::Chapter 6::
-Deja Vu-

Midgar must have been the Urban Development Department's new prized possession. It was gleaming with a sort of defiance, like the city itself was aware it was a beautiful replica. Nibelheim was one thing; it had been the first town destroyed and rebuilt immaculately by ShinRa. Corel's reconstruction had looked to be more so thanks to the pride of it's inhabitants. But Midgar was something else entirely.

The slums had undergone a remarkable transformation. It was no upper plate living, but it barely resembled the memories I had of living there. It was as if someone dug up Reeve's original planning for the city and swept over it with a neat and tidy comb. I was unsettled, though, and there was little I could do to hide it.

I frowned, watching as Elena took another long drag of her cigarette. I drifted as she and Yuffie spoke, trying not to dwell on Barett's words.

"Me and Shera are gettin' married," Cid said gruffly, as he grabbed my hand to help me into the Highwind. I gaped at him as a knowing smirk crossed his face. "Don't make me tell you how much hell I went through for her to say yes."

"That's fantastic, Cid." I told him, offering a sad smile.

"I wanted to tell you, Teef.." Calloused fingers ran through his short hair before he shrugged. "Just didn't know how, I guess. It felt good gettin' back to normal, you know? She's the happiest I ever seen her.. Goin' on about dresses and flowers and shit like that.."

"That's not healthy, you know," Yuffie quipped, eyeing the smoke in distaste.

"I don't make it a habit," Elena admitted and took a long drag."It's mostly just when he gets like that.."

As much as the other sectors appeared to have cleaned up, Wall Market stood in all it's bright, and nearly offensive, glory. It was packed with it's usual diverse crowd of people. Graffiti and street vendors occupied my vision as far as it would stretch. I wasn't surprised to see that the majority of the survivors had gathered there.

Yuffie and I had stumbled on the familiar faces of the Turks again after realizing our reunion with Barett wasn't to be as easy as it had been with Vincent.

"Where's Nanaki?" I questioned as we followed Barret through the sectors under the plate. We met him at Aerith's church which was the the only unfinished building in it's sector. Her flowers were growing like they were the first time I'd laid eyes on them. What was left of the slum folk wouldn't let them "ShinRa idiots" build over it, Barett had said. It was as touching as it was sobering to see in the "new" Midgar.

Barett grunted in response to my question, waving us into a small inn in Wall Market. Yuffie, Vincent, Cid and I watched him expectantly once inside. Nanaki was the only one missing, really. I hadn't heard anything of Cloud since parting ways when he told me he was headed north. It was all too much for him and I didn't expect him back. Reeve was too busy back in ShinRa to have Cait Sith get involved.

"He wouldn't come." he said shortly.

Yuffie made a face, not willing to let that suffice as an answer. "The planet whisperer wouldn't come to save the planet? Really?"

Barett rolled his eyes. "Red wouldn't hear me out. Says the planet's recovering just fine from Meteor even with ShinRa back at it."

"What the fuck are we doing here, then?" Cid asked.

"It ain't that simple anymore, if what I'm hearin' is right.."

"He sounds like he has a stick up his ass" Yuffie told Elena bluntly.

"It sounded personal. Doesn't that affect your work?" I questioned,not daring to ask what had started the argument we'd interrupted.

"He's not often that snappy. Just when.. His buttons get pushed, so to speak. He'll attack anyone to defend his pride." She flicked her cigarette, watching the ashes fall intently, "Anyway. Reno will cool down. I actually had to talk to you." I arched an eyebrow in her direction.

"What's your theory, Barett?" I asked politely.

"I been suspicious every since they resurrected that bleach blonde idiot of theirs." I tried not to appear visibly uncomfortable, knowing Rufus would come up sooner or later. "Those damn ShinRa... Can't leave no one dead. You'd think they would have learned that the last time that kid was in office. As bad as his father before him. It just don't make sense."

