A/N: Wow! It has taken two years for me to update another chapter! How pathetic is that! 'OTL I'm sorry guys, seriously, words cannot express my apology deeply enough!

Not long to go for the story now. It's gonna be sad to say goodbye to it but I'm really looking forward to finally writing that long-awaited end scene! Thanks for encouraging me along the way! :)

CHAPTER 24

Reno sauntered over to where Rude was standing in the kitchen, a cup of hot coffee in his hands. The two of them had been partners for a long time now. Reno knew Rude's habits just as intimately as Rude knew his. And Reno knew that Rude only drank coffee when he was stressed about something.

"Alright. What is it, yo?" he asked. Rude did not even bother to look up.

"What is what?"

"What has the boss done to piss you off this time? And don' try to deny it. I know he's done something."

Rude glanced towards the doorway before briefly meeting Reno's gaze. He shook his head and focused back on his coffee.

"It's nothing you can help me with."

"Bull, yo! We been partners for too long for me to believe somethin' like that! So come on, what gives?"

Rude exhaled heavily through his nose. From him, Reno knew that was the equivalent of a heart-felt sigh. The red-head waited patiently. He knew from experience that when Rude had sorted all his thoughts out in his head and he was ready to talk, he would. He just needed the time to think and not be rushed. So Reno did something he hated; waiting.

"He can't be trusted any more, Reno. He's ... he's no better than his father," Rude said softly. Reno snorted.

"Duh! I always knew that, partner. He's a Shinra! They're bad to the bone, yo."

"No, Reno. This is worse. Rufus is ... he is so much more than his father ever was. And he is so much more dangerous!"

"Okay. So what's he plannin' that's so terrible?" Reno slouched against the bench and began to fix himself a cup of coffee. Rude shot another glance at the doorway before answering.

"World domination."

"Shinra already tried that," Reno pointed out.

"Not on this scale. Not with this violence! He wants to force the Wutaians into slavery! He plans to use their children as genetic test subjects, the victims of new biological weapons."

Reno paused, a sick expression coming over his face.

"But Tseng was Wutaian, yo! Rufus loved him!" he protested. Rude shrugged.

"Obviously not enough."

Slowly adding sugar to his coffee, Reno stirred the drink with a thoughtful expression.

"I'm almost scared to ask about the rest," he said.

"You should be," Rude confirmed. "Rufus plans to re-create SOLDIER, starting by abducting and experimenting on orphans and street children. He already has Zack Fair manipulated into his service, a former SOLDIER. And he has done the same thing to Cloud."

"What are you talking about?" Reno asked, confusion on his face. Rude's jaw muscles flexed, reluctant to so completely betray his boss. Rufus had saved his life, given him a future. Without him, Rude would have died a terrible, painful death a long time ago.

Yet how could he let him continue, when what he was doing was so wrong?

"Subconscious mental impressions," Rude said and Reno's eyes widened.

"You mean like the ones we used in hypnosis?" he asked and Rude nodded.

"Very much the same, only done through the Hojo Program. Rufus has imprinted a debt onto Cloud's mind. When healed, the blond will volunteer himself to work for Rufus."

Reno swore at his coffee. He did not feel like drinking it any more as his mind churned with this new information.

The Turks had used subconscious mental impressions through hypnosis quite a lot, particularly on prisoners who refused to reveal information or cooperate. Reno had no idea that Rufus even knew about it, let alone how to use it! This was very bad indeed!

"We gotta stop him, yo," Reno said softly.

"But we owe our lives to him," Rude replied.

"I know, partner. I know. You ain't the only one who'd be lyin' dead in a ditch by now if it weren't for him. But this is wrong. We can't let it happen, yo. After everythin' we've seen and done ... maybe it's time to finally set things straight."

Rude breathed out heavily again and gave a small, barely perceptible nod.

"You're right. We've got no other choice, do we?"

"Not really, yo."

"So what do we do?"

