"I'll come back to you. Even if you don't promise to wait. I'll return knowing that you'll be here." —Loveless; Act III, Scene 12, Verses 126-128

         As slim, horizontal streams of muted sunlight peeked through the vertical blinds, the alarm went off. His hand slammed down on the appropriate button with a swift ferocity while the rest of his body shifted and stretched. Eventually he rose from his bed and, upon setting his feet on the floor, trudged off to the bathroom. Once there, he began his regular routine, honed through years of mornings like this one. Some twenty minutes later, he was in the living room, shrugging into his jacket and looking out at the thick mass of grey clouds through the windows. It was just another shitty day in smog-choked Midgar.
         He turned around and walked to the front door, where he reached down to pick up his nightstick from its regular place, feeling a small sting in his upper right arm as he did so. This pricking pain from his morning tranquilizer injection was, of course, just another part of his daily routine.
         "Well, ZERO," Reno muttered under his breath, almost ruefully, "let's head to the office."

         Reno almost never took the main lifts whenever he entered the Shinra Building in the morning, usually opting to sneak onto the freight elevators instead. His did this because the main elevators were usually way too crowded this time of day, when just about everyone arrives to work. However, on this particular morning, he wasn't feeling up to making the extra effort involved in getting to the freight area. Once he walked through the Shinra Building's front doors and into the main lobby, he turned to the right and pressed the "up" button by the clear glass tubes.
         As he stood there waiting for the next elevator to come, Reno couldn't help but remember when he took these lifts on a regular basis, back when he was just starting out with the Turks. He'd only been working in the Shinra Building for a few months when he rushed in late one morning and managed to catch an elevator only a few seconds after his arrival. The elevator was empty, but just when the doors were about to close, a bearded man in a blue suit appeared out of nowhere and shoved his arm between them. The doors opened again and the man strolled inside.
         "Terribly sorry about that," he apologized, smiling.
         Reno leaned forward and pressed the "close doors" button before anyone else could get on. The elevator began its ascent. "Yeah, yeah. As if I could be any later already."
         The man chuckled and shoved a hand into the folds of his coat. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
         "Damn better not. You know who I am?"
         "You're that new Turk, aren't you?"
         Reno nodded. "That's me." He glanced at the other passenger, who hadn't pressed any of the elevator buttons since getting on. "What floor you going to?"
         "The 64th."
         Reno shook his head, as every floor higher than the 59th were accessible only to a select few. Even the interns knew that. "But that floor's restri—"
         Reno paused as the man pulled out a keycard and slid it through a special reader located on a podium at the back of the elevator. Who was this guy?
         "Yes, I know it's restricted," the man replied as he keyed in his destination. "I guess I don't give off that upper-level aura, eh?"
         "Well I—that's not what I meant."
         The man tucked his keycard back into his jacket, then pulled out a business card which he offered to Reno. The Turk took the card and read the text printed on it: Forrest Reeves, Senior Planner, Shinra Electric Power Company - Department of Urban Development. Reno looked up from the card and back at the man. Forrest Reeves stood leaning against the elevator's railing, his arms crossed, returning the Turk's stare.
         "Sorry about the way I acted, Mr. Reeves. I didn't know that you were Vice Chairman of Urban Dev."
         The bearded man waved his hand. "Reserve that 'Vice Chairman' nonsense for the other departments. And please, call me Reeve." He extended his hand out to Reno, which the latter took in his own and shook.
         "Reno Cerise. Just… call me Reno."
         Reeve gave Reno an odd look, cocking one eyebrow higher than the other. "What's wrong?"
         "Why are you being so nice to me?"
         "Why not?" Reeve shrugged.
         A slight laugh involuntarily escaped Reno's mouth. "Sorry. It's just that I've found that the people who work in this building aren't exactly the friendly type, especially if you're from another department."
         "So I'm different," Reeve smiled, his dark eyes reflecting the dim lights of the elevator in a strange way. Reno turned from him and gazed out of the plate glass window instead.
         "You wouldn't happen to want anything from me or the Turks, would you?" Reno asked suspiciously.