"He wasn't dead," Vincent spoke up, startling us all. I whipped around to face him. His facial expression was blank as usual, despite everyone else's eyes now on him as well.

"What! You saw the damnbuilding blow up as well I did!"

"He survived."

"You've got to be fuckin' kidding me," Cid's lit cigarette nearly fell out of his mouth.

"I suppose I owe you an apology." Elena said, rather dejectedly.

"Thanks," I said simply, assuming she and Rufus had exchanged words about the Gold Saucer. She shook her head, saying nothing more of it. I still got the feeling she trusted me about as far as she could throw me, but her loyalties must have been getting in the way.

"Come by the HQ tonight. Rufus would like a meeting, since you're in town."

"He knows I'm here?" I asked.

"We know everything, Lockheart, and don't forget it." She strained to remain polite.

Yuffie turned to me. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" I shot her a hardened look, hoping she would take the hint and not dare mention anything about Barett in front of her.

"Don't worry. He won't bite." Elena said with a smirk, taking another long drag and finishing her cigarette in record time. "8 o'clock. Sharp."

Yuffie appeared as torn on the outside as I felt on the inside. "It's not him I'm worried about, princess." she snapped and turned on her heel, heading back to the bar we found them in.

"I don't blame her," Elena said, fiddling with her hem of her jacket, "I wouldn't trust me either. But people change. She'll learn that." She held an unreadable expression on her face and followed Yuffie's suit, walking back down the street. I wondered just who she was talking about for a moment before following quickly behind her. We hadn't reached the bar when Rude and Reno appeared in our path, Yuffie already halted before them with her arms folded.

" 'Lena," Reno spoke quietly, stepping close to the blonde. She nodded and waved a hand at him - an unspoken truce called. It obviously wasn't the first time they'd traded emotional blows. Reno swirled the drink in his hand.

"They're not as good as yours," he said, meeting my eye with a smirk.

I laughed despite myself.

Yuffie had left first. "He's lost a few marbles, if you ask me." She said nonchalantly, slowing down as I caught up to her outside. "And I think I'm a great source to ask on this topic."

I bit my lip, still trying to come to terms. She was now steering us toward the bar down the road and I couldn't help but agree with her. "I don't want to say they are innocent.. But what Barett is accusing is serious."

"I don't know if your prince charming is all he's cracked up to be, Teef," she sighed, "But I think Barett is off base if Nanaki says the planet's alright. I think he's got a chip on his damned shoulder that he can't get rid of."

She swung open the door to the establishment and we were greeted with a slurred, yet familiar voice, echoing off the walls.. It was nearly deserted, the reasons now very apparent, sitting near the back of the room.

"Damnit, woman, you have no idea what you're talkin' about!"

"You're just jealous, Reno! Let me tell you, green is not your fucking color!" the female cried. Her shrill voice caused Yuffie to flinch. Reno stood so quickly his chair hit the floor. He clenched his fists and looked down at Elena with scorn.

"Don't even try it. This is going to cause nothing but problems and you-" He was interrupted by Rude, the man suddenly breaking his long standing silence.

"Reno."

"No! God damnit, Rude! Quit pickin' up for her!"

"I'm not 'picking up' for anyone. You just have to calm down. Besides. ... We have guests." The silence rang through the building like an alarm, and in an instant all three Turks were looking at us.

"Well, don't just stand there, yo. Come have a drink!" Reno laughter was near hysterical. Yuffie folded her arms. Elena's expression was tired. She glanced between us and her comrades.

"Would you two join me outside for a moment?" She asked a little too calmly. Reno scoffed.

"Oh yeah, Laney. Go make some new friends. I'm sure you could use 'em!" he barked. The blonde seemed to be pleading with her eyes and ignoring the way my own had narrowed at her. I sighed, nodding due to nothing than her sheer desperation. We followed as she took a lighter out of her pocket and I did my best not to dwell on Barett's words:

"Whether he survived or he's a fuckin' zombie don't matter. He's alive, and ShinRa's going after the black materia."