through the window glass shattering. Landing on the floor in between them it exploded and smoke billowed everywhere. Yuffie coughed loudly and suddenly she let out a yell as she was sent flying up against the wall with a crash.

Alicia stood there Cloud and Reno nowhere in sight. Obviously they got away and she was to stay behind and hold off the group. "One down and two to go. Come and try me gun boy." "Alicia!!" Reno was heard screaming. "What the..." Alicia turned and ran out fast and saw Reno on the ground blood pooling under him. "You saved us the trouble. Look he's already knocked out said the larger guy who was lifting Cloud up by his arm. "DAMN YOU!!" Screamed Alica running forward fast.

"Thanks for the warning but I have work to do." Said Cloud standing up. he was about to walk away till Reno suddenly zapped him before he could react and he hit the floor blacking out. "Sorry pal but I don't play games. I was told if he refuses to listen I have to take him into custody. I know your little friend in red here is much smarter to not get caught and bring about the end of the planet though." Said Reno. "Oh no you can't just lock him up like some animal!" Said Yuffie about to hit Reno but Alicia blocked her. And pushed her back saying, "We'll do what we must to make sure Phantom doesn't get what they want. Now get lost little girl." She then picked up Cloud and swung him over her shoulder.

"Yeah the business is really picking up. I'm making quite a bit of money. More then I used to when I first started it. I'm actually quite happy with how far it's progressed. Soon I might need hired help the rate it's going." Said Cloud. "You don't look like you been taking care of yourself that's for sure. You've lost even more weight. I could tell when I actually got to hug you." Said Yuffie with a huff.

"Um hello I'm standing right here." Said Reno. "I've heard you the first time. And whatever it is I'm not interested in cleaning up Shinra's mess anymore." Said Cloud looking at Reno. "This isn't about Shinra Cloud. Why not let us take a seat and I'll start from the beginning." Said Reno. "It better be important then." Said Cloud pulling out a chair and taking a seat. Reno sat across from him and said, "Your friend in red there might be interested in this as well." "You may as well tell everyone." Said Cloud.

"Okay let's start from the top shall we. First I want to know have you ever heard of a corporation called Phantom?" Questioned Reno. "It doesn't ring a bell." Said Cloud. "Well they're a mercenary corporation of course. Or at least that's what they claim to be. But you don't know the half of it. It seems they've already own one third of the global economy. This expansion begin about two years ago and is growing steadily fast. But something's off Cloud. This ain't normal. If anything it's like a global power take over through resources." Said Reno.

"And why you telling me this?" Asked Cloud. "Well let me finish." Said Reno. Reno then said, "As I was saying it's a global take over through resources and they're trying to talk Shinra into merging with them for the past six months. We're still digging out information but Rufus seriously suspects something is up Cloud. And why I'm telling you this is because they might come after you. Your actions a few years back makes you their biggest threat in expansion of global take over."

"So you came all this way just to warn me?" Asked Cloud. "Well we figured we owed you the favor and trust me they can attack at any time at any pl-" Reno said but was cut off when Cloud said, "I'm not buying it. There's no reason why these people would come after me and it isn't my problem what they do." "So you want a repeat of what happened to Midgar years back except for on a larger scale?" Asked a female voice. Cloud saw a woman walk in and Reno said, "Alicia I told you to wait outside." "Oh shut it I got bored. You were taking too long." Said Alicia.

She then looked at Cloud and said, "I've heard a lot about you back in my days in Soldier Strife. You're as stubborn as they say and Reno tell him everything." "Fine I may as well. I'll make it blunt Cloud.. Phantom has gotten a hold of Hojo's research and they're planning on some how reviving Jenova. This is why they might come after you and your little friend in the corner there. And don't say it it's Shinra's mess we know we're not going to involve you. But that won't stop Phantom from coming after you so you're going to be sucked up in this whether you want to be or not." Said Reno.

"Sorry I'm just here for a quick visit this time. I'll be heading over to Junon in an hour and half." Said Cloud. "Aw man so not fair. I know I'll come with you!" Said Yuffie. "No room for you Yuffie don't believe me look at the back of my bike. The whole package takes it up." Said Cloud. The door opened up and a familiar red head came walking. "Yo so I finally caught up with ya Cloud. It ain't easy tracing ya you know that. I been needing to talk to you about something." Said Reno with a grin.

Cloud suddenly blinked hearing his phone go off but before he could look at the number a voice said, "There you are! I knew you'd be here!" He staggered forward when Yuffie jumped on his back hugging him from behind. "Cloud you seriously need to start answering your phone. I been trying to tell you all week I was coming into Edge today. I so wanna hang out maybe you can take me on a date to the Gold Saucer or something. And we can go eat see a movie." Said Yuffie and she continued rambling on and on and Cloud managed to pry her off himself saying, "I'm far too busy for that stuff Yuffie." "Aw but that's what you always say Cloud! It's the same excuse every time! I'm busy, maybe some other time, call me back later. But then you never answer your phone!" Said Yuffie.

It had been two years since the return and defeat of Sephiroth once again. Things had returned to normal, and peace had come. The city of Edge was back to it's daily life and the people had restored their lives. Cloud and his friends had gone back to their normal living. Resuming his delivery business he had started in the past. Cloud had picked up the peaceful life he become used to.

As dirt was kicking up while Cloud was passing the ruins of Midgar on his bike. He was riding quite fast heading back to Edge. He suddenly stopped though hearing the noise of a chopper flying close by. Looking up he saw it flying toward the ruins of Midgar where it seemed to vanish out of sight. Not giving it another thought he went and headed back to Edge. Hearing his pocket ring he pulled out his cell wondering if it was another customer for his delivery business.

But seeing the name he just saw it was Yuffie. For some reason she had been calling him three times a day the past week. Putting it back into his pocket he pulled up in front of the 7th heaven bar and turned off his bike. Getting off he walked on up and inside. Looking around he had expected to see Tifa but saw the place empty oddly enough.