Well, I'm a little more with it today. My 'advance writing', as I've come to call it, has gotten comfortably ahead, so I'm starting another fanfic. The new one's an AU, with some really familiar faces and some not-so-familiar faces thrown in. But that's, quite literally, another story.
Here's Chapter 6. Hope you enjoy! -Spiritslayer
The door was unlocked, though there was no one inside. He decided that Tifa had left it unlocked before she left, and wondered if any of the regular patrons were honest enough to leave the drinks alone. A quick glance to the bar told him otherwise, and he shook his head, disbelieving. "Taking advantage of her absence... What the hell are they thinking...?" he muttered. He walked toward the back of the bar, toward the spare room he had stayed in for a while. He paused outside the door to the room, and opened it slowly.
He supposed he was extremely surprised to see that it had been left the way he left it almost a month ago, only with roughly a month's worth of dust on everything. As his eyes scanned the room slowly, he wondered why she hadn't bothered with it. Is it... possible she was expecting me to come back? But I told her I was leaving. His eyes came to rest on a small piece of paper on the desk next to the door. He slowly picked it up with his right hand and glanced at it. A note. For who? He decided to start reading it.
"Vince,
There's some leftover stew from tonight's dinner. Help yourself when you get back. See you tomorrow.
-Tifa"
He set it down slowly, a small smile on his face. She really thought I was coming back that night... he thought bitterly. Did I... let her down...?
Hah.
What's so funny now?
"Vinny!" he heard Yuffie shout. "You in here?"
If you stay quiet, she might go away.
She's a ninja. She'd find me sooner or later, I guarantee it. "...Up here, Yuffie." He heard her start running up the stairs and looked at the note again. She squeezed past him and walked into the room.
"Wow, it's dusty. Who'd want to stay in this dump, anyway?"
Vincent glared at her. "This was my room while I was staying here."
"Oh." It slowly hit her. "Oh! I'm soooooooo sorry!"
"..." He decided there was no harm taking the note with him; it was intended for him anyway.
"Hey, whatcha got there? A love note from Tifa?" Yuffie teased. She plucked it from the desk before he could take it again and began reading it. "Heh, I wonder if she realized you weren't coming back that night."
He snatched it out of her hand and folded it neatly, pocketing it. "...I think she did."
"Then why'd she leave the note?" Yuffie challenged.
He closed his eyes. "She probably didn't want to believe it. She probably thought I was gone for the night and was coming back later." He felt a large pang of regret. "...Why'd I leave a month ago...?" he murmured.
"Vinny?" she asked him. "Are you...?"
If I hadn't left, would she still be here? he wondered to himself. "I'm fine."
"Hm..." She scrutinized him. "I don't believe you. What's on your mind right now?"
"...Guess there's no harm in it," he sighed. "I was just wondering to myself if she'd still be here... if I hadn't left a month ago."
"What makes you think that? She'd probably have gone anyway," Yuffie said indifferently. "Don't think a gloomy gus like you would make that much of a difference, personally."
"...Sure." He walked out of the room toward the stairway, then paused. He had been in Tifa's own room once or twice in the past, and he wondered if there was anything there, too. He turned and walked toward her room, stepping inside and taking it in.
Much like his old room, Tifa's room was layered in dust. It was certainly tidier by all rights, but the dust made the overall tidiness a moot point. The most notable feature had to be the book sitting on her bed. He walked over to it and examined the cover. Demons Past... He gently picked it up and gave it a quick dusting, looking at it. He noticed a piece of paper acting as a bookmark. Apparently, she hadn't gotten very far into it. He opened to it and saw the paper was another note.
"Vince,
You're right. I'm a pessimist. I can't make heads or tails of this, and I've pretty much given up.
...Vince, why'd you leave for good? It's too quiet without you around. I wish I could go back in time, to stop you from leaving Edge. But..."
As he read, he noticed there were spots where her words were slightly blurred. Upon closer examination, he realized those were spots where tears had fallen. She was... crying...?
"I need a break from everything, so if you come back... Heh, who'm I kidding? I... thought I had finally gotten through to the real you, to the Vincent before Hojo... To the Vincent Lucrecia knew. But I guess I was wrong. You can never go back to the way you used to be."