         "No. Our department doesn't have much use for the Turks' services. Do you think I'm attempting to curry favor with you?"
         "Well, yeah. I'm just trying to figure out what your deal is."
         "You don't trust people very easily, do you."
         Reno looked back over at Reeve, who was now staring up at the digital display, where the floor numbers quietly ticked higher and higher. Just then, the elevator slowed down and came to a stop on the 54th floor. The doors slid open with a chime.
         "Is this your floor?" Reeve asked.
         "Yeah." Reno got off of the elevator, then turned back to look at the man he had just been conversing with. "See you around."
         Reeve nodded, then the elevator doors closed.

         Reno sighed wearily as he thought back on that fateful morning. What was it about that guy that compelled Reno—when he happened to run into Reeve a second time some days later—to invite him out for a drink? And when Reeve showed Reno around the partially constructed Sector Six that one time, why did they return to that small platform on the outside of that sector's reactor only a week later?
         Why did they become friends to begin with? And why him?
         The elevator arrived and Reno got on, along with a pair of office workers. As the latter two chatted amongst themselves, Reno leaned against the opposite wall and gazed out the plate glass. The elevator stopped at the 27th floor, and the office drones got out. As the doors slid shut again, Reno sighed. Four years later, the fact that Shinra employees didn't really interact with those outside of their own departments still rang true.
         A few floors later, the elevator stopped again. Out of habit, Reno turned away from the window to see who it was. He nearly did a double-take, as it was Reeve, carrying his laptop under one arm. The Urban Dev. Chairman slid his keycard through the elevator's special reader and keyed in the 66th floor.
         "Going to a meeting?"
         For the first time since entering the elevator, Reeve glanced over at Reno. He nodded.
         "Ah," Reno replied, not knowing what to say next. He tried not to look at Reeve, but couldn't help himself. Reeve seemed to be exhausted and far less energetic than usual; his face bore a neutral expression. "You getting enough sleep, man?"
         Reeve didn't answer. He turned away from Reno completely, facing the doors of the elevator. "Look, I'm well aware that our running into each other at work like this isn't something that can easily be avoided. I happen to be in a bit of a hurry right now, otherwise I would've taken the next elevator. I'm actully surprised to see you here, as this isn't your usual route."
         "So what you're saying is…"
         "What I'm saying is: don't attempt to make conversation with me. It's not helping matters any."
         "Reeve," Reno said quietly, "do you remember how we first met? Where we first met?"
         The executive said nothing. Reno sighed wearily and watched the numbers tick off. Then, as the elevator climbed through the forties, Reeve asked, "Do you trust me?"
         To say the least, Reno wasn't exactly prepared for this question, then realized that Reeve might've felt the same way just moments before.
         "I don't know any more."
         Reeve shoved his free hand into his trouser pocket. "I hope you understand now why I had to break this off… before it was too late."
         Reno folded his arms and felt that small sting in his upper arm again. The elevator soon came to a stop at the 54th floor.
         "And before you go," Reeve added as the doors slid open. "I do remember that day, Mr. Cerise. Quite vividly, I might add."
         As Reno stepped out of the elevator, he took a quick glance back at Reeve and noticed that there was nary any light reflecting off of his eyes. Emotionally speaking, Reeve was always somewhat tricky to read, but today, Reno found him to be completely illegible.
         The elevator doors closed and Reeve vanished from view. Neither of them had so much as nodded a farewell to the other.

*****

         Tseng pushed the saloon doors open and strolled into the dimly-lit bar. The place seemed oddly familiar—plain decor, only a few tables, and a pinball machine against the right wall. There was no one else in the place save for a woman with short, curly blonde hair, sitting at the bar with her back to the entrance. A half-filled cocktail glass was to her left, while on her right, a nearly-spent cigarette sat neglected in an ashtray.
         "Yoshi," the woman said in a steady, even voice. "So you've come to join me."
         Tseng smiled on this confirmation of her identity. Though he had been known as Yoshiro by a fair number of people, only one ever had the gall to nickname him "Yoshi". Yet despite his intense dislike of this name, at that very moment, the sound of it was music to his ears.
