Disclaimer: All characters belong to Square Enix.
"Vinny!" I shouted as I ran down the stairs at 7th Heaven. Tifa was behind the counters cleaning glasses, didn't see anyone else around.
"Hey, Teef. Have you seen Vinny?" I asked, plopping myself down onto one of the barstools. The martial artist suddenly stopped and looked at me with sad ruby eyes. "Teef…? What's wrong?" My heart suddenly leaped, threatening to jump out of my chest and onto the floor. Was there something wrong with Vincent? What happened to him? A barrage of worst case scenarios ravaged my mind, making my heart race faster and my breath go short.
"Yuffie!" Tifa put a hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down. "Nothing's wrong. Vincent is alright." She gave me an apologetic look. After hearing that he was okay, I took a deep breath and willed my heart to slow down. Good thing he wasn't hurt.
"So where is he?" I asked. Once again, that sad look in Tifa's red eyes returned, only for a brief moment, and I felt something inside me jump once more. There was definitely something not right. Why else would she look so sad when I mentioned Vinny? "Tifa, please tell me. You can't hide it from me, the Great Ninja Yuffie."
"I-I don't think I should tell you…"
"Teef. Tell me. I won't let you get away until you do." Tifa knew how stubborn I could be when I wanted something.
"H-he's at Lucrecia's cave…" Her voice faded at the end, hinting that she really had not wanted to tell me that.
When I heard that woman's name, I felt a burning rage spark within the pits of my belly. At the same time, tears pricked my eyes, but not from anger. Vincent Valentine… He had gone to visit his old lover once again, and I was immensely hurt by the fact that he was still hung up on her. I mean, come on, she's practically dead for Gaia's sake. Why did he still care for her so much, especially after all she had done to maim his heart and soul? Why couldn't he let go of the past and move on? I wanted him to move on…with me.
Suddenly I ran out of the bar. "Yuffie!" I heard Tifa call after me, but I ignored her and kept running. A painful knot formed in my stomach, and I felt my throat begin to tighten and constrict my airway. Before I knew it, sobs tore their way out of my chest, and tears blurred my vision. I didn't care. I kept running, kept running away from the pain that chased after me and threatened to overpower me. I needed to get away.
As I ran, a whirlwind of thoughts invaded my mind. Why? Why does he still visit her? Why does he not notice me? Why does he still have feelings for her after all this time? Why why why? Rivulets of tears coursed their way down my cheeks, and I angrily brushed a hand over my face. Lucrecia… Just the sound of her name made me want to throw up. I hated her. I hated her so much. I hated her for all the misery and pain she caused Vincent. How could she throw him away for a disgusting man like Hojo? Vincent had loved her deeply, and yet she had flung his heart away and stomped on it, forever staining his soul with her betrayal. I don't understand that woman at all. I don't understand her or why Vincent still can't forget her even today. As long as she is in his heart, there is no room for me.
Suddenly, the skies opened up, and rain fell, soaking my clothes and hair. It was as if Leviathan had heard my thoughts and was shedding his tears for me, crying for my suffering. I turned my face toward the heavens and let the rain pour down on me, willing it to wash away my pain and heal my broken heart.