Chapter 6

Shinra Manor

Eve's POV

I looked into Vincent's eyes. His arm was around me, keeping me elevated and secure. One of his hands covered mine and I looked at it.

"I should be the one thanking you. You've saved my life twice now." I said.

He looked down.

"What else was I supposed to do? I can't let you die." he said.

Something in his voice sounded different. He looked back into my eyes, his face a bit closer to mine than before. He had a very handsome face. Though he pretended to be rough he really was soft inside. I joined our hands and he didn't seem to have a problem with it. He pulled me closer to him and rested his forehead against mine. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment.

"I might be more than human, but I still have a heart. And it looks like you still have one too." I said quietly.

"Hmm. I think you're right. I thought I'd lost it when I lost Lucrecia. Glad to know I was wrong." he whispered.

I smiled a bit and put my free hand on his arm.

"Yeah, sometimes it's good to be wrong." I murmured.

"Eve…"

"Vincent?"

He lifted my chin and lightly pressed his lips to mine. I closed my eyes again and relaxed. It was short and sweet, but it was still my first kiss. We separated and his fingertips ghosted across my cheek.

"I think I'm good to get up and move on now." I said.

He nodded and I stood up. I brushed myself off and gave him a small smile. I saw a very small smile touch his lips as well. As we were leaving, Reeve caught up to us.

"Eve! Are you alright?"

I nodded.

"I'm always alright Tuestie."

He smirked.

"And where are you going?"

I looked at Vincent.

"Neeblehime." he said.

I nodded.

"Wait…Shinra Manor? But that is where….Understood. However be on your guard, we have reports of Deep Ground units deployed in that area. If you wish to enter the manor alive, I suggest you use the sewer system extending from the old Mako reactor."

I smirked.

"Sewer….how appropriate is that." he said.

He turned to leave and I went with him.

We did as Reeve said and entered though the sewers, but even the sewers had genetically mutated guards.

"Looks like we're not alone." he said.

They screeched at us and tried to take us down, but they failed. I shot the last one and nodded.

"Next time, we go through the front door." I said.

He smirked and shook his head. We found the elevator and got in. We stood there in silence.

"I do have a question for you." I said.

"Hm?"

"Was that the first time you…..never mind." I said quickly.

"Yeah it was. Yours too I would think."

I smirked.

"That bad?"

He shook his head. I kept my head down and then the doors opened. As he walked out he stopped and took my hand.

"Please don't do anything stupid." he said.

Knowing that he cared that much made me feel warm. I just nodded and we walked though an old door. Bookshelves lined the walls, some of them broken. It was dark and dusty inside.

"Not the brightest of places is it?" I asked.

He didn't answer me. I heard Vincent stop and I looked over. A small sphere went rolling towards him. He picked it up and it flashed. When it stopped I gasped.

"What?"

I was staring behind him.

Vincent's POV

She was staring at something behind me. When I turned my eyes went wide.

"Lucrecia!"

"Vincent, right?" She sighed and then smiled sadly. "Have you come to check up on me?"

She walked forward and I tried to go to her but she went straight through me. I felt Eve's hand on my arm and she looked at me sadly.

"Omega….his awakening is upon us."

It was just a recording of her. I felt a pain in my chest and I took Eve's hand and squeezed. If I hurt her she didn't say or show it.

"Soul wrought of terror corrupt. Quelling in purity, purging the stream. To beckon forth an ultimate fate. Behold mighty Chaos, Omega's squire to the lofty heavens. I cam across this passage while studying the scriptures of the ancients. The chronicles of yore. Omega….the end. Just as all other sentiate beings, he too was born of the life stream. However, his only purpose is to cleanse the planet of all things living, and lead their souls into the abyss beyond to a new beginning. Far, far beyond the never ending sea of stars. Just as life circulates through our planet, so too does our planet through the universe. Or at least in theory. However, what I can be certain of is if Omega awakens then all life as we know it will end. And when Omega has embarked on his journey to the cosmos, our planet will wither and die. I will leave a copy of my records here for you Vincent. Though I….I cannot imagine what help they might be, if any at all. Just remember….I am so sorry."

