A small group of soldiers entered the famous home of Lord Godo Kisaragi, in hope of finding James. It was rumored that he was staying on the very hall that old Godo slept on himself, but the soldiers had been advised not to touch him. It was too risky. The Ancient's room was probably guarded by a few, inexperienced novices, but the Great Lord, his chamber would be guarded by the best.

"Ok," one of them began in a hushed whisper as the reached the floor of the Great Chamber. "You guys know the drill. Three of us in, two of us out defending the room from the guards if need be. Inside troops, quick and silently. Try to get it on surprise so it doesn't make any noise. Ok?" The others nodded. "Alright then, lets go!"

As swiftly as possible, the group of five trailed over to what they believed to be the Ancient's room. One soldier pulled out a key that he had obtained from killing one of the servants. It was a master key, the gateway to any place in Wutai.

As soon as the three were inside the room, the other two watched for any approaching guards. Sensing that there was some
coming, they readied their guns, outfitted with silencers for the occasions.

It only took three shots for the three guards to go down. Three easy shots, these guards had to have been rookies, otherwise they would have been paying more attention. Stupid Wutaians, the leader thought to himself. Can't ever do anything right. Can't
figure out why the h-

"AHHHHHHH!!!!" a woman's scream interrupted his thoughts. It was coming from inside the room they were presently guarding.

"Uh-oh," the other man managed to get out before the three burst out of the room, carrying a struggling young women with them.

"Is that it?" The leader asked, glancing down upon them.

"Um…" one of the others mumbled. "I don't think so. That's Yuffie Kisaragi, Godo's daughter."

"Damn it!" the leader cursed, slapping the nearest soldier. "Well, knock her out! We can't have her keeping up this noise, she's
probably already got all of the guards in this place alerted. Hurry up!"

The soldier that had one of her arms released his grip on her, reaching for his club. The young girl's eyes opened wide as she it
being raised against her, the last thing she saw before blackness overtook her.

"Ok then…the Ancient's door must be…that one," the leader concluded, pointing the room opposite Yuffie's. The others nodded, and, after waiting for the leader's signal, the same three slipped inside silently.

This time, no scream emerged from the walls, and it only took a moment or two for the group to come back, carrying what
looked to be a man in his late teens or early twenties.

"That it?" The three shrugged.

"Probably, I got a look at his eyes in there for a second, almost identical to that female they got locked up in the Shinra building," one replied.

"Very good, now then, wait for the next set of guards to pass, and then we'll leave," the leader whispered at the others, ducking
back down into shadows as he heard someone coming.

This time it was only one guard, and he passed by quickly. "Ok men, move out."

***

TWO DAYS LATER

Tifa's Seventh Heaven was by no means one of the most popular places in the slums of Midgar, but it did get its fair share of lunch customers, keeping its workers on their toes for a good two hours.

"TABLE TWO'S STILL WAITING FOR IT'S ORDER!" Tifa hollered to the other workers, hoping someone would hop to it
and give it to them. Today was not one of her better days. It seemed she always got stuck serving rude people.

"Miss! I asked for a salami on rye! You gave me a salami on wheat!" a snooty, male voice cackled behind her as she reached
the bar to refill some drinks.

With a glare, the woman slowly turned around; ready to knock some heads off.

"Sir, if you wouldn't mind- BIGGS!" She gasped, staring at her friend, before attacking him in a bear hug. "Oh you're ok! Thank
goodness!"

"ACK! Can't…breath…" the man gasped, prying Tifa's arms off of him. Sheepishly, Tifa looked at him.

"Sorry," she replied with a grin. "But I'm just so glad that you're back! I thought for sure that you were dead!"

"Nice to know you have so much confidence in me," Biggs mumbled.

"We have lots of confidence," Wedge said quickly rushing up to his friend. "Sometimes it's just misplaced!" He placed a hand on his friend's back, patting it lightly. "Good to see you, Biggs."

"You too, sorry to keep you all waiting on me when-"

"Wait!" Tifa cried, slapping his mouth shut. "Let's about this at a…um…more appropriate time, shall we?" With a probing look in her eyes, she made a small gesture with her head to the bar full of people."

"Oh, yeah ok," Biggs nodded with an understanding grin. "A better time."

***

Yuffie's head was surging with a burning pain when awoke. She tried opening her eyes, but even though the room she was in was poorly lit, the small amount of light that was there hurt her eyes.

"Unn…where am I?" she wondered aloud, her voice cracking a bit.

"Good question, I've been wondering it myself for a few hours," a deep voice came from the left side of her.

She pried her arms open, then gently propping herself on her arms, she sat up, slowly turning her to the side. "James?" Before the other person could reply, a cough sneaked its way up the young girl's throat, forcing her to forget what she was going to say.

"Yuffie? Are you ok?" The Cetra's voice rang out clear when she was through.

