One Night Only

One Night Only

Memories


The ice melted slowly in the glass which sat idly before him. His orbs of aqua remained fixed on the tattered paper covered wall. The brilliant colors of the material had long since faded and now hung only as a reminder of what it once was, a reminder of his life. He didn’t care; this place was like a home to him. Golden liquid rested in the moisture covered glass, the only relief from the pain that became the single constant in his miserable life. His existence became a battle for survival, staring death in the face and challenging it with his every action. He walked the edge of sanity like a tightrope, one mistaken step and he would plunge into its darkness forever. Death would only be a release for him, a release from the torment that visited his dreams. Every time he closed his eyes, her gaze stared back at him. The only person who made him feel human in his entire pitiful existence he called life…


“I said you’re not laying a hand on her”, the black clad, raven headed female shouted as she held a stick in her hand; behind her stood a frightened girl with long auburn hair. The man took a step towards her and spat, “This is not your concern, now step aside!! I have my orders and I’m not leaving without the Ancient!”

She swung the stick as if it were a sword at the man, protecting the frightened girl. “I think you have to get your hearing checked because I said you’re not getting her!!” The man sneered, his lips twisted in a snarl as he charged her. She shoved the scared girl back as she jumped to the side, spun around, and delivered a side kick to the man’s head. The force from the kick sent the man stumbling into the wall he had them pinned against. He was stunned for a moment and wasn’t prepared for the next blow. She lifted the board over her head and slammed it down upon the man’s back, cracking the board in half. The man fell to the ground and didn’t move. She grabbed the frightened girl’s hand and raced down the street as quickly as she could, dragging the girl with her.

The pair rounded the makeshift bend in what served as a street and ducked behind a tall pile of discarded trash. The frightened girl waved her on as she began climbing the pile of trash and stood on the roof of a dilapidated structure. Carefully, the frightened girl stepped over the boards as if they were a walk way and turned to make sure the she was following her. They crossed a few roofs until the girl disappeared into a large hole that was in a roof of an abandoned church. Once inside, the girl crossed the set of boards until they came to a stairwell. The two climbed down the stairs and rested once they reached the bottom.

Doubled over, heaving for breath, the frightened girl replied, “Thank you for helping me.” She stood up straight and brushed herself off. “They keep coming for me, telling me they have orders to take me back.”

She looked at her curiously and asked, “Who does?? What do they want with you??” This place sure had strange ways of doing things, she thought.

The girl stared at her as she answered, “Shin Ra.”

“I should have known. Monsters…that’s all they are.” She noticed the hole in the floor with the flower covered mound sticking out of it. Her eyes widened in surprise, it was the first sign of green life she had seen since coming to this forsaken place. “They’re beautiful…”

The girl giggled and grabbed her hand, “Come on, let’s go for a walk.” The girl dragged her out of the church into a world of poverty like she had never seen. Rusted trailers were scattered throughout a sea of make shift shacks served as homes. Children ran around in tattered, torn dirty clothing as they played in the dust covered paths that snaked through piles of discarded items. Above it all a huge metal pizza like structure hovered, blocking out the night sky. She shook her head as she was pulled along the strange world.

Another sight startled her, in the middle of all the trash and filth sat a play ground with swings, merry-go-round and a critter looking slide in the middle. The girl disappeared behind the slide and suddenly reappeared on top of it. “Hey”, she called, “Come up here.”

She followed the girl and climbed up next to her on the slide. A sigh escaped her lips as she lowered her head. “This place is too sad… How do you live here??”

The girl smiled warmly, “I love it here! I have learned a long time ago, it’s not what you have, but it’s how you live your life. True this place has its fare share of criminal activity, but mixed in with it are the most genuine people you will ever meet. By the way, I’m Aerith.” The girl held her hand out in a friendly gesture. She wrapped her hand around the girl’s and nodded, “I’m Shukera.” She dropped the girl’s hand and leaned back on her arms. “As you can tell, I’m not from here. I just moved from the island I was raised on about three days ago. I live with my brother…I hate it!”

Aerith giggled, “It was obvious from the look on your face that you were not from here. I am glad I met you, cause if it wasn’t for you, I’m not sure what would have happened.” She wrung her hands together a bit nervously and sighed, “According to them, I’m the last survivor of my race. They think I’m an ancient, someone who speaks to the planet. I don’t know, I don’t think I’m what they say. But sometimes, when I’m alone, I can hear whispers calling to me. My mother, my real mother, used to sit for hours listening to those whispers. It was then that she would smile and tell me everything was going to be alright. I don’t know, maybe I am what they say. Even so, I’m not going with them to the lab!!”

Shukera stared at the girl for a long moment before she spoke. “Don’t worry; I’ll make sure they don’t lay a hand on you! Asses! They’re always trying to force themselves on everyone, plastering their propaganda everywhere!” She punched her hand on the metal slide and spat, “My stupid block head brother works for them! I happen to live in that stupid round dish they called Midgar. It’s not fair for them to live all high and mighty when they steal the very sky from the people below them!!”

“There’s nothing you can do about it, so why bother complaining?” The two girls turned around to see a young red headed teenager tossing a rock up and down in his hand. “So, just what would you do??” He walked up to them as he tossed the rock up in the air and caught it again.

Shukera glared at him as she spat, “Join Soldier! I will join Soldier and fight for those who can’t fight for themselves!” A smirk formed on the boy’s face as he looked back at her, “And just what makes you think you are even qualified to join Soldier??” She stood up on top of the slide and jumped, after doing a flip in the air she landed directly in front of him on her feet. With a sweep of her foot, he was on his back lying on the ground. She stood over him as her grey eyes bore holes into his aqua orbs. A smile suddenly formed across the youth’s lips. This was definitely the start of a beautiful friendship! She offered him a hand and he grasped it. A tug on her hand pulled her down on the ground and before she could react he was straddled on top of her. “So, you think a sneaky move like that is going to get you into Soldier?? I think not!” He pinned her wrists down on to the ground with his hands and smirked mockingly down at her. A helpless expression filled her face as she looked back at him. “Oh dear me, I’m completely at your will. I guess this is the part where I’m supposed to shout for help or something right??” He smiled, slightly showing his pearly white teeth. “Exac-“ Before he could finish his statement, he went flying off of her and landed face down in the dirt. She threw her body weight forward and landed on her feet. The red headed teen pushed himself from the ground and laughed.

Aerith laughed as she cupped her hand over her mouth. Shukera turned her back and began walking away from him. He rushed and grabbed her from behind. When she was wrapped in his grasp, he pressed his lips against her ear and whispered, “I have you now.” She wrapped her hands around his arm and flipped him over her back. He landed on the ground and she straddled him. Pinning his arms against the ground, she replied, “You never know when to quit!”

He grinned, actually enjoying being pinned by the girl. “Name’s Reno. What’s your name?” She smiled as she gazed down into his eyes. “Shukera.” Aqua met grey as their gazes locked, neither one making any effort to move. Even though it felt like eternity, they remained that way for only a little while longer. He finally broke the silence, as he asked, “So, want to get a beer??”

A blanket of stars plastered the sky above the wide open sea. From horizon to horizon the lazy waves traveled to the shore, breaking only when they slammed against the dirt covered coast. The three snuck out of the slums and found their way to the coast. The red headed teen passed a bottle to the raven headed girl as the auburn headed girl stared into the sky.

“Do you ever wonder what’s out there beyond our world??” The auburn girl sat with her knees to her chest and her elbows rested on her knees. Forever the philosophical one, asking questions that boggled the minds of her two companions. They only traded a glance and shrugged. The bottle was passed back to the red head and he drank from it. The raven headed girl leaned against the red head thoughtfully. “I have too many problems to worry about what’s out there. Our world is screwed up beyond imagination. We should be worried about what’s going on here before we start venturing out for other places to trash like we did this one.”

