Chapter Nineteen

I looked at my upgraded weapon with a grin. "This looks as it did the first time, I bought it. If not better." I looked at Kourtney. "You ready to go see, momma, kitten?"

"Uh-huh!" a smile spread wide across her small face. I looked at the brothers who stood by the door, examining their weapons. Grins played across their faces as well.

"Alright." Kourt and I met up with the teens at the door. "You boys ready to go see Graceona?" They sighed but nodded. "That didn't sound very convincing."

"Sorry, I guess we're ready to go see her." Kadaj looked at Loz, then back at me.

"How are your injuries, Kadaj? Do you need to go home and rest before we move?"

"No, I'm feeling alright. Sore, but it's not bad." I looked at him as we made our way from the store. Loz and Kourtney led the way as they had done on the way to the ice cream stand.

"You seem different, almost cheerful. I noticed it before you got your weapon upgraded. What put you in good spirits?"

"I realized something, Kadaj. Why would I fight so hard to protect people when I act like I don't want to be around them? Talking to my father about the past woke me up. With a fresh wave of motivation to protect and love what I have, accept the things I can't change. Love myself."

"Maybe I should look into hanging out with Vincent if he can make you realize that about yourself. Maybe he can help me with my struggles."

"He's wise. You would learn a lot from him."

The four of us got to the bar. The place was a riot. I walked into the door to see a drunken Reno at odds with another man, Rude and Yazoo shaking their heads of disapproval, and Graceona standing with them, a bright smile on her face. Kourtney ran upstairs, as I made my way to Graceona, who looked at me, getting me into a hug, kissing my lips.

"What did we miss?" I asked as Graceona took a drink of her scotch.

"The usual, Reno getting hammered and thinking he's the toughest thing on the planet. Other than that, it was dull until a few minutes ago. It started with Reno and some random guy, then that ignited a chain reaction and I'm getting more of a show than I had bargained for. This is way better than any televised fight."

A beer glass flew at her head as she dodged it, leaving it to shatter against the wall, missing Rude.

I looked at her. "Nice dodge."

"A month alone, you learn a thing or two about flying objects and how to dodge them coming at your head, thanks to ShinRa technology. At least this was a glass."

"Do I want to know what you used during training?" I looked at her.

"Gunshots, a couple of lower-class soldiers, and I goofed off most of the time, seeing who could dodge the most bullets, the first one to get hit lost."

"Sounds exciting. Perhaps I should work for ShinRa if slow days are that entertaining." She took another drink of scotch.

"I'm sure the offer is still open." She reaches out her arm to catch a glass that came my way, catching it, throwing it to the ground.

"Thanks."

"No worries, couldn't have you knocked out. This is too good."

"Yeah." I watched as the fight continued.

-To Be Continued-