"Vinny? What's up? You..." Yuffie paused. "Wait, why're you in Tifa's room?!"
"Yuffie!" he snapped. He heard her gulp nervously and tried calming down. "...Look, go downstairs. I'll be right there."
"O-okay..." He heard her walking down the stairs, and resumed reading the note -- no, the letter -- when he heard the third stair from the bottom creak. He knew then that Yuffie was downstairs.
"I was stupid to think I could get to know you better, I guess. But it's fine. I'll make it through this.
...I'll miss you, Vince, and hope I see you one last time. Whether that's soon or years away, I don't know.
Love always, Tifa"
He replaced her letter in the book and closed it, grasping it firmly with his claw. Tifa...
She's given up on you, as you know she would. And there's nothing you can do to reverse her decision. So now who--
Shut up.
What?
I said shut up! You want to know something? Between you and me, I have a better chance of being accepted by anyone! Tifa's living, breathing proof of that!
Don't be a fool. We both know--
No, you shut up. Right now. It's my turn to tear into you, Galian. With this note, I've arrived at conclusions for multiple questions.
...Do humor me.
Read my mind, you bastard. You seem to do that more often anyway. He stepped out of her room and progressed down the stairs, taking the book -- and letter -- with him.
"Finally! You said you'd be down ages ago!" Yuffie whined impatiently, tapping her foot.
"I said that minutes ago." He walked past her, unaware he was moving at a quickened pace.
"Hey, Vinny! You okay? You're moving really fast!"
"I'm fine. I think I have an idea where to find her."
"Oh? She left clues for you?"
He shook his head. "No, she didn't. But the way she just up and left... doesn't it remind you of someone?"
"Uh..." Yuffie concentrated as she jogged to catch up to him, slowing to a walk and matching pace with him. "Hang on, it's coming to me..."
Vincent reviewed the letter in his mind.
"Wait, it's almost like you six months ago!" Yuffie exclaimed.
He nodded. "First place I went was where I was found."
Yuffie would've stopped dead in her tracks if she wasn't afraid of losing Vincent. "You mean..."
"Shinra Manor."
"Is that where she is now, you think?"
"Don't be absurd. The very town of Nibelheim holds powerful memories for her. No, to take a break from things, she'd go somewhere relaxing. Somewhere with powerful memories, but only good ones."
"Uh... wait. Where you think she's at right now?"
"Where this all began for her. If my guess is correct, she's possibly at Midgar, outside the remnants of Sector 7's slums. She once told me that she had a bar in Sector 7 too, before it was destroyed. If she's not there, which is more than likely, then she must've been there at some point." He had already led the two of them out of Edge, both on a straight path for Midgar.
Yuffie looked at Vincent in awe and, though she'd never admit it, fear. This new Vincent wasn't holding words back. He wasn't talking in his usual calm tone of voice, but rather like he had a new purpose. "Vinny..."
"What?" he replied rather shortly. "Sorry," he added.
She smiled. "You really have changed, you know that?"
He smirked. "Mm. I've noticed that slowly too."
"Is it cool if I keep calling you Vinny from now on?"
"What's it matter? You know you will regardless of my answer."
She giggled. "True enough."
For once, he didn't mind talking to Yuffie. It certainly helped pass the time as they walked to Midgar, and he was fairly confident the Galian would've just tried tormenting him again if he ignored her.
"You know," she said as they reached the gate to Sector 7, "you're fun to talk to!"
He nodded, eyes searching the area. I seriously doubt she's here right now, but I never know. If she's not here, please let there be some manner of clue as to where she went next.
"I don't see anyone, Vinny." Yuffie was shading her eyes from the sun, looking intently through squinted eyes. "It's deserted."
"..." He pondered everything. She's not here, as I thought. Where'd she go next, then?
Give it up, Valentine. The world's too big for you to go searching for her and hope to find her.
...You're right. But, because it's a large world, I can't just very well leave her alone now.
You really think you can make a difference? You tried to make a difference once before, and look at what happened to you. Of course, I don't mind it. It's how I got here in the first place, after all!
