Midgar High School

Ok, so I thought I had problems.

But there’s diabolical plots and Shera’s parents are WAY beyond fucked up, and Re’s stuck in the middle, and Zack and.... and... Suffice to say, I’m a little overwhelmed. My boys, and the two people that seem to actually care about me... they’re in trouble. But instead of sitting around like damn damsels, they’re trying to find a way to stop it.

I really wish that Zack and Shera would stay out of this, though. As mean as it sounds, I’d almost trade Re and Tseng for them. Almost. Tough position, if you ask me. I mean, who can a person love? Family, lovers... whatever. There shouldn’t be a difference.

But at least I can do something too. I would rather go with Shera and Zack.... they’re sneaking into Shera’s house, the very place I had taken her from, for information. How’s that for irony? And now Zack’s involved too... I can’t stand by and be helpless.

I’ve got my littlest brother to worry about. Even with all this serious, all this crazy, all this messed up in my head... we’ve got something that’s almost silly.

See, Tseng and I have to be Stealth Ninja Pirates. Ok, the title’s a little weird, but it’s my word for being extra sneaky people. But that’s not the silliest part... Se and I don’t have enough black clothes.

Really, we don’t. We’re not gloomy.

But instead of bothering our parents for the money to get said clothes, we decided to be total geniuses and ask people who wear a lot of black if we can borrow some gear. Now, think carefully... who wears black all the time? Goths. Luckily there are two that we know of, and lately they’ve been almost hanging around each other. Kinda cute, because they match and stuff.

Anyway, one small problem with that. Se’s afraid of Vincent. Sure, the kid’s a bit tall... and turns into a purple fuzzy monster... and kinda has weird nails... lots of piercings... Alright, he’s a bit scary. And Tifa? She’s all pretty and stuff, but she can perform exorcisms.

Exorcisms. Like witchcraft stuff. So she has the potential to be scary. Not that it bothers me, Elena the Fearless. Or something.

Well, I could see both of them, Vincent standing around like he was the coolest and most agoraphobic kid in the world, and Tifa slightly diminished but smiling. Now that was something I didn’t see often.

Here goes nothing. “Hey, Tifa, think I can talk with you for a minute?”

---

I had decided that I needed to get to know my exorcist a bit. She was a lovely person, really, so it was not too bad. Far too shy for her own good, but had I not hidden from my peers for quite some time? Though, for far less innocent purposes...

I was not looking forward to explaining how I came about having my demons to her. Hopefully, she would not ask.

“Catch you losers later,” Cid was saying, probably going off to smoke and do tricks in the back parking lot. Not that he ever went to class. Not that I went often myself... I had been frequenting the art class as of late, but that was more a matter of the company. Tifa did not seem to have any friends, so I did not impose on her social schedule. Except for Aeris, who would appear out of no where and take pictures of the two of us whenever possible.

“H-hello?” I stopped whatever clever comment I was attempting to think up and looked at the boy who addressed me. When I actually looked at him, he paled.

“Yes?” I asked, a little amused at his reaction. No, I did not need people to fear me to make myself have any self worth... but some people just look funny when they are frightened. Hopefully that would no last for long.

“Se, just get it over with!” a short and impatient blonde girl said, appearing next to him and turning to talk to Tifa, who looked almost as terrified as the boy did. I sighed. People do not bite... unless they carry needles. Hopefully Cid would help out Tifa’s inability to carry on conversation with most people.

“Um, right,” the boy said, swallowing, “See... well... um... Vincent. That’s your name right?” Astounding oratory skills. My sarcasm was so thick it had invaded my very thoughts.

“That is the name I go by when I am not in a state of demonic rage, yes.” His whole body quivered. I could not help it... some of Cid’s sadism had rubbed off onto me.

“I was only joking,” I add in quickly, not really wanting to scare the poor boy further. He relaxed a little, but still had the look of a mouse to a hawk. A man to a monster. It was disheartening, to say the least.

“Well... um... I kinda need a favor,” But of course. You and everyone else I know. Come kill this, Valentine, be my specimen Vincent... Arg. I must not let the bitterness get to me. I am far from a happy person, but I do not need to be whiny as well.