The red head rested his arms on her shoulders and chuckled, “I never knew you were capable of such deep thoughts.” An elbow blow was delivered to his stomach and he laughed harder. Shukera spat, “You better stay out the bathroom Reno, every time you go, you lose your IQ points. Pretty soon they’ll be nothing left.” Reno leaned over her and whispered in her ear, “But you find me irresistible that way, just admit it.”

The auburn headed girl giggled, “Why don’t you two just kiss and make up?” Shukera jumped to her feet, “Hey! Take that back!!” Aerith laughed as she jumped to her feet. “Ha, make me!!” Laughing she started running down the coast, being chased by Shukera. Reno just shook his head and drank from the bottle.

The two girls circled the beach and made their way back to where they were previously sitting. By the time they caught up with Reno again, he was laying in the sand with his hands behind his head. Shukera and Aerith doubled over trying to catch their breath. Shukera collapsed next to Reno and rested her head on his stomach. He rested his arm across her chest and caressed her hair. Aerith dropped to the sand and leaned against Shukera. The three teens watched the waves rolling on the ocean until the sky changed to hues of pink and purple….soon it would be morning, the start of a new day.

“I was approached by Soldier today. They want me to join. I took a test for it, but I’m not sure how I did. I feel pretty good about it.” The beer bottle was lifted to her lips and she took a swallow of the soothing liquid. Her gaze fell upon the silent red head as he sat thoughtfully. She could tell by his expression that something was weighing heavily on his mind. She took another swig from the bottle before she asked, “So, don’t you have anything to say??” A sigh escaped her lips as she shook her head, “Fine! Be that way! As it is my brother hates me for it…I guess you do too now.”

His gaze rested upon her as his lips parted. “I’m not upset or anything like that. I have news of my own. I…have been approached by the Turks. They want me to join. Looks like we both may end up working for the empire.” Shukera lowered her gaze and drank from her bottle again, “Yeah…seems that way.” How different their worlds were fixing to become. Soldier considered the Turks a waste of time. She wondered if all the politics of everything was going to end up building a wall between them.

“Soldier huh?” A smirk formed on his lips as he nudged her, “Having fantasies about the Soldier commander??” Laughing he drank from his bottle and eyed her for a reaction. She sneered at him, “Fuck off!” Then she smirked as she gazed at him from behind the bottle that poised before her lips, she added, “Jealous?? Or is it that you are having fantasies about the commander yourself??”

Reno chuckled, “A threesome; you, me, and the Soldier commander. Think he would agree to that??” He playfully nudged her again. “Think you would be up for that?” She grinned as she dumped the half of beer she had left on his head. “You need to cool off Reno; your fantasies are carrying you away again.” She dropped the bottle and chuckled as she ran off. He jumped to his feet and brushed the beer from his hair. “You are so going to pay for that!!!” Laughing, she ran from him, passing Aerith wrapped in the embrace of the spiky black headed guy, and down the street. Behind her ran Reno shouting, “I’m so gonna kick your ass!!!” He passed the couple without even batting an eye.

Aerith laughed as she held her arms around his neck, “They are at it again. I swear they’re going to kill each other.” Zack shook his head, “You have…interesting friends.”

The night they received their orders, he blocked out of his mind…it was too painful to think about. But, naturally, not wanting to think about it made him think about it even more…

She stretched her neck to see if he was at the crowded bar as she held the papers in her hand that would change their lives forever. Smiling, she spotted the scarlet head of hair and made her way through the crowd. When she broke free, she walked up behind him and smiled. “Hey! I made it!! I’m in Soldier!” Reno nodded as he raised his shot glass. “I knew you would…” He downed his shot and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. She frowned slightly, “That’s all you a have to say??” But she knew by the look on his face that he had news as well. “So, spill! You’re a Turk now, aren’t you?” Reno chuckled, she could always see through him. “Yeah, I report to T-seng on Monday.” Shukera nodded, “I report to Sephiroth Monday.” She ordered a shot for the both of them; they clanged the glasses together, and downed the shots. Shukera placed the shot glass back on the table, it amazed her how parallel their lives had become.

They ordered more shots and eventually abandoned the glasses for the bottle. Two bottles later, Shukera chalked her pool cue. 5 games had been played and she was gearing up for game number 6. “That’s 4 to 1! Do you think you can actually sink the balls into the pockets this time instead of playing marbles?” Reno chuckled as he brought the bottle to his lips and took a deep swig. “Yeah well, it’s kinda hard to see the balls when they’re constantly moving.” She stepped towards him, leaving only about an inch between them. From that distance, she took in his scent of cigarettes and Everclear. Her heart raced as her palms became sweaty. Her head swam with confusion as her gaze locked with the pools of aqua. A breath was caught in her throat as she looked at him intently. From the way he looked back at her she knew he felt it as well. An unspoken enticement merged between them and Shukera blinked. No way, she thought, am I doing anything with that drunken idiot!

After the third bottle, the pair decided to leave. Shukera helped Reno back to his apartment; luckily the bar was in walking distance! He held his key in his hand and tried to slide the key into the lock, but missed several times. After the 5th time he missed, Shukera shoved him out the way and took the key from him. “Damn drunk! Look at you! I’m not leaving until you’re sober!” She unlocked the door and threw it open. “Get inside before you kill yourself.”

Reno stumbled into the apartment and stood swaying in the middle of his living room. Shukera shut the door and locked it behind her, then faced him shaking her head. “You need some coffee and a shower!” He brought his hand up to his forehead and saluted her, “Yes Ma’am!” He dropped his salute and stumbled forward. Shukera caught him in her arms to stop him from hitting the floor. He fell into her and laughed. Sighing, Shukera dragged him into the bathroom and shoved him into the shower fully clothed. She quickly turned the water on and it came raining down upon him. “HEY!!! WHAT THE HELL YOU DOING???”

Shukera placed her hand on her hip and spat, “Sobering you up! You can barely stand!!” He snickered as he held his hand out and grabbed her wrist. “Well, if I have to be wet, then so do you!” He pulled her into the shower and she fell against him, knocking them both against the wall. He smirked as he gazed at her. “Well now look at what you did.” Shukera smacked his shoulder as she spat, “What I did?? I didn’t DO anything! You did this!” He inched his face towards hers as he lowered his voice almost to a whisper. “Don’t tell me you didn’t want this to happen cause I could see it in your eyes.” He moved even closer and added, “You know you want me as badly as I want you and you know you can’t deny it.” Shukera stared into his eyes. Being that close to him made her head swoon. Oh she wanted him, more than anything, yet she always held back. But now, being this close, she wasn’t sure she could fight. “What makes you think I want you?? I could easily have the Soldier commander you keep fantasying about.” It h ad become a joke between them…an on going running joke. He laughed as he inched even closer. Now she could feel his warm breath against her water droplet covered face. She drew in a breath just to catch a wisp of air expelled from the red headed Turk. She wanted him, her entire being screamed with desire for him.

Reno brushed his lips against Shukera’s only slightly, teasing her. Her eyes grew wide from the sensation, then they shut as she slid her hand to the scarlet wet hair. She grasped the back of his neck and drew him to her as she pressed her lips against his. Her tongue parted her lips and began probing his mouth. Smirking to himself, he thrusted his tongue into her mouth and it danced around her tongue. His hands slid up her back as he wrapped her in a tight embrace, bringing her even closer. The passionate kiss was broken when Shukera lifted from it and gasped for breath. Her heart raced as her head rested against his shoulder, her wet hair grazed his cheek. Reno brought his mouth to her ear and began nibbling on her earlobe. She drew in a gasp and closed her eyes. Electrical sparks emitted inside her from his actions. He moved down to her neck, running his tongue over her flesh, tracing out the contours. She shivered slightly and whispered in his ear, “Reno…” The words became caught in her throat as she lost the ability to speak.

