Diamonds and Guns

Chapter One - No One Lives Forever

I shot in heaven, now I cry
No one lives forever, in fact, we all die
From those who bust shots, to those who stuff cops
To those who serve rocks on all the hard blocks
Every last soul must pay the last toll
In the dice game of life, who gets the last roll?
Is it the one with the suit? The one with the sack?
The one who hides behind his fucking gun and his badge?
Negative outlook? Well that's how I'm livin'
And like he said, it's a wicked world we live in

It's a wicked world we live in

-- The Transplants, "Diamonds and Guns"

Midgar was a decaying city. During the day, all one who looked down upon it's post-Omega state would see was the remains of a dead city. No human willingly lived in the mako-infested hunk of metal; the only creatures left were monsters, cockroaches and rats.

At night, however, Midgar came alive.

It was party central. Everyone who was anyone in the dirty underworld of sex, lies, drugs and music showed up. You had your rock stars, you had your former Shinra execs, and you had your average party animal.

Strobe lights flashed in the darkness and techno filled the air. Scantily-clad women danced against men with money, and sometimes other scantily-clad women. When the partying started, the world's miniskirt manufacturers had rejoiced.

So many familiar faces. Scarlet. Shera and Cid. Tseng and Elena. Rufus.

Reno and Rude.

Reno and Rude were the reason she was here. Thank God Shera and Cid didn't recognize her; even at 21 Cid still felt the need to treat her like she didn't know what was best for her.

But of course they wouldn't recognize her. She didn't look anything like the Yuffie Kisaragi they knew.

It had been two years since anyone in AVALANCHE had seen her. She wore a short white tank top and an even shorter black leather miniskirt, with high heeled sandals. The straps from her sandals went all the way up to her knees and tied in harsh leather knots. Her makeup was done in a way where it was obvious she was wearing it; totally unlike her almost natural look from years past. Her breasts had filled out with physical maturity, and her hair swung past her ass. An ass which had also filled out in maturity. She looked nothing like the old Yuffie.

And why should she? No longer a Wutain princess, she could do anything she chose without having to remember that she represented her people.

In fact, only two people in the whole room knew who she was, and she was currently sitting between them.

Reno and Rude. Who knew the two ex-Turks would be so much fun to hang around with? They'd been partying hard for well over three weeks, and there was no sign of stopping.

When the Nomura family had seized control of Wutai and killed Godo, it was like a signal to Yuffie. Get lost. Lose yourself. Have all of the fun you ever wanted to have.

And now that she was 21, she could do so. The first person she ran into upon entering Edge was Reno and it was all downhill from there.

From party to party, bottle to bottle, drug to drug. Yuffie was having a blast. Makeup cleverly concealed the dark circles under her eyes from having not slept in a week. She looked hot.

She hadn't been tweaking long enough to have earned the gaunt look most meth users acquire; she still had full breasts and a little bit of baby fat that looked good on her figure. After having discovered sex with Reno three weeks ago, she'd let go of her inhibitions. She was an unusual mark in the party crowd; someone who still had tits to grab at. She was popular, and she used her feminine wiles to get whatever she wanted.

No, no one would recognize Yuffie Kisaragi. Well, maybe one, but he was unfortunately far away.

- - - - -

Vincent Valentine awoke from another nightmare and sat up, breathing heavily.

The musty darkness of the bedroom at Shinra Manor surrounded him, suffocating him and stilling his heavy breath. He could hear creaking downstairs; a monster, more than likely.

Despite Chaos' absence from his body, he still had nightmares. And they came frequently, tormenting him to where he wondered if he'd ever get a decent nights' sleep again. He had no idea if there was a meaning to them or whether his subconscious was simply punishing him for something.

Vincent slept in Shinra Manor because it was familiar, and because it was the only place he could call his own. Rufus cared not for the place so Vincent had run of it. But he knew, instinctively, that the longer he stayed there, the more constant the dreams would be. So he came home and left often.

