Vincent had eventually rejoined Sephiroth on his bed that night in a vain attempt to get some more shut eye. Sephiroth had fallen asleep shortly after Vincent returned. That was probably the only time Vincent had ever seen the man truly at peace, and it was indeed a strange sight for him to behold. Vincent himself wasn't used to sleeping soundly, but for whatever reason, Sephiroth managed it without much trouble.
Vincent awoke the next morning to find Sephiroth still asleep in the bed beside him. He looked at the man in moderate confusion. I wonder why he chose to stay here instead of going elsewhere. His mind wondered. It's rather unlike him from what I gathered... He shrugged indecisively and sat up. He threw his legs off the bed and ran a hand over his face. He stifled a yawn as he heard Sephiroth stir behind him.
Green eyes looked up at him quizzically when he turned around to see if he had woken the man up. "Good morning, Angel," Vincent remarked mockingly.
"Shut your mouth," Sephiroth's awake voice growled at him. He sat up slowly and dragged his fingers through his hair. He stretched his arms above his head and grabbed his leather coat from the floor and slid the phone out from its pocket in the jacket's lining. He groaned when he noted the time. Dropping both the phone and coat to the floor, he sent a glare at Vincent. "Do you always get up this ungodly early?"
Vincent did his best to repress a grin that threatened to consume his features. "Usually..." He returned amusedly. "I see you aren't exactly a morning person..."
Sephiroth rolled his eyes and slipped out of bed. "I'll let you know when I care about your opinion of my moods..." He stretched his arms above his head once more before bending down to replace his stomach armour.
"Going out today?" Vincent inquired as he peered over at the man.
"Yes," Sephiroth returned flatly as he fastened the armour. The leather coat slid over his shoulders and toned arms easily and the shoulder pauldrons soon followed.
"Do I get the privilege of knowing where?"
"The hell you do," Sephiroth shot curtly.
The man had his back to Vincent. The latter slid across the bed and stood up behind the silver-haired man. He grasped the pauldrons and rested his chin on the leather next to one. "You really aren't happy to be up this early, are you?"
"What do you think?" Sephiroth growled, eyeing Vincent apprehensively out of the corner of one of his eyes. "And you are by far too happy in the morning."
Sephiroth broke out of Vincent's grip and slipped his hands back into their gloves. He ran his fingers through his hair one final time before disappearing from the room entirely. He left Vincent staring questioningly after him.
Vincent sighed. He needed to get some things done today so he couldn't exactly dwell on what had Sephiroth in such a foul mood. The man switched his garb hastily. He returned his holster and Death Penalty to their proper place and headed out of his home himself. The sun wasn't quite up as Vincent drifted out into the world. It was quite all around him, and that silence was somewhat reassuring. He had a specific destination in mind, and he started off. He knew exactly where Rufus and his ilk would be residing at this point. He sprinted lithely off.
Vincent reached Rocket Town before the sun had gone down that day. It was a blessing that he had such inhuman strength and vitality otherwise it would've been completely impossible without the use of a motorcycle. He looked all about him. Very little had changed since he was last in the town; the old rocket was still there even. During his observation, he had noted a particular red head standing guard near one of the houses. He approached the man without another moment's thought.
Reno had seen the raven haired man coming a mile away. He stood there with his hands in his pockets and nodded at Vincent to show he knew the man was there. Vincent returned the nod politely.
"I need to speak to Rufus," Vincent informed the red head once he was in earshot. "It's important."
Reno eyed the ex-Turk skeptically. "Rufus doesn't want to see anyone right now," He relayed. "I could tell him that you're here, but I'm not sure he'll want to speak to you."
"Please tell him. It's an urgent matter."
"How urgent is 'urgent'?" Reno inquired shifting his weight to his other leg and crossing his arms in front of him.
"Life-or-death urgent," Vincent replied. With the mood Sephiroth was in this morning, it certainly would be if he didn't find out what he needed to know-and soon.
