Strange But True
by. sweetluvlygurl
Author's Note: The order of the events in the game might be different in this story, cuz I don't really remember. ^_^;; Please R/R! It's brain food for authors..
* - note at the end of chapter
"My name is Cloud. This is Tifa, and that's Yuffie."
The dark-haired figure cocked his head at an angle to stare intimidatedly at the young woman and teenager behind Cloud. They shrank back slightly at his piercing gaze - his eyes were a full, stained-glass red.
He seemed to pause for a moment, a strange hesitation,
but after that, "My name is Vincent."
Cloud nodded firmly. Long introductions were never needed for him. "We're after a man named Sephiroth. Did you see him?"
Vincent stared with that haunting, deadened gaze directly with Cloud's mako-blue eyes. Sephiroth. The name striked with clarity, and in a rush brought back memories that were better left alone.
But the name brought another to mind, a name that he hated, that he wondered and had nightmares about all his life, and wished to destroy, if he was still alive.
Hojo.
Vincent took another pause, a long one, and chose his next set of words carefully.
"Is it possible....that maybe...you have room for another?"
Cloud smiled slightly. This man...however suspicious...seemed to be threatless. "Of course."
Yuffie shrieked at this. Predictably, the ninja would shriek out a number of obscene phrases and words and babble on and complain forever about this decision, but Tifa shut her up with a Look, and instantly silenced her.
Cloud held out his hand as a welcome. Vincent stared at it before he did anything, like he always did, and slowly, pulled out a hand from his cloak.
Now both Tifa and Yuffie made a noise, for it was no hand, but a golden claw.
Cloud's face was expressionless. One would make the impression that he was holding back a look of disgust, but his face only flickered for a moment, before taking the claw and shaking it. Then, he looked up to make direct eye contact with Vincent again. He seemed to be reading his mind for a moment.
"..Hojo?" The one word seemed to say everything.
Vincent nodded. This blue-eyed man...he could be trusted.
Back on the airship, Vincent was greeted by everyone. Cid didn't have any problem with him; he seemed to be getting used to all sorts of weirdos on his ship. Barrett was the first to adopt the nickname: "vampire freak", but Yuffie later translated it to 'Vampy'. Cait Sith didn't have much to say to the man, other than "You look kind of familiar..." Vincent arched an eyebrow, for he had never met such a person/thing like Cait Sith before, but the cat turned away, mumbling "If you just cut the hair a bit.."*
Vincent didn't like hanging around his semi-'friends' too much. If you stood still too long, they would begin mindless chatting and pop subjects from nowhere. The only creature that he didn't mind talking to at all was Red. The creature was obviously wise beyond his years, and every time Vincent heard a word from his mouth, it was very insightful and always helpful.
But after meeting all his new allies, he decided to go down under the deck. There, he leaned against the railing, taking in everything that had suddenly happened in 15 minutes. Suddenly he was tapped on the back.
"I don't think you've met me yet." Bright, green eyes, thick and long brown hair braided back, and a pink bow. She smiled up at him - she came up to slightly below his shoulders. "May I join you?" Vincent nodded, and she leaned against the railing also. "Cloud told me your name, Vincent. I'm Aerith."
Vincent nodded. Aerith looked 'round and then at him. "You don't smile much, do you?" He was taken back by this question for some reason. "...No, I guess not."
Aerith nodded, and turned her head forward, smiling all the way. "Well, my friends and I will try to change that, from now on."
Vincent stared curiously at Aerith. Now, when he thought about it weeks later, after her death, he regretted not talking to her more. She seemed to enjoy mindless chatter like the rest of them, and was almost as immature as Yuffie sometimes (ALMOST), but her words were wise, but not like Red's. It was a relief and refreshment, to drink down her words of encouragement, hope, adventure...
Funny, though. She wasn't the one that brought the first smile to his face in years. It was the bratty ninja from Wutai, Yuffie Kisaragi.
They all sat around the campfire at Cosmo Canyon. Cloud and Red were quietly discussing battle tactics and what their next move should be. Everyone else was in their own world, absorbed in their thoughts and the licking flames in the center.
Cloud stood up now. "We're going to try to reach the Temple of Ancients, guys. Anyone oppose to that?"
Silence, and then..."I am not opposing, but I believe I'll set out after tonight to Midgar."
"Back to Midgar?" Cloud was surprised.
"Yes. I have unfinished business left to take care of."
Nobody said anything for a moment, but Aerith jumped up. "Vincent! You can't blame yourself for what Hojo did! It wasn't your fault, and you shouldn't think like that anymore! Don't leave now, to go after him!"
There was a shocked silence, with Vincent glaring at Aerith so intensely she sat back down again. "But it is. And you'd be wise never to have this outburst and shout out my privacy so loud ever again. This my business, and only mine alone."
With that, Vincent turned and strode off, making a big 'swishy' noise with his long red cape. Everybody sat, stunned at the whole suddenness of it. Aerith made a small noise. "I was just...trying to help." She squeaked.
