My Road

Disclaimer:

I do not own Final Fantasy 7, It’s original characters, places, etc. Nor do I make any money from this fanfiction. The only things that are mine are my own original added characters. And the situations or new places added to flesh out my own story.

Warnings: none really! Slight sadness, and lots of thinking. And a growing young man’s dreams!


My Road

~Chapter 13~


Reno awoke to a very sore feeling in her neck. He tipped it around and looked. He’d been sleeping against his pack, but must have slipped in the night. He was sleeping against a stone now. And Kit was nowhere nearby. He knew the Feline couldn’t have gone far. Kit always knew where he was, and usually returned when Reno needed him. Maybe the Feline and He had more of a connection than most usually did. The Cuahl did know magic… maybe they communicated in a way that Reno didn’t know yet?


Reno’s mouth felt like chalk dust or mud. He remembered going to that Tavern last night … And... SHIVA! He’d met the Turks! That’s right. Reno’s mouth upturned into a slight grin again. Maybe things weren’t as bad as he thought. Could it be a sign that just when he was feeling pretty low, he’d met the? Who knew?


He had to take care of a very important mission today. After this things would be decided for a while, depending on what he found. He had a part of him that yearned to be held by a mothering figure, or at least family of some sort. He yearned for Talc… Even he held him nightly… But Reno shook his head, He needed to be strong right now.


He packed the blanket into the bag, and without getting himself anything to eat form his few provisions in the pack, he simply got himself the bottle of water and took a swig, swishing it around his mouth before swallowing.


He would head out to find his family, and leave the pack here again… Kit would return at some point and stay with their belongings. Reno felt secure in leaving them there.


He had a bit of a trek today, the instructions that that guard had given him yesterday sent him basically to the other side of the sector 7. He would use that time to keep on the outlook for opportunities on his way; Food, shelter, or maybe even a job. He was a bit older; maybe he wouldn’t have trouble with the traffickers now, he knew a bit about them, and was stronger.


Reno shook his head, he couldn’t think that way. Talc had warned him enough times to not take any self defense or abilities that he had leaned too seriously when in comparison to the traffickers. They were a very serious concern; even Talc himself was still a bit worried from time to time, and was ALWAYS on guard. Yeah, Reno couldn’t think of that, nor make his presence too widely known anywhere yet.

~~~ Later that morning, across the sector ~~~

Reno found the place that he’d been told to go to. He was a bit hesitant really. He was more nervous than he thought actually. He’d been thinking about his mother on the whole walk, once he cleared his head of thinking about traffickers and a job. He was thinking about her instructions… then he thought about her song… and then he tried so hard to recall what her eyes looked like. He wanted to remember. He could remember her burgundy colored wavy locks of hair that fell softly around her face and down onto her chest, arms and back. Her hair was beautiful. And he could remember her smile, he had her smile. His was a bit more unique to him but, still very similar to hers. He smiled softly in recalling her face, warm, yet pale, with a beautiful smile gracing it, her hair outlining her face like a halo… But… Her eyes… He could not remember the color. He knew their shape, and that they ‘sparkled like shards of materia.’ As he remembered his mother saying that that was what his father had told her when they were first married.


Before he knew it, he was here… and feeling down again. But perhaps he’d get some answers if he found her sister here. He pulled himself up to as tall of a height as his young body would let him, and squaring his shoulders he took a few steps past the edge of what would be the homes area. There was a small amount of ground in from of the home that seemed more worn from the rest of the ground around it. Someone walked a lot there.


He approached the door but before he could, he heard a soft voice call from beside the house. “Hello… Do you need my mother?”


From just around the very corner of the building a little girl peaked out. She was a very sweet and innocent young girl. She was wearing a soft yellow and blue little girl’s jumper. She had a little bit of dirt on her cheek and hands, like she’d been playing on the ground or with the dirt. She had really wide and sparkling eyes. She seemed so happy for such an area under the plate. Reno smiled sadly to her before replying. Maybe he had the wrong house?


“I don’t know honey. Is this where a Miss Faramis lives? That’s who I’m looking for.” He let his smile grow a bit wider for the little girl, she really was sweet looking.


The little girl’s eyes widened more if that was even possible. The brightness in them diminished. But she didn’t look mad, just slightly surprised was all. If Reno looked hard enough… she looked so much older and wiser in those eyes, than she looked physically.


The sweet little girl walked forward up to Reno now. She reached out her hand gently. It surprised Reno but he just stayed put with his hand now in the little girl’s two hands. He reached out with his senses a little. There was an enveloping sadness and warmth here, from the little girl maybe? She was so young though.


“I’m sorry sir.” She started. “Mrs. Gainsborough lives here… she is my mother. Miss Faramis…” The little girl looked down towards the ground. “Is in the lifestream now…” She looked back up locking onto Reno’s eyes.


Reno shivered violently. Not from cold, and not from fear, but from a sense of knowing. For some reason he’d known what the little girl was going to say before she’d even said it. But standing there next to this innocent sweet thing he didn’t know what to say. Was he disappointed? Maybe confused a little, but how could he be disappointed, what right did he have in feeling such an emotion. He hadn’t come sooner… who knows how long she’d returned to the planet. But right now Reno was disappointed in only one thing for sure. The mention of the lifestream at all… was his mother there?


Re’nocia had been a beautiful woman in heart, soul, and body. She deserved to be part of Gaia’s lifestream, and her conscience and strengths be flowing all around them. But for now Reno couldn’t really think about that. It upset him too much not knowing why, or what had happened to his mother.


He looked back at the little girl. She really did seem wiser than her physical age. “Oh, I thank you. I am so sorry, to disturb yourself and your mother then.” He turned to try to let loose of the grip the little girl had still on his hand, he wanted to leave with his pride intact.


The little girl didn’t let go, she smiled towards him again. This time with such a knowing look on her young face. “She in the lifestream too… they are together now. Don’t worry anymore.” She then grinned, closing her eyes, and tipped her head to the side while locking her hands behind her back. “It was so nice of you to visit. I need to go inside before mother worries now.” And with a slight wave she bounded up the stairs like any little girl her age would, so long as the worries of working and responsibilities hadn’t been left on their shoulders yet.


Reno just stood there barely blinking for a minute. Had she said what he thought? His mother, that has to have been what she was talking about. An amazingly heavy amount of grief suddenly washed away from his shoulders. The ache in his chest felt like it was renewed, but not with the bitterness and regret that normally resided with it. No, now it was a sadness, and ache of having to have said goodbye far too soon. But also alongside it was a knowing feeling of calmness. His mother was around him. She was at one with Gaia, just like those in the stories that she used to tell him while his father was away; Stories of the old ones going back to the planet, becoming one, with their consciences around all those that they cared for. Watching them, caring for them from a distance… watching over them. At peace...


He still stood there, like someone had nailed him to the spot. He glanced up at the door with a sense of finality. It was the last he’d seen of this place. The little girl would be as a stranger to him, if he would run into her again. He knew he was letting go. He was just completely letting go completely of everything to do with his mother, his father, and the sister of his mother that he had never, nor would ever know. These people here… they were strangers to him. He needed to go. Say goodbye to one path that his life had come from. And still move on down this new road that he was making.

