Chapter 19

The smell lingers only for a moment.

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Leaving Shin-Ra with Zack was an entirely different experience from leaving with Sephiroth. Where Sephy would seek to shield me from the worst of the slums, Zack proudly paraded me straight into the middle of it, and proceed to order me a drink—for the birthday girl. Granted, it was only watery lemonade, but it was the thought that counts, right?

On my sixth birthday, I fell in love, and the torrid affair that followed would scandalize the nation in years to come. Wall market, sector 5, sector 7, all of it made up the slums which I so deeply and foolishly loved. A year earlier I'd made a promise to the people—that I would change their minds—now I made my promise to the slums themselves, that I will change them into something its occupants will be proud to call their own. And thus began my affair.

In the beginning, my actions are small, meant to build confidence. The wee hours of the night see me loitering in bars, hand-picking downtrodden waitresses and letting them know a date, time, and location in which they can learn a way to defend themselves against the drunken sleazes of the slums. I tell them to pass it on. Soon, the entirety of the slums buzzes with anticipation.

The long, sleepless nights take their toll on my young body. However, my genetically enhanced genetic make up allows me to go for longer periods of time without sleep than the average human. I'll have to sleep soon, but I probably push it another day or two without going loony. Perhaps I'll take a nap tomorrow morning.

Finally, the promised night arrives. In a building on the verge of collapse (but what building isn't, in the slums?), I stand on a stack of crates in front of a throng of people. I chose this building, because it is the only building large enough to house more than a few people and not collapse as soon as somebody sneezes. Walking into any building in the slums is practically a death sentence. If the building didn't kill you, its inhabitants might. The shutters are falling off of the windows, and the wood paneling cracked. However, it has a solid foundation, and the stone pillars provide a decent infrastructure now that I have slapped some fresh mortar into their cracks.

"I'm sure everyone is wondering what a kid like me can teach you." My mako-enhanced gaze sweeps the room, taking in the uneasy nods and murmurs of agreement. "I'm sure many of you know more than I do about surviving in the slums." I grin at them as they shift around awkwardly. "That's a good thing, by the way, since I've never lived here myself. My job is to gather everyone together and instigate a share of knowledge."

The room is packed with people, and they keep pouring in by the minute. At this rate the entirety of the slums will be crammed into the small, dilapidated building. My lips turn up in a faint smile. "I've made it no secret that I do not live in the slums. Perhaps what I am about to tell you will make you hate me, but I feel you deserve to know." My gaze sweeps the room, if they choose to riot against me, there is no real way for me to escape without injury. I should have chosen a better location to set up in. I cast out a net and draw my thoughts in, restoring order. "I am the fiancée of Shin-Ra's Vice President." I plunge on without really looking at anyone, to pause now is to allow time for the information to sink into their brains. "So believe me when I tell you that I will free the slums from Shin-Ra's control." I plunge on without really looking at anyone, to pause now is to allow time for the information to sink into their brains. However, I'm sure you've already noticed that I'm a little kid, and no matter who I'm engaged to, I still don't hold much sway over any decision they make. There isn't much I can do to protect you, except to teach you to protect yourselves. If you believe in yourself, you can do any—" My speech stumbles as I spot a familiar mop of red hair in the crowd. "You can do anything."

I have the massive crowd divide out over the multiple floors, and select a volunteer from the crowd to partner with, demonstrating skills and then leaving her in charge. She was one of the first waitresses I spoke to when I began recruiting, and she seemed particularly eager to brush up on her skills. With her looking after things down here, I leave to go check on the other groups. As I ascend the stairs, I am suddenly thrust against the wall. "Hello, Red, we really need to stop meeting like this." My heartbeat quickens, but my voice does not betray my fright.

"What the hell is the meaning of this?" He snarls. After moments of heavy silence, he continues. "You have time to organize this but not to visit?"

I shove him off of me, our positions reversed. "You told me to decide. I will not endanger her by staying at her side—for me to do so would surely lead Shin-Ra to her—therefore, since you insist I choose an extreme, it is better for her that she never see me again.

"That isn't what I meant." Reno says, his face deepening into a frown.

"But it is. If she hasn't been to the church since I last saw her, would you make sure she goes?" I dip my head with a jerk and stride up the rest of the stairs.

