Enigma

Enigma

Author CloudyFire

Rating M Violence, Language for right now.

Later that night when they were sent up to Cloud’s room after they had listened to some news about Midgar. Naruto was brimming with questions.

“So Midgar is a huge city.” He said getting into his warm bed, pulling over the green cover.

Nodding Cloud did the same with his blue cover, “It’s a capital city filled with people and cars.”

“A city.” Naruto murmured looking out across from Cloud’s bed.

A promise of a life time


Cloud grunted rolling over to face Naruto’s shadowed figure from across the room. He noted that the fox was currently huddled at the beds end near Naruto’s feet. The fox watching Cloud through his little cat like eyes.

He hesitated a little bit before sighing, “I told her that you had also wanted to go to Midgar and become part of the military,” he said watching the blondes reaction.

When Naruto didn’t explode but stayed silent Cloud went on. “I figure since you can’t stay here when I’m gone and if we get into Midgar then I can help you find your family.” Cloud finished, silently watching the blonde for his response.

The room was silent for awhile, nothing but the crickets could be heard from the cracked windowsill. At first Cloud had seriously thought Naruto had fallen asleep until he had replied “That’s not a bad idea, I wouldn’t mind learning about this place called Midgar. And who knows maybe I could meet someone that knows me or my family.” He finished softly before turning a little on his back.

Staring at the bleak ceiling Naruto ventured on a question that had been bothering him for sometime now.

“Who is the silver haired man.” He commented.

Cloud suddenly sat bolt right up in his bed making Naruto also jump up dislodging the fox along with him. “What the hell Cloud.” Naruto said furiously. The stupid fucker had almost given him a heart attack.

“You can’t be serious, you really don’t know about Midgar or the Great Sephiroth.” At Naruto’s annoyed yet puzzled features Cloud went on “The General.” Cloud said in a slow tone.

At Naruto’s continued blank stare Cloud looked at him like he was an alien. “General Sephiroth leads all the First Class Soldiers. He is the strongest out of all ShinRa. Some say he is a recluse only talking when it was necessary. While others say once you get in a ten feet radius of his being all motor functions cease due to his aura.”

Cloud went on, talking a mile a minute. Naruto learned a lot that night about Sephiroth. Even the sword’s name Masumune, the man had. Naruto was just amazed that the long ass sword was real and that this man could wield it like a second arm. But the more Cloud talked the clearer it became that the blonde had hero worship for the man, a huge one. It was sort of cute. Cloud’s room was filled with this Sephiroth person and the city Midgar.

“He had led the war in Wutai and won, defeating them and saving many lives. Zack Fair, his comrade in arms, had also helped throughout the years.” Cloud went on, while Naruto listened.

It was fascinating listening to Cloud talk about the mining materia and what had started the war in the first place.

The blonde also had a short lecture about this materia and how it was used in battles.

“It’s just like your own energy being pushed out through the materia. And depending on what you have it will win any fight.” Cloud spoke on and on as if he had a clue as to what he was saying.

From there he went into detail about how Zack and Sephiroth were now at ShinRa near the compounds helping with the Soldier cadets. How Cloud and him were going there to Midgar in about a year’s time, for pre training.

“...And then we could see the Turks...” Cloud was saying until Naruto interpreted.

“Cloud I get it.” Naruto groaned. God the blonde would not shut up.

Cloud stayed silent for a time then he shifted, “Naruto.” Groaning Naruto shook his head but Cloud ignored it.

“What are your dreams for the future.” The words were so soft spoken Naruto at first had thought he imagined them. Staying quiet he turned his head, making a rustling sound with his hair on the pillow.

He wanted to answer honestly he did but... “I think I’ve always wanted to become a hero.” Naruto started looking at a book on the wooden desk. “For some reason whenever I think about it, It feels like... No I just get this feeling like I need too prove to myself that I exist. To make others see me and acknowledge my being here.” Naruto said still looking at the book but not seeing it.

“I want to become a hero so I can help people and feel the gratitude, to feel alive.” He finished before turning around, his back towards Cloud. It was rounding 2:30 in the morning by then and Naruto did not want to talk anymore that night. Cloud for his part had gotten the message and left it at that.

Time past for the two boys, they could be caught training with wooden swords that Cloud had crudely made. Parrying left and right, sometimes jabbing while other times just swinging away and having a good time. Really it was more for fun then anything until they had discovered the knives.

Naruto had found out quite by accident that he had a knack with knives and throwing weapons. It had happened during a particularly hot day. They were both playing with some of the equipment from one of the many farms that inhabited the village. It was a hot sunny day with no wind blowing through the mountain village. Most of the residence had taken cover from the heat wave inside their homes, all except two boys.

Naruto was absentmindedly throwing some picks in a dung pile that had earlier been shoveled. And it stunk to high heaven with the heat beating down on the large festering pile. As was per usual

Cloud was in the background silently cursing and muttering while Naruto had opted to be vocal. “It’s to damn hot out here.” Turning his head he saw Cloud pick up a bundle of hay. “Tell me why we are doing this again.” He finished twirling around some dirt he found in his fingernail.