So it seemed that it was time to leave again. He never knew where he'd go when he left, just that he left. There were only two places he had not been to in the past two years.

Lucrecia's cave, and Wutai.

Wutai was dangerous for any member of AVALANCHE. Ever since the Nomura family had taken over, any former ally of the Kisaragi family (despite the fact that they were all dead) would be slaughtered on the spot.

No one had heard from Yuffie since the takeover, and AVALANCHE had to assume that she, too, had perished that day. Her body had never been recovered, but then again, all members of the Kisaragi family had been buried in mass graves outside the town limits; unmarked, unnamed.

The swords had been thirsty. Wutai's death toll was estimated to be in the hundreds. The small quiet town would never be the same again.

Vincent quietly mourned the loss of Wutai. The ancient, dignified culture had come to a warlike halt that morning.

Even more silently, Vincent mourned Yuffie. She had become a friend during the Deepground incident, an ally who could be relied on. That she had perished so young seemed immeasurably unfair to the former Turk.

She never got to experience the finer things in life. Being able to drink a fine wine; the breeze from around the Nibel mountains first thing in the morning; and most importantly, love.

Drawing himself out of those cold memories, Vincent sat up and groped in the dark for the lamp. Flicking it on, he reached for the black knapsack at the foot of the bed and began packing.

It was definitely time to leave.

Tent, elixirs, potions, toiletries, polish for his guns and claw, ammunition. He always pondered bringing a spare set of clothes but never did.

Just to be perverse, he tossed a black button-up shirt and a black pair of slacks into the knapsack. Leviathan knew he'd never use them, but at least he was shaking up his routine a bit.

When he was done, he glanced around the room while strapping Death Penalty and a revolver to his side. One never knew.

Turning off the light, he left the bedroom and exited the mansion quickly, before the monsters within had a chance to notice that he was up and about.

When Vincent left the manor normally, he simply struck out in whichever direction pleased him most. He'd found many fascinating things that way, and it suited him. However, he couldn't pick a direction when he got to the limits of the town, and instead stood there holding his knapsack.

Finally, he made a decision on where to go, something he'd never done before. Edge. He'd go to Edge. He hadn't seen Tifa in over a year, and it seemed about time.

- - - - -

Boats would always remind him of Yufffie. He clearly recalled that every time they'd travelled on one, she got seasick. She tried to make light of it but he'd known, just as everyone else had, that it bothered her. Her motion sickness made her feel weak.

This world was a sadder place without her in it.

On a brighter note, many good people hadn't perished. Cloud and Tifa were, to the best of his knowledge, still alive, and getting ready to start a family. For all he knew, they may already have done so - it had been, after all, over a year since he'd seen them.

Red XIII was also doing well, as far as Vincent knew. He'd last seen him a few months back, as Cosmo Canyon was not far from Nibelheim. The strange creature spent his days reading and learning, a pursuit that made him very happy.

Cid and Shera had surprised everyone by getting a jump start on the family thing, and having twin girls. Cid fainted in the delivery room, much to Shera's chagrin.

Reeve, Tifa, Cloud, Barret and Shelke were all mysteries to him. He hadn't seen any of them in at least a year; many for well over. He didn't purposely avoid them; his travels just had not taken him anywhere near them in so long.

His human hand reached into his pocket, fingering his PHS. It wasn't like anyone had made any effort to contact him, either. Everyone had his number.

He felt a gil piece rubbing around in his pocket and retrieved it. Vincent clearly remembered his mother, so long ago, telling him that if he put his quarter into the fountain, his wish would come true.

He wondered if a whole gil piece into the ocean would be more effective.

He flipped the coin through his fingers a few times before slowly flicking it into the ocean. He watched it sink and made his wish. A wish for some news of Yuffie; even if it was a body.

- - - - -

Reno and Rude walked down the abandoned streets of Midgar; now that the sun was starting to rise, the city had become deserted. Yuffie was passed out between the two of them; her arms slung over their shoulders as they stumbled toward the apartment they shared in Edge. Rude, always the more polite of the two, adjusted Yuffie's miniskirt so that her good were not displayed to the world at large.

