Final Fantasy VII: Blood Hunt

Chapter I: V's Master Plan

I don't own anything.

Author's note: This chapter's kind of bigger than the regular chapters, since there's all the exposition that needs to happen. Enjoy!

A ceiling fan. I yawn and stretch, look at the clock. 6:30 AM, a good time to wake up. I sit up, throw off my covers and hop out of bed. Look in the bedroom mirror; brush my blond hair back with my hand. My mako eyes stare coldly back at me. My hair always falls back in the same place; don't know why. I turn back towards my bed and notice Tifa's not there, but her underwear is. We've been married now for a few months. Nice wedding, everyone was there. I think even Aerith was there, probably Zack too. Anyways, better go down stairs and get some breakfast and maybe grab some ass.

I throw on a tank top and some pants and head on down stairs. Tifa's messing with something and doesn't notice me. She was leaning over, so I snuck up and smacked her bare ass. She squealed in surprise and turned to see me, replacing her look of shock with a cute smile. I haven't used adjectives like that for a while. Not being depressed is nice. Tifa play punched my arm and we both kiss.

"You should go take a shower and we can go out today," I said.

"I thought you liked it when I walked around with out much on," Tifa said flirtatiously.

"Well, that is why I smacked your ass," I replied. "But we can do something nice. We can dump the kids on Barret or something."

"Alright," Tifa began heading off.

"Hey, wait!" I called, getting her turn back around. "Give me your shirt."

"Huh? Okay," Tifa said, pulling her shirt off. She tossed it to me, and then continued upstairs.

I had a fun joke I'd play. I've done it before with out her knowing I was the culprit. After I knew she was in the shower I quickly stole all of her shirts in her drawers and hid them.

Then I went back down stairs and ate some eggs that Tifa had cooked.

"R-r-ring!"

I answered the phone. It was Yuffie.

"What's up, Yuffie?" I asked casually.

"I need you to deliver some materia for me," Yuffie spoke in her high-pitched, girly voice. "Can ya do it, Cloud?"

"Just give me an address and an estimation of what you intend to pay me," I replied.

"Pay?" Yuffie replied in a confused manner. "I thought friends got free services-"

I hung up. Yuffie needs to learn, friend or not, I need to have money to pay the bills. Apparently saving the world doesn't create cash flow. Most people don't even know who I am.

(Third Person.)

Tifa rummaged through her drawers, desperate to find a shirt.

"I know I did some laundry just the other day," Tifa said to herself.

She closed her drawers disappointedly and checked into the children's room. The kids were still asleep, so Tifa snuck in and searched their drawers to make sure she didn't accidentally place a shirt in there. Marlene's eyes fluttered open and notice the shirtless Tifa.

"Why aren't you wearing a shirt?" Marlene asked in a sleepy voice.

Tifa turned and covered herself.

"Someone stole my shirts," Tifa answered.

"Maybe Cloud knows where they are," Marlene suggested.

Tifa mentally slapped herself. Ever since Cloud became a functioning part of the family, he had developed a crude sense of humor. Of course it he did it.

"Sorry Marlene," Tifa smiled. "You and Denzel should go ahead and get up."

"Denzel's already up," Marlene answered.

Tifa blushed when she looked over at a wide-eyed boy.

"Sorry," Tifa waved. "Just think of me as your mom. Every kid sees their mom naked at least once in their life."

Tifa walked down the stairs, embarrassed by the awkward moment. She found Cloud hanging up the phone.

(Cloud's POV.)

"Hey, who was that?" Tifa asked me as she walked down the stairs.

"Just some absent minded girl," I replied, not really noticing Tifa.

"Yuffie?" Tifa guessed.

"Yeah."

I heard the door open and turned to see Barret and Vincent enter.

"Cloud, did you take-?" Tifa began, but noticed Barret and Vincent, and quickly wrapped her arms and chest with a blanket. "I didn't know we'd have company," Tifa spoke through clenched teeth, obviously agitated.

"What's up, Spiky-ass?" Barret boomed as he wrapped his muscular black arms around me and lifted in a big bear hug.

"Not much, Barret. And you?" I asked, hoping to get Barret to let me go. My plan worked.

"You know that oil field I told ya about earlier? Well I've got all kinds a people workin' there now. We'll replace Shinra for good pretty soon…" Barret mused, rambling on in his usually excited manner.

"Cold?" I heard Vincent ask Tifa, curious about the blanket.

"The heater's broken," Tifa lied. I suddenly remembered why she was wearing the blanket.

"Cloud, I brought you something," Vincent said to me, interrupting Barret's long tale.

Vincent pulled out a large metal boomerang, with what appeared to be materia slots.

"What is it?" I asked, forgetting everything else as I took the weapon into my hands.

"I heard creativity can uplift one's soul, so I tried it out. I made some weapons," Vincent explained.

"I'm not sure if weapons building was what they had in mind," I replied, although impressed by his workmanship.

"Well, some black market arms dealers liked them enough to sign a paid contract with me," Vincent responded.

I smiled. Vincent was joining society, just as I had recently. We we're becoming normal, relatively.

"Welcome to the business world," I said, shaking Vincent's hand.

"With the money I'm making, I'd like to employ you," Vincent said.

I stared in shock. Vincent, hire me?

"Really? What do you need?" I questioned, truly wondering what Vincent wanted me to do that he didn't want to do.

"I need you to bring me Zack's old Buster Sword," Vincent answered. "I plan to study its attributes."

"Okay," I answered hesitantly.

That sword represented a lot to me.

"I'm only studying it, so I won't hurt it," Vincent said before I could express concern. "But I need you to get it now, and I'm paying 3000 gil."

"3000?" I wondered aloud. That could pay for a lot. "I'm on it," I answered definitely.

I put on my coat and boots and started to head out.

"I'll be here when you get back,' Vincent said.

I could sense there was something he wasn't telling me. But I trust Vincent.

"Okay."

I headed out and mounted Fenrir. I drove off, quickly passing through the streets of Edge.

(Third Person.)

Vincent turned to Tifa.

"Are the children in their room?' Vincent asked in a very serious tone, more serious then usual.

"Yes, why?' Tifa asked, recognizing the concern in Vincent's eyes.

"Something, or someone, is after Cloud, and they're going to come here," Vincent answered.

"What are you talkin' about?" Barret questioned, never having known Vincent's original intentions of coming here.

"Just prepare to fight, Barret,' Vincent replied.

Tifa's eyes narrowed in anger and confusion.

"Then why did you send Cloud away?" Tifa demanded.

"To get the sword and to stay out of the way for his own good," Vincent explained.

"For his own good? But…" Tifa was cut off.

"Cloud needs that sword to beat an enemy that might come. If he's here without it, and that enemy comes, Cloud will get himself killed," Vincent explained. "You know how headstrong Cloud can be."

Tifa nodded. She knew quite well.

"But what's the plan, V?" Barret demanded, quite anxious about a potential threat to his 'sister', daughter, and home. He didn't need to worry about Cloud.

"Tifa, you just need to take the kids to a safe place in the house," Vincent said. He turned to Barret. "You and I will take care of the enemies."

"Oh yeah! I'm going guns a blazin'!" Barret replied enthusiastically.

"Just be careful guys,' Tifa pleaded.

Tifa turned and ran up the stairs, her blanket flowing behind her.

"We need to go outside where there's less chance of accidental damage," Vincent said.

"You shoulda told me we were going to fight," Barret whined as the two gunmen walked outside. "I coulda brought all kinds of goodies!"

To be continued…