Reno continued with his skeptical look, but no less withdrew his phone from his pocket and dialed Rufus to relay the message. The man appeared to be getting chewed out from the other end, but Reno no less signaled Vincent to go inside as he hung up the phone. "He's in a bad mood, yo," Reno snorted.
Vincent flashed a small smile at Reno and went inside.
Rufus was sitting in an arm chair with Rude directly to his left. The Shinra glared at Vincent as he approached. "'Life-or-death'?" He mocked. "With the way you leisurely strolled in here, I find that very, very hard to believe, Valentine."
"Think what you may," Vincent returned calmly. "It is a pressing matter to me; whether or not you think it is will be of little consequence. Moving on, I need to know where Tseng's grave is."
Rufus frowned deeply. "Why?" He asked instantly.
"That is the life-or-death matter," Vincent assured him vaguely.
"That isn't an answer."
"Of course it is," Vincent sighed. "You will have to trust me, Rufus."
"Something I'm not too keen on doing... Your lot might have saved our Planet twice, but I don't feel indebted to you."
"You don't need to. I just need to know where the grave site is. You will not see me again after you tell me."
Rufus' mouth went from frowning into a thin line. He looked genuinely upset. "I do not want his grave disturbed, Valentine..."
"I will not be disturbing it at all. I have no desire to bring any kind of ill will upon myself."
Inhaling deeply, Rufus decided, "It was on the outskirts of Wutai, in his family's plot. The Wutain people are not fond of visitors though."
"That will not be an issue. I know someone in Wutai. Thank you, Rufus." With a small bow, Vincent exited the building.
Vincent nodded his good bye to Reno who returned the nod. Vincent was already dialing Yuffie's number even though he would regret the action at a later date. Yuffie answered it on the second ring.
"VINCENT!" Her voice exclaimed, causing the ex-Turk to jerk the phone away from his ear hastily.
"Hello, Yuffie," He returned in his unenthusiastic voice. "I have a quick question for you."
"Shoot!" Yuffie laughed on the other end.
"Tseng's grave is in his family's plot right? Or was it kept elsewhere?"
"From what I was told, it's in his family's plot. I'm not entirely sure if that information is accurate or not though. You know how Shinra is..."
"Fair enough. Thanks, Yuffie."
"Anytime, Vincent!"
Vincent hung up and shook his head before pocketing his phone again. How was he going to cross the ocean to make sure the information he was going to give to Sephiroth was accurate or not? He was hesitant trusting Yuffie since this was his hide hanging on the line, not hers. He pulled his phone out of his pocket again and exited the town, completely oblivious to the bald man now tailing him.
Vincent hastily pulled up Sephiroth's number and dialed. He was partially hoping the man on the other end of the line wouldn't answer.
"Speak," Sephiroth's voice commanded him.
"I found out where it is, but there is a minour complication if you're willing to listen," Vincent quipped.
"What is the 'minour complication'?"
"A rather extensive body of water..."
"Are you telling me that it's over by his home town?"
"You would be correct in your assumption.
There was a groan on the other end. "That isn't what I wanted to hear..."
"I didn't think that it was. What do you want to do?"
"I think the answer would be rather obvious, Vincent."
The ex-Turk sighed. "Yes, of course..."
"I'm rather powerless whenever it comes to seafaring transportation, but I should be able to pull a few strings to get a craft..." Sephiroth's disheartened tone informed him. "I expect you to come with me."
"Of course," Vincent chuckled despite himself. "Do you really think I'd let you run somewhere out of my sight?"
"Humph..." Sephiroth returned. "Don't sound so smug. I'll be seeing you later. I'll let you know what I come up with."
The line cut out, and Vincent returned his phone to its pocket. He wondered how on earth Sephiroth was going to get a boat to cross the ocean if he was presumed dead, but the thought didn't stay with him long. The One-Winged Angel was full of surprises after all...
Vincent returned home to find Sephiroth sitting on the couch in his living room-study with a book balanced in one hand. The man was appeared to be absorbed in his reading but acknowledged Vincent as soon as he entered the room. "I found something rather interesting," Sephiroth announced as Vincent sat down across from in one of the arm chairs. "There's a ferry that takes people to Wutai..."