Reno drew back away from her and looked down at her now soaking clothing. “We have to do something about that.” He fell against the tiled wall and brushed her wet hair from her face. His hands slipped down to her shirt as he stared intently into her eyes. Without speaking she raised her hands to his neck and slid them to his shirt as she stared back at him. The distance between them disappeared when they fell into another passionate kiss. Shukera ran his hands down his soaking shirt and began unbuttoning it. Their tongues danced as he tossed the idea of undoing the buttons and grabbed the bottom of her shirt. He broke the kiss long enough to slip the wet garment above her head and toss it aside. She snickered as she did the same; neither one were known for their patience.

Their mouths pressed together again as his hands slid down her bare skin. She broke the kiss and threw her head back, letting the water pour over her head and down her bare chest. Reno drank in the sight, mesmerized by her beauty, the beauty he never knew she held. He pressed his lips to her neck and slightly bit at her flesh, before moving down further. He spun her around to where she was braced against the tiled wall and he was leaning on her with the water running over his head. Ignoring it, he lowered his mouth to her ample breast and wrapped his arms around her waist, using her for leverage. He circled her pinkish nipple with his tongue as he drew her closer to him. She pressed her head against the cool wall and it rolled to the side. Her back arched, pressing her hips against him. He bit down on her nipple slightly and she moaned. Smiling, he released her nipple with a small pop, trailed his tongue to the next breast and began sucking and biting on that one. Shukera’s head pressed harder against the tile wall and her hands danced and disappeared among the scarlet stands. She pressed his head to her chest as another moan escaped her lips. Her hands fell from his hair, down his back, and to the waist band of his pants. She grazed his skin with her nails, sending chills up his spine. He jerked and lifted his head from her breasts. After another intense stare, Shukera’s fingers rested on the button of his pants. Smirking, teasing him, she unfastened them and began unzipping them slowly. His eyes glistened as he watched her deliberately taking her time.

“That’s so not fair.” The corners of his mouth turned upward as he stared at her through half closed eyes. She stared at his lips as she lifted her hands away from his zipper. “Not as unfair as this.” Her tongue parted her lips after she abandoned his zipper and traced his lips. She sucked on his bottom lip as his eyes rolled back into his head. Her hands fanned out and ran down his bare chest, stopping only to pinch his nipples. He jerked and smirked down at her. She rested her fingernails against his skin and ran them down his chest. His stomach muscles clenched at the sensation that surged through him. Her hands continued to slide down until they found their way to his pants again. This time she unzipped them completely and peeled the soaked garment off of him. She lifted a brow with interest as she replied, “You know, going without underwear is going to cause you to catch it in the zipper one day.” She ran her finger up his shank as she grinned, “You should be more careful.”

Reno grasped her wrists into his hands and pushed them to the wall above her head. He stared at her as he ran his hands down her arms, across her chest, and to her abdomen. He closed his eyes as he slid the tip of his tongue down her arms, tracing out her muscles. Down to her mouth, where his tongue probed her hungrily, then across her cheek and to her neck. He nibbled on her neck before he made his way to her shoulder, where he sucked on her skin gently. Then he moved on further down to her breasts, where his tongue circled each nipple. He took her nipple into his mouth and bathed his tongue over it before he did the same with the other one. Her back arched even further but she kept her arms above her head. She moaned as her head rolled to the other side. Reno dropped to his knees as he ran his tongue down further to her stomach, where he toyed with her navel and sunk down even lower. He unfastened her pants, unzipped them, and peeled them off of her. The soaked garment was tossed to the side and he continued his exploration of her skin. His hands slid down her inner thighs and her knees became weak from his touch. She had to brace herself against the wall or she would have fallen over him in that moment. Reno slid his tongue down to the top of her hair line and probed even further. Her eyes widened in surprise when his tongue hit her clit. She drew in a deep quick breath and her head rolled to the other side. “Reno…” He lifted her leg and ran his hand down her inner thigh as he slipped his tongue around her entry. She moaned as her hands disappeared into his scarlet strands. Her fingers danced across his scalp as her breathing became erratic and her head pressed harder against the wall.

Reno’s tongue explored the pink flesh and he probed her. He nibbled at her lips, gently pulling on the skin, then dove back inside her. Shukera’s body tensed from the sensations as a storm of passion overwhelmed her senses. Her hips thrusted slightly against his tongue, meeting his strokes as her hands pressed his head deeper into her. A moan escaped Reno’s throat as he dove deeper inside her. A chuckle sounded as he drew his head away from her. She glanced down and caught sight of the pools of aqua. A smile formed on her lips, “Surprised? Some people do have morals, something you haven’t heard of yet.”

Reno stood up and stared intently into her eyes. “I am surprised because…” He shook his head and looked away from her. “Never mind, it’s stupid anyway.” He grabbed the liquid soap and began lathering his skin with it. She grabbed the soap from him and poured some into her own hands, confused by his sudden change in attitude. She lathered her body and lowered her head. He rinsed off, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around him. Shukera stood under the shower and rinsed off as well. When she was done, a towel was handed to her and she wrapped it around her.

The red head walked to the bed and ran his fingers through his hair in a poor attempt to flick the water out of it. Shukera appeared in his doorway with her hands on her hips. “Tell me, and I want the damned truth! You were all over me one minute and you pull away from me because you find out I’m a virgin?? What the fuck Reno??”

He sighed and shook his head, “No, it’s not that. I…don’t want to taint you. If it would have been anyone else, it wouldn’t have mattered, but you…” He fell silent as he reached for a cigarette and turned his back to her. Shukera stepped up behind him and rested her hands on his shoulder. “Reno, turn around and look me straight in the eyes and tell me you don’t want me.” He paused with the cigarette in his mouth and turned around without lighting it up. His aqua orbs searched her pools of as he opened his mouth, but no sound emitted. He couldn’t tell her what wasn’t true. She gently removed the cigarette from his lips and put it to the side. “I knew it…” Her hands slipped to the back of his neck as she closed the distance between them. She closed her eyes and pressed her lips softly against his. Reno trembled slightly as he lifted his arms and wrapped them around her. She drew him closer and parted his lips with her tongue as it darted into his mouth. The kiss caught him off guard for a brief moment, then he kissed her back hungrily. He pulled her towards his bed and laid down in it, pulling her with him. She laid on top of him without breaking the kiss. Her fingers peeled his towel away and tossed it to the side. He unfastened the towel that wrapped around her, denying him the warmth of her skin. She pressed her body against him, closing the gaps between them. His hands fanned out and caressed her skin as he ran them down her back, across her spine, taking in her every contour and curve. He treated her as if she were a porcelain doll between his arms.

Shukera broke the kiss and trailed down to his neck. She licked his pale skin and gently nibbled on his ear. Her voice whispered, “I saved myself…for you.” The simple statement left a lasting impression upon him. He blinked, why would anyone save anything…for him? He felt he was never worth anything, to anyone…living in the streets, being pushed around and discarded like yesterday’s news…and this one person, the one he least expected…cared? His whole world tumbled into confusion as his lips parted and he stammered, “W…w…hy me??” She lifted her head from his neck and stared into his confused eyes, drowning in them. This was a look she had never seen from him and it was almost…touching. She gently caressed his cheek with her fingertips. The expression in her eyes told him more than she cared to tell, but he saw it…the feelings that would never be spoken by either of them. Her grey eyes touched him deep down inside, unlocking something in a place that he thought was unreachable. The alcohol in his system dulled his logic and his body was running on auto-pilot, fueled only by her emotions. He did the last thing either of them expected him to do…bury his head into her chest and cried.

Shukera slid to the side of him and held him against her as she caressed his hair. She kissed his forehead and whispered, “It’s alright, Reno, just let it out.” She knew what he had been through, saw it first hand. The fights, the drugs, the alcohol, unspeakable things he did to survive…through it all, she remained the shelter in the storm. Suddenly the sobs silenced and she looked down to see him sleeping. Smiling, she kissed his forehead, rested her head against his, and stroked his hair as she gave in to the slumber herself. All through the night she held him, protecting him from the nightmares and loneliness.