"You sure know how to ruin a guy's fun." Reno said sourly. Rude knew to ignore it; he was just coming down.

Not for the first time, Rude wondered why he stayed with Reno and Yuffie. He had almost nothing in common with them. He did not indulge in the drugs that they so enjoyed, and he didn't even drink that often.

And as often as he'd wondered that, he also had come to the same conclusion: Reno needed him. He was like the little brother he'd never had. Reno could never balance a check book or pay bills on time, and there might just be a day where he needed someone clear-headed to drive him to the hospital, or someone to jerk him out a puddle of his own vomit before he drowned in it.

Adding Yuffie into the mix only made Rude more determined to stay and protect them. He couldn't stop them, but he could keep them from killing themselves until the drug finally took them. And then, and only then, we he go his separate way.

Only when Reno was laying in the ground surrounding Midgar would Rude leave his best friend.

Reno let loose with a mighty yawn. "Let's get there, hurry." He muttered. Rude could tell that his friend was coming down, hard, and that he really needed to get him to the apartment before he crashed. He couldn't carry both of them, and Yuffie being a girl, she would come first. And then Reno just might get attacked by a monster.

They neared the apartment and Rude drew his key out, sliding it in and hearing the satisfying click that came with unlocking something that belonged to him. Reno stumbled inside and passed out in the middle of the doorway.

Sighing, Rude hauled Yuffie in and lay her down on the bed that used to be his. He then went back and dragged Reno in and closed the door. Once he had settled the two of them in their beds to his satisfaction, Rude, sloughed his shoes and overclothing before settling on the couch, which is where he'd moved to when Yuffie moved in with them.

No one had asked him to; he just felt that you always took care of a woman, and he knew Reno wouldn't give up his bed. He never complained. In fact, he never mentioned it.

Yuffie didn't realize that he didn't prefer to sleep there. Of course he didn't; it was half his height. But it afforded him a place softer to sleep than the floor and it allowed him to get enough rest to go to work on Monday. He didn't mind.

Rude never minded. He was a loyal friend. He'd take a bullet for someone. He'd take the blame for someone. He never realized that really, what was happening, was that he was being taken advantage of.

He yawned one last yawn and closed his eyes, nodding off to sleep just as the sun peaked over the mountains.

- - - - -

Yuffie may have become addicted to meth, but she was one step above them.

She insisted on having clean clothes. She washed a load of laundry every other day. It was one of the ingrained habits of Wutai that would never fully leave her. Cleanliness was next to Godliness.

Their electricity was out today, so she was washing them by hand in the tub. The building was old and half the time their power was out because some breaker or another for the building had blown.

Yuffie also showered every day, even on the days when the gas was cut off because there was construction going on. She was used to bathing in ice-cold streams; she could handle a cold shower or two.

In short, Yuffie was not your typical tweaker. That didn't really matter though; tweakers may be different from one another, but one thing united them. Yuffie, being wealthy even without her father's lost fortune, hadn't yet had to resort to stealing to feed her habit, but it was only a matter of time.

Even the wealthiest of addicts eventually became poor because of their habit. The one thing tweakers have in common is their addiction. They will always do anything it takes to get the next hit.

She finished wringing out her last piece of clothing and took the load outside to hang to dry. She brought a book as well; she'd have to wait while they dried or someone would steal them.

Yuffie was feeling good. She had just the right amount of the drug in her system that it gave her a buzz without making her feel sick. She felt like going shopping.

So she left the basket of damp laundry in the apartment and, locking up behind her, headed toward the shopping district in Edge.

Thrift stores. At thrift stores, you get more for your money. Who cares if it's used, as long as it still works? Or looks good?

She hummed happily to herself as she searched through stores for the next good buy. She hadn't bothered to put on makeup or normal clothes (they were all wet anyhow) so she still wore her outfit from last night, and one could see her sunken eyes. In her mind, though, she was hot.