"Yeah, I think so." The ninja wrinkled up her nose, noticing the foul smell of the place finally. It had a musty stench to it, like the
pipes in the basement of a house. It wasn't at all appeasing to the nose. "You?"

"Eh, I've been better. I have a large bump on the back of my head, and a major headache, which is probably associated with the bump, but other than that I seem to be fine."

"Oh." A brief silence followed.

"Yuffie…I'm sorry," James sighed, finally breaking the tension.

"For what?"

"Getting you into this mess. I know the came to Wutai seeking me. I guess they must have confused the doors and nabbed you
also. This…this wouldn't have happened had I not been there."

"Oh bologna! James, don't blame yourself! We knew the risks involved when we decided to let you stay in our home. We are at fault as much as you."

"…thank you, Yuffie," was all James was able to get out before the door, previously unseen to the pair, swung open with a
screech, startling them.

"Well, well," a voice drawled out slowly, as a man Yuffie did not recognize waltzed into the small holding cell. "If it isn't the
Ancient and Godo's little brat."

The young, now more than slightly angered, ninja glared up into icy-blue eyes, and a prominent, self-assured face framed by
blondish hair.

"You should feel lucky, I don't normally take time out of my busy schedule to visit the low lives of our prisons, but I made
exception for you two."

"Rufus, you'll pay for this I swear," James growled under her breath, surprising Yuffie. She didn't think she had once heard him
angry.

"Tsk, tsk, threatening the President is a very serious crime you know." The man that James had addressed as Rufus stepped
closer to the Cetra, leaning in to him. "Punishable by death. Now is that what you want?" When he received no answer, he
smirked. "That's what I thought."

Yuffie's eyes slanted. No one talked to her or her friends that way. "Now listen here you-"

"Uh-uh-uh," Rufus wagged his finger at her. "Don't you talk to me like that young lady, it's not wise."

"I'll talk to you however I want to talk to you!" Before she could blink, Rufus had backhanded her hard across the face.

"No you listen, you little wench. When I say you can speak, you speak, and when I tell you not to talk, you had best not talk.
Understand me?"

Yuffie said nothing in return, but nodded.

"Very good. Guards!" he hollered in the direction of the door. Within seconds, five Shinra guards were crowded into the tiny cell. "Take the Ancient here to Hojo, and see what he wants done with it."

"And the girl, sir?"

"Leave her here. She has yet to learn her lesson. But we'll make sure she does, very soon."

***

Aeris inhaled deeply as one of Hojo's workers took yet another blood sample from her. They bothered her immensely, but at
least they didn't hurt anymore.

She couldn't help but notice that the whole lab was in an uproar this morning. She had tried to learn why, but no one was actually talking about it directly. Everyone was tense, and Hojo had yet to be seen. Aeris couldn't decide if that was good or not.

Suddenly, the door to the laboratory slung open, and a technician ran in. "It's here!" he hollered to another tech. "Hojo wants us
both to go help him, come on!" Without letting the other one so much as get a word in, the first technician jerked the other one out of the room with them.

"Aeris, we're done for today. I'll send someone to come take you to your cell," the man working on her stated, obviously anxious about what had just taken place.

After a few seconds, a woman came up to her, undoing the cuffs strapping her to the chair. Taking hold of the Ancient's wrist, she led her out of the room and down the hall to her holding cell.

After she was locked up, Aeris took her seat on the floor again. She always sat there, and she usually slept there too. They may
have given her a bed, but she as hell wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her use it.

She stared at the bed for a moment, growing nostalgic. She remembered when she had a bed to call her own. A real bed too, not some cheap bed with a cotton mattress. It was a very nice bed, wooden, with daisies carved into the headboard. Daisies were her favorite flowers. She had loved for as long as she could remember. She thought back to when her mother would read her stories about the Cetra before she went to sleep. Oh, how she had loved those, the tales were always so exciting and fresh, no matter how many times she hard them.

Her mother always had a way of making everything seem vibrant, even the drab slums of Midgar that they had lived in together
briefly before…

Before her mother had been killed. After that things had fallen apart. She had been given to a lady named Elmyra. She was
supposed to protect Aeris from some people that had wanted her from reasons Aeris didn't understand. All that she knew at the time was that most people didn't like her because somebody or some people called 'Shinra' didn't.

She lived in peace for about 5 years. She remembered Elmyra's house. She loved it, especially in the summer. She remembered
sitting by the screen door, watching lazily as the flies collected on it, trying to get in. She remembered her flower garden, where,
no matter how hard she tried, she could never get anything to grow. Then for lunch, Elmyra had always served lemonade. Aeris
had always loaded hers with sugar, uses a spoon to scrape the remnants of it out when the tangy liquid was gone.

Then came the day when she found the church. Her own little church where there was flowers blooming. She loved it there. She'd spend hours upon hours there everyday, staying until Elmyra came to drag her out.

