Chapter 7: The Assassin
The people of the Firefly Light Village and the others found themselves south of the Firefly Forest. Lazard was also with them, realizing something or someone must have teleported them all the way out here. Lazard told the people to prepare to travel to Pink Town.
Some people were crying about their loss. Their family and their home. The Zetsumei would have eaten up all the dead bodies by now. People comforted one another and it took a while to get everyone to start moving.
Lazard sighed heavily. He took his gray cell phone out of his pocket and dialed to the phonebook. "Zack?" he put the cell phone to his ears. "Is Sephiroth with you?"
"Nope," Zack's voice said. In the background, it sounded like they were still being chased after by the Zetsumei. "Why don't you just head to Pink Town first? We can't afford any more lives being lost while they're in the Lifestream…"
"I wonder what happened to them after being eaten by those creatures," Lazard thought aloud with concern.
Zack chuckle nervously. "I don't want to know," he said. "It can't be good though."
A monstrous voice screeched in the sky. Lazard looked up and flying shadow birds were circling, giving their friends signals of where the 'food' was located.
"Sorry Zack, I have to go," Lazard said, hanging up the phone.
The people around him started to scream when they saw the flying Zetsumei in the sky. They all hurried to their feet, running in all directions.
"Stay calm, everyone!" Lazard exclaimed.
No one listened. How could they? He was the only one who could fight and he would not be able to protect all of them. It would be just better if they all ran for their lives, quickly getting away as far as they could.
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A hideous shriek echoed in the sky. Kadaj, Yazoo, and Loz stepped on the brakes of their motorcycles. The three of them were still inside the forest. Their objective was to head southwest.
"What the hell was that?" Loz looked around.
The sound came from behind them. Yazoo looked over his shoulders and stared at the sky. "Up there," he said.
The two of them did. There were winged Zetsumei flying towards the same direction. Faint screams were heard.
Kadaj grinned. "Let's go and check it out." He started his motorcycle and held onto the handle. He sped after the monsters. Yazoo and Loz trailed behind him.
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Zack, Cloud, Aerith, and Tifa came across the same cliff with no bridge. The one that was broken yesterday.
Tifa sighed and looked at Zack. "Why didn't you plan about this?" she asked. They would not be able to cross if there is no bridge. They could call Genesis and Angeal to take the four of them across this canyon.
"Don't worry," Zack said. "We're the group who aren't in a hurry. We can all just head down the cliff and then climb our way up. We all have skills to jump around, right?"
Cloud and Tifa looked at Aerith. "Eh?" Aerith pointed at herself. "Oh, don't be concern about me. I can make it."
"I'll carry you in my arms," Zack offered. "You're not feeling well, right?"
Aerith smiled. "I'm fine, really."
Cloud took a closer look down the cliff. There were spaces on the rocks to walk on so they should be fine by walking down. He looked back at Zack. "Since we're not in a hurry, let's go find Fenrir," he said. "With it, I can find someone to give you three a ride in a wagon. Or something like that."
"Not a bad idea," Zack nodded in agreement. He looked at Aerith, giving his arms to her. "Come on, Aerith. Let's get going then."
Aerith slightly blushed and Tifa giggled.
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"Haaaaahhhhhhhhh!" Lazard hit the ground with his glowing hand. The beams of light surrounded the people and shot out towards the sky, hitting the flying monsters. He took out more than he thought he would have but more just kept on coming. He knew he couldn't this by himself, but there was no one nearby to call for help.
The loud cries of the people woke Theris up. She opened her eyes and moaned painfully from trying to move her legs. "Where… am I?" she looked around. Behind her were the people who were gathering together as a crowed, trying to avoid getting hurt. Lazard stood in front of her.
Yuffie was riding on a flying Zetsumei and jumped off. "Hold on a second!" she called. She landed on the ground, dust fluttering around her. She grinned as the Zetsumei all backed away. She looked at Lazard. "I'm not here to pick on the weaklings. If you want these people to leave here safely, you must leave that redhead behind," she said, pointing at Theris.
"What do you want with her?" he asked, on his guard.
Theris snorted. "You attacked the village and now you only want me?"
"Attacking the village really wasn't what we were aiming for," Yuffie shrugged. "We only want the Image Weapons back. They don't belong to you."
"Okay, fine," Theris glared. "Then take me."
Lazard looked at her. "But…"
"Look, I don't even know you," she glared at him. "Leave me behind. All of these people here have nothing to do with this. They already lost their home. Just go and take them away from here. She won't kill me or anything."
