Jing Tu
(Pure Land)
Disclaimer I own none of the characters from any of the FF games nor FFVII AC and KH
Sasuke: So the first version of this story was scrapped?
Sera: Due to the excessive amounts of sexual content…
Sasuke: Yeah I agree…weird how it was so explicit with the Yaoi and stuff.
Sera: Word.
Sasuke: So I should give the summary right?
Sera: That's what you're getting paid for.
Sasuke: I'm aint getting' paid jack!
Sera: Sucks how payment isn't in the contract Kishimoto signed right? You could be getting paid loads.
Sasuke: I know. Itachi's still on call waiting for the BOFFWA (Bureau of Fan Fiction Writers Association) president to pick up.
Sera: How long has he been waiting?
Sasuke: Can we say L.I.G fic?
Sera: That was about how many years ago?
Sasuke: I don't know you wrote it!
Sera: Ah.
ALTERNATE UNIVERSE
-
A snowy plane billowing with hard icy wind comes into view, dark and bare and gray. Positively dead. A long sword stuck like stone in the cold mound of white mush; shinning brightly it's age unknown.
An undetermined amount of time no way to tell how long it stayed stuck in that snow.
A large dark body walking on four legs trotted towards the lone sword it's long dark snout lowered as it's icy blue eyes stared ahead unheeded by the gusts of wind carrying flakes of crusted white snow.
It stood on all four legs staring at the sleek steel with slight curiosity before it trotted closer and sniffed in a fashion that seemed familiar. It sat beside to sword, the large wolf's tail winding behind him fur lightly grazing the steel before lying motionless on the snowy ground. It lifted its head and howled.
It was another motion that seemed oddly familiar. Perhaps the wolf had done it many times before, perhaps the owner of the sword was also owner to the wolf-or perhaps it was something much deeper and profound.
Whatever it was didn't matter in the least. The silent observer watched on, the figures familiar along with the decadent dead place.
It was, yet again another dream.
Eyes fluttered opened meeting a large picture window, the dark chocolate colored curtains pulled back allowing bright strains of sunlight into the large expansion of the room-which despite how many times Vincent attempted to-had no warmth to it. It didn't feel like home.
He sat up, long tendrils of dark hair falling over his right shoulder as his left hand, free of it golden pointed gauntlet scratched at his right shoulder. He felt oddly disgruntled as though he'd barely slept.
He hated that dream.
A knock caught his attention, drawing his eyes towards the large cheery wood door. The glass knob turned and the door was pushed opened very slightly as a blonde head popped into the room. "Ah you're awake."
"Yes."
"Leon made eggs. Are you hungry?"
"Coffee?" Vincent asked slightly wincing. He wasn't exactly hungry but wasn't exactly full either. The thought of consuming a meal so early in the morning-he noted that it was at least six thirty- made him feel slightly nauseous, a quirk that even before experimentation, death and his long hibernation had not changed.
Coffee seemed like the easiest thing for him to consume at the moment and he would rather go out to eat anyway, a long walk during the winter times in Radiant Garden would give him time to think and perhaps he would have a moment to converse with Cid.
Though he never really saw a point to those snippets of conversations regarding air ships and the newly appointed mess that was his life with allowing the two younger sibling of Leon and Cloud respectively to live in his two bedroom flat near Merlin's. Vincent surmised that it was merely to pass the time before returning home where Cloud had decided, without his consent, to live.
He was glad that the blond had rid himself of any remnant of darkness and was finally at some sort of peace but it was tiresome when the blond would seemingly fall back into the old routine of angst-ing in various places around the two stories of which was Vincent's home.
At least, he thought, Leon was much less annoying.
"Alright then coffee it is." The blond said with a nod as he departed, leaving the bedroom door slightly ajar.
"Yes well," Vincent said pushing the cream colored sheet off his lap. "the kind of coffee Leon makes could kills horses." He sighed, mirth in his voice as he stood and strolled towards the door on his way to the bathroom. He lifted his arms stretching them high above his head, the dreadful loneliness from his dream returning slightly and Vincent had to wonder if it had anything to do with the often-lonesome nights he lay awake in bed alone.
If Lucrecia had still been alive and had left Hojo then perhaps…
'Perhaps we would have been a family. Her son would have been my son and the horrible things that happened would only have been a strange nightmare. She and I would have seen him off from his first word, to first steps and then to adult hood. We would have perhaps become grandparents and would have grown old together…now old age isn't even an option of mine anymore and Lucrecia and her son are dead.'
He shook the musing from his thoughts.
The dream was making him think of ridiculous things again.
-
"And then the little snots decides that since I wont be home till noon to make out on my couch!" Cid said a cigarette pressed firmly between two teeth, a glare prominent at his furrowed brow. His sandy almost white blonde hair was oddly combed for one and his clothes were crisp and clean.
A white shirt buttoned all the way up adorned with a dark silken black tie matching his trousers and shiny shoes. The coat slightly opened, the collar hiding some of the deep navy scarf around his tanned neck.
"Yes I suppose it must have been terribly awkward to walk in on such an…interesting situation." Vincent said feeling less uncomfortable at the state of his dress now that Cid was also dressed sharply.
"I didn't even know the little devil's were an item. If I'da known that I would have sent the one that looks like a twelve year old to live the his older brother."
"But then that would mean that Sora would live with me as well since Cloud lives with me."