Reno frowned, thinking hard. Lax and irresponsible he might seem, yet the red-head was actually quite intelligent and focused when the situation called for it. Now was one of those times.

"There's nothin' else for it. We get in touch with Avalanche, yo. I'm sure they will have picked something up by now and will be wanting to do something about it. We'll combine forces with them."

Rude nodded, resigning himself to the plan of action. He might not like this but there was nothing else they could do.

One way or another, Rufus Shinra would be dealt with.

Zack slung the Buster Sword onto his back and watched emotionlessly as the monster fell to the ground. Around him, the nervous population slowly emerged from their hiding places with wide eyes and open mouths. A crowd formed around him, murmuring softly as they took in his SOLDIER uniform. Then the rumours started.

"Who is he?"

"How did he know to help us?"

"Where did he come from?"

Pain twisted inside of Zack. Once upon a time, he had revelled in the adoration the public gave him. Yet now there was fear in their eyes, despite their appreciation. Everyone still recognised the sign of a SOLDIER. And for those that held no fear, Zack did not feel worthy of their respect.

"Who sent you?" someone spoke up, boldly questioning him. Zack raised his eyes and met the woman's gaze. His heart panged as she took a half-step backwards.

"Rufus Shinra sent me. He wishes to convey his deepest apologies to the world for the crimes of his company. He also wishes to atone for these crimes. This is why I am here."

A new buzz ran through the crowd at his words. Rufus Shinra? The people began to give Zack different looks, looks he had not seen before. He was not quite sure what those expressions meant.

It was a little while longer before he was able to slip away from the crowd. Zack had parked the jeep on the outskirts of the city, where he first encountered the huge monster. Now it was time to go back. He had completed Rufus' latest mission. Time to see how Cloud was doing.

Leaving the main crowd behind him, Zack felt himself begin to relax as he made his way through the streets. This far away from the scene, no-one was shooting him those unnerving glances. They just ignored him and rushed past, engrossed in their own lives. This left Zack to himself and his thoughts turned inwards, bringing a melancholy over him.

So much had changed. There was so much at stake. Pain twisted Zack's heart. Why was it so hard to help people? Why was it so hard to be a hero? That was all he had ever asked for! And now when he was trained to do that, to protect people, he could not even use his skills without those he helped distrusting him!

"You're making a name for yourself."

Zack froze, eyes fixed on the ground in front of him as his mind threw every other thought out of its way and focused on that voice. He knew that voice!

"Or rather, you're making a name for him."

Zack swallowed nervously and took in his surroundings. He was standing next to a dark alley between two shops. If he wanted, he could find out who belonged to this voice. All it would take was a simple turn of his head to the left. Yet Zack restrained himself.

"I don't have a choice, you know. I have to do this for him."

"Why?"

"Because he did something for me. He helped my best friend, saved his life. If I hadn't agreed to this, he wouldn't have saved him."

"Fool!" Zack flinched. "Didn't you understand what power over yourself you were giving him?" The man cut off and gave a ragged, somewhat ironic chuckle. "Yet, I suppose that always was your weakness. You always would do anything to help someone you cared about. Selfless to a fault!"

A small smile touched Zack's face and he turned his gaze up towards the sky.

"I suppose that is a good way to describe me," he agreed. "It's accurate, at least. I never could help myself. Even if my friends tried to kill me. I'd still forgive them, if they asked."

"And what about someone who turned his back on you when you needed him most? What about someone who abandoned you and ignored you, even hid from you when you tried to find him! Would you still forgive him?"

Zack's smile grew broader this time. He shrugged his shoulders lightly.

"What can I say, I've got a big heart! It doesn't matter what they've done. If they're honest about being sorry, I'll forgive anything."

The other man was silent for a moment and Zack's heart pounded. He hadn't scared him off, had he? After all this man had gone through, all the secrets and distrust and lies and the running for his life, Zack knew he would be skittish. For Zack knew, he just knew, who this person was.