Bringing up my past again, I see. He rested his right hand on Yuffie's shoulder. "Come on, we should go. She's not here."
"Where we headed next, then?"
"Not we, I. Yuffie, listen. This is something I should do alone, just in case..."
"In case...?" she pressed.
He sighed. "You might not know this, but I have difficulty controlling the Galian. I don't want to be filled with regret if it takes over and attacks you. We'll head back to Edge for now, then I'll set off alone."
"Oh." She gave a small smile. "You care about me, too? Aw, Vinny..."
He chuckled softly. "Don't let it get to you. I don't want to know what everyone else would say if they found out you died by my hand."
"Liar. You know I'm your friend, right?"
"However much a pain that is, yes."
She playfully punched him in the arm. "Ass."
They walked back to Edge, speculating where Tifa could have gone all the way. Once they arrived, Vincent reminded Yuffie that she better stay behind.
"But I won't be a liability! I swear it!" she protested.
He shook his head. "It's not that, Yuffie. I don't want people blaming me for your death, should the event occur."
"Who'd miss me?"
Vincent glared at her. "I don't ever want to hear those words out of your mouth again. There are too many people you know who'd miss you, and too many people you haven't met yet who'd miss you."
"Okay, okay! Sheesh, lighten up! I was just kidding around!"
He heaved a sigh. "You have one twisted sense of humor." He waved a hand to her as he set off.
So, where you off to next?
I don't know, but I do know I'll find her. I have a guess, but I highly doubt it.
And?
Vincent reached the outskirts of Edge. Nibelheim.
The same town that you told that idiot girl holds powerful memories for your friend?
That's the one. Though I'd doubt she's in Shinra Manor for any reason, it won't hurt to look through the entire town, the manor included.
You realize that Nibelheim holds powerful memories for you as well.
I know that. But it doesn't matter right now. I feel as though I've come to terms with my past and any memories associated with it.
...Oh?
I won't ask you to understand. So Hojo made me who I am. If he hadn't, I probably wouldn't have met my comrades. He thought about what he just said. No, forget comrades. If he hadn't shot me then experimented on me, I probably wouldn't have met my friends. In a way, I'm grateful for it.
So you think Hojo's brilliant, then?
Absolutely not. He was a damnable madman with no conscience or heart. I still hate him, but I can accept what he's done to me, at least a little easier than I could before.
And of Lucrecia?
She's another matter entirely. I don't blame her for what happened to me. The blame falls to Hojo for taking her from me. She was never at fault.
...You seem unusually forgiving all of a sudden.
It goes back to what you said nearly a month ago. 'How long can my illusion of forgiveness last?' or something like that. My answer is indefinitely. As long as I can find it in myself to forgive and forget, I can maintain that so-called illusion.
Hmph.The demon seemed bent on giving up, then had a sudden thought. And if this woman just thinks of you as a crutch?
That's fine. Better a crutch than nothing to her. Besides, he continued, holding the book still clutched in his claw up, eyes on the corner of the letter, it sounds like she needs either a friend or a crutch right now. I'm more than willing to oblige her that.
You've come to a lot of answers in just one day.
And just one question, one concern remains. What is this big weakness you claim I have? It doesn't matter if I uncover all the answers for my other questions; while I have that weakness, it matters but little.
If you haven't figured it out yet, you're dense.
Vincent ignored the insult. He had effectively taken away most of the Galian's ammunition in its war against his spirit, lowered its ability to unnerve him and weaken his soul. He had made it much easier to hold dominance over his body, and knew the Galian wouldn't try overcoming him if his soul was strong.
All that remained in the demon's arsenal was Vincent's weakness, and although Vincent was unaware of it entirely, he had even removed that from the demon's arsenal.
And there's that chapter. Hope you enjoyed. Please review so I know how you like it! I realize it's getting read, but all I pick up on is that there's indifference when no one else reviews. I thank those who have reviewed, and hope to see more!
Will put up Chapter 7 at some point later. Yes, I may put up two chapters in one day. I'm looking to break a personal record here, I guess. -Spiritslayer