Yuffie couldn't sleep. She went out from her room in the Inn, and went out to the little balcony outside. She was surprised to see Tifa already there, looking at the stars. "Hey, Yuffie." She turned and gave a small smile. Yuffie returned it. "Hi. What're you doing up?"
"Probably doing the same thing that you were planning to do. C'mon, join me. Stars are really bright here at Cosmo Canyon."
Yuffie found it extremely comforting, to stand in silence next to the older, more mature woman. It gave her the feeling that she was maturing a little bit somehow.
"Weird, what happened tonight with Vincent, huh?" That was Tifa.
"Yeah. I mean, he's probably gone by now..." Yuffie trailed off and returned her intent gaze on the stars. Tifa turned and grinned at the younger girl. "You want to follow him, don't you?"
"What??" Yuffie exclaimed. "Are you kidding??"
Tifa gave her this 'You-Can't-Fool-Me' look. "Yuffie, I have experience in this sort of thing. You...have a crush on him, no?"
Yuffie sighed. "Is it really that obvious?"
"No, probably not. But you know, you call him 'Vinnie' and whine to HIM the most out of all of us, and I swear that 'Vinnie' smiled once while you were complaining to Cloud that his spikes were in your way when you were trying to watch that chocobo race."
Yuffie grinned too now. "It is obvious, isn't it?"
"Well, to me, anyways." Tifa and Yuffie both laughed a little. Yuffie gave a sideways-glance at Tifa. "But it's even more obvious about you and Cloud."
Tifa blushed. "Yuffie, you make it sound like we're an item." Yuffie teased, "Aren't you?"
"Of course not. You see Cloud and Aerith together, you know what they are."
Yuffie nodded. "Well, I know Aerith likes Cloud, and he's kind of just clueless right now about everything..but I know that he'll realize, sooner or later, there's his best friend standing in front of him, waving her arms in his face."
Tifa laughed softly. "You know, as strange as this sounds to me, coming from you - amazingly - it means a lot."
"Glad to know I could help." Yuffie chimed, and the two giggled, as if there wasn't a planet crisis, they weren't heroes and they weren't on a quest; they were just giggling about small things, like two normal girls their age.
TBC
"If you just cut the hair a bit.."* - Cait Sith A.K.A. Reeve is referring to Vincent's former job as a Turk, and back then Vincent got hair cuts, so his hair was short. ^_6
I'm guessing that since Reeve's such an old fart he should've been around back then, rite?
This REALLY doesn't sound like a Yuffentine yet, but it WILL be, I assure you!
by. sweetluvlygurl
Author's Note: The order of the events in the game might be different in this story, cuz I don't really remember. ^_^;; Please R/R! It's brain food for authors..
* - note at the end of chapter
"My name is Cloud. This is Tifa, and that's Yuffie."
The dark-haired figure cocked his head at an angle to stare intimidatedly at the young woman and teenager behind Cloud. They shrank back slightly at his piercing gaze - his eyes were a full, stained-glass red.
He seemed to pause for a moment, a strange hesitation,
but after that, "My name is Vincent."
Cloud nodded firmly. Long introductions were never needed for him. "We're after a man named Sephiroth. Did you see him?"
Vincent stared with that haunting, deadened gaze directly with Cloud's mako-blue eyes. Sephiroth. The name striked with clarity, and in a rush brought back memories that were better left alone.
But the name brought another to mind, a name that he hated, that he wondered and had nightmares about all his life, and wished to destroy, if he was still alive.
Hojo.
Vincent took another pause, a long one, and chose his next set of words carefully.
"Is it possible....that maybe...you have room for another?"
Cloud smiled slightly. This man...however suspicious...seemed to be threatless. "Of course."
Yuffie shrieked at this. Predictably, the ninja would shriek out a number of obscene phrases and words and babble on and complain forever about this decision, but Tifa shut her up with a Look, and instantly silenced her.
Cloud held out his hand as a welcome. Vincent stared at it before he did anything, like he always did, and slowly, pulled out a hand from his cloak.
Now both Tifa and Yuffie made a noise, for it was no hand, but a golden claw.
Cloud's face was expressionless. One would make the impression that he was holding back a look of disgust, but his face only flickered for a moment, before taking the claw and shaking it. Then, he looked up to make direct eye contact with Vincent again. He seemed to be reading his mind for a moment.
"..Hojo?" The one word seemed to say everything.
Vincent nodded. This blue-eyed man...he could be trusted.
Back on the airship, Vincent was greeted by everyone. Cid didn't have any problem with him; he seemed to be getting used to all sorts of weirdos on his ship. Barrett was the first to adopt the nickname: "vampire freak", but Yuffie later translated it to 'Vampy'. Cait Sith didn't have much to say to the man, other than "You look kind of familiar..." Vincent arched an eyebrow, for he had never met such a person/thing like Cait Sith before, but the cat turned away, mumbling "If you just cut the hair a bit.."*
Vincent didn't like hanging around his semi-'friends' too much. If you stood still too long, they would begin mindless chatting and pop subjects from nowhere. The only creature that he didn't mind talking to at all was Red. The creature was obviously wise beyond his years, and every time Vincent heard a word from his mouth, it was very insightful and always helpful.