Of course, she hadn't known the church would always be her downfall. That one day…it was still vivid in her mind. She was
picking flowers to sell, buttercups, when a shadow had fallen across her and the garden. She could tell easily that it was the
shadow of a man. He had grabbed her violently, covering up her mouth so that she couldn't scream. Se had kicked and kicked
but it was no good. She merely wore herself out, only making it easier for the man to take her away.

How she got there was unclear, but she knew that she had been brought to the Shinra. For days she was locked away in a dank cell, before anyone came to talk to her. And when someone had, she hadn't liked him.

He said his name was Hojo, and that she had better never call him that. To her, he was either Sir or Master. Never Hojo, never
Professor, either Sir or Master. She chose not to call him anything.

Thinking back, Aeris couldn't remember when she had spoken to a person other than herself last. She had given it up awhile ago.

Sighing, she returned to the present. She hated this place. With a passion, she hated it.

"I will get out. I will…"

***

Reno walked swiftly through the upper levels of the Shinra building. He had heard rumors about the capture of Godo's little girl
and a second, full-blooded, Ancient. He prayed they weren't true, but he needed to find out.

The rumors are most likely just that, rumors. Yes, rumors that is all, nothing more than stupid rumors started to create
some excitement around here. Not there's any lack of excitement, what with this war and all.

Reno sighed as he came across the door to the laboratories, inserting his key card. It's bad enough if they've gotten another
Ancient, but if they harmed an innocent girl, there'll be some heads rolling.

"Oh, sir!" a voice called after him. Irritated, he turned around to see a small lab tech hustling up to him. "Sir, you are Reno of the
Turks aren't you?" He nodded. "Well, sir, Tseng told me to find you, he's waiting by Specimen D's cell. I'll show you the way."
Without waiting for his reply, she started walking in the direction that Reno was now headed.

Specimen D's cell? What the heck is that, some sort of virus? Reno pondered over this the entire, although short, length of
their trek to Tseng.

"Ah Reno, very good," the taller man said as the lab tech scuttled off. "I suppose you've heard the rumors of the second Ancient
that was found in Wutai?"

"Yes sir."

"Well, they aren't rumors. They're true. Since you heard talk of them, I supposed that you've also heard talk of Lord Godo's
daughter being taken prisoner?"

Damn…"Yes, sir."

"Good, because your job over the next few days is to guard her until we figure out what to do with her. Understand?"

"Yes…sir"

"Good, now then a guard should come along to show you to her cell. I believe it is on this floor for the time being."

"Yes, she's on this floor. Easier to keep track of her I say, she'd never be able to escape with all these blasted technicians running around," a voice came from behind them.

"Ah, President Rufus," Tseng started, turning to greet the man. "You're looking well."

"Thank you, Tseng. Now then, about the new Ancient, have any of you seen it?"

It? They refer to the Ancient as an it? "No sir." He answered aloud, keeping his thoughts to himself, like the good little Shinra
lap dog.

"No sir," Tseng replied following the other Turk.

"Hmm…very good, I'll see you two around…I guess," the young man scratched his head for a second, seemingly lost in thought, before strolling off.

"That boy needs to learn a thing or two," Tseng commented. "He's not nearly fit to be the President yet."

"Better not let him catch you saying that," the redheaded man warned him.

"Sir! Sorry I kept you waiting!" yet a guard gasped, running up to them. "I was busy. I'll take you the prisoner's cell now, if you
like."

Reno nodded curtly. "Ok." He waved a short goodbye to his boss, Tseng, before following the guard down several corridors to a large, metallic door.

"Here she is, inside," the guard mumbled, pulling a notebook and thumbing through it. "Yuffie Kisaragi, age sixteen, height five
two, born in Wutai to Lord Godo Kisaragi and Lady Caci Kisaragi." Looking up, he presented Reno with a key. "Here you are
sir. Good day," with a bow of his head, he turned and scampered off, leaving behind an apprehensive Reno.

"Great…now what do I do?"

***

Yuffie nearly jumped out of her skin when the door to her cell was opened up. The brightness of the hall outside cast a deep
shadow on the person who entered. Though their features were hidden, she could tell it was a man, and that it wasn't James or
Rufus.

"Who…who are you?" she asked in a worried tone.

"Names Reno," he replied shortly, closing the door behind him. "I'm the lucky one chosen to guard you," he continued with his
back turned.

"Great."

The man who had identified himself as Reno turned back around. "I'm not going to enjoy this anymore than you, kid." For the first time, Yuffie got a good look at…his good looks.

The first thing she noticed was his hair. Unruly, fire red, long, it just screamed rebel. Then there were his eyes…she felt she could just lose herself in their depths. She had never really believed the whole bit about eyes being the windows of the soul, but one glance into his made her a believer, they were so…hurt. Hurt by some unknown force, but covered up by other emotions, false emotions. All false except maybe hate…and hope. Yes she could see definite hope in his eyes; for what, she didn't know, but it was there.