"That's interesting?" Vincent raised an eye brow in surprise.
"Indeed," Sephiroth nodded. He pointed to a newspaper clipping placed conveniently on the table in front of him. "Last I heard, that ferry had long since been shut down because of the war, but it appears that it is up and running once more."
Vincent picked up the ad and read it over twice. "The war has been over for quite a long period of time, but I am surprised that they brought the ferry back... It was probably to allow for better trade as well."
"That wouldn't shock me," Sephiroth admitted. "Wutai definitely lost a lot because of the war. They were extremely outnumbered and out supplied..."
"So I read..." Vincent set the ad back down on the coffee table and looked over Sephiroth's book. "What're you reading?"
Sephiroth sighed and gingerly closed the book. "It's a study on different plant life..."
Vincent's eye brow once again rose. "Enjoy science, I take it?"
Sephiroth shrugged. "It's a passing fancy, really. I read things that I can use in practically. I'm not looking for something that's a theory to be tested; I prefer to know what is safe to eat, what's poisonous, and what really isn't a plant but a monster. You would be surprised at just how many things I have picked up from reading books like that."
Vincent nodded. Comprehending your surroundings to the fullest was the best way to ensure survival; any person could tell you that. Vincent was merely focused on Sephiroth's attraction to science instead of realizing the practical value of the information.
The two sat in silence. Sephiroth stared off into space while Vincent regarded Sephiroth pensively. Sephiroth eventually returned his attention to the present moment and returned Vincent's unblinking stare.
"You're in a much better humour," Vincent noted after a moment.
"I caught a nap before you came back here..." Sephiroth responded quietly. "I wouldn't have been so miserable if you hadn't decided you needed to get out of bed at that ungodly hour this morning."
Vincent chuckled to himself. "No one invited you to sleep in the same bed as I did; you know that, don't you?"
Sephiroth scowled at the other man. "And you could at least have a little bit more regard for another person sharing your bed."
"Shouldn't you be used to it?" Vincent countered. "You were in SOLDIER, and you mean to tell me that you never had to get up that early?"
"I never said that I enjoyed getting up that early. It was just another reason people avoided talking to me before the midway through the day. Very few people chanced that fire; I preferred it that way."
"Hm..." Vincent remarked calmly before he rose. "I'm getting a shower. Mind you stay away."
"Of course, darling... I wouldn't want to interrupt you again."
Vincent glared at the smirking Sephiroth. "I will be sure to return the favour if you do barge in..."
"Don't act like you didn't enjoy it," Sephiroth countered childishly as Vincent left the room shaking his head as he went.
Vincent emerged from his shower to find Sephiroth sitting on the edge of his bed regarding him quietly. "Did you need something?"
Sephiroth shook his head nonchalantly. "No, but it did get a little cold in your living room... I wasn't too keen on staying in there any longer."
"Cold?" Vincent questioned, sounding somewhat confused as he did so.
A confused look morphed onto his face, and he went to investigate what Sephiroth had just mentioned. The silver-haired man followed closely behind him. Both entered the living. Sure enough, the room was considerably colder than when Vincent had originally left it.
Vincent's eyes flicked across the room. He now looked annoyed. "One moment... I may have left the door hanging wide open... I could've sworn I shut it though."
The man left to check on the door, and sure it enough, it was wide open. He closed it with little effort and returned to where Sephiroth was standing with his arms folded over his chest.
"I take it the door was open?"
"Yes," Vincent replied with a small nod. "I'm not entirely sure how though. It was open much further than I usually open it. Did you hear anyone else come in?"
Sephiroth shook his head lamely. "No, I didn't hear a sound. I moved out of the living room a few minutes after you left. I would assume if another person came in they would have done so without my knowledge."
Vincent's stomach plummeted rapidly. Sephiroth also looked considerably pallid. "If someone else came in..." Vincent breathed. "They know you're here..."
Sephiroth turned sharply in the direction of a noise that erupted from down the hallway to his right. Vincent's eyes also flew to the source of the sound. Both men stood as still as statues.