         "Sasha," he said, running up to the bar and squeezing her from behind.
         He heard her laugh slightly. "It's good to see you too, Yoshiro. So what brings you to the Lifestream?"
         "In a manner of speaking, Sephiroth sent me here. The Company's been having some problems with him lately, to say the least."
         "So I've heard."
         "He stabbed me with that Masamune of his. I couldn't be saved." Tseng let go of the woman, his former comrade in the Turks, and his father's second-in-command during the latter's time as Head Turk. Glancing around the room, he murmured, "Isn't this Seventh Heaven? Why is it here?"
         Sasha swung around on her barstool so that she was facing him. Her suit and tie were crisp and neat, a far cry from the messy state she was in when she died. "If there's one thing you need to learn about this place—by which I mean the Lifestream—it's not to question the memories of places that it throws you into."
         "I've only been to Seventh Heaven once before. What about you?"
         She smiled, her eyes slightly lowered. "This was where Tseng proposed to me, shortly before he left for Corel."
         He stood frozen, speechless. He had no idea that his father and Sasha were even involved with one another, much less serious enough to warrant getting married. Following Sasha's line of vision, he became aware of a diamond and mythril ring adorning her left hand.
         "Surprised? Whenever we went out together, it was always in secret, so no one ever discovered the true nature of our relationship. We had planned to tell you everything after he got back from Corel." Sasha twisted the engagement ring between her fingers. "We were quite the regulars at this bar. A nice young man named Wedge used to own it. When I heard about the Sector 7 plate falling, I couldn't believe that this place was gone, just like that."
         "I… can't believe you two hid it so well. I honestly had no idea there was anything going on between you and my father."
         "Tseng insisted we keep our relationship a secret, as it would set a bad example for you—you know, getting romantically involved with your coworkers and such. Not that I should scold you, especially considering what I've learned about you since my death."
         "You aren't talking about—"
         "Your own secret relationship? Of course. You really do take after Tseng, don't you? Well, save for the fact that all of your romantic interests had been male."
         "That had always been unavoidable. I've never been attracted to women."
         "I see," Sasha replied, a thin smile on her lips giving Tseng the impression that she didn't believe him. "Does that embarrass you?"
         "Not anymore. To tell you the truth, accepting my sexuality got easier after Father's death."
         "Even though it was your former lover who killed him?"
         "Yes, because after that happened, I swore never to love again."
         She paused, then brought her eyes back up to meet his. "But you did love. You loved your fellow Turks, and the Ancient you befriended when you were younger—and yes, I've learned about her too—"
         "That's different," he interrupted, making a mental note to go back to the topic of Aeris later. "I love them, sure, but they weren't special like I believed Rufus was. None of them were ever 'more than friends' to me."
         "If you say so." Sasha tilted her head. "But are you sure that's what you wanted? To have gone through the rest of your life without a partner to share it with?"
         "Sasha, if you broke up with Tseng, and he retaliated by trying to kill you, only to end up killing the person you admired most, wouldn't that be more than enough to convince you to do the same?"
         She bit her lip, staring back at him with warm, sorrowful eyes. "Oh, Yoshi," she said, standing up and taking him in her arms. "It's all right. What's done is done."
         He gripped her in return, his own eyes growing moist. "Sasha, I should never have gotten involved with that bastard to begin with. It's because of me that my father—your fiancé—died, and Corel was destroyed. I'm so, so sorry…"
         "Yoshi, you fell in love. You can't be blamed for that, even if it was misguided in the end."
         "But still, I… I've dishonored Father…" he said, lowering his eyes to the floor.
         "Funny, he never thought so," Sasha answered softly, stroking his cheek. "Your father is very proud of you. I daresay you've seen that pride for yourself."
         "When?" he asked. "How was I able to see him after his death?"
         "Tseng was reincarnated as a black chocobo, whom you met not too long ago."
         Slowly, he lifted his head and looked at her. "You don't mean Teioh in the Gold Saucer?"