The most prominent feature, though, were two symmetrical scars running on his cheeks. They weren't so noticeable, if you weren't paying attention, but if you were, it was all you could see. They were so…fascinating. Two lines of upraised tissue on his flesh, nothing more than that, but they piqued her curiosity. How had they gotten there? Had it hurt? Were they birthmarks? Remnants of a boyhood fight? Fight over a girl, a lover? What?

"Are you all right, miss?" The man raised an eyebrow, she had been sitting there, merely staring at him for quite some time now.
"Miss…?"

"Huh?" Yuffie shook herself from the trance. "I'm sorry. I'm…ok I guess. Hey, you called me Miss."

"Yeah, so?"

"Why aren't you calling me Godo's brat, or little bitch like the others?"

"Um…because, I guess I'm more polite than they are?" He shrugged, not sure if he should explain himself to her. "Would you
rather I call you one of those?"

"NO! Actually," she paused. "I'd rather you call me Yuffie. Can I call you Reno?" She wasn't sure why…but she almost thought
she could trust this man. If she could…she would be ever so relieved. She needed someone to trust now that James had been
taken away earlier that day.

"Sure, if you want."

"Ok…so…"

"So…" Reno sat in a nearby chair, his legs tiring of standing.

"What do you do around here? Are you a SOLDIER?"

"Nope."

"Lab tech?"

"Nope."

"Guard?"

"Nope."

"Scientist?"

"Nope, aren't they the same as a lab tech?"

"I dunno…so what are you?"

"Turk."

"Oh…oh! You're a TURK???" She leaned forward, with a non-believing look plastered on her face.

"Uh…yeah, why?"

"I…I dunno, I guess I just never actually believed you guys were people. I guess I thought you were just things that people spoke of."

"Oh…" Reno sighed and leaned back. This is going to be a long day.

***

Rufus sighed as he reclined in his chair in his office. He really enjoyed his chair, he could lean back in it, and spin it around, and
best of all, it had wheels. He remembered the first time he had sat in it, he had been younger, and his uncle had still be alive.

He'd been on his daily visit to his uncle's work, he didn't know why he took them, he just did to make his father happy. He had
just entered his office when his had had rushed, saying he had something urgent to take care of and that Rufus was to sit tight and be good until he came back. Rufus had nodded and plopped himself down into his chair. He'd never sat it before but he had always wanted to. He'd loved it, it was comfortable, and fun to roll around in. Every time he had come back to visit he had
begged and begged to sit in it. He had grown attached to it, he supposed. It was one of the few things that he had looked forward to and enjoyed in his childhood. One of the few things that was always there.

"Rufus! We need your signature on these so we can continue our research on the Ancient!" Professor Hojo's voice interrupted his memories, shattering the daydream.

The young man looked up from his desk, glaring at the gangly man standing before him. "Hojo, how many times have I told you,
do not call me Rufus. It is disrespectful and I don't like it."

The elder man returned the cold gaze. "As you wish President Rufus. I need these signed." He thrust a pile of papers onto his
desk.

"What are they?"

"Research grants. We need them for funding."

"The science department of Shinra has more funding than any other department, how can you possibly tell me you need more
when you spent billions of gil on that silly Ancient girl last year alone?!"

"Do not call the Ancient a girl, she is a feminine organism of them Ancient species, not a human. And that is my point exactly, we have enough money for one Ancient, not two. Now, will you hurry up and sign the damn papers I'm in a rush!"

Rufus's glare wavered as he saw the rage in the other man's eye. With a sigh of resignation, he took out his pen and signed the
papers. He didn't want to admit it, but Hojo frightened him. He couldn't see how his uncle had put up with him for so long. "Here you are, Hojo."

"Thank you." With one last withering look, the scientist left the room, just as the young Cassandra was entering.

"Rufus sir, you have a phone call on line three."

"Line three? Ok, thank you Cassandra." He motioned for her leave, as she did.

Muttering under his breath about the Professor, he picked up the phone, switching to line three. "Hello, President Rufus
speaking?"

"Rufie?" A familiar voice chimed on the other line. "You sound so official."

"I have to. What do you want Alli?" This day just keeps on going and going…

"Well… I wanted to apologize for my behavior. It was out of line and disrespectful and-"

"What do you want Alli? Money?"

"Rufie! Nothing of the sort!"

"I've asked you not to call me that."

"I know. But I like it. I was just wondering if maybe…nah, never mind forget it, I'll…I'll see ya."

"No wait-" Click. "Damn! Alli…" Hanging up the phone, he swore. Don't get yourself into trouble kid…you're the only family
I got now.

To Chapter 3