“We are working to get paid and therefore to go to Midgar sooner.” Cloud said as he swiped his forehead of sweat before going back to pick up some more hay.

“Now are you just going to stand there or help Naruto.” Cloud spoke as he yet again attempted to haul a bundle of hay to the several stacked one’s by the barns entrance.

Looking over at Cloud and noting some stray pieces of said hay were lodged in his hair Naruto grinned.

“Ok Cloudy whatever you say.” Getting up Naruto brushed some dirt off his pants as he straightened. Only to pause in mid step when he saw a large snake slithering and slinking around the dung. Narrowing his blue eyes Naruto without thinking had struck the snake in the head, dead on. Not even feeling remotely sorry or remorseful.

He had always detested snakes, he did not know why but whenever he saw one he would kill it without thought nor feeling. “Naruto how did you do that.” Came a voice to the left of his shoulder. Turning his head away from the snake’s twitching body, he glanced at Cloud. “How did you mange to hit the snake with nothing but that small pick.” Cloud said again stepping around Naruto to get a better look. The snake had yet to quite moving but Cloud could tell it was dead. There was blood leaking from the punctured wound, dripping down the length of the snake.

Grabbing the pick Cloud let the poor creature crash to the sandy ground before looking at Naruto.

“You know I have an idea.” Cloud said to his friend with a rather unusual smile.

“What.” Naruto questioned, watching the blonde walk away. “Hey where are you going.” he shouted at Cloud puzzled.

“Since there are a lot of snakes around the village we could be like exterminates.” Cloud suggested, turning back to Naruto. “But we need a weapon for you.” Getting a weapon for Naruto to kill the snakes and earn a little money on the side.

So they both had worked around the Strife house doing odd and end jobs for the village. They even worked at some neighboring farms to get enough money to buy some throwing knives and a small blade Naruto had spotted. For some reason just holding the weapons felt right for Naruto when he had at first spotted them in a sale weapon’s cart right outside the small village. They had the right feel to them and were easy to hide if needed to, not like a sword. Cloud on the other hand wanted to stick to swords.

“Yeah because your obsessed with, “The Great General Sephiroth.” Naruto had mocked in a loud tone.

“Shut up.” The reply would be.

Once they were all settled with the weapons department it was time to move on. “So how should we start this, thing.” Naruto said waving a hand in the air vaguely. What were they supposed to do now that they had weapons. Would they just go door to door around the small village proclaiming to be exterminators for snakes. Cloud looked up from where he sat on a small tree branch. Swinging his legs Cloud appeared pensive for a few moments. Naruto on the other hand was on the ground leaning against the old tree, digging up dirt with his booted feet. It was currently early morning, the sun partly shining through the blocked clouds. And the music of the wildlife all around them, singing a cheerful tune.

“We should make fliers and post them all over the bulletin boards.” Cloud started to talk. “Then we need to prove to the potential costumers that we can complete the job.” Nodding

Naruto looked up through the leafy abundant tree. “We also need a name.” He said halfheartedly.

Honestly this plan would never work, no one cared about the snakes. But Cloud had sounded so sure of himself so Naruto would go with the flow. Besides it was getting kind of boring and Kyo had already went back home, the little monger. And so a new business had started at the small hamlet.

“What are you going to name it, “Strife’s deliveries.” Naruto mocked up at the boy sitting in a tree. For his troubles Naruto had gotten the bird from his friend.

It had regrettably not worked but Cloud was determined and would not stop. Maybe they needed to go after something bigger.

Naruto found he also had a knack for archery unexpectedly. It had happened as a fluke really. Cloud and Naruto were just getting back from, “helping” a farmer. More like pranking the poor bastard because he was cheap with there payment. So Naruto and surprisingly Cloud had painted all the chicken eggs a bright purple but it had not gone as they had planned. For the eggs were still wet when some of the chickens had sat on the eggs. The resulting of many feather brained chickens running around with bright purple on their asses.

They had ran into Tifa lockheart, Clouds friend. She had come up to them to say hi along with her Master. Naruto greeted her enthusiastically, “Hey Tifa.” The first time he had met her was when all three of them had found each other by the local well on accident one evening.

He could still remember all the stars that had came out of there hiding when the sun had disappeared below the tall mountains. Casting thick shadows over the plain village, hiding all light from view. The evening was surprisingly chilly so they were all bundled up in jackets.

“So why are we outside again.” Naruto had commented, looking around the dreary place.

“The well I told you already Naruto.” Cloud muttered as he brought up his hands in front of his face to blow on them.

Sure enough they had reached the small well, hidden among thick drooping tree branches that rustled and swayed in the chilly air. The noise was the eeriest, listening to the creaks and cracks of the old trees surrounding the well. The well itself was just a well until one looked inside it. It was like nothing he had ever seen, the stones were glistening and shining like little fireflies. While the water had reflected the sky with the many stars twinkling overhead. It had looked like the sky had turned upside down.