         Sasha nodded. "Of course, he has no memory of his former life as Tseng Kawaguchi, since those had to remain in the Lifestream. But surely, when Teioh looked at you that day…"
         Recalling the prizewinning chocobo's proud gaze, he nodded. "Yes, I believe you're right." Tseng took a deep breath. "Thank you, Sasha."
         She smiled. "It was nothing."
         As they spoke these last few words, the walls of the Seventh Heaven bar became semi-transparent, glowing a pale green as they did so. Now, Tseng could feel the Lifestream flowing all around him, a vast ocean of knowledge and memory that he had become a part of. In the distance, a sorrowful wailing sound could be heard, and as it grew louder, it seemed to Tseng as if it was the entire planet was in mourning. Dull green wisps floated through the bar and its two inhabitants, carrying the wailing cry with it. The two former Turks looked at each other, eyes wide, as they listened to the passing wisps.
         Sasha lowered her eyes and stepped away from Tseng. "Yoshi, I'm so sorry. I—I don't know what to say."
         Tseng nodded, folding his arms in front of him. "Aeris," he murmured, pinching his glistening eyes shut. A couple of tears escaped and streamed down his cheeks. "So he got you, too. Damn him."
         One final wisp of Lifestream came toward them, passing through Tseng's head, and not touching Sasha at all. As the walls regained their former opacity, he looked up to Sasha, wiping away the wet trails the tears had left behind with the palm of his hand.
         "I… have to leave."
         "What?"
         "I just received a message, specifically for me. She needs me."
         "Who, the Ancient?"
         "Aeris, yes."
         "Why? What for?"
         "I don't know. She didn't say, exactly, but she feels that something terrible is about to happen."
         He turned around and headed for the entrance, pausing as he set his hand on one of the swinging doors.
         "Sasha," he said, turning to face her, "will I see you again?"
         "I'm not sure," she replied. "I've been here for a long time, much longer than I should ever have been. I suspect that I'll be reincarnated any day now. Either that, or my soul will become incinerated in the belly of a mako reactor. If that happens, my death will be permanent. I'll cease to exist."
         Tseng swallowed hard. "It won't happen, Sasha. You'll be reincarnated as a chocobo, a wonderful yellow chocobo, and breed little gold chicobos with Teioh."
         She smiled. "What a lovely thought."
         He stared out at the Lifestream and thought over what Sasha had said about the mako reactors. Perhaps the members of AVALANCHE, despite their violent methods, really did have the planet's best interests at heart.
         Sasha spoke again, interrupting his train of thought; "Before you go, can you do me a favor?"
         "Anything for you, my friend."
         "Tell Aeris that I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused over the years, even though I never actually caught her. I was only doing what Hojo requested."
         "Of course, and I'm sure she'll understand and forgive you. She's long known that Turks can't help doing their jobs."
         "Or in your case," she replied, a sarcastic lilt to her voice, "Turks can't help not doing their jobs!"
         Annoyed, he turned around, and found that she had left the counter and come close to him. She smiled, shaking her head.
         "You remind me so much of your father, Yoshiro. That look on your face right now, it's just like the one he would wear whenever he got upset—so irresistibly cute." Sasha leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Now you should go. If we never meet again in the Lifestream, then let's do so back on the surface, where we no longer have to be imprisoned in the glorious but thankless role of Turks."
         "Yes," he replied, returning the kiss on her own cheek. "Let's."
         He pushed the doors open and nodded to his old comrade. "Goodbye, Sasha."
         "Goodbye, Yoshi."
         Tseng stepped out of the ghostly memory of the Seventh Heaven and swept himself along with the Lifestream, in search of a swift current that would take him to the far north.

*****

         "You're late, Reeve," Rufus sharply greeted, just as the Urban Development chairman swung open one of the executive conference room's large doors. Of course, he was willing to tolerate this tardiness on Reeve's part; if it was anyone else, he would be calling for their head.
         Reeve took his seat next to Scarlet, setting his laptop on the large table in front of him. "My sincerest apologies, Mr. President. It won't happen again."
