The walk inside the Midgar ruins was quiet. Besides the initial questions of "Where are we going?" and "Are you sure?" Vincent and I stayed silent. It was hard to imagine the decaying structures still held people; three years ago Midgar was bustling with life, even if life below the now crumbling plates was an unhappy one. The ground was littered with old debris, and the gray architecture appeared black in the dead of the night. Even if there was breathing beings in Midgar, they were far from living.

With each step we took our destination became nearer, the mako reactor 0 coming into view.

"I searched all of the mako reactors … There was nothing there."

"Trust me on this Vince, please, I know of a place."

"What place?" his voice was edged with a small amount of doubt.

"You will see." I sped up my pace, putting an end to the conversation. Vincent would never trust me, not the way he trust Cloud, or Reeve or Shelke. I might have had a small bonding moment but our relationship is the same. Well, maybe not the same - but we are definitely not friends; I still dislike her with a passion. Though, I somewhat feel bad for her - it's only a matter of time before she runs out of mako, met with the same fate she gave to Shalua.

I came out of my thoughts as the setting before me changed. We had walked inside the reactor. If anything, I was surprised to see it was mostly intact despite having a giant WEAPON burst through its walls. Each step was echoed harshly against the sleek metal floor.

"Vincent …"

"Hn?"

"You should really change shoes. They don't work well with metal surfaces."

"Hmph."

"And we can't forget that you were deemed "The Chihuahua Murderer" at Costa del Sol for impaling three dogs."

"… Yuffie"

"Right, sorry. I promised I wouldn't mention that outside our hotel room." I couldn't help but smile at the memory. Sure dead puppies aren't funny, but Vincent being ran out of the beach by a group of old ladies waving their canes around is. Ahh the memories!


In a dingy hotel room in Costa del Sol ...

"Vinnie! i brought you some tacos since the mob of old timers is still outside the hotel!"

"Yuffie, this will not be mentioned to anyone outside this room understand?"

"Yes sir!"

...

"Hey Vince?"

"Hn?"

"The carpet has chihuahua blood stains, will we have to pay for that?"

"... sigh ..."


"Where are we heading?" Always to the point, this is why you can't get laid.

"Throne room"

"It was destroyed-"

"I know! But that is where we are heading. Look here it is!"

The throne room really was destroyed. A huge gaping hole was where the floor once was, deep enough you couldn't see the bottom. Only a ledge about a foot wide surrounded the dark pit.

"Ok, you are staying here and I'm jumping in."

"I do not believe that is wise."

"Vince, I know what I'm doing. I won't get hurt."

"You do not know that."

"Yes I do! Why can't you just trust me?"

"… Trust is earned."

Wait. What? Trust is earned? He has to be kidding me TRUST IS EARNED! Have I not worked for it! Have I not risked my life for him and saved his! Have I not shown I am his friend and would jump in between blood thirsty psychopaths for him! No, apparently I haven't. There was no way in hell i once felt attraction for him. I gave him one last look and a nice finger before I jumped down. I didn't need his opinion or assistance. Anything he said as I jumped became a muffled sound as the wind of my fall small rushed by my ears. For a split second I feared jumping wouldn't have been the right choice, but as cool caresses wrapped around my legs I was reassured.

Oblivion wrapped itself firmly around my legs and my once speedy descend slowed till I was floating. The darkness worked as a parachute, slowly dropping me until my feet touched the floor of a cavern. Only certain areas were suitable for walking, since most of the cavern floor was submerged by water. I for one had no interest in finding out how deep it was. I slowly made my way throughout the cavern, letting Oblivion's instincts to lead me to the dark Tsviet. As I walked deeper into the cavern, I came into an area where the water was shallow. It was circular section, with the wall facing the entrance shattered as if it had been smashed with great force. In the center was a small isle, and on top of it was an unconscious Nero the Sable in all his dark, demented glory.

I felt, anger, relief, and pity all at the same time. Anger because this was the man that killed so many, the man who put my life in danger for his survival. Relief, because finding him meant I had a chance at living - and maybe Shelke will run away with him and out of my life (hehe). Pity because it really isn't his fault he is the way he is. Nero was just another victim of a madman's torture, he was kinda like Vincent. Neither wanted to be the way they are now, they didn't have a choice. Not even in his sleep did Nero look peaceful, his body was stiff and his face had a small scowl, the muzzle still wrapped tightly to his head.

I took three slow steps towards him when Oblivion started to grow behind me. It spread everywhere but never passed me, it stayed strictly behind as if waiting for me to let it go. As I continued walking the howling began and became louder with each step I took until I reached him. I knelt beside his form, not quite sure of what to do.

There wasn't necessarily an instruction manual with this whole situation! How am I supposed to wake him up! Damn you Nero, had to be all cryptic and mysterious. I glared at the space in between his closed eyes; it was also covered by the muzzle. I wonder if that thing was comfortable … probably not, maybe I should take it off.

The muzzle was tight and there was no visible latch; the only way to take the muzzle off was to cut it. I lifted Nero's head and took out a small shuriken hidden in my glove. Slowly I started ripping the seams behind his head, careful not to slice his hair or head. When the last seam was broken I gently put his head down (I should just drop it on the stone for dragging me into this …. Demented sicko) and pulled the muzzle off. The edges where the mask was were red and irritated; a small section on his left cheek was bleeding. I touched the injury lightly, wiping away the blood - he might be a monster, but he never chose to become one.

As my fingers floated over his face, Oblivion began seeping through them, embracing Nero. His body became engulfed in darkness, and Oblivion started dissolving into him. Orange orbs opened suddenly and painful gasp filled the air as the dark Tsviet tried to get air in his lungs. Just as his breathing calmed I started feeling weak, I sat in the cold wet floor and my vision started blurring.

Two hands grabbed my shoulders and pulled me to my feet. Clearly Nero still wasn't strong enough to do that. We both staggered over and fell into the shallow water. Nero grunted as my weight fell on top of him, I muttered an apology. Neither of us moved, both to drained to even open our eyes. We laid in our exhaustion, my head on his chest and slept in the cavern water.


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