AN: *bows* Thank you all for the reviews/favorites/watches!

Ratings, Disclaimer, and iWarning! are still the same.

Breathe
(By: Sugar Ray)

Chapter 10

The sounds reverberating off of the punching bag molded in with the rest of the noise in the busy room as fists pummeled the casing. Sephiroth had been in the gymnasium ever since Angeal and Genesis went to eat in the cafeteria. He didn't dare follow; he liked eating without the gazes of the entire room upon him. Yet even now, the Firsts kept glancing over his way while comparing him to a machine, but that could be ignored. He needed this- the physical feeling of one force colliding with another, the kinetic energy being transferred from his fist to a solid mass- all because of what Genesis had said to Angeal after the group of newly made SOLDIERs departed.

"They might not make it to First Class, but they'll be good for our ranks. They're incredibly loyal."

Loyal… loyal?! Sephiroth drove his elbow into the bag for good measure as Shinra Rule Number 176 popped into his head; In the event should an officer stray and turn against the company, rank and privileges shall be stripped and actions will be brought forth in front of the Board of Directors.

It was written crystal clear, and there wasn't even a government trial! He'd never been given the option of negotiating since the beginning. Cloud had only taken a moment to observe the situation, and any thoughts of loyalty had fled from that idiotic blond head of his. The only thing Cloud had done was drive a sword through his gut!

But, of course, it wouldn't be a surprise if the traitor stayed loyalty to Genesis.

Sephiroth stopped his motions as a bead of sweat formed near his hairline. The punching bag was almost destroyed. It was one that the company made specifically for him, and he hadn't even used half his strength. Angeal was right, he wasn't acting like himself. He was stressing too much over insignificant things and it was affecting his actions. He took off the white bandages around his knuckles and wiped the perspiration from his brow. Maybe a vacation was needed? Sephiroth smirked as the idea of going to Nibelheim came to mind. Cloud would probably have a heart attack if rumor got out that the General was on his way there now.

"Please, just one fight!" Came a familiar voice from within the gymnasium. Sure enough, it was the object plaguing his thoughts talking to one of the SOLDIERs. From the gist of the conversation, he wasn't the first person to turn him down. He decided to go in and investigate why.

"Cloud," Sephiroth grinned as the blond jumped and turned to him. "I couldn't help but overhear that you're looking for a sparring partner. May I ask why that is?"

"General." Cloud looked up at him with rebellious eyes. He was at attention, staying respectful to Sephiroth's rank. "I was told by the Commander that if I can get a First or Second Class to vouch for me, then he would allow me to take the test for SOLDIER Second."

So Cloud was using Genesis to get to First Class. Sephiroth frowned and the smaller male fidgeted under his gaze. It was time to see what the blond could do while unenhanced… and maybe he could knock that pride down a peg or two while he was at it. He turned to the rack and grabbed two bracers.

"Put that on," Sephiroth ordered and threw one in Cloud's direction.

"Sir," the SOLDIER 1st was looking at the two of them worriedly, "I don't think it would be a good idea for me to fight him. I heard he just turned Third."

"This other one isn't for you. It's for me," Sephiroth explained while he attached the dull item. He internally gloated as Cloud's face visibly paled. "The bracer I gave him improves speed and strength. It will be as if he has the enhancements of a Third Class instead of just his tested shot. This bracer," he held up his wrist to show, "is only used for healers. It cuts strength, speed, and anything needed for offence by more than half. In return it guards against any ailment that you can imagine."

"So." Cloud stared at the bracer on his wrist. "You'll be fighting with the strength of a Third?"

"No," he smirked and received another look of dread. Yet Cloud didn't stop the fight. Instead his face held the determined look Sephiroth remembered so vividly from their earlier battles.

As they both went to an open area of the gym, Sephiroth kept his eyes on his opponent while he wondered what was going on in the blonds' head. Then again, Cloud was probably thinking that now was the best chance to get rid of the threat while he was at his weakest.

The way the other warrior was getting stronger was underhanded, but Sephiroth honestly couldn't wait until Cloud was as strong as before. That way there'd be someone to truly go up against instead of using Angeal and Genesis in their two vs. one mock battles.

The memories of fighting Cloud excited him, it was something to look forward to in this mess of monotony. He couldn't help himself.

"Don't think I'm on your level just because my power has been reduced," he warned. "Even with this, I'm still fighting as a SOLDIER First Class." The shift in those blue eyes had betrayed his intentions.

*~0~*

'Shit.' Cloud thought. His spur of the moment plan had gone to hell, and then the General bent down to whisper in his ear.

"So I suggest that you get rid of whatever thoughts you had to end me here, or the next time we meet will be in Nibelheim."