~~~ The following day ~~~

Reno awoke again… in pain. But this time he knew exactly why, and deserved it. When he’d said his goodbye’s in his heart yesterday. He’d spent the rest of the day ‘Acquiring’ Gil from various sources, before making his way to the tavern that he’d gone to the night before, only this time, purchasing the most expensive and strongest drinks that they had. Again he wondered how he’d been able to get away with entering and drinking with not being 16… but he didn’t question it for long.


Last night was different though, no one had bothered him, and the place had been a bit milder sounding and feeling last night. Reno drank and thought in peace. He drank till he couldn’t remember what he was drinking for… and still drank some more.


Early morning long before men were getting ready for work, Reno found himself somewhere in the sector he’d never been before. Also he found himself surrounded by some young Gang type kids. He smirked with a very smug look on his face and motioned for the kids to ‘bring it on’. Reno found himself fighting as if he were in a ballet, rather than a gang-like street fight. He fought with that smug look on his face the whole time, leaning sideways and side kicking, flipping swiftly around to hit hard to the side of one’s neck. He’d spin and kick another in the head. And who knows what else, the whole thing was an underwater, slowed down, and foggy memory to him.


He also couldn’t remember when or how he made his way back to where Kit was once again. But he was here, and he had slept most of the day away. His body so filled with exhaustion from the physical drain’s, and also from the emotional attack’s it had faced over the past few days. He slept right until it would have been night again.


When Reno had awoken to find his entire body hurting though, he wasn’t frustrated. He was relieved. He could easily become addicted to this feeling of pain. Pain had been there his entire life. It made him feel alive. He knew for a fact he was here, breathing, and living. Though if he had felt nothing he would have been just as thankful.. He would have known he was gone if that was the case.


Reno stared off into the dim lighting of the sector, and the even dimmer area that he and Kit were hidden in. The sounds above him, the humming and groaning of the busy and wealthy plate above them, was the humming of a lullaby he’d long forgotten to hear now. The soothing and perpetual sounds were a better soothing rhythm than Kits heatbeat snuggled next to him. This was the lullaby he’d slept to and woken to his entire life. It had never changed, never faltered, and never left him alone. How could he have forgotten it.