My days are now even more divided, as I now also spend time acquiring equipment for Project Slums: Training Facility. From the inside out, the stability of the building increased as we added a layer of structural support—new support beams, reinforced walls, fixed cracks in the foundations, etc… However, from the outside, the building looked just as run down as ever. If suddenly one building of the slums were to shine, it would surely bring the SOLDIERS down on it. On the outside, the slum dwellers cowered and followed Shin-Ra's every command, but on the inside, their confidence had soared and they were able to stand up for themselves.

Slowly my involvement lessened. It wasn't extremely noticeable at first, but one day I wouldn't show up, and the next day I'd be back without saying anything about it. Then a few more days would pass and I wouldn't show up again. I now make it down to the training facility only one or twice a week. My goal of having them share their knowledge without my presence being a necessity seems to be working.

As spring blisters to summer, and summer soothes to fall, I am found less and less frequently at the facility.

On a day that isn't fall, but isn't quite winter either, I am awakened to excited pounding on my door. "Saria!"

Blinking blurrily at the digits on the clock and coming to the conclusion that it's too early to be up, I pull the heavy down comforter over my head. "Go away, Zack."

Walking into my room without so much as a care for my request for him to leave me alone and let me sleep until a decent hour of the day—just because I don't need to sleep, doesn't mean I don't like to—he flops next to me on the bed. "How'd you know it was me?" He asks, I can just hear the whine oozing off his voice underneath his spiky hair.

I keep my eyes firmly shut beneath the covers, "You're the only person who calls me by that ridiculous nickname," I groan, hoping he will quickly tell me what he's here for and then leave me to my sleep.

"Oh." He shifts around on the bed, bringing his body closer to mine. He grabs hold of the covers and yanks them down, the cool air rushes against my cheeks. I slowly pry my eyes open; Zack's grinning face hovers inches above my own. "Boo."

I shriek.

"Shh!" He clamps his hand over my mouth. "I didn't mean to scare you." He pulls his hand away. "Look, if you want me to go, I will."

"I want you to brush your teeth!" I shove him off the bed in the direction of the bathroom. "Your toothbrush is still in there from the last time you pulled this stunt."

His goofy grin is present as he lumbers into the bathroom. I hear the faucets squeak as he turns them on, and I doze off to the sound of running water.

I startle awake hours later, when a heavy appendage thumps onto my stomach. My heart beats rapidly as I take in my surroundings, and I discern the source of my wakeful state to be an arm. My gaze follows the arm to the rest of the body and I stare into the sleeping face of Zack. I shove his arm off of my body and stumble to the bathroom, intent on relieving myself and brushing my teeth. Minutes later I storm into the bedroom and with my hands on my hips, glaring down at him snarl, "Damnit Zack! That was my toothbrush."

"Sorry." He mutters, blinking himself awake.

I plop next to him on the bed, sliding my legs under the covers. "Now how am I supposed to brush my teeth? You've got all sorts of boy cooties." I sigh loudly, making a mental note to buy a new toothbrush from the Shin-Ra store later that morning. "So, what's the big news that had you so excited this morning?"

"I got promoted." I stare at him in confusion, "You know, to SOLDIER, first class." He thumps himself on the chest. My lip quivers and tears fill my eyes. "What's wrong, Saria? I thought you'd be happy for me!"

"You're going to leave me." I whimper. "Just like everyone else!" I slide down, burrowing into the safe haven of my bed, disappearing under the covers. Zack grabs at my wrist in an attempt to halt me, but his fingers slip off as if they had been dipped in butter. "Just go." I wait patiently for him to leave, quiet sobs racking my body. I wait for the overwhelming presence of injustice to dissipate. He didn't. It didn't.

"I'm not going anywhere, Kid." His voice is soft and gentle, as if he were speaking to a wounded animal. Perhaps he is. "What's bothering you?"

"I'm happy for you, really I am." I choke out from beneath the blankets. "I'm e-static for you," I break off, hiccupping back a sob, "Ya can jus' go t' Wutai and d-die like ev'ryun else!"

- Arcander

A/N: A bit shorter than my rest, but in an effort to get this chapter out quickly, that's the way it will remain. I have no clue when the next chapter will be up. Reviews give me the motivation to write. They also brighten my day a little.