“I said to get the hell up!!!” Shukera flinched from the yelling voice and she lifted her head. She opened her eyes and gasped. Glaring angry eyes flashed back at her as her brother stood over the slumbering couple. “You low-life son-of-a-bitch!!!” Reeve reached down and dragged her out of the bed. She grabbed the top blanket and quickly wrapped it around her. “I can’t believe this!! Why?? Why would you do something like this, and of all people!!?” Suddenly Reno was yanked out of his deep slumber by a fist being delivered to his jaw. He rubbed his face as he looked up a bit confused. “What the fuck??” He stopped when he saw Reeve as a surprised look crossed his expression. “What are you doing here??” He grabbed the towel and wrapped it around his waist.

Reno was lifted up out of the bed and received a blow to the stomach. “I should be asking you that!! What the hell you doing with my sister?!? I won’t allow you to taint and poison her like you do everything else you touch!!!” A barrage of punches was given as Reeve struck him out of rage. Shukera gasped and kicked Reeve in the head, knocking him down to the floor to stop the attack. “STOP IT!!!! YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!” She stood glaring at him with the blanket still wrapped around her body. “Leave Reeve, I have nothing to say to you!!! Just get the hell out of here and leave me alone!!!” She knelt down next to Reno and took his bleeding face into her hands. “I’ll make sure this never happens again.” Her expression contorted as she was grabbed by her hair and pulled up. She reached her hand out to Reno but she was dragged away and taken out of the door by two guards.

Reeve made a fist and glared at Reno, “I won’t let you destroy my sister!!” He punched the red head in the face and kicked him in the chest. “That’s a warning, next time I see you near her, I will kill you!” He walked out the door leaving Reno on the floor bleeding.

Hours later, eyes of grey watched from the shadows as the nurse adjusted the IV bottle. She did her last check of the chart at the edge of the bed and sighed. Shaking her head, she walked out of the room and on to the rest of her rounds. A blue suit came into view as the brunette stood over the comatose man. “I don’t care what it takes; just make sure he never gets near her again!!!” Mako eyes surrounded by white mane stared back at him. “I will not become involved in a family quarrel. She’s a person of free will; she has a right to choose what she wishes. I will not tolerate such acts…” Reeve faced the Soldier commander and spat, “It’s not my order!! This comes from President Shin Ra himself!” Sephiroth bowed his head and sighed, “Then, I have no choice. I will do as you ask. But I tell you now; the will of this act does not and will not rest upon my shoulders. I hold you responsible for what ever outcome arises from this.” He coldly turned away from Reeve and exited the room. Reeve’s fists clutched tightly until his fingers turned white. “I do what needs to be done to protect my family.” He turned away from the comatose Turk and walked out of the door.

She stepped out of the shadows after her brother left, and walked up to the hospital bed. Her fingers caressed the pale faced Turk. His scarlet bangs plastered to his forehead, his aqua eyes hidden behind their protective barrier. She couldn’t help but feel responsible for his condition and guilt welled up inside her. Behind her walked up the Soldier commander and he spoke in a deep, unemotional voice. “I have been instructed to take you to Soldier headquarters and help you get settled in. Normally I wouldn’t do this sort of thing, but since we are in the same place, I hardly see the point of sending someone else for you.” He gazed at the expression on her face and turned his back to her. “You have 10 minutes…no more.” Stepping outside into the hallway, he shut the door behind him giving her some privacy.

Tears welled up and fell down her cheek as she stood next to the bed, staring down at her friend. She grasped his hand into hers and gently squeezed it. “Reno…” she whispered, “I’m sorry for everything.” She brushed his bangs from his forehead and placed a gentle kiss on his skin. “I will find my way back…regardless of what they do to us or what happens. Reno, don’t let them break you…” Choking back the tears, she kissed his hand. “I’m not saying good-bye…I’m just saying so long...for now. Take care and…oh crap.” She dropped his hand and swallowed her tears. This was harder than she thought it would be. She knew by the time he would awaken, she would have been long gone, carried away to her new life. Shaking her head, she walked to the door, took one last lingering look at Reno, and stepped out into the hallway. Silently she closed the door behind her, closing off a treasured chapter in her life. No matter what the next chapter held in store for her, she would always look back and smile at the aqua gaze which stared back at her every time she closed her eyes.

Reno sighed and tossed some Gil on the bar, enough for the beer he was drinking and a tip. He stood up and ran a hand through his messy mass of scarlet strands as he whispered, “What I wouldn’t give for it to be that way again…even if it was just for one night.” Shaking his head he turned away from the bar and paused long enough to gather his bearings. Too much to drink once again, the story of his life and it usually got him nothing but memories of the past…memories that he’d prefer to leave forgotten. The bartender watched as the drunken man left out the door. He scooped up the Gil and cleared the empty glasses.

Stumbling, he made his way to the Inn and to his room. He was between missions and needed some time off, so he picked up and took off to Wutai, his usual vacation spot. He visited the oriental setting town so much that the locals knew him by name. Reno stumbled up the steps to the entrance of the Inn and practically fell into the door when he opened it. He hung on to the door to steady himself and waited until the world stopped moving around him. After a moment everything settled, he continued down the hall to where his room was waiting. He considered a nice Jacuzzi soak, but dismissed the idea for fear of drowning. He drew his key into his hand and spent about 10 minutes trying to find the keyhole. Finally he slipped the key into the lock and opened his door. The first thing he spotted was the large king sized bed…it called to him, beckoned him to lay in it. He shut the door and answered its call. Without even changing his clothes, he fell into the bed on his stomach and just laid there. His arms stretched out, his legs slightly apart, he took up as much space as he could. A sigh escaped his lips as his eyes grew heavy. Soon the alcohol would numb him to the point of feeling nothing. He laid in the bed waiting for the liquid to save him from the pain.


Moments later, he heard the distinct sound of the doorknob being turned. He sat up and narrowed his eyes; someone was breaking into his room. He stumbled to his feet, now pissed at the intruder and raised his rod as he waited behind the door. The door swung open and the rod clunked against the floor as if fell out of his hands. His eyes widened and he blinked to make sure he truly was seeing what was before him. She faced him with a smile on her face and a bottle of Everclear under her arm. His mouth fell open and for a moment he lost the ability to speak. She chuckled as she faced him.

“Catching flies, or surprised to see me?? With you, there’s no telling which you are doing.” She closed the door behind her and locked it. “You know you should never leave your door unsecured, you never know who might walk in on you and you never know what you might be in the middle of when they do.” She unscrewed the bottle as she approached him. Her eyes locked on to his as she smiled, “It’s good to know you have never changed.”

Reno blinked and a smile found its way to his lips. “What…what are you doing here?? I thought…” He widened his eyes as he pressed his hand to his head. “I thought you were on a mission??”

“I was, but I needed some time off. So, I just left and knew I would find you here.” She brought the bottle up to her lips, and without breaking the gaze, took a drink from it. When she was done, she offered the bottle to Reno. “Care to join me?”

Reno took the bottle from her hand, his fingers brushed against her’s causing a spark inside him. She turned her back to him as she slipped the black cloak off and laid it across the chair. She unfastened the clip bounding her hair and let it cascade over her shoulders. He watched her intently as he drank from the bottle. She ran her fingers through the strands, loosening them. She slipped the thick belt from around her waist and dropped it on top of the discarded cloak. When she faced him again, a lock of raven hair fell over her eye. “I can’t believe it’s been six years to the day since we were last together.” She stopped in front of him and took the bottle from his hands. “I’ve…missed you.” Her gaze locked with his as she lifted the glass bottle to her lips and passed the top rim over her lips, tracing them out with the moist smooth surface. Reno watched her, licking his lips unconsciously, mimicking the bottle’s movement with his tongue. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she chuckled and took a swallow. He blinked, watched her throat flex as she downed the liquid as if she were dying of thirst. A part of him envied the glass bottle. He blinked again as he thought, “What the hell am I thinking??”

