Foreword:

My dear readers, this is not your average ordinary run-of-the-mill Orignal Character story.

Vigilante is one of the many stories in the lives of my original fictional "Strife Family". In this installment, the story follows mainly Rayne Strife-who is the oldest daughter of Cloud Strife and Storm Torrent (my original character). This is a future fic, so she is in her twenties, and the other Strife children, Seitt and River, and fairly grown up too. Seeing as you, my readers, don't have much knowledge of my character's pasts I do my utmost to explain them to the fullest.

The story also features Tymakyrin Gryf-the original character of my dear friend Bre. Ty and Storm's stories are quite intertwined so of course, Ty is a key element in this story. Bre has helped me round out my characters more than anyone else I know. We, as well as our characters, have sort of grown up together over the years, and I thank her for everything she's done for me. I wouldn't be the same without you, Bre.

And now the obligatory disclaimer: I do not own anything Final Fantasy related-that all belongs to Square Enix. I have however developed the characters of Storm, Rayne, River, Seitt and Blythe and claim them as my own. Also, the storyline is very objective, so don't be too picky about it.

But enough explaining. I hope you do enjoy Final Fantasy VII: Vigilante

--

Prologue:

To begin with—it was raining.

Rufus Shinra, President of Shinra Electric Power Company, gazed drowsily out of his office window, the image of Midgar's murky horizon melting behind the sheets of rain-water glossing progressively over his vision. It had been a long time since he'd seen her, he mused for the millionth time, in person that is. Rayne had stopped paying visits to him after she'd began touring full time, and that was nine years ago.

He remembered her explaining that her schedule was getting to be far too cumbersome, and that she couldn't even visit her family. She had bought a house in the Costa Del Sol, was living there comfortably, and she assured him that she was happy. She also promised to write—and she did, but that was four years ago.

For Rayne's twenty-fifth birthday he'd implored her to come home and see him, even if it was for a few hours. He distinctly remembered her response: a definite no, laced with flowery excuses. The worst part of her letter was this however: she had forgotten to tell him that she loved him.

Rufus had justified this letter so many times in so many ways in his mind, but his heart kept forcing him to see it as it was. Something was slipping…None-the-less he continued to write and Rayne continued to write, but progressively less and less, until finally her letters stopped completely. That…was one year ago.

Rayne's concerts were always on the air, seeing as Midgar was her hometown. Rufus continued to watch them with devotion, as he promised her, but always with a twinge of sadness and regret. Thousands of her hit songs were dedicated to him. She would always mention him in concerts and wish him her love. Now, those were days far gone. Perhaps she had gotten tired of waiting? He could have asked for her hand long ago—he should have. Why hadn't he? Perhaps part of him was afraid?

Yes—all of him was afraid he now concluded, letting his eyes fall closed with exhaustion. He couldn't see Rayne falling into line behind him every step of the way. She was made to glow in the lime-light, she could never fade into the shadows; it simply wasn't her nature. She would never accept his proposal…Rayne was free and could never be pinned down by duties and protocol. Not only that, but he was growing old. Rayne was still so young and had so much of her life ahead of her. As always, the ten year age gap had been a touchy subject between the two of them. Personally, he realized, it bothered him the most. Today had been his thirty-eighth birthday, it was nearly midnight, and there was still no contact from Rayne—not a letter, not a phone call, absolutely nothing. He was horribly certain that she had forgotten him.

Rising from his chair and rejecting the piles of paperwork still to do, Rufus turned fully towards the windows—his eyes suddenly becoming as cloudy as they were. He should, in turn, forget her. It seemed only natural. But the terrible truth of the matter was…he couldn't. For too long Rayne had been the light of his life, and now that light was gone plunging him into darkness. It was impossible to cope, it was obvious, and it was embarrassing.

The clock struck twelve and so did another excruciating realization.

He was alone. Utterly alone.