For that brief moment there had been nothing but tranquility. “There you are.” hearing a sweet little voice decidedly not Cloud’s Naruto turned fast disrupting the wells water only to see a young girl.

She like so many of the other villagers had long black hair, and had worn a lot of dresses during the hot sweltering days. He could not understand why though, it was not fighting clothes and it always seemed to be floating up whenever a boy came up to her. She later started to wear short pants under the dresses only because Cloud and Naruto had so graciously pointed out that they could see her panties. Naruto could see she was a real fighter, not like some of the local kids that would come up and start trouble with Cloud.

Well like he said Naruto had met Tifa’s Master one morning practicing archery and the man had offered them some pointers.

“Come on boy it will do you some good.” The old man had stated. At first Naruto had just stared at the man like he was senile but he gave it a try since he was bored and there really was nothing to do in Nibelheim. Cloud could still remember the blonde walking up to the bow and how he grabbed it like a delicate flower.

He commented that the thing wasn’t going to bite and for his troubles he had icy blue eyes stare at him in anger. Naruto had then picked up one of the arrows forcefully only to be reprehended due to the treatment of the arrows.

“Not like that boy. You don’t want to grip the arrows tightly. Handle them like a flower instead, gentle and easy.” The old man had commented.

Naruto still looking uneasy at the old man had brought up the arrow to the bow string and had tightened it. “Now just like that and wait for it. Wait until you have your sights right on the target.” The old man spoke in the quiet area.

And with a fling the arrow was released and another sound, a thud, could be heard only seconds later. Cloud had looked over as everyone else had. Only to spot the arrow stuck in a old haystack. “Shit you hit it in one go.” Cloud uttered jealously.

For whenever he tried the stupid thing would veer off or land in a pile of dirt. Since than Naruto had been caught practicing around the small fields with the old man. Cloud on the other hand loved his sword and would practice every chance he had. That and martial arts, the villagers could witness him occasionally practicing with Tifa and her Master.

“Boy’s dinner time.” Came a soft ringing tone.

Looking up Cloud got to his feet from his chair only to trip in mid step and backtrack to the desk he had been only moments before. Looking at the book laying out fondly Cloud closed it, covering the sprawled writing. Then he turned without a backwards glance patting his leg for Kyo the fox to follow and banging on the bathroom door for Naruto to here. On the desk a book lay forgotten, closed from any unwanted attention. The small hand writing titling it, “Dream’s of Strife.” a journal filled with writing and pictures. On the side, a single white sheet of paper had the words proclaiming “Strife’s monster hunting”.

“So boys are you both exited.” Mrs. Strife said. As she puttered around the kitchen. Both nodded their heads even as they stuffed there gullets.

They were exited, both of them had already packed for the long trip and were talking about all the different sites and viewing that was Midgar

. “When I get there the first thing I’m going to do is sign up for ShinRa.” Cloud was saying as he stabbed a pea on his plate.

“Oh and what will you do Naruto.” She said as she finally sat down to start her own meal. Naruto looked up from his own plate, petting Kyo as the fox sat beside him.

Shrugging he looked away from her warm eyes. “I don’t know really.” He said vaguely. “Maybe to see the sights.” He finished quietly not looking at Cloud.

Later that night Tifa had paid a surprise visit. Tifa of course was sad that both of her friends would be leaving shortly so she had suggested they all make a promise. They had made the promise one evening by there brick stone well. It was officially their spot since all three had ganged up and kicked out the local kids, they had even put their every own initials on the well. Tifa was a rose with swords crossing each other in the middle. Cloud had a cool wolf picture, well it was cool until Naruto and Tifa gave it Chocobird hair. Naruto’s was a spiral since he found it prudent and Kyo, the fox, had his sharp claws painted on the side.

The stars were out, and the moon was half full. Shining down the small roofs of the houses, painting the plant life with silver. All could see lights dimmed in houses and could hear chirping echoing the small hamlet. Tifa was quietly gazing up at the sky leaving the whole group in silence, each thinking about something else.

“Let’s make a promise.” Tifa said suddenly, still not turning away from the stars.

Cloud raised his head along with Naruto and Kyo. No one spoke for a time until Tifa went on. “Let’s all meet up in Midgar when we reach our goals.” She finished.

“Why not just meet up here.” Naruto said, confused.

“No I want to meet up in Midgar where I’ll have my bar. That way we can all meet up in the city.” Tifa stated, looking over the darkened sky with glazed eyes.

Cloud shook his head yet again questioning Tifa’s logic. The girl wanted to own her bar and establishment just like Cloud wanted to get into Solider.

“I’m game.” Naruto suddenly spoke up, hopping down from his perch on the well.

Cloud grunted following the blonde's lead. “What the hell, might as well.” He uttered.

“Yes.” Tifa shouted jumping from her own perch.

“On the count of three.” They all shouted, slamming their fists into each others making a bond and promise. Neither knowing the bond would one day strain. Nor realizing the impact of that one little promise.

That's it for this Chapter, not much happening yet but the next one will get more exiting.