"Zack ..." There was a tremble in the man's voice. Yet something told the ex-SOLDIER that now was the right time. Slowly, he turned and looked into the alley.

There was a man there, roughly the same age as Zack. Tall and strong with rich brown hair. His clothes were worn and grubby. A bandage wrapped around his head, concealing his right eye yet the other was still visible, gleaming brightly out of they alley's gloom in what could only be a mako glow.

"Kunsel."

He stepped forward, out of the alley. Zack stared at his long lost best friend, emotions running rampant as what he had been suspecting for days now was confirmed. Kunsel was alive.

"I thought you were dead," Kunsel said.

"I kinda was," Zack replied with a grin.

"Long story?"

"They always are." Zack hesitated. "What's with the bandage?" Kunsel gingerly touched a hand to it.

"Three guesses."

"Long story?"

"You got it."

They stood there in an awkward silence as both men struggled to comprehend the oxymoronic joy and questions they were experiencing. Finally unable to stand it any longer, Zack stepped forward and wrapped Kunsel in a tight hug. The awkwardness broken, Kunsel responded in kind. In a single moment, the gaping chasm in their relationship was bridged.

"Oh man, I've missed you!" Zack said with a grin as they separated. Kunsel returned the smile and clapped Zack on the shoulder. "I was wondering what had happened to you after ... well. After everything, really."

"Yeah, that's a part of the long story," Kunsel said wryly.

"I thought it might be."

"So where are you headed now?"

"Back to Edge. I'm working with Avalanche now."

"Avalanche! Really?"

"Yeah. But I would have thought you already knew that." Zack grinned but Kunsel remained puzzled. To iterate his point, Zack pulled his phone out and quickly dialled a number. It was the number of the anonymous voice who had warned Avalanche of Rufus' true intentions. The phone in Kunsel's pocket rang.

"Ha! Gotcha!" Zack declared and Kunsel sighed in mock irritation, a smile breaking out over his face.

"How did you figure out it was me?" he asked as Zack ended the call.

"Oh, please! As if I would forget what my best friend sounds like when he messages me!" Zack replied with a cocky pose. The grin on Kunsel's face faded slightly.

"I thought Cloud Strife was your best friend now," he said. Without missing a beat Zack hooked an arm around Kunsel's neck, pulling him close.

"You know what I'm like, Kuns. I am capable of having more that one best friend. When have I ever had less than two?"

"Yeah, you're right," Kunsel said and shook Zack off. "Forget it. I've just forgotten what it's like to have people I care about."

"This is gonna be a long drive back to Edge, isn't it?" Zack said and began strolling down the street once more. Kunsel arched an eyebrow before hurrying after him.

"Excuse me? What do you mean, a long drive back to Edge? You don't think I'm coming with you, do you?"

"Of course you are! I've just found you again! I'm not letting you out of my sight until this whole ordeal is over! But I can't just abandon everyone back in Edge so you're coming with me." Zack kept walking, a smug and cocky grin on his face.

Kunsel let out a suppressed chuckle.

"Oh, Zack. You haven't changed a bit."

Zack glanced sideways at his old friend before breaking out into a laugh. Kunsel joined him and with carefree laughter surrounding them, they made their way back to the jeep. Getting in, Zack gunned the engine and began to drive away.

"You first," he said as a quiet settled over them. Kunsel was silent for a long, long moment. Zack shot him a look and saw the restrained pain all over his friend's face. "Take your time. There's no rush."

Kunsel sighed heavily and after a few more moments, spoke.

"I guess ... it all starts when you disappeared in the Nibelheim disaster. I knew you weren't dead, despite what we were told! After everything that happened with Angeal and Genesis, I knew it was just another cover-up. So I kept sending you messages."

"I got them," Zack said softly.

"Really? I didn't know that."

"There was never any time to reply," Zack said as explanation. "And I didn't want to risk your life, too. If Shinra had found out that you were communicating with me, they would have killed you!"