She disappeared and I sighed. Eve put her free hand on chest.

"She cared about you very much. I can tell." she said.

"Lucrecia…" I whispered.

I closed my eyes and looked away.

I should have tried to stop you. I'm sorry.

Eve didn't rush me. She was letting me take my time. I pulled her into my arms and hugged her. Something rare for me, but I had to.

Eve's POV

He wrapped his arms around me tightly. I wasn't one for hugging, but I knew he needed it. And I did care about Vincent. I put my arms around him and closed my eyes.

"She wouldn't want you to be in so much pain. And it's hard for to admit this but…..I hate seeing you in such pain." I said.

His hold on me tightened for a brief moment. He pulled back and nodded. He took the disk on the desk and we left the room. As we came to a laboratory, Vincent gasped and fell to one knee. He clutched his chest in pain and I got a little scared.

"Vincent? What's wrong?"

"This pain…"

I heard a pair of heels approaching and took out both guns.

"Well, well we meet again. This is perfect, I so wanted to see you my love."

It was Rosso. Vincent stood up.

"Deep Ground, what are they attempting to do with Omega?" He asked.

"I don't know. And to be honest, I don't care."

I narrowed my eyes. I wanted to shoot her, but there was a chance we could get some information out of her.

"What?" I asked.

"But this is what Wiess desires. Hail Weiss. And what Weiss orders…"

"They do." I said.

Vincent looked at me. Rosso laughed.

"So you do remember your training. Good to know. It is very simple. If he desires the awakening of Omega, then that is what all of Deep Ground desires. We could care less what happens to the planet. But all this matters little to me. It is not everyday you are granted the chance to cleanse the world of all life. Just the thought sends a chill of excitement through my body. The Deep Ground soldiers were born and bred to kill. We were chained to a destiny of servitude. Of course one of our best escaped."

She looked at me and I looked away.

"Eve?"

I nodded.

"I was forced into Deep Ground. But I fought back and ran away. That was when Reeve found me." I said.

Rosso chuckled.

"And then three years ago we were freed from our chains, but waiting for us was darkness lit only by the faint glow of Mako. And what do you think we did when we gained our freedom?" she laughed again. "We killed! That is how we were raised, that is all we knew. And so I bathed in the blood of a thousand soldiers, and I enjoyed it."

I found myself lowering my guns, though I didn't know why.

"I reveled in it. And when I finally stepped out of the abyss I craved for more. You understand right?" she asked us.

I was angry. I slowly looked up and aimed my guns at her, and Vincent did the same.

"I don't think so." he said.

She started to back up and I walked forward.

"How can you say that darling? We're one in the same!"

She jumped back and I bolted after her. She sent a Deep Ground Machine for us to deal with and it shot at us. Flash grenades went off in front of us and then it ran.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

I nodded. We chased after Rosso and found that machine again. I fired at it and then back flipped onto it. I shot a hole thought it and then ripped the wiring. I smiled in triumph, until I saw Rosso.

"Behind…."

He turned but she shoved her fist into his chest.

"NO VINCENT!" I cried.

She pulled something out of him and I ran to him.

"I'm sorry, were you not expecting that."

I put my hand on his back.

"Vincent…."

"What is this? Don't tell me you have feeling for this man darling. Weiss wants you back."

I glared at her while trying to shield Vincent.

"I'll never go back to Deep Ground!"

"Guh…"

I looked at Vincent, but there was nothing I could do. He twitched and writhed in pain and then a red glow came from his body. He transformed into Chaos but I didn't back away.

"Ah, so you cannot control the beats without this?"

He reverted to his human form and I took his hand.

"Vincent please….wake up." I begged.

"Well there will be no need for it when I'm done with you."

I threw myself at her.

"You stay away from him!" I snapped.

She threw me back and I collided with Vincent. I got up but something came flying in between Rosso and I. A small someone ran forward as the object they threw flashed brightly. They helped me get Vincent away and Rosso was left with her materia.