Shukera slowly removed the bottle from her lips and held it out to him. “Thirsty for more??” Reno stepped forward as his eyes gazed deeply into her’s. “What I’m thirsty for is not in that bottle.” He drew closer to her until there was hardly any distance between them. He moved his lips next to the bottle and licked the top of it while she held it in her hand. His tongue moved from the bottle and licked her fingers that wrapped around it. She watched the pink muscle savor her fingers and let out a sigh. Her mind raced, her breath quickened. She waited so long to be near him again, waited to break the forbidden contact. They were forced apart by politics and family issues, but nothing was going to steal this night…this night was theirs. She forced everything in her life away and savored just being with him. He slipped his tongue to her wrist and licked up her arm until he reached her bare shoulder. Her eyes slid shut as every cell in her body teemed with a need that only he could fill. He lifted his head from her skin and stared into her eyes. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the desire he had for her. He had to have her and she knew it. Tonight there would be no drawing back.

Shukera’s pulse quickened and she had to draw in a deep breath before she spoke. “Seems like we have picked up where we left off.” A shade of red filled her cheeks, which complimented her otherwise pale skin. Reno chuckled and grabbed her hand. “Not quite.” His eyes slipped from her face, down to her voluptuous breasts and further down to the tight pants that hid her sweetness from him. His gaze lingered a bit longer than he anticipated and before long he felt her finger caress his chin. Lifting an eyebrow she replied, “You know it’s rather difficult to hold a conversation with someone who has a one tracked mind.”

Reno flushed with embarrassment and wrapped his arm around her waist. “You have no idea how long I have wanted this.” His fingers danced through strands of raven gracefully. She closed her eyes, inviting and savoring his touch. Her head fell back and a soft sigh escaped her lips. He pressed his lips against her exposed neck and tasted her flesh. It had been far too long since they were together.

The scent of alcohol assaulted her scenes and she drew back from him. “Just how much did you have to drink?” She glanced at the bottle she brought and saw that more than half was still there. Lifting an eyebrow she faced him, “You spent the night drowning yourself again didn’t you?”

Damned bitch could read his mind! “Something like that.” He brushed his lips against her pale skin and tasted her once again. Her scent overwhelmed him, driving his mind and body to the edge. “Mmm….don‘t stay away for so long next time.” He closed his eyes and rubbed his chin against her neck. When he opened his eyes again, he saw gray filled with desire, an alluring sight that now controlled his mind. His crotch throbbed with the longing for her, which was slowly becoming painful. He pressed his body against hers, rubbing his hips to hers, exploring her body with his hands with a hunger that surged through him. She felt his hardness on her stomach and stepped back from him.

“I heard this place has a large Jacuzzi.” She brushed her lips against his lightly. “I’ve never been in one.” She stepped back from him and began sliding her sleeveless turtle neck shirt over her head. His eyes widened as he stared at her and blinked. Those voluptuous breasts came into full view….mounds of pale white flesh, topped off with two large round brown spot encircling two dime sized nubs. His tongue hardened with the desire to take one of the hard nipples into his mouth and roll his tongue over it. But before he could move, her hands plunged down to her waist band and began unfastening her pants. He watched as her slender digits unzipped her pants and peeled them away on each side, exposing her shapely hips and flat stomach. His eyes widened as she pulled them down and stepped out of them. She placed her hand on her hip as she watched his eyes dive from her hips down to the inviting mound of raven curls. Her sculptured body left him speechless.

The hard work she put into Soldier really paid off majorly. He slowly shook his head as he thought, “With a body like that, she’s damned sure fucking that white headed commander!” A part of him began to loathe the guy as the image of her straddling him and moaning filled his mind. The image was shattered when Shukera’s voice sounded.

“Are you going to gawk at me all day or are you going to join me in the Jacuzzi?” Smiling playfully, she picked up one of the thick terrycloth robes and stepped on to the private indoor Jacuzzi. The foamy water spilled from the set of jets on each side of glistening blood red. A step formed a seat and the temperature/force control made for heaven under bubbles. She stared at him as she daintily stepped into the inviting form covered water.

A trail of clothing was left from the sleeping area all the way out to the private Jacuzzi, left by Reno as he stripped making his way out to her. Before he could join her in the water she stood up before him and smiled one of those “I’m innocent, see my halo” smiles. He knew she was up to something. She brushed her lips against his bare chest as she coaxed him to sit on the side of the smooth blood red tub. She knelt down in the water and pressed both her hands on each thigh after he sat down. His eyes widened and his protest was suddenly silenced. He watched her as she lowered her head and brushed her tongue across the head of his penis. “Oh…” She took the head into her mouth and lapped her tongue over it inside her mouth. The sight of his cock disappearing into those pink lips made him lose the ability to form any thought or sentence. She took him into her mouth deeper, letting him slide against her tongue. None of the fantasies he had about her ever came close to this!! His head slipped back as he lost the ability to hold it up. He was slowly melting, losing the ability to do just about anything.

She worked him into her mouth deeper, keeping her tongue flat against his shank. When she reached his curly red mound, she opened her lips and licked him back to the head of his cock. Unintelligible sounds escaped his throat as she continued to surround his penis in the warm moist dungeon on her mouth. She bathed every inch of his cock with her tongue before she encircled it again with her lips. His body went limp and he layed his back against the wooden floor of the private Jacuzzi. His knees parted and his feet braced him from sliding in. She opened her eyes and saw him seem to melt into a pile on the wooden floor. She removed her flesh prison and pointed her tongue. Making small circles all down his shank with her tongue, she watched as his knees quaked and his body tremor. She added pressure to her circles and heard a moan escape his throat. “Ahhhh….oh…damn….” He began shifting his legs as if he couldn’t get comfortable.

Shukera encircled his cock once again and this time slipped him all the way down, taking him completely into her mouth. Adding a sucking motion, she began to withdraw him from her throat, to the head and plunged him back into her mouth. His voice quivered as he moaned, “Ahhhh…ohhh god….” She quickened her pace, thrusting him into her mouth and withdrawing him completely, only to thrust him into her mouth again. She tightened her lips around him and quickened the strokes. His stomach clenched as a storm of passion erupted inside him. He felt himself tense up and a loud moan, “Ohhh fuck, Shukera!!!!”

She felt him go rigid and smirked as she trusted a finger up his ass just before he exploded into her mouth, intensifying the feeling. His mind flashed white as his body became seized by the fire that consumed him inside. The added finger up his ass made his eyes widen and his cock throb hard before he release his seed. Breathless, he layed on the wooden floor without moving, his spent member slipped out of Shukera’s mouth with a soft “pop”. Smiling as if nothing happened, Shukera leaned against the wall of the Jacuzzi and watched him whither around as the foaming water enveloped her body. Seeing Reno contort that way under her attention almost made her cum as well. Luckily she held back and concentrated on pleasing him. Her arms rested on the top of the tub and she dropped her head back, with her eyes closed, enjoying the water massaging her body. A contented smile splashed across her lips…she was in heaven.

Following a splash, she felt lips capture one of her nipples and begin to suck on his hungrily. She opened her eyes and lifted her head. When she looked down, she saw her nipple clutched between Reno’s lips and his aquamarine orbs fixed upon her face. She stared into those eyes and marveled over how the passion reflected in them turned them a shade darker. She could see the desire, the longing, the lust he held for her in this eyes, storming out of control. A flush of pink colored his cheeks and his lips were slightly puffy. Those passion filled lips sucked on her nipple before his tongue was lapped over it. He released the nipple with a wet “pop” sound and he kissed a trail over to the neglected nipple. Her fingers dove into scarlet as her thighs became enflamed. Her nipples must have been connected directly to her cunt muscles cause they were throbbing, begging for his length inside her. He pointed his tongue as it parted his lips and began circling her nipple with it before he drew the brown mound back into his mouth. Her hands ran down his neck and her arms wrapped around his head, drawing him closer. He hungrily trailed kissed between her voluptuous breasts and buried his face in her cleavage. His tongue parted his lips and he savored the sultry taste of the skin separating the two mountains. She brushed her cheek against his soft scarlet strands and moaned, “Mmmmm….Reno…”

Hearing his name uttered on her lips made his cock spring back to life. He lifted his head as aqua dove into steel gray. Both of them were prisoners of each other, even if it was for just that one night. He began moving towards her as she moved towards him, the distance between them disappeared as their lips met and were soon after parted by hungry tongues. Their tongues danced as they probed each other’s mouths. The seal was broken only slightly as their pink muscles slipped against one another, suspended between them. Their lips open, drawing in deep breaths, before they met once again. Reno broke the kiss and trailed kisses across her cheek and to her ear. He licked the outer ring of her ear and nibbled on her lobe as he whispered in her ear between his labored breaths. “You have no idea how much I want you right now.”