"I don't blame you, Zack." The man in question gave a weak smile.

"Thanks. So what happened next?"

"Well, when I heard about the experiment samples that escaped from Nibelheim, I knew it was you. You and Cloud. I knew you'd never make it on your own, so I had to help. I deserted Shinra and hid out in the slums. But they didn't hunt for me for very long. I never was as important as you."

Zack snorted but a single glance from Kunsel silenced him. They both knew it was true.

"I tried to leave but there were too many people from Shinra, crawling about everywhere, searching for any sign of a rogue SOLDIER. So I had to stay.

"The slums were rough – rougher than the first six months of SOLDIER training! Yet I managed to stay alive through a small business. I sold information to people. But not always the good sort of people." Kunsel fell silent again. "I've done a lot of wrong things since Shinra, Zack. I don't know if I can justify what I did."

"I know, buddy. Believe me, I know."

"I tried to listen out for any news of you but I never heard anything. Not until Cloud Strife arrived in Midgar and made a name for himself. Through my contacts, I learnt about him joining Avalanche. I hunted for any mention of you but there was none. I actually went to see him once, to ask him about you. But ... he was with Aerith. She was talking about you, asking him about you. He said he didn't know you.

"That was when I left Midgar. Part of me was furious! I wanted to go out there and beat the crap out of him, you know? How dare he say he didn't know you after all you'd done for him! But I couldn't risk exposing myself. And I couldn't bring myself to kill him, not after you'd gone to such lengths to save him. So I decided to leave.

"I went to Gongaga next. I figured if you were still alive then you'd try to make contact with your parents to let them know you were alive – or at the very least to see if they were safe. But you weren't there so I moved on. I went to the Ancient Forest, you know the one south-east of Cosmo Canyon? I lived there for a while, just training and keeping myself in form while I tried to figure out what to do next. I got too comfortable there, too at ease in my own surroundings."

Kunsel sighed and flexed a fist, as though reliving an old pain there. Zack furiously bit his tongue, struggling to hold back all his questions. His friend needed time to think and cope with the terrible memories he was sharing.

"I still don't really know what happened. I guess some people must have gotten wind of a SOLDIER living in the forest and came to see for themselves. It doesn't matter. They attacked when I was sleeping. It all happened so fast ... They had some monsters with them and they loosed them on me. In all the chaos, I guess one of them got the upper on me. I blacked out and when I next woke, I was in a cell.

"It was an underground fight ring. They pitted me against other people, against monsters and against machines." Kunsel swallowed hard. "I planned escape from the first day but it took what felt like a lifetime before I was able to implement it. Yet I managed it. I broke out and I killed all of the men that held me there. Even the ones with kids ..."

There were no words Zack could offer to console Kunsel with the demons of his past. All he could do was listen and offer his support. It was the most important thing right now.

"I escaped from that hell hole and came here. I've been living in the shadows since then, keeping my head down and listening for any information I can use to my advantage. Y'know, same old Kunsel."

"And the injury?" Zack asked. Kunsel's hand almost ghosted across his bandaged eye but he stopped the movement in time.

"The last fight I was in. It was some kind of freakish monster I haven't seen before. Wings, talons, tentacles, the lot. It scratched me across the face as I killed it. I lost the eye. It's stupid." A pained smile flashed across Kunsel's face. "They cleaned it up good for me but it's not enough. I dunno, maybe the mako in my body is wearing off. But the wound still oozes all the time. It won't heal."

"We'll get it checked out," Zack said. "We'll figure out a way to fix it."

"I knew you'd say that," Kunsel replied with a wry smile. "So, how 'bout you? What's your story?"

As Zack began to recount his own experiences, the jeep travelled closer and closer to Edge and the waiting problems therein. Zack's gut twisted in nervousness. What if Cloud had another reaction? He was not sure he could handle any more disappointment.