Redemption

Disclaimer: Sadly, i didn't invent Dirge of Cerberus of Final Fantasy VII, i just wrote this lovely fanfiction. All characters are copyright square enix and original storylines copyright square enix.

The sky was dark and a thin mist crept through the air as the crystal's light illuminated the dark cave.
"Lucrecia," A tall man said, standing. He gazed at the young woman across the pool of water who was conceiled in a large blue crystal. He clenched his fists, and smiled. "Thank you. It was you...you were the reason...the reason i survived." He turned to leave, his long dark red trenchcoat trailing behind him, but he stopped. "Chaos is gone...and so is Omega, they have returned to the lifestream. I have a question for you though...did i get my redemption...?" He looked back to Lucrecia, who appeared to be asleep. Suddenly a single tear streamed down her cheek. He nodded, and stepped through the waterfall and out to the cliff.
He raised his eyebrows as he saw a young girl with red hair standing at the cliff's edge with her hands behind her back.
"Vincent Valentine," She said. "Everyone's waiting." Vincent shifted his weight to his other foot.
"Shelke?" She turned to him.
"I don't know why everyone made me come up here and get you..." Shelke turned all the way to face him, and she smiled. "Not that I mind though." The wind began to pick up, and Vincent exhaled as he stepped up next to Shelke and gazed out over the vast landscape.

Chapter One

"Here ya go," Tifa said, pouring a drink for a man sitting at the bar. The door then slammed open, and Tifa and Yuffie looked up, Reno and Rude stepping in. The customers starting laughing, for Reno's crimson hair was scorched and stuck in every direction, his face and clothes black with soot and the cigarette he had out of the corner of his mouth burnt to a crisp. Rude's suit was black with coal dust and the lens of his dark shades cracked. Yuffie sighed.
"Hi Reno, Rude...uh--?" Reno stepped past her.
"Don't say a word," He hissed, as he sat down at the bar. Tifa and the guy he was sitting next to raised an eyebrow. Rude took a seat next to Reno, and sighed and layed his head down on the bar counter.
"Can i get you something?" Tifa asked. Reno nodded slowly, raising a hand up.
"Yeah...beer...i need some beer, how about you Rude?" He nodded. Tifa turned to get it for them. Marleane stumbled down the stairs.
"Tifa! Tifa!" She ran behind the bar. Tifa set the beers by Rude's head and handed one to Reno. Tifa turned and looked down at her.
"Daddy is on the phone! He says him, Uncle Cid, Reeve and Cait Sith are coming here! He says we need a, how'd he put it?" Marleane thought a moment. "Oh yeah, A "Lil' damn reunion!"
"Watch your language," Tifa said, and then sighed. "Barrett," She shook her head. "Yuffie, watch the bar i'll be back." Yuffie nodded.
"I'm on it!" Tifa walked up the stairs.

Meanwhile:
Vincent sat on his bed, the News on his television on, his arm rested on his knee as he lay back on his bed with his hands behind his head. His long untidy black hair sprawled out over his pillow, and he was wearing black knee-length shorts and T-shirt. He closed his eyes, but then suddenly, he opened his eyes as he heard a high pitched ring. He then grumbled when he realized it was his cell phone and got out of bed and walked over to a small nightstand, picking up his phone and flipping it out and putting it to his ear. He growled into the phone.
"Hello to you too, Vincent." His eyes got wide. He knew that sweet comforting voice anywhere.
"Lu--Lucrecia?!??" He said. The girl giggled.
"I'm afraid so..." She sighed. "How are you?" Vincent couldn't speak. He choked for words but breathed none.
"How...how?!" He found himself stuttering. "What--??!"
"Do you still want your redemption Vincent?" Vincent blinked a few times.
"Ye-yes..? But...how are you talking to me?" Vincent shook his head as suddenly he heard a man laugh.
"Lucrecia?!" He shouted into the phone, but the man kept laughing. He recognized the laugh...the raspy high pitched laugh. But...it couldn't be who he thought it was...he had died with Weiss, there was no way he could be alive! His eyes narrowed and he gritted his teeth as the man spoke.
"Ah...Valentine, have you missed me?"
"...Hojo..." He growled. The man kept laughing histerically.
"Yes...it's me..."
"What part of this planet are you sleeking around in this time you twisted bastard?!" Vincent shouted into the phone. Hojo kept laughing.
"You truly amaze me, Valentine." His voice changed to a cocky mocking tone. "'To get your redemption,' Don't you realize you'll never be able to atone for your sins?! You are Chaos! And you can thank your beloved Lucrecia Crescent for that!" Vincent clenched his fist.
"Reveal yourself you slimy coward!" Vincent shouted. Hojo continued on with his histerical laughing.
"All in good time, my friend, all in good time," Vincent's eyes narrowed into thin slits and his voice a deep growl.
"I'll have the pleasure of severing your skull with Cerberus's bullet," He said through gritted teeth. Hojo laughed again, and then Vincent heard nothing but a dial tone. Vincent closed his phone, shutting his eyes tight, and he yelled and threw his phone at the window, it crashing through the glass. Suddenly his skin felt hot and his chest ached. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, and then gasped and took deep breaths when he saw his skin had turned black. He suddenly got dizzy, hearing his own heartbeats and his vision blurred to black, but he saw something silver glowing in his chest. He breathed out as his head hurt and his vision faded entirely to black.