Shukera’s voice came out shaky, laced with pure ecstasy. “Believe me…I do.” Her body ached for him, thirsted for something only he could give her. She waited for far too long to have him inside her, and soon the waiting would be over. The mere thought of him sliding in and out of her…filling her inside, made her head roll back. A moan escaped her lips. “Ahhhh…Reno…” He moved down her neck, nipping, lapping, and gently biting. He wanted her so badly he thought his dick was going to explode. They had to get out of this water and soon! Shukera lifted her head only to be met with his lips. Passionately and deeply they kissed as his hands roamed her body. Her arms wrapped around him and her hands fanned out across his back, drawing him in closer. He brushed his hips against hers as he stole the back of her neck and pulled her deeper into the kiss. She felt his hard cock pressing against her and she broke the kiss. “Let’s…go inside.”

He didn’t have to think about that one. In one swift move he was out of the water and began toweling off. She gracefully stepped out of the tub and into the towel he had waiting for her. He wrapped her in his arms and the towel as he kissed her even more passionately. She opened her mouth wider, letting his tongue probe her even deeper, giving him complete control of the kiss. Reno broke the kiss and looked down at her in his arms through half opened eyes. She gazed at him for a moment, trying to recognize what she was in his eyes. Looking down at her wrapped in that large towel only brought back memories of their last night together…the night she was ripped from his arms for no reason at all. She lifted a brow and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Reno shrugged, “Nothing in particular.” Shukera’s eyes narrowed and she shook her head, “I can see it that there’s something on your mind. Now spill!” Reno chuckled; there she goes again, reading my mind! “I was just thinking about…” She cut him off, “The last night we were together. I know…I was thinking about that was well.” She wondered if it was going to end the way the last one did. Reno stared at her as he stroked her wet raven locks. “I don’t want to think any more. The more I do, the more I realize how stupid I was. I should have just taken you and none of this crap would have happened.”

Shukera sighed as she leaned her head on his shoulder. “Don’t blame yourself, it was my stupid brother. He thinks he knows everything…but he knows nothing.” Reno embraced her for a moment longer before he guided her into the room. He slid the door shut and locked it. “I promise you…this time, I’m not pulling back.” He stared into her eyes as he asked, “I have to know, have you been with Sephiroth?” Shukera chuckled as she stepped back from him. “I can’t say that we haven’t kissed…but, as far as anything else…” He cut her off and sighed, “I knew the rumors were true. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” Shukera lifted her arms, dropping the towel at her feet. “Just out of curiosity, would it change anything if I had? I’m not saying I did or if I didn’t, I just want to know what you think.” Reno caressed Shukera’s face with his fingertips as he filled with bitterness. “It just makes me feel like an even bigger fool for pulling away from you six years ago.”

She grasped his shoulders and pushed him to the bed. “Any one ever tell you that you talk too much Reno??” His half opened eyes fixed upon her and he laughed, “Only you Shukera, only you.” His eyes widened as he was pushed into the bed. “Someone’s a bit anxious.” Shukera knelt at the edge of the bed and began crawling over his naked form. She pointed her tongue and left a moist trail over the length of his cock, moved to his abdomen, then to his bare chest where she paused. Reno’s body lost the ability to function as his mind blanked out. He could only lay there with a surprised look on his face and his mouth hung open. “Stop talking and take me.” Her voice sounded in his ears and she heard him quiver as he exhaled. She knelt up on her knees over him as she kissed his bare chest. Making a trail of kisses, she worked her way up his chest and to his nipples. Her tongue circled one nipple as her fingers captured the other. She gave it a tug as she pinched it and Reno hissed. “Damn….where did you learn how to do that??” She sucked and nibbled on his nipple before she let it slip through her teeth. He drew in a quick breath as the cheery red nub passed the whites of her teeth. She kissed over to his other nipple and took it into her mouth. Her finger began pulling and caressing the other nipple as she sucked the one in her mouth.

Reno pressed his head into the bed as he moaned, “Shit….Shukera…ohhh…”

Shukera smiled as she slipped his other nipple through her white teeth. She stared deeply into his eyes as she slowly lowered herself upon him. She kissed his chin and trailed kisses to his neck. Licking his neck up to his ear, she tongued his ear and the silver hoop that hung from it and whispered, “Take me Reno, take me and finish what we stared six years ago.”

Reno trapped her chin with his finger and drew her face to him. “Take me Shukera…I’ve waited long enough.” His deepest fantasy was unfolding before his eyes. He stared into Shukera’s eyes intently as she lowered herself on to his hard cock. He closed his eyes and drew her closer as his head slipped inside her. He opened his mouth to kiss her until his cock met with resistance. His eyes flew open and before he could say anything, Shukera forced him inside her, breaking the skin. She jerked from the slight pain and yelped softly as she drew her bottom lip between her teeth. When the wave of pain passed she smiled at his dumbfounded look. “You should not believe everything you hear. I couldn’t do it, I …there’s no one like you. I wanted you to be the one. Like I said before, I saved myself…for you.” Reno couldn’t believe it, even after six years, even with the white headed Soldier commander around her constantly, she saved herself. A wave of warmth rushed over him, forcing him to close his eyes for a moment. What the hell??? He’s had sex before…why was this so different?? An inner voice whispered, “This isn’t just anyone…this is Shukera, the one who stood by you and helped you survive when you had no one.” Reno melted against Shukera’s warm bare skin. He drew the blood red satin sheets around her shoulders to ward off any chill she might have. The motion itself confused him but he brushed it off.

Shukera began lowering herself on him and felt her body spreading to accept his length. Once she adjusted to the sensation, she leaned against his body and stared into his eyes. He stared back at her and they became locked into an intense moment. Her eyes slid shut as she began moving her hips, taking him into her and sliding him out. Slowly she moved over his length, accepting more each pass. He moaned as her muscles contracted around him then released. She was tight, damned tight! Between her tightness and the warmth he felt inside, his head reeled and his mind shut down completely. He opened his eyes and watched her move in a passionate dance on top of him. Her hips thrusted forward as she slid his length inside him, her muscles tightening around him then releasing… She moaned and leaned forward over him. He opened his mouth and tongued one of her nipples before he took it into his mouth. An electrical current surged through her when he took her nipple between his lips. She moaned, “Ahhhh damn…what are you doing?” He smiled, “You like that huh?” She nodded and her head rolled to the side. “Mmmmm…yeah…do it again.” He drew her other nipple into his mouth and captured the free on between his fingers. Liking on one, pulling on the other, it was more than she could take. Her thrusts quickened and deepened until she took his entire length inside her. “Ahhh Shukera…so fucking tight….” His words made her thrust even harder and he smiled, “You like that too I see.” She nodded as her cheeks reddened with passion. He took both of her breasts into his hands and pushed them together as he licked across both her nipples and flicked his tongue hard against each one. Her body began rocking and she moaned, “Reno…oh Reno…” He enclosed one of her nipples in his lips and sucked on it as he lapped his tongue over it inside his mouth.