Lazard stared at her. Her glaring eyes were filled with anger and concern.
"I'll be fine," she said, looking away.
"Please," someone pleaded from the crowd. "I don't want to die here!"
"Our home…" one sobbed.
Lazard sighed with a slight smile. He looked at Theris. "After getting that intense look in your eyes… Alright, I'll leave you behind as you wish. Just stay alive."
Theris pouted and looked back at Yuffie. "Even if you're taking me, I'm still going to resist. So try your best to take me with you," she grinned.
Yuffie's hand glowed and a kunai appeared in the same hand. "Sure, resist as much as you want," she smiled back.
A green light glowed appeared around Lazard and the people. Another teleportation? Lazard thought, alarmed. If he hurried and grabbed Theris, perhaps she would come along with them. But before he could even reach out to her, they all teleported away.
"Not again!" Yuffie glared. "Who keeps doing that!"
Theris chuckled. "Luck's on their side," she said.
Yuffie narrowed her eyes at her. "Whatever, you're alone now. No one will help you," she smirked.
The feeling of murderous intent filled in the air. Yuffie felt someone from above and jumped to her right. A girl with dark clothes hit the ground with two curved blades, where Yuffie was supposed to be. Yuffie landed in her heels and looked at the person who tried to kill her. It was a girl in a black dress with the hood and the little cape. "Who are you?" Yuffie demanded. She looked up at the sky. All of the Zetsumei were gone as well.
The strange hooded girl grabbed her two wave swords out of the ground and motion into a fighting position. She was the same person who had teleported the people out of the village. "You don't remember me?" the hooded girl questioned, unmoved.
Yuffie took a moment to think. Her thoughts went back to her older memories, but then she stopped when her head started to hurt. "Ah, I don't care who you are!" Yuffie pointed, smiling. "If you're going to get in the way, I'm going to kill you!"
"That's odd," the hooded girl said. "The one who is going to do the killing is me. I already killed you once. I don't know how you're up and running, I'll just have to kill you again."
Theris looked at the two girls. What…? She asked herself in her head. Yuffie was killed once…? Wait, Yuffie mentioned being an Undead earlier to Loz. Theris started to feel confused. What happened between these two girls?
The hooded girl took a step and then ran straight towards Yuffie. Yuffie laughed and summoned a ball chain. She grabbed the chain and yanked it, the ball heading to the hooded girl. She dodged the hit and jumped on the chain, running on it as the ball hit the ground. Yuffie glared. The hooded girl was faster than she thought. Yuffie summoned a dagger and threw it to her.
She vanished and reappeared behind Yuffie. "I'll introduce myself again, Yuffie Kisaragi," she said, slashing her back. Yuffie had slightly moved but still had a deep cut on her back. "My name is Purge, an assassin."
Yuffie had fallen on the ground. An… assassin? She slowly turned to Purge, starting to get a glimpse in her memory. If only her head was not hurting, she would have beaten the carp out of the hooded girl. "I think I remember a little now… we only met just a while ago… right?"
Yuffie looked at Purge's wicked smile. "That's right," Purge replied. "Someone wants you dead. I still don't understand why you're all gray, but you're still alive. My mission is not complete until you're no longer here." Purge held up her sword. "Goodbye again, Yuffie Kisaragi."
Yuffie's eyes widen. The feeling of death ran down her spine. "No…" she mumbled quietly, time slowly moved around her. "I'm here… because… because…"
A bullet shot on Purge's left sword and she took steps back when the bullets were still coming. She looked at the hole in her sword. "Tsk, cheap weapon. Should have made it stronger," she bit her lower lip. She heard a person jumping in front of her and looked to see who had interfered with her job.
Vincent stood between the two girls, pointing his Cerberus at Purge. He narrowed his eyes at the hooded girl. "I don't have a clue why you're trying to kill Yuffie," he spoke up. "But I won't let you lay another finger on her."
Purge threw her sword in the air as it glowed and she caught it. The light disappeared and the hole in her sword was gone. She stared at Vincent behind her black bangs. "I'd like to see you try," she said. "I'm not going anywhere until she's dead."
Vincent looked at her two blades. Are those also Image Weapons? He wondered. It had the same shine as Theris's little marbles.
Yuffie's wound on her back started to slowly healing by itself. She stared at Vincent's back, stunned. "I'm here…" she mumbled to herself. "…Was it because of…him?"