Reno closed his eyes. The smells of the sector he was in were still somewhat foreign. The sector was better off than the two others he’d lived in. More and different food smells clung to the air, also the smell of a tanner working still, this late in the evening. He’d be working on the hides of monsters brought back from the fields outside of the city and sold to him for barely enough to buy food. Then he would stretch, work, and dry the skins… using them for various things; But most likely for the SOLDIERS and other various Shinra needs. The smell was slightly acrid, but not too fierce, as it was farther away… on the other side of the sector most likely. Reno could smell the constant and ever compounding smell of the waste ditches, and pipes that surrounded him where he’d slept.


With a slight snort Reno lifted one corner of his mouth into a slight grin; He’d never be worried about that smell. He’d practically lived in that sort of filth, since he’d worked in the ditches and drainage areas from 8 years old... on for quite a while. And even since he’d been older, and worked with Talc, he’d find himself in them or around them still. Stealth had called for them to go that route many times. So the smell really didn’t bother him. It was just a part of life.


The pain in his ribs told him that he probably had one or two cracked at least, in the fight last night. His head throbbed when he lifted it, from possibly a kick or hit, but also from lack of water, and food. He’d not eaten anything since the first day he’d been here. He had drunk nothing more than a sip of water yesterday, and the alcohol didn’t count.


When he leaned his weight forward to bend his legs in preparation to stand, the nausea hit him. He barely got clear of Kit and himself, and his blanket before he threw up the bitter and acrid contents of his stomach. The contents were practically a brown slime, really, having been consumed on an empty stomach in the first place.


Maybe it hadn’t been so smart to do what he had done last night. But really, the freedom he’d felt… from his thoughts, his actions, his senses… everything, was truly worth it. Though, he wished for it to be more of a permanent euphoria. Again, the pain was somewhat soothing and assuring.


Reno had a major decision to make today. He looked up at Kit; The feline was washing himself, and looked adorable. Reno knew that any decision he made would most definitely have to include the now fully grown Cuahl.


Reno actually felt a little scared right now. His path was splitting in three definitely distinct paths. One led him down the commoner’s path… not that anything would be wrong with that. But he knew that his situation was far too dangerous… he was too much of target for the traffickers and or any other scum bag on Gaia that would or could use him. Talc had basically told him as much. Another Path led him away from here… maybe go ‘round and try to pick up where Talc had left off. The man had certainly taught him some slick moves… He could rival some of the best pickpockets in Midgar. Maybe he could be really careful and make it for a while on his own that way.


But Reno closed his eyes for a few seconds. The last option… he didn’t exactly know what it was. He fingered a small piece of thick paper in his pocket while he thought. The option tasted of danger… thick… dark… exciting and deadly danger.


He pulled the card that had been handed to him two nights ago at that Tavern out of his pocket. ‘Protégé Host Investor, Communications; Eyes Shut, Nightly Manor, sector 2.’ Reno looked back out across what he could see of sector 7 his eyes narrowed in thought. He mindlessly petted Kit, who had lain down by his side. This… This card… This small mysterious option may be the one.


“Well Kit?” He asked looking into the beautiful and magical eyes of his companion. “I think you and I will be going on yet another adventure tomorrow. You are going to get really good at slipping on and off the trains my friend. Now we just have to introduce you to some people.” He scratched behind his ears. Reno was actually really worried. If he made this choice, he’d need to see if Kit would be accepted by these people. The only way he’d work with someone else again… would be if Kit was part of the equation.


He had a sick feeling about this decision despite the fact that excitement made his mouth water at the mystery and danger of it all.

~~~ End Chapter ~~~

A/N: I really wanted to keep going onto the next part…with this chapter. But I knew the next aspect may be quite long… so that’ll be the next chapter J

Hope this chapter reall helps tie up some loose ends!

Oh and yes, the little girl is who you think it is… and *shrugs shoulders* who knows if she knows who that makes Reno to her. Will we ever know? Probably not. But it leaves it open for side fics, or fanfics OF fanfics! :P


RANTING: I shall rant for all of 5 seconds now…… I love all and everything Japanese… I eat breathe and sleep it. I dream that I am in Japan… speaking fluent Japanese… though I am still finding it quite hard to learn. I wish I had a friend that spoke Japanese to help me out. But for now… I will dine on all things Gackt… and be QUITE happy. And I shall dream that I can finally speak fluently and maybe even DIRECTLY to him. :P (I wish and so don’t millions of others) …. I love many other bands and singers and things… but yeah, Gackt is number one and has been for a bit… and probably will be for QUITE a while.