Final Fantasy VII Web Novels

On the Way to a Smile
Episode 7

At the Ancient Ruins — The mission assigned to Tseng, leader of the Shinra Company's Department of Administrative Research which was also known as the "Turks", was to to obtain the ancient stone known as the "Black Materia". However just moments before that, Sephiroth appeared and severely wounded him, leaving him leaning against the wall close to the verge of death. The bleeding never stopped and he was passing out. Just when he was already prepared to die, Aerith and her friends appeared. They too had arrived at the ruins in pursuit of Sephiroth.

Keeping surveillance over a descendant of the Ancients and looking for opportunities to assist his company at his own discretion has been his duties for a long period of time. Sometimes he would be under pressure by the violent ways of his subordinates but within Shinra Company, they were considered very gentle operations. Once he had tried to control Aerith's mother by force and lost her as a consequence. This affected Tseng's principles and made him reflect on his actions.

Aerith was the last descendant of the Ancients in this world. Tseng thought that someone who represented the darker side of his company like him, shouldn't be getting close to such a majestic existence like her and because of that, the days when he would just watch over her continued.

* * *

The first time Aerith spoke to him was when she was still just a child.

"Thank you for your hardwork as always."

Tseng was suspicious of the words he just heard from the young girl. Seeing how silent he stayed, Aerith continued.

"You're protecting me, aren't you?"

When Tseng thought about his mission, it was probably best to take advantage of this moment. But Tseng went ahead and told her the truth. That very instance in his life was the time he's been the most honest.

"I'm Tseng from Shinra Company. I have something to speak to you about."

"I hate Shinra!"

As he watched the back of the young figure run off, Tseng thought it was best this way and was relieved. He thought to himself that even when the day he has to take her away by force, he still won't be able to lie to her.

Before long after many years and certain events passed, Aerith came into contact with the anti-Shinra group Avalanche and the situation took a sudden change. Tseng became agitated as he couldn't get a grasp of the situation at hand and because of that he treated Aerith with an attitude of such pretense evil that even his subordinates turned cold towards him. He would always think of what to say to them.

This isn't pretense evil. To Aerith, Shinra itself is evil. That's why evil should act like evil—

* * *

As a result, even though he was aware his death was approaching, he chose to approach Aerith as a Turk.

"Damn it. Letting Aerith go was the start of my mistakes."

Even so, Aerith shed tears for such a Tseng. She didn't see him as one of the enemies but a friend who she had known since her childhood. Tseng thought to himself that dying through such an unexpected event wasn't such a bad end but, he could barely make a joke about it.

"I'm not dead yet."

After Aerith left, Tseng quietly awaited for his death. But it never came. As he started to feel faint, he still couldn't feel his mind merge with the Lifestream.

It was Reeve who saved Tseng. He controlled an odd little robot cat - riding on a Giant Mog - and appeared before Tseng. Reeve was assigned the mission to spy on Aerith and her party using this robot cat.

"That was close, Mr. Tseng."

"Where's the Black Materia?"

"..."