Chapter 6
 
 Red shut his eye, in blissful relaxation. Warm, steamy water streamed down his back from the shower head, then dribbled down the drain. He was happy to see the hair dye going with it, turning his hair from black to its normal red-brown colour.
 Sita had told him to meet her down at the beach. She hadn't told him why, but it sounded like it was serious.
 Sita.....I don't quite know what to make of her.
 She was beautiful, intelligent, and a good listener; that he already knew. Unlike the cold and evil glow in Sephiroth's eyes, her eyes sparkled with an attractive yellow-green that accented her features. They had spent hours on the beach, talking and gazing up at the stars. They had a lot more in common than he'd thought.
 Red turned off the taps, and the water stopped. He shivered slightly, then he shook himself, sending tiny drops of water flying everywhere. He stepped gingerly out of the shower, kicking off the last few droplets from his paws.
 Red put on his headdress, and went outside, into the sun. It was tourist season in Costa del Sol, and the main street was swarming with people. Down on the beach he could see Cloud and Tifa, both sunbathing.
 The heat quickly dried Red's fur. He padded down the steps, and onto the sand. Sita was nowhere to be seen. He walked up to Cloud to ask if he'd seen her.
 "Oh sure, she went down that way," Cloud answered, leaning back in his chair.
 A few minutes later, he found her, sitting and watching the ocean, as the salty breeze teased her hair. She heard him approach and sit down next to her.
 "It's beautiful," she said.
 "What?" asked Red."
 "The ocean. Everyone told me how lovely it is, and now I've finally seen it for myself......" she sighed. Red looked at her.
 "You've never seen the ocean before?"
 She laughed. "It's my first time out of the mountains."
 "It is beautiful...." he said. "We just take it for granted."
 For a few moments, they sat together, neither one knowing what to say, as boats bobbed on the water and seagulls flew overhead.
 "What about your home, Nanaki? Is it beautiful there too?"
 Red smiled. "Cosmo Canyon......the most beautiful place in the world. In my opinion, that is."
 "No place like home," Sita said, distantly. "....I don't know where my home is."
 "What do you mean?" he asked.
 "All my life, I've lived in the mountains. Yet, I've never been able to think of them as my home." she trailed off. "I should have been born in Cosmo Canyon, like you. Why my parents left, I'll probably never know. It sounds like a place you would never want to leave."
 "Well..." he said. "Sometimes it cannot be helped. Sometimes you have to leave it behind....." he sighed. "I thought you had to talk to me about something important." Sita smiled shyly.
 "I already did. What I'm trying to say is........I want to go with you, to your home. If it's okay with you, because if it isn't, just let me know."
 Red's mouth dropped open.
 "Of course! That's really wonderful," he exclaimed happily. "Is it all right with Tobias?" Sita nodded.
 "He was the one who suggested it to me. I guess we should go and tell him I've made my decision." Just then, Tobias could be seen ambling towards them.
 "Hello, you two," he said. "You look like you've got something to tell me, Sita."
 "Grandpa, I.....I've made my choice." Tobias, apparently cluing in, kneeled down and looked into her eyes.
 "Oh? What's that?"
 "I'm going to go with Nanaki," she answered. He smiled.
 "I'm glad that you made the right decision," he said. "I could tell that you felt restricted by the mountains. I'm so proud of you......" His voice began to crack, and he embraced her around the neck. "Oh, I hate tear-filled goodbyes......"
 Her eyes widened in shock.
 "What do you mean?! Aren't you going to come with us?"
 He let go of her, but he kept his hands on her shoulders.
 "No, I'm not. I've got a responsibility to the people in Kotts, and I can't leave. I'm sorry, but this is the way it has to be......."
 "No......" she said, her eyes filling with tears. "I don't want you to leave me! You're the only parent I've ever known! If you go, then.....then.......I'll stay!!"
 "Sita, please, you must understand. If I were to go with you, who would be the town doctor? And......" he sighed. "I just make you feel confined. You've got to go out into the world now, with Nanaki. I want you to grow up now, and besides, don't you think he's kind of cute?" A smile crept across his face.
 "Grandpa!" said Sita, in a sort of half-laugh, half-sob. "He'll hear you!"
 "What?" asked Red, puzzled.
 "Nothing! Nothing at all!" she laughed.
 "I'm happy that you're smiling again. I can't stand to see you be sad anymore," said Tobias, brushing Sita's hair out of her face. "I'll miss you so much."
 Sita rolled her eyes.
 "Grandpa, you make it sound so final! It's not like I'll never see you again! We'll come and visit you sometimes, won't we?"
 Red nodded enthusiastically. "Definitely!"
 "Well, that's great," sighed Tobias.
 "I'm going to go tell Tifa what's happening," announced Sita. "She'd be interested to know." She began to walk down the beach towards the sunbathing couple, leaving Red and Tobias alone.
 "Nanaki, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked.
 "Sure," said Red.
 "Please, take good care of her. She's like a daughter to me."
 "Sita can take care of herself, but I'll do my best," he replied.
 
 "That's great, Sita," said Tifa happily, removing her sunglasses. "You'll love it in Cosmo Canyon. Red sounds like he's happy you decided to go with him."
 "I've never seen somebody so excited!" laughed Sita. "Though I could tell he was trying to be serious......" Her smile weakened slightly. "Err....... speaking of that, do you know why he does that?"
 "Acts serious?" asked Tifa. "It doesn't seem right for me to just talk about my friends.....you'll have to get it from him."
 Sita sighed wistfully. "Oh well, I suppose it doesn't matter. It's just his personality...though he really is a sweetheart. We stayed up all night talking and..."
 "You didn't.....well....you know...?" asked Tifa cautiously, with a nervous smile.
 "What?" inquired Sita, then she laughed. "No, we didn't do...that. We just talked about everything... just life in general."
 "You two seem to get along well together," said Tifa, stretching back in the chair.
 "Yeah, I guess. But I act so shy around him....I guess I'm just not used to spending time with guys...."
 Tifa laughed. "I can tell he feels exactly the same."

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