         At the head of the table, Rufus nodded understandingly and called the meeting to order. It was his first time standing here since becoming President, and needless to say, it felt more than a little bit strange. "We've all been through a lot ever since my father's assassination, so I understand if any of you are feeling stressed out. However, we must take care of Sephiroth and AVALANCHE before we can return to business as usual."
         All of the executives—Heidegger, Palmer, Scarlet, and Reeve—either nodded or replied, "Yes, Mr. President."
         "Now, you all know why we're here today. Elena and our late Head Turk Tseng recently explored the Temple of the Ancients in search of clues about the Promised Land. They took some interesting photos which I'd like to share with you."
         Rufus flipped open a small hatch on the edge of the desk, revealing a console. He pressed a button and a white screen came down behind him. Another button press dimmed the lights, and a third projected an photographic image onto the screen. This image was of a hieroglyphic mural, with iconic figures marching in a line. Rufus watched the executives as they took in this image before clicking to the next one. As he went through each image in sequence, he noticed one of the conference room doors open just a crack and Professor Hojo's hunchbacked form shuffle inside. Hojo closed the door again and quietly took a seat at the far end of the table. Rufus clicked through to the next photo, and immediately noticed that the executives regarded this particular one with extreme interest. He turned to look at the screen, and saw that the image was of a section of mural depicting a large round object shooting down from above. Removing his hand from the console, he announced, "This is the last photograph."
         "There were no other murals?" Scarlet asked.
         Rufus shook his head. "The only other photo they took came out blurry. There's nothing we were able to make out in that one. It could've been a shot of the ground, for all we know."
         "This last photo is certainly startling," Palmer said, and the other executives nodded. "Mr. President, what do you think it means?"
         "Something important enough to depict in a mural, obviously."
         "A critical event in the Ancients' history?" Reeve mused.
         "Perhaps… a falling star."
         All eyes traveled to the source of the voice at the other end of the room, where Hojo was sitting, hands folded atop the table. Rufus had been expecting Hojo to say something sooner or later, so this action on his part hardly came as a surprise.
         "You have something to share with us, Professor?"
         Hojo stood and shuffled toward the President. "Only if you're willing to listen."
         "Well, speak then."
         "There is a large crater at the northernmost tip of the Northern Continent. It is very old, as well."
         Rufus nodded. "I see. Are you implying that this is a site where a meteor crashed during the time of the Ancients? How do you know of this place, Professor?"
         Hojo brought his right hand up to his mouth and chuckled behind it. "Gast and I did some research there many years ago, before you were even born."
         Heidegger posed a question of his own. "Professor, do you believe that this crater of yours might have something to do with the Promised Land?"
         "By your definition of 'Promised Land', perhaps so…" Hojo trailed off, then paced around the President to the other side of the room. He stared up at the screen, where the last mural image was still being displayed, and rubbed his chin. "Mr. Heidegger, have you heard anything about Sephiroth recently?"
         The Peace Preservation chairman shook his head. Rufus explained, "The Turks have lost contact with Cait Sith, and we haven't heard anything from—"
         Just then, the President heard his PHS ring. "Excuse me," he said as he pulled out the cell phone and flipped it open, hoping that this call would be worth the interruption. Reading the number on the phone's small screen, he saw that it was Elena.
         "President Rufus Shinra speaking. What is it, Elena?"
         "Mr. President, I've got a lead on Sephiroth. He's on the Northern Continent."
         Rufus paused, thinking about the crater that Hojo had mentioned. The Promised Land.…
         "Go on."
         "I met a guy here in Kalm who just came back from Bone Village. He said that a tall man in black was seen there not more than a few days ago. Said he went into the 'Sleeping Forest', which, as he described it, lies just north of the village."
         "I see. Listen, I'm in the middle of a meeting right now. I'll call you back to discuss this further. You are dismissed until then, but don't leave Kalm just yet."
         "Yes sir."
         "Anything else?"
         "No sir."
         "Very well. Thank you for the news, and good day."
         Rufus ended the call and set his phone on the table. The executives and Hojo were all fixated on him.