"There is only one way out of your home, correct?" Sephiroth breathed so that only Vincent was able to hear him.
"Yes," Vincent confirmed in the same nearly inaudible voice.
Vincent couldn't see the dominant smirk on Sephiroth's face as the man advanced forward with Vincent on his heels. The two men rounded the corner and came face to face with Rude. Rude now stood rooted to the spot and looking terrified the moment it registered in his mind that Sephiroth was one of the two men standing before him. He backed up slowly.
Sephiroth advanced coolly and produced a swift blow to Rude's temple. The latter hit the ground with a dull thud! Sephiroth turned to Vincent with a cruel smile on his lips. "You told them?"
Vincent stood rooted to the spot as he was determined to stand his ground. "No, I didn't say a word to them. He must have been far enough behind me that my senses didn't pick up on him. I wouldn't betray your trust whenever it's my life that's on the line..."
Sephiroth circled around Vincent. Malice gleamed in the pits of those sharp, green eyes. "I find that very hard to believe, Vincent..." Sephiroth snarled in one of his ears. "You're not one to make such a careless mistake... The fact that you were 'careless' enough makes me extremely suspicious of you."
Vincent followed Sephiroth's movements with his eyes. The man was extremely volatile whenever it came to matters such as this, but Vincent stood his ground. If you gave Sephiroth an inch, he would take a mile if he felt the need or desire.
"I did no such thing," Vincent denied. "I can plainly see that you're at least a little bit different. Why would I throw away something I know is extremely fragile?"
"You don't want me back here," Sephiroth stated over simplistically. "It's quite plain that you don't like that I'm still living and breathing in front of you. You like it even less that I'm using you."
"That doesn't mean I'm going to do something stupid like that, Sephiroth. Please, be reasonable here. I know my place, and that would have been by far overstepping it. I would rather mind my place and be used instead of allow you to slip out of my sight."
"Oh? You think I can't just disappear to where you won't be able to find me? I still find it rather tragic that you weren't paying as much attention as you should have been. I'm quite certain that you never so much as expressed an interest in Tseng's burial or its site for that matter. He wasn't a friend of yours..."
"And you are?" Vincent shot nastily. "I'm not like that, Sephiroth. I would like to think that I am intelligent enough not to let slip that you are alive even if I made a slight miscalculation..."
"Slight?" Sephiroth seethed as he grabbed Vincent's arm and spun him around. The vice grip didn't ease up at all. "I think that is more than slight, Vincent."
"Perhaps it would solidify what I am saying if you were to interrogate Rude and not me. He was present whenever I was talking to Rufus... If you cannot believe me than surely another's word will be able to reestablish that."
Sephiroth released Vincent's arm. A look of pure hatred shadowed his features for a momentary second before he turned his back on Vincent. "See to it that he doesn't leave, and make sure his phone is off and away from him. If I know how Rufus works, I will be damned if I'm going back to Hell because of him." With that, the man furiously sauntered away from the dark-haired man.
Vincent let out the breath he had held in the entire time Sephiroth had been circling around him and had hold of him. The man definitely had a force behind him. He glanced down at his arm where he had been grabbed. Sure enough, a bruise was beginning to form. Sighing, he turned to Rude.
Where on earth am I going to put him? Vincent wondered in dismay. He picked the man up and carried him to another room. He hastily found Rude's phone and removed the battery. Now all he would have to do is find some way to either barricade the man in the room or tie him up.
Vincent exited the room and hastily found the closet he stashed all his extra ammo and other necessities in. To his moderate surprise there was indeed some rope present amongst the items. Thanking his slight good fortune, he returned to where he had left Rude and hastily bound the man. He double checked all the knots and bindings to make sure they were tight enough but not too, too tight. Satisfied with his work, he emerged from the room and closed the door.
Sephiroth stood on the other side of the thresh looking down his nose at the ex-Turk. He inclined his head sharply and nodded in the direction away from the room as if to inform the man that he was to walk ahead of him. Vincent obeyed even though he wasn't particularly comfortable with an angry ex-general walking in his wake. His next directive was to go back into the bedroom.