She slammed her hips hard against him and he smiled then did the same to the other nipple. She suddenly sat up away from him and thrusted her hips hard, slapping them into his pelvis. He reached around and grabbed her ass into his hands. Pressing her against him harder, he moaned, “That’s it Shukera, deeper…faster…” She quickened her movements, bumping her clit on his pelvic bone. Her eyes widened as ecstasy surged through her like she had never felt before. She did that once again to feel the sensation and immediately tightened around Reno’s cock. He cried out, “Oh god Shukera!!!” He gripped her ass harder, mashing her against him, helping her quicken her thrusts. She leaned back on him and began pistoning up and down until she felt a flood of moisture escape her. She cried, “Reno…oh god Reno, fuck me!!!!” He flipped her on to her back and leaned his body over her. He opened her legs wider and slammed himself deeply into her. Her hands gripped his back tightly as she moaned loudly with each thrust. “Faster…harder!!!”

He opened her legs wider and pounded into her, removing himself all the way to the head and slammed his length back into her. She cried and pressed her body against the mattress as her fingers dug into the blood red satin bed sheet, “Oh god!!!! Shit…ohhh….ahhhhhhh!! Reno…” He felt her tense up and a storm of moisture enveloped his cock. Her body tremored beneath him as wave after wave flowed from her. Her eyes shut her head back and her hands gripping on to him, pushed him closer to the edge. “Reno…damn…” Hearing his name spoken from her lips brought him to the breaking point. He thrusted one last time deeply into her and expelled his seed into her in a wave that felt as if someone had just opened the flood gates. He pumped his seed into her until he quit throbbing. His body collapsed on top of hers and she moaned between her breaths. “Oh…Reno….oh god Reno…” Her arms wrapped around him and she caressed his bare skin. All he could do was lay there breathing heavily. His body trembled as he layed in her arms. “Shukera…” There were no words to describe what he felt…even if he tried, so he didn’t. Trembling, he felt every defensive wall he put up to protect himself from everyone crumble instantly, she always had a way of getting through him. Her scent overwhelmed his senses and he had to have another taste of her skin.

Reno lowered his lips to her shoulder and kissed her gently…but he couldn’t stop there. One more kiss lead into another, which led into another…and he ended up trailing kisses down the skin between her breasts, to her stomach, down to her abdomen, and he didn’t stop until his lips touched the mound of raven curls. From where he layed, he could smell her scent, beckoning to him, drawing him in. He answered the call and kissed down into the raven curls, just above her sweetness. Shukera layed back as she ran her fingers through his scarlet hair and passed her hand over her stomach, feeling her own smooth skin; he had a way of awakening sensations inside her that she never knew she was capable of feeling. Her nipples hardened with the touch of his lips on her body. Her legs, as if acting on their own, parted, inviting him. He accepted gladly and kissed her inner thighs starting just above the knee. With his hands placed on her extreme upper thighs, he drew her legs apart even more and trailed kissed down to her lips. With his fingers, he parted her lips and licked her slit. Shukera’s nipples became so hard they felt like two small rocks sitting upon her skin. She had to ease that pain somehow…

Reno licked her with the tip of his tongue, savoring her flavor, tasting himself mixed in with her juices. He tongued up to her clit and began sucking on it. Shukera’s head rolled to the side as his hands fanned out and ran them over her stomach. He grasped her hands into his and guided them to her breasts. With her hands under his, he wrapped her fingers around her nipples and helped her squeeze them. She moaned when s he felt her nipples under her own fingers, and his hands caressing hers, his tongue drinking her in…it was more than she could handle. Her hips thrusted forward and she moaned. “I take it you like that.” Shukera nodded as she sighed, “Yeah…just don’t ….stop.”

Reno flicked her clit with the tip of his tongue, sending a surge of passion through her that burned in every cell. She pinched her nipples harder with his coaxing and moaned, “Ohhhh yeah….” He dove his tongue into her hole and thrusted her a few times. Her hips met with his thrusts as a shot of moisture seeped over his muscle. He moaned and slipped his tongue back to her clit. Her hands released her nipples, glided across her stomach and dove into strands of scarlet. She added pressure, pressing his head deeper into her. Her hips began bucking as he licked her. He hardened his tongue and drew her clit into his mouth. Sucking on it, he ran his tongue over it inside his mouth as he inserted two fingers into her opening. He thrusted the fingers all the way to his top knuckle and removed them again. Her hips met his thrusts as she moaned louder. He released her clit and began licking it with the very tip of his tongue. His thrusts quickened with his fingers as she began bucking wildly. “Ohhhhhh….ahhhhhhh….” Her voice was lost to her heavy panting as she held his head tighter between her legs. Suddenly her body stiffened as she cried, “Ohhhh shit……Reno…..” He quickly removed his fingers and thrusted his tongue deeply into her. A rush of moisture filled his tongue and he moaned. Her body jerked as waves of moisture washed over his tongue. Finally she relaxed as a moan mixed sigh emitted from her. Her hand withdrew from his hair and rested on her stomach. Spent, she layed there against the satin sheets and sighed. Reno removed his tongue from her and began crawling over her body. He kissed her stomach, trailed to her breasts, taking each nipple into his mouth momentarily, trailed up to her neck and nibbled on her ear. There was no question in his mind how he felt about her. He wanted to be inside her once again. He waited a few minutes for her body to calm down and her pulse to slow.

With a smile on his face he pushed her raven strands from her face and kissed her hungrily. She tasted herself on his lips and smiled into the kiss. His hips rocked until his cock found its way inside her and she threw her head back. He filled her and this time, she accepted it more willingly. He pushed into her until he reached his hips and withdrew slowly. Locked into another kiss, he thrusted into her again and lifted her legs over his hips. The next thrust he moved her legs higher, placing her feet to his shoulder. He broke the kiss and leaned up for better leverage and pushed deeply inside her. Her hands slid to the bed sheets as she moaned. Having him inside her again filled her with even more passion. “Feels so…good…” He kissed her ankles and thrusted quicker, her words feeding his lust. He grunted with the effort as he slammed into her more quickly, adding pressure and depth to each stroke. He watched as her face contorted with pleasure, her breasts rocked and shook with the motion of his thrusts. “Ohhhh yeah…..harder…Reno…” He knelt up on his knees and slammed himself into her, rocking the bed with his motions. To his surprise, she tightened up around him, arched her back, and another flow of moisture enveloped his cock. He thrusted deeply into her as his eyes rolled to the back of his head. His seed rushed from him, filling her inside. She felt the wave of warmth and swooned. Reno released her feet and collapsed on her body. He was definitely spent. She drew him into an embrace and layed there for an intense silent moment.

Yeah those barriers were demolished completely. He slipped his body over hers until his head rested on her shoulder. Never in his life had he felt so alive…so warm. He realized why he had been drinking so heavily lately, and why he’d been hiding from everything. Before he knew what was happening, he kissed her neck until he reached her ear and whispered, “You know you will probably never hear these words from my lips again, but…here goes. I love you Shukera. I always have, and I always will. You have a part of me…forever.” Shukera’s eyes filled with tears as she held him tighter. That was something completely unexpected! She whispered, “Reno, remember, no matter what happens, and I mean, no matter what, you have a part of me inside you that will always be there. I love you too…I just wish…it could have been sooner.” Her words were drowned out by her sobs and Reno layed on the bed next to her. She curled up against him and rested her head on his shoulder. “Reno…oh Reno…” He just held her tightly, hiding his own tears. Together, they cried themselves to sleep, emotionally exhausted, and physically drained.

The next day the sunlight played across his face, blinding him behind his lids. He slowly raised his hand and covered his eyes. “Oh shit….” His head pounded and sitting up was definitely out of the question. He smiled and reached out for Shukera…but found nothing. His eyes flew open and he gasped, “What the hell???” Before he could investigate, the phone rang, sending throbbing pain to his head. He picked it up and spoke with an edge to his voice, “Yeah what the hell you want??” How could she just up and leave that way after the night they had??? Was it all a dream?? Maybe she was…. “What did you say???” He listened as his thoughts froze. “I’m on my way!!! Don’t fucking touch anything!!!” He slammed the phone down, quickly threw his pants on and left out the inn with his shirt half buttoned, looking like hell. Wrinkled clothing, hair sloppily uncombed, and the scent of the previous night’s activities heavily on him, he dashed out to the helicopter and quickly flew away to Gongada. He replayed the words over again in his mind but he didn’t want to believe it until he saw it with his own eyes.