         "Elena believes that Sephiroth's traveling north from the Bone Village archaeological site," Rufus told them. "Looks like he might be heading for the Promised Land after all."
         Hojo rubbed his chin and smiled. "So your orders, Mr. President?"
         "We'll have to secure this crater of yours as quickly as possible and see what's down there. Heidegger, what's the status on the Highwind?"
         "There've been no major problems with the airship since Tseng's funeral."
         "All right. I want to go to the crater personally, to see this 'Promised Land' for myself."
         Reeve tilted his head, a concerned look on his face. "Mr. President, are you sure about this? Much of the Northern Continent is uncharted territory."
         "I'm not worried about any potential danger," Rufus replied, brushing his hair back with a sweep of his hand. "After all, a great historic moment is upon us."
         "Kya ha ha!" Scarlet laughed in that grating tone of hers. "Well if that's the case, then I'm going too!"
         "As will I!" Heidegger chimed in. "Gya ha ha!"
         Rufus sighed. "Very well. Anyone else?"
         "I'd like to come," Hojo answered. "I'm sure you understand why…"
         "Of course," Rufus nodded. "You want to see if your theory is correct."
         Hojo simply replied with a "Hmm," then began shuffling out of the conference room. Rufus turned to Palmer and Reeve. "What about you two?"
         Palmer studdered, as if stuck for words. Reeve folded his hands in front of him and stared at the table. "It's certainly tempting, but who's going to take care of things while you all are gone?"
         Rufus nodded. "Good point, but are you sure you don't want to see the site where Shinra's new city will be built?"
         "There will be plenty of times for that in the future, I'm sure. However, there's some critical construction work being done in Sector Eight at the moment, and I feel it would be for the best if I stick around."
         "And you, Palmer?"
         "Well, uh— I guess I should stay as well. I don't particularly like flying on the airship to begin with."
         Funny, considering that he's the chair of the Space Program, of all things, Rufus thought. "Very well. Heidegger, I want you to find out when the Highwind will be able to take us to the Northern Continent. I'll inform the rest of you once we have a departure time arranged. Meeting adjourned."

         As Scarlet, Heidegger, and Palmer all left the conference room, Reeve stayed behind to type a few notes into his laptop. Rufus glanced at him as he pressed the various buttons that would raise the lights, turn off the projector, and put the screen away.
         "It's too bad you can't come with us," Rufus said. Reeve looked up from his laptop, then closed it.
         "I'm sorry, it's just that my responsibilites come first."
         "Yes, I realize that, but don't the possibilites excite you? The future is out there waiting for us, at the crater."
         Reeve swiveled in his chair to face Rufus as the latter approached him, one of his legs resting atop the other, his elbows on the armrests, and his fingertips pressed together before his face. "It does. I would very much like to see the foundation of our legacy for the first time, but for me at least, it must wait."
         Rufus nodded. "Shinra's new legacy—Neo-Midgar."
         "No, not Shinra's, ours. Yours and mine."
         "Eh?"
         Reeve's deep brown eyes locked with Rufus' blue ones. "Midgar is nothing without the President and the Urban Development Chair. Neo-Midgar will be the same, but this time, we will be the ones to create it as well as complete it."
         Rufus smiled slyly. "You're right. Still, I sense there's something else on your mind."
         Reeve stood up to leave, cradling his laptop in one hand. "I've been thinking about things, that's all. Many things."
         "I see. Perhaps we'll talk later… privately."
         Reeve came to stand right before Rufus. "Yes, of course," he replied with a small smile. "Wouldn't have it any other way. Rufus, if I don't see you before then, good luck on your trip to the Promised Land."
         "Thank you."
         They shook hands, Reeve giving Rufus' a small squeeze shortly before they let go. Then, Reeve broke his gaze and made his way to the conference room's exit. As Rufus watched him leave, he thought about the exchange that had just taken place. Reeve was acting a little bit strange, but Rufus wasn't too worried. He was sure Reeve would open up once they sat down together, alone, with no one to disturb them. In fact, he was looking forward to it.