- - - - -

Vincent walked into Tifa's bar slowly, taking everything in. The place looked good, of course; Tifa kept on top of things like keeping the place clean. What was out of place was the fact that Tifa was not at the bar.

Shelke was.

She looked so different. She was wearing normal clothing, jeans and a T-shirt, and her hair had grown. He could hear her talking to customers and she'd began to develop something like inflection, rather than the monotone she'd had before. Obviously, living with Cloud and Tifa was good for her.

He'd known to insist that she not stay with him. He would have damaged her somehow, he knew it.

A moment of indecision and he froze. Perhaps he ought to leave. What right had he to come in here and taint everyone's happiness? If, indeed, they were happy.

He had just made the decision to leave when Shelke turned in his direction. Her impassive face suddenly lit up into a smile, still an unfamiliar look to Vincent. She finished what she was doing in a hurry and ran toward him.

"Vincent!" She exclaimed. Vincent froze. Shelke had never called him by just his first name before. She really was coming along, then.

She still looked like she was ten. Vincent supposed that would never change.

Shelke stopped just short of hugging him and smiled. "How have you been?"

Vincent smiled back. It wasn't a mistake to come here. His mere presence wouldn't taint a thing.

- - - - -

After the bar closed, everyone had a chance to catch up. Vincent mostly listened. It was what he was best at.

Shelke had really come along. Her face was animated as she described the technical classes she was taking with Reeve. Tifa smiled over her dotingly; she would always be the motherly sort. Finally, however, she had earned the title; the bulge at her belly was nearly full, and according to Cloud she was due to give birth any day.

After everyone was sipping soda or alcohol, according to preference, Vincent gave in and asked.

"Has there been any news?" He asked.

Tifa's face fell. They all knew what he referred to.

"None." Cloud said, shaking his head sadly. "Cid even led a covert operation to Wutai. They dug up the mass grave and buried everyone properly, with prayer sheets and everything" He sighed. "They didn't find Yuffie, but that doesn't mean..."

He trailed off. Everyone knew what he was thinking.

Vincent nodded. It saddened him even more, of course, but his face stayed impassive. He sighed.

"How goes Midgar?"

Cloud filled him in on how it had become a haven for monsters and partygoers alike. "No one even bothers trying to get them out." Cloud said, referring to the humans. "At least they're destroying something that's already dead, and not someone's property."

A knock shattered the silence. Frowning, Tifa got up and waddled toward the door, peeking out the loophole. Her face brightened.

"It's Cid!" She exclaimed, happily, opening the door.

Cid and Shera walked in, all smiles. "We were in the neighborhood..." Shera was saying, when she froze. "Vincent!"

Cid strode toward the gunslinger, happily, and clouted him on the shoulder. "Hey, man, how's it going?"

Vincent nodded in his direction, wincing internally at the force of the pilot's blow. The room was again filled with the sound of lively exchanges and friendship, the bad news forgotten.

- - - - -

"Yeah, me'n Shera've been known to go hang out there." Cid said. "Gets pretty wild sometimes, but they got good booze and most of the time, good company." He was, of course, referring to the parties at Midgar. "Music sucks, though."

"You didn't strike me as the partying type, Cid." Cloud said.

The pilot threw his head back and laughed. Finally admitting his love for Shera had mellowed him. "Man, you shoulda known me in flight school. I was never sober."

Tifa giggled, clearly imagining a much-younger Cid partying it up.

"Ya'll should come with sometime." Cid said. "If you ignore the tweakers it's pretty fun. Rufus is usually there, and he usually'll buy a round."

"No way is Tifa going there in her condition!" Cloud exclaimed, protectively. Tifa rolled her eyes.

"I'm pregnant, Cloud, not handicapped!"

"That's not what I meant..." Cloud trailed off. "Look, what if something happened up there? The place is falling apart, and the people are questionable. Until you spit out that kid, it's not safe!"

Tifa pouted, then her face cleared. "Fine, but we'll go after!" She said, shaking her finger in his face.

He laughed. "Fine, if we can find Barret to babysit."