'Nibelheim? Does he… he remembers?!' Cloud looked straight into the other's eyes as his gut felt like it just plummeted a mile into the earth. He didn't mishear anything. If Cloud attacked to kill then he'd be defeated so fast it would make his head spin. What he'd thought had happened with the Time Materia had been completely wrong! It wasn't just him that had been sent back, but Sephiroth had too. The General was not only faking sanity, but was just bidding his time. He still wanted to go and recreate the madness!

The General walked to Masamune, picked it up, and took his stance. Cloud remained still. It didn't matter that there was a small group of SOLDIERs watching the performance, because they wouldn't understand the reason as to why he was paralyzed in front of their superior. Not once did his eyes leave the tall figure as he slowly reached around for the old, worn out weapon on his back, and he could feel his hands shaking as he gripped the hilt.

"And don't think you can handle me like you've seemed to develop the habit of doing," Sephiroth taunted.

Cloud's face went bright red, knowing that was in reference to what he'd done in the poolroom when he'd first woken up. He was really hoping that had been a nightmare.

Sephiroth gave a malicious smile. "Come, Cloud."

The fight had just begun.

*~0~*

*Nibelheim*

Complete and utter silence was the only thing Vincent wished for while he slept in his coffin. This repentance was as much for himself as it was for Lucrecia and everyone else that had gotten involved. He wasn't strong enough to stop one single man, and they had died for it. It was now the only thing he could do, so it was the only thing he would do until his life faded away… to sleep until it became eternal.

The golden claw on his left arm still felt foreign to him, even after all this time spent from being surgically graphed onto his arm, and he tried to keep it as far away as the coffin's wall allowed. The cold metal only served as another reminder of his burden, just like the demons inside his head.

In the beginning they had frightened him, tortured his thoughts with horrible visions and plagued his dreams, but after so many years of silence they had learned that he would not move from this place. Yet every now and then, much to his annoyance, they'd chatter amongst themselves in their own bestial language and bring him out of his precious slumber… much like now.

"There's movement! There's movement-movement-MOVEMENT!" Galian sung out and hopped around in the unseen corners of his mind. Vincent had to concentrate so he didn't lose control as the excitement of the demon threatened to take over and possess him. He could swear that he could almost feel the dog's drool being splattered around as it did a frenzied dance of joy.

"Vincent! Vincent!" it happily taunted from far away, but then it suddenly turned sinister, speaking as if right by his ear. "There's movement."

He gasped at the heavy voice and his vision veered toward the spot where it seemed to have come from. To say that he was surprised when he didn't find anything there would have been a lie. Nothing was there, not physically, nothing was ever there. Yet the demon was there… watching him from every corner inside his head, and its earlier giddiness had left as a calm, bloodthirsty hunger took its place.

Vincent closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep, though he doubted that he'd ever rid himself of the inner terrors that seemed to lurk in the dark.

This was his atonement.

Soon the squeaking from the stairs came into his range of hearing, and the quiet voices of trespassers were headed in his direction. He could hear a young boy telling a story about the mansion.

"Shut up! There's no such thing as ghosts!" a girl whispered out loud, and Vincent could almost laugh. If she didn't believe in ghosts then why was she trying to be as quiet as the rest of them? Somehow they had gotten inside his room, and he silently prayed they would leave before they found him. It would not only cause the town panic, but he didn't want to go find another sanctuary to repent.

He wanted to keep quiet, planned to, but for some reason his head had begun to spin and he groaned as light crept in around him. The demons were confused as well and let their instincts take over as viscous snarls came from each of their mouths.

A new fear came at the thought of having yet another demon hidden inside, and that it had finally taken control. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and Vincent slept peacefully once more.

*0~0*0~0*0~0*

~Before Time-lapse~

The three warriors jumped across the debris from the collapsing Shinra building. Vincent shot at Sephiroth as Cloud hopped from stone to stone, and the tainted mako streamed from their bodies as it rained down from above. Jumping from object to object to slow their decent was the only way to make sure they wouldn't die on impact once they landed on the ground.

Vincent kept firing in hopes to draw the man's attention. His tattered cape was on its last thread, and his dark hair obscured his vision as it flew around untamed. By the time he realized he had to dodge, it was over. The attack was too quick.

He woke up in a puddle of mako and a piece of metal through his chest. Vincent gasped for breath as he felt himself choking on his own blood. He was sure he'd lost consciousness. It had just barely missed his heart, but he knew the wound was fatal.

A 'splosh' was heard as an orb landed by his hand. Materia. At least it should be his hand, as it was attached to him… but the limb was completely numb and unresponsive. He was paralyzed, fate was cruel. All he could do was gaze at the glowing orb with wanton eyes, wishing he could take it before Sephiroth could. If only he could move. He could feel his heart slowing, his vision fading.