Hours later he landed the helicopter outside the town and rushed towards it. He ignored the warnings T-seng gave him when he arrived on the scene and shoved him aside. He had to see it…with his own eyes. Giving up, T-seng led him to the site and lowered his head. “I tried to warn you but…” He stopped at a gurney and pulled back the sheet. “She’s gone Reno…we found her about 10:30 last night….two hours after the explosion.” Reno ran his hand through his hair as he blinked. “What??” That was impossible!!! She was with him last night…she gave herself to him…this was just plain crazy!!! “No!!! I refuse to believe!!!”

T-seng tried to reason with him, “Reno I’m giving you the facts. We found her body among the wreckage. Shukera died at approximately 8:10 last night. Given the state of her injuries, I say she went quickly and painlessly.”

Reno lowered his head as he gripped on to the bar of the bed. Everything around him spun out of control. “Just…leave me alone…” His fingers gripped into such a tight fist that his knuckles began turning white. “Just leave me the fuck alone!!!”

T-seng backed away silently and finished his report. Reno quivered as he reached down to move the raven strands that clung to her bloody face. Bittersweet tears stung his eyes and ran down his cheek. “Why did you….” His tears dropped on to her face and ran to the side. “Shukera…you can’t…” He buried his head into her raven hair and sobbed. Feelings of anger mixed with anguish stormed inside him. The loss tore his heart to pieces. He dropped to his knees and drew her body into his arms. “You can’t do this…Shukera!!” He shook her as if trying to wake her from a deep slumber. He whispered into her ear, “I love you…you can’t do this…” He knew deep down inside, he would never love again. Never again would he let someone into his life. Her words repeated over in his mind: “Reno, remember, no matter what happens, and I mean, no matter what, you have a part of me inside you that will always be there. I love you too…I just wish…it could have been sooner.” She knew…and tried to tell him. He knew she loved him…and yes he loved her. She loved him enough to spend her last night with him before going to the Lifestream.

A voice sounded behind him. “She told me the one thing she wanted more than anything was to be free to spend her life with the one she loved. She said before she died she wanted to give herself to the one she loved and know what it was like to be loved in return. I am just as guilty as her brother for the outcome of this. I am truly sorry. Shinra should have never gotten involved.” With that said, the white headed solder commander walked away.

Reno lowered his head and rested it upon Shukera’s chest. For the longest moment he remained that way without moving. With a sigh, he layed her back down on the bed and stood up. “I will never forget you….never.” He kissed her cheek and covered her back up. He ran a hand through his hair and swallowed the lump that formed in the back of his throat. His crying was done, for now at least. Reluctantly he returned to the helicopter and flew back to the inn.

Reno walked into the inn after landing the helicopter and stopping for another bottle of Everclear. Her trench coat was still lying where she left it. He walked over to it and picked it up. Turning it over, he found a burn mark and a hole where the piece of metal punctured her chest, killing her instantly. He drew her trench coat up into his arm and sat down on the floor. He uncapped the bottle and began drinking from it as he cradled the material into his hands. “Why…why couldn’t we have just run away and forgot about all this?? You’d still be alive…and I wouldn’t be a drunken…fool.” His tears ran down his cheek as he slowly emptied the bottle, sitting in the empty dark inn. She took a part of him with her; a part he knew would be gone forever. Memories of the past flooded his mind and he regretted more than ever the night six years ago when he drew back away from her. She was the only shining light in his life…and now it was eternally extinguished. He allowed a part of him to die with her, shutting off everyone from inside. Sometime during the night he drew his knees to his chest and slept clutching on to the trench coat.

The next morning, he spotted something glistening in the morning sun in the middle of the bed. Slowly, he rose from the floor, still clutching the trench coat into his hand, and half stumbled, half walked to the bed. He wrapped his fingers around the silver chain with a pendent of a dragon with garnet eyes he had given her one year for her birthday. It was the one and only present she had ever gotten. He lowered his head and sobbed heavily.

Three days later he held on to the fourth empty bottle and tried to ignore the loud thumping noise that filled his head. “Damn it!!!” The thumping continued until he realized it was someone knocking on his door. Groggily, unshaven, and still clutching the trench coat, he stumbled to the door and threw it open. “What the fuck you want??” He fell forward only to be caught by Rude’s massive hands. “Orders. We have to move out.” Rude helped Reno to the bed and began picking up the empty bottles without saying a word. T-seng told him the news and he knew he would find Reno there in Wutai. The bald headed Turk disappeared into the room and soon the sound of the shower filled the room. “Fuck it!” Reno layed back down into the bed and held on to the trench coat. Rude walked back into the room and helped his friend out the bed. He helped Reno to the shower and forced him into it. “Clean up, you look like hell. I’m going to get you something to eat. When was the last time you ate??” Reno shrugged, “Three….four days maybe??” Rude turned his back as his friend began undressing. “Be ready when I return.” He walked out the room and shut the door behind him.

Reluctantly Reno walked to the mirror and gazed at himself in the reflection. He looked like death warmed over. He picked up the shaving cream, smeared some on his hands and saved as he felt empty. He knew nothing would fill that void; it would end up festering until there was nothing left. For once in his pathetic life he allowed himself to love, and it was only going to happen once. He could return to the life he had been living for the past six years, only this time, it would be a hell of a lot easier without his conscious nagging the hell out of him. He no longer felt anything…all that was taken, died with her. A part of him was grateful that she had died; she wouldn’t see the disgusting man he was turning out to be. He no longer feared death, which only meant he would be joining her in the Lifestream. Shrugging it off, he stepped into the shower and quickly cleaned off. When he was done, he shut the shower off and stepped into the room to dress. He grabbed a wrinkled shirt and pants and threw them on. He dragged his fingers through his mass of scarlet and left it that way. “Shit on it.” Around his neck he wore the dragon, hidden from sight.

Rude returned with food and they sat down silently to eat. Reno picked at his food lightly with the fork as Rude watched him. “We’re going back to Midgar.” Reno finished his meal and left with Rude without any questions.

A week later, before the failed kidnapping, the dropping of the plate, and another extended stay at the hospital, Reno stood on the edge of the water that washed up on the shore. Memories echoed through his mind of a younger day. Beneath the blanket of stars, he stood with a 10 black roses surrounding two red roses in his hand. He tossed the first rose and watched the water carry it away. “For the times I didn’t do anything to stop you from hurting.” He threw two more into the ocean. “For not turning away from Shinra and taking you away with me.” Another rose was thrown into the ocean and carried away. “For not beating the crap out of your brother and standing up for you.” He threw six black roses into the ocean. “For the six years I let you slip away from me…I’ll never forgive myself…” He held the last two roses in his hand and inhaled their scent. Two red roses, the everlasting symbol of love. He closed his eyes to stop the tears that found their way down his cheek. “For the love that will never be realized…Shukera…good-bye.” He tossed the roses into the water and flinched. One of the thorns pricked his skin and a bead of blood formed on the wound. Chuckling through his tears, Reno shook his head, “Leave it to you Shukera to not to want to be forgotten.” Tears dropped from his cheeks as he sucked the blood away. “Thanks…”


Rude walked up behind him. “There’s someone you have to capture for Professor Hojo.” Reno shrugged as he stared at the flowers floating in the ocean. “Yeah so, who is it?” Rude stared at Reno from behind dark glasses as he replied, “Aerith Gainsborough.” Reno sighed and lowered his head for a moment. Strangely his life had come full circle. They once stole away on this beach to share secrets and just because they could do what they were told not to, now all that had changed. Shrugging it off, burying his feelings and sealing them away, he replied, “So be it.”