“What sort of favor?”

---

“M-my clothes?” Tifa replied, dark eyes wide like I just asked her to strip. Not that she’s unattractive or anything...

Not. Now. Elena. Mission. And you’ve got TWO people already. Trying to start some sort of harem?

“Ya, I don’t have the wide selection of black clothing you seem to possess and since we’re trying to be ninjas, we need to blend into the shadows. You seem to have a lot of shadows, so I figured I’d ask you.” She blinked. Such wide eyes, reminds me of Aeris when she’s stoned...

Which is all the time. But nevermind.

“Well.. alright... you are trying to destroy evil, I guess. Mr. Shinra gives my senses a bad tingle...” She almost mutters when she talks that way. Probably not used to talking much. It’s kinda weird. Se would sure get along with her. Both so damn timid.

“Cool! Do you want to bring the gear to school tomorrow or should I stop by your house and pick it up?” She blinked again. Did she have something in her eye?

I glanced over at Se. And nearly burst out laughing. Seems Valentine had decided to show him the problem with sizing that might occur by having him try on a shirt that was in his locker. Point made, because Se was flailing around in it like he was drowning.

Maybe he was drowning. Dammit, do I always have to bail people out?

“Se! Stop wriggling, you’ll make it worse!” I shouted at him, and realized it was futile. Tseng was the type of kid that probably had a lot of potential under it all, but simple just didn’t show it enough. It was frustrating to see. Maybe that’s why we all put our hopes on Reno... but now...

No. Don’t think about that.

I instead concentrated on Valentine, who was laughing, but his laugh sounded so darn weird. Like, where did he learn to sound like that? Freak. Well, I shouldn’t think that, but I do. Freak, freak, freak. Wearing BLACK all the time like... I don’t know. But Tseng sure as hell looks funny. When he finally poked his head out, I tried to keep from snickering.

“El? The heck you looking at!” Pouting. And for a flicker, I can see why Rufus toys with him so much. Dammit, Tseng, why do you make me worry so much?

“He looks like a black ghost,” Tifa giggles, looking over at Valentine, and he smiles at her. Oh... I get it. Right. God, what kind of children would they breed? Little gothlets?

Stress certainly makes me silly.

---

I was too tall for this Tseng, but luckily I am “far too thin” as Aeris says. Pushy girl. I nearly had a camera phobia from all the times she would chase Tifa and me around. Usually just Tifa though. Asexual, she says, but sometimes I worry. But I am an old “fussbudget” so what did it matter?

“Did the garment swallow you whole?” I asked him, and he shook his head. I wish I could reassure him that I would not eat him. But, so it is with the ignorant masses. Not ignorant of all things... but ignorant of my situation.

Not that I would like for it all to get out. I am quite the hypocrite.

“So... can I borrow something?” he said, his voice gaining a steadier edge. Maybe it was Tifa’s smile. When she does, it always puts people at ease. I wonder if she notices?

“Certainly. On one condition however,” I replied, and he paled again. No, I would not be asking for blood, flesh, or vegetable. What did he think I was? A monster?

Ironic, yes.

“That you and your friend there buy Tifa and I some friend chicken some time.” This was not what I intended on saying. What was I going to say? Did I really care what a couple of silly geeks thought?

“What’s the meaning of that? Making Tseng pay like that!” The blonde one, Elena. Yes, fearless from what I hear. Not a quiver from her. Though, she made Tifa nervous. The brief smile had already disappeared behind her hair.

“Then accompany us. I am... curious.” Tifa shot me a look, to which I inclined my head. Freak language for “do not bolt for the door or pull out your weapons.” She relaxed slightly.

I really wished Cidney went to class more often. I had gotten word of this girl... a real gear head too...

Focus. I flicked my eyes between the two, and the blonde, the leader obviously, considered my words. No, she was not a leader... she was something else entirely. And untampered by family or experimentation. Was that why they sent her? Because she was essentially clean?

Unlike her friend. I could smell the taint. Poor fellow. I remembered being a pawn. It stung.

“Deal. But no crazy witchcraft—no offense—or crazy mad monster skillz? Got it?”

“We have an accord.”