Vincent imagined Barret babysitting and stifled the urge to laugh. Not that he doubted the man's ability, but the image was amusing.

"Well, we're goin' tonight. Any takers?" Cid asked, raising his eyebrow in challenge. Shelke nodded.

"I'll go." She said, standing up. She turned to Vincent appealingly and Cid snorted.

"You're kidding me, right? Vincent at a party?" The blond man chuckled. "He'd just stand there in the corner glaring at everyone."

Vincent felt the urge to go just to be perverse. Just because he didn't like social situations didn't mean he didn't know how to handle them.

The thought of the looks of shock that would cross their faces was enough to make him decide to do it. "I'll go." He said, offhand, shrugging. Cid's eyes bulged and that alone was worth any discomfort Vincent might feel later.

"What will you wear?" Shera asked. Then she stopped. "It's not like there's a dress code or anything, but you're a little...er..." She didn't quite know where to go with that.

"Overdressed?" Cloud supplied.

"Yeah." Shera shot him a relieved look.

"I have other clothes." Vincent said, almost defensively.

"Coulda fooled me." Cid said, crushing a cigarette out in the ash tray at the bar. "Well, Vince, we'll be heading out soon - you and Shelke should get dressed."

- - - - -

The loan of a pair of decent shoes from Cloud and a quick brush through his hair with Tifa's thick-bristled hair brush later, and Vincent was ready to go.

"Wow, Vincent." Shera said, blinking at his altered appearance. He was in the button-up, long-sleeved shirt and slacks outfit he'd chosen at the mansion, with a pair of black dress shoes from Cloud. His hair was free of his normal head band. "You clean up nicely."

"...Thanks?" Vincent asked, clearly not quite understanding what she meant. He was always clean. His clothes, maybe not, but he bathed daily.

"Nevermind." Shera said, giggling. She'd changed a lot since Meteor, too.

Besides, Shelke's choice of outfit was more surprising; he thought the outfit, while not his usual getup, was definitely his style. Shelke was wearing a low-cut pair of blue jeans and a tight tank top. Remember, she may be 21 years old, but she looks like she's ten.

The quartet said their goodbyes to Mr. and Mrs. Strife before heading across the brief wasteland between Edge and Midgar. The music was already playing; Vincent could feel the bass beat beneath the soles of his feet and groaned inwardly. With his enhanced sense of hearing, this night would be a nightmare on it's own.

The group was greeted by an ecstatic Rufus Shinra, already drunk, and Reeve Tuesti, seeming a little startled to see Shelke and Vincent tagging along with the other two. Reeve, however, greeted them warmly just the same.

Vincent did accept a drink from Rufus, who, as Cid had predicted, seemed intent on funding that nights' fun entirely on his own. Vincent got the feeling he was trying to make up for something.

After a few hours of spending time with the people who he'd thought had forgotten him, he grudgingly admitted to himself that this place, at least the area where they were, wasn't half bad. He wondered how long such parties went on; himself, he rarely actually tired, and only slept out of necessity. He'd never be a party animal, but seeing the sun rise would not surprise him in the least.

He caught something familiar out of the corner of his eye and froze, turning to face it.

Yuffie.

She was very different from the last time he'd seen her, of course, but he'd never forget that lithe, graceful frame, or calf muscles toned from years of ninja exercises. He'd never forget those eyes.

Her hair was much longer, and she was dressed even more revealingly than when he'd last seen her, in a pair of skintight short shorts and a tight tank top ensemble. Her makeup was wild and she was obviously not herself.

But it was definitely Yuffie. He glanced back toward his group and noticed they hadn't noticed anything unusual. He wondered if he'd just imagined it.

Glancing back, he was reassured. It was definitely Yuffie. And something was definitely wrong, but he couldn't place it. Obviously out of place was the wild makeup and clothing, and the fact that she was dancing very provocatively next to a man he didn't recognize. But something else was off.

Something was very wrong with Yuffie Kisaragi, and Vincent was determined to find out what.