But after meeting all his new allies, he decided to go down under the deck. There, he leaned against the railing, taking in everything that had suddenly happened in 15 minutes. Suddenly he was tapped on the back.
"I don't think you've met me yet." Bright, green eyes, thick and long brown hair braided back, and a pink bow. She smiled up at him - she came up to slightly below his shoulders. "May I join you?" Vincent nodded, and she leaned against the railing also. "Cloud told me your name, Vincent. I'm Aerith."
Vincent nodded. Aerith looked 'round and then at him. "You don't smile much, do you?" He was taken back by this question for some reason. "...No, I guess not."
Aerith nodded, and turned her head forward, smiling all the way. "Well, my friends and I will try to change that, from now on."
Vincent stared curiously at Aerith. Now, when he thought about it weeks later, after her death, he regretted not talking to her more. She seemed to enjoy mindless chatter like the rest of them, and was almost as immature as Yuffie sometimes (ALMOST), but her words were wise, but not like Red's. It was a relief and refreshment, to drink down her words of encouragement, hope, adventure...
Funny, though. She wasn't the one that brought the first smile to his face in years. It was the bratty ninja from Wutai, Yuffie Kisaragi.
They all sat around the campfire at Cosmo Canyon. Cloud and Red were quietly discussing battle tactics and what their next move should be. Everyone else was in their own world, absorbed in their thoughts and the licking flames in the center.
Cloud stood up now. "We're going to try to reach the Temple of Ancients, guys. Anyone oppose to that?"
Silence, and then..."I am not opposing, but I believe I'll set out after tonight to Midgar."
"Back to Midgar?" Cloud was surprised.
"Yes. I have unfinished business left to take care of."
Nobody said anything for a moment, but Aerith jumped up. "Vincent! You can't blame yourself for what Hojo did! It wasn't your fault, and you shouldn't think like that anymore! Don't leave now, to go after him!"
There was a shocked silence, with Vincent glaring at Aerith so intensely she sat back down again. "But it is. And you'd be wise never to have this outburst and shout out my privacy so loud ever again. This my business, and only mine alone."
With that, Vincent turned and strode off, making a big 'swishy' noise with his long red cape. Everybody sat, stunned at the whole suddenness of it. Aerith made a small noise. "I was just...trying to help." She squeaked.
Yuffie couldn't sleep. She went out from her room in the Inn, and went out to the little balcony outside. She was surprised to see Tifa already there, looking at the stars. "Hey, Yuffie." She turned and gave a small smile. Yuffie returned it. "Hi. What're you doing up?"
"Probably doing the same thing that you were planning to do. C'mon, join me. Stars are really bright here at Cosmo Canyon."
Yuffie found it extremely comforting, to stand in silence next to the older, more mature woman. It gave her the feeling that she was maturing a little bit somehow.
"Weird, what happened tonight with Vincent, huh?" That was Tifa.
"Yeah. I mean, he's probably gone by now..." Yuffie trailed off and returned her intent gaze on the stars. Tifa turned and grinned at the younger girl. "You want to follow him, don't you?"
"What??" Yuffie exclaimed. "Are you kidding??"
Tifa gave her this 'You-Can't-Fool-Me' look. "Yuffie, I have experience in this sort of thing. You...have a crush on him, no?"
Yuffie sighed. "Is it really that obvious?"
"No, probably not. But you know, you call him 'Vinnie' and whine to HIM the most out of all of us, and I swear that 'Vinnie' smiled once while you were complaining to Cloud that his spikes were in your way when you were trying to watch that chocobo race."
Yuffie grinned too now. "It is obvious, isn't it?"
"Well, to me, anyways." Tifa and Yuffie both laughed a little. Yuffie gave a sideways-glance at Tifa. "But it's even more obvious about you and Cloud."
Tifa blushed. "Yuffie, you make it sound like we're an item." Yuffie teased, "Aren't you?"
"Of course not. You see Cloud and Aerith together, you know what they are."
Yuffie nodded. "Well, I know Aerith likes Cloud, and he's kind of just clueless right now about everything..but I know that he'll realize, sooner or later, there's his best friend standing in front of him, waving her arms in his face."
Tifa laughed softly. "You know, as strange as this sounds to me, coming from you - amazingly - it means a lot."
"Glad to know I could help." Yuffie chimed, and the two giggled, as if there wasn't a planet crisis, they weren't heroes and they weren't on a quest; they were just giggling about small things, like two normal girls their age.
TBC
"If you just cut the hair a bit.."* - Cait Sith A.K.A. Reeve is referring to Vincent's former job as a Turk, and back then Vincent got hair cuts, so his hair was short. ^_6
I'm guessing that since Reeve's such an old fart he should've been around back then, rite?
This REALLY doesn't sound like a Yuffentine yet, but it WILL be, I assure you!