"Yeah well I don't want no funny business in my house…or at least not on my couch. That's one of the only things I got to keep after the divorce settlement." Cid said his teeth slightly chattering as a cool burst of wind passed them. "Hell bells it's cold!"
"Yes it is a bit chilly isn't it?"
"Quite. So Vinny can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why do ya feel the need to come to my place every morning? Not that I don't enjoy the company, Lord knows the incompetent idiots wandering 'round this side of town…my point is that you're young you need to be out there catchin' tail."
Vincent lifted an arched brow and stared incredulously at the blond standing before him. Did it really seem all that strange for Vincent to be single? "Pardon?"
"You heard me. You're actin' like an old man. You're young."
"I'm eight teen years your senior you realize? In all actuality I am acting exactly my age…in fact people my age would normally have at least a row of fake teeth and bed wetting problems correct?"
Cid shrugged.
"Well appearance wise you look like you're in yer late twenties. You should take advantage of that."
Vincent shook his head rubbing his leather gloved hands together, he was glad he had bundled up in his thick brown trench and thick boots. The scarf Aerith had made him for his sixty-first birthday last month was thick and warming around his pale neck. "Even in my youth I was never one for "catching tail" as you so eloquently put. I much preferred staying home after a long days work sipping wine and reading."
"How is it that you ever got laid?"
Vincent snorted.
"My own enigmatic charm drew the ladies in I guess…however there was really only one that caught my interest. It was only natural that she held no interest in me."
"That's usually the way it goes."
"Yes well, eventually Lucrecia came to love me for the very facts you deem make me appear old."
Cid dragged on his cigarette and blew blue gray smoke from his lips and nostrils. He laughed. "Yeah well, she sounds like a nice lady. Too bad her kid…"
"Yes I know."
Cid lifted his arm, pulling back the sleeve to stare at his digital watch, one that Cloud had brought back from his trip to Gongaga, and stared at the time for a fraction of a moment longer then what would appear normal. "Well Vinny, I've got to get goin' the ex-wife wants to have dinner."
"Shera?"
Cid nodded.
"Yeah, despite the ugly divorce and the searing hatred she sees fit to at least check on me once a month. A bond of friendship or some other type of bullshit she's always goin' on about."
Vincent nodded mirthfully. It really would not be surprised if Shera and Cid came together again-they were what Aerith called 'soul mates'.
After watching as Cid departed Vincent decided to walk about the town in the blistering cold. If Sora and Riku were a couple he would rather not walk in on that. The two had decided to visit Cloud and Leon and with Vincent's luck he would walk directly into the orgy that was probably his living room.
Then again he didn't really know Cloud or Leon's sexual orientation so he dismissed the thought.
The sound of snow underfoot, crunching under his heavy boots was the only sound Vincent could hear. Despite the freezing temperature outside the small businesses beamed with lights and smiles welcoming costumers that had braved the harsh weather. It was a comforting feeling really, the dull gray sky and snowy mush under his feet decorating the sidewalks and streets seemed to dim the town, but had not dimmed it people.
Vincent realized that he hated winter.
Caught in his musing Vincent found himself near an alleyway that he recognized was on the completely other side of town. He hadn't meant to walk so far.
Staring out into the alley, it was shadowed darkly and he could barley catch a glimpse of a dumpster and trashcans, it seemed oddly ominous.
Something caught his eye, something lying motionless on the snow. His legs carried him into the alley before he had time to think. The putrid smell of garbage coming from an overturned garbage can reeked but he continued on through the slightly darkened alleyway.
He had to see what or whom it was laying on the snow-covered ground.
Perhaps a foot away from the motionless lump Vincent's steps slowed, he crept slowly towards what he surmised as a body, noting that it's back moved. Who ever it was, they were extremely small, was still alive.
He kneeled beside the body, lifting it gently and turning it so that he could see its face, it had to be a child, he thought.
The coat was tattered and torn; the child wore a blue beanie with a baseball cap on its head to attempt warmth. He pulled the child against his chest, undoing the fastening of his coat, pulling the child towards his chest and wrapping the coat around them both.
He looked down at the child's pale face, the rounded cheeks were lightly flushed and the pert round nose was red with cold like the end of his or hers ears. The child was feminine-easily mistaken as a girl, yet there was still a chance it could have been a boy.
"Who could have just left you like this?" He asked noting that the child's lashes and brows were either caked with snow or were naturally white almost silver. "Poor thing."
Suddenly the child's eyes began to slowly open, a sigh coming from pale almost blue lips as they parted to speak. "…Wa…"
"Shhh, it's alright now." Vincent said cooing slightly. No need to frighten the child. "You're ok now."
Red eyes met starling-piercing green and for a moment he saw his dream, he saw that sword nestled tightly in its place within the snowy ground.
He didn't speak as his gloved hand removed the cap from the child's head along with the beanie. He found himself not at all surprised to find a shock of startling silver starlight hair cut unevenly short.
At least he figured the child was a boy.
"Well I'll be damned." He said sounding an awful like Cid as his head began to slightly swim with warm panic. The child had not removed his eyes from Vincent' staring curiously.
Vincent found himself staring at a miniature child like version of Lucrecia's son; Sepiroth whom was long since dead for five years.
"What's your name boy?"
"Ushio."
-
Sera: …it's probably exactly what you guys think…well anyway-I hope it was slightly good.
Sasuke: it was decent.
Read and Review no flames!