Vincent hesitated at the door and received a sharp blow to the shoulder, which instantly got his attention and his body to move once more. Sephiroth entered the room immediately after him. The door slid shut with a harsh click! Vincent seated himself on the bed before Sephiroth.
"You didn't notice him at all?" Sephiroth's voice was quiet but deadly. Malice still seeped in his eyes.
"I swear to you; I didn't notice him even once," Vincent did his best to console the man. "I'm telling you the truth, Sephiroth. I have no reason to lie to you."
"You're lucky you don't have a reason to lie to me," Sephiroth quipped as he neared Vincent. "That's the only thing saving your miserable soul right now." He caught the other man by the chin and jerked his face skywards. "Where is his phone?"
Vincent produced the battery and phone from one of his pockets and offered it to Sephiroth without a moment's hesitation. It quickly left his thin fingers as Sephiroth released his hold on Vincent's chin. The ex-general reclined against the wall and rotated the phone thoughtlessly in his hand for a moment. He then turned it over to the exposed back and pulled a chip from its innards. He broke the chip in two effortlessly before he tossed the phone and its battery onto the bed beside Vincent.
"Check it to be sure that there are no other tracers on it. I'm not sure what other sort of security measures they may have ingrained into the phone since I was with them; you will have a better eye for that than I will," He ordered Vincent.
Vincent obliged. In no time at all, the man had located two other tracers before deeming the phone bug-free. Sephiroth seemed satisfied by this. His agitation was slowly vanishing, but he still looked extremely volatile.
Vincent placed the phone, battery, and broken components on the dusty dresser on the far side of his room before fully devoting his attention once more to Sephiroth. "You should find some way to relax. All of that built up tension is only going to complicate things if we need to travel together."
Sephiroth shot a dark look in Vincent's direction. "Your caring is touching, but please keep your opinions to yourself. We wouldn't be in this sort of straight if you had been more conscious of your surroundings like any other person in your place would have been..."
Vincent inhaled deeply and did his best to avoid being instigated by the man standing before him. That's probably exactly what Sephiroth wanted anyway: a reaction from Vincent. If he didn't get it, he would probably continue to calm down. However, much to Vincent's dismay, his phone rang.
Sephiroth glowered at the man as Vincent pulled the phone out to answer it. He checked the caller id and cursed his fate. Cloud's number had appeared on the other end. Swallowing, he answered the phone.
"Hello, Cloud," Vincent greeted the blonde in a normal tone as his voice allow under the current circumstance. He could see pure, relentless fury take full hold of Sephiroth.
"Vincent," Cloud returned the greeting. "I heard you were in Rocket Town speaking with Rufus. Something up?"
"Who told you that?" Vincent inquired, doing his best not to sound caught off guard. "I was talking to Rufus, yes, but it was about a personal matter. He is the only person that would have known about it."
"Cid saw you, but he said you looked like you were busy so he didn't want to bother you," Cloud explained. "What kind of personal matter?"
"It was about Lucretia..." Vincent mumbled. "I would prefer not to talk about it."
Cloud paused as if he knew he hit a nerve. "Alright... Sorry about that then. I didn't mean to bother you. I hope it's cleared up... Later."
"Later..." Vincent's voice trailed as he hung up the phone.
Sephiroth exhaled deeply. "No wonder you were a Turk," He growled with immense distaste. "You don't have any problem lying to anyone."
Vincent simply shrugged his shoulders. "Look; it technically wasn't a lie. In a roundabout and technical sort of way, it wasn't a lie in the least. That's beside the point, however. I would like you to remember that if Rufus suspects something, Cloud is going to be the first person to know. You're lucky Cloud is sooner going to believe me than Rufus."
"I suppose that would be the case, wouldn't it?" Venom seeped into Sephiroth's words. "I suggest you watch where you step. You are on rather thin ice as things presently stand."
"I'm more than well aware of that fact, Sephiroth. You don't need to keep reminding me."