Barely alive, Vincent saw the two swordsmen reach out, but the Materia seemed to have activated on its own before he saw a brilliant light.

*0~0*0~0*0~0*

~Present~

"Tifa!" a boy cried out… it sounded different from the one from earlier. "Those are fricken coffins! Let's go back, please!"

The demons inside of Vincent's mind panicked and bucked as they tore up their mental grounds, and he quickly sat up before his brain had a chance to figure out where he was.

"Ow!" Vincent yelped, his head smacking into the coffin's lid, and he fell back down. The gunman violently shoved the lid open while the kids screamed and ran back up the stairs.

The demons were frenzied, whatever had happened was done to them too, and just like the beasts they were they threatened a violent death to anything within range. The ruckus and noise was straining his mind. He brought up his flesh arm to his forehead and rubbed the sore spot he'd created upon awakening.

"Enough!" Vincent tried to command them, but the paranoid beasts were too far gone to listen.

What was worse was that they were making his head spin. Vincent gave up any other attempts to try and calm them. His vision crossed, his stomach began to feel too hot, and he quickly stumbled onto the floor and retched. The smell was pungent, but he didn't care about that so much as to the pain the demons were causing. All he could do was gag from the nausea and wait until they settled down.

When they felt like their territory was safe, he slowly got up and used the coffin to brace himself. He had to go outside and find out what happened.

*~0~*

*Junon*

"Come, Cloud," Sephiroth smiled with all the wickedness he could muster and tried not to give an actual grin. The smaller warrior had finally caught onto the fact that he wasn't the only one that had been sent back and his opponent was physically stronger in no small amounts. It was exciting, it was humorous, it was entertaining.

Sephiroth's eyes were trained on the form in front of him, and Masamune was raised in preparation. Cloud held Shinra's poorly crafted weapon as he too took a stance. The boy's face had gone almost white from fear and was already perspiring.

"Are you going to attack, or should I give you more incentive?" Sephiroth taunted and hoped the other took the bait. He wasn't disappointed.

Cloud pitched forward and Sephiroth blocked the first swing, and as the weapons connected the blond jumped away and immediately went back into stance. The two of them circled each other, testing the waters.

After Sephiroth blocked another attack, the blond didn't try to get distance again, but instead twisted the blade around and tried to get in a few more swings. The swords clashed together in a swift dance as he easily blocked with Masamune, and Cloud jumped back again. The other didn't seem too perturbed that his swings didn't connect, but instead charged back in and started swinging furiously with greater strength and speed.

That's when Sephiroth remembered that the blond had just gotten the sword only hours ago. Cloud was testing its hold and balance in battle. He felt something akin to approval. Their swords came together in a series of blocks and strikes. A few times he parried and every so often sent out a strike for Cloud to dodge. It was still all too easy, and the speed of the fight had begun to pick up as the other got used to the weapon.

Sephiroth allowed Cloud to set the pace of the fight, and every so often the smaller male would jump away to keep the battle away from repetition. On this turn, the blond backed up and completely changed hold over the weapon, and Sephiroth instantly recognized the movement. He dropped to one knee in preparation to take the damaged before Cloud had even began yelling.

"BRAVER!"

Nothing happened…

Sephiroth caught his momentary lapse in judgment when no damage was done, but soon the blond was at his side and swinging the mass of metal to horizontally cut at his unprotected back. He had to force his body to twist to the side while he brought up Masamune to ward off the strike, and the crash of metal grinding against metal created sparks in the air.

Cloud used the momentum of the glancing blow to twist his lithe form and forced the blade to come spinning back around.

Sephiroth barely had time to scramble from his awkward position and dodge roll as the thick weapon pierced the flooring that he'd been only moments before.

The other SOLDIERs in the background were forgotten by the two of them, but the group was getting antsy and wondered if now would be a good time to stop the battle. Their General and this new SOLDIER were getting a little more into it then normal. Well, they mostly feared for the gym's floors… this wasn't the training room, after all. Once the Director found out about this he was going to throw a fit.

When Sephiroth got back to his feet, he looked over to the smirking blond and grinned as he realized he'd just been psyched. Of course Cloud wouldn't have a Limit Break yet. SOLDIERs developed those skills as First or Second Class and were only able to do so with high dosages of mako. Though, he had to give props, it was an interesting way to make an opening.

The two of them were back to where they started from, but it was obvious that the unenhanced SOLDIER was beginning tire. Their swords were raised as they waited for an opening. They both simultaneously charged as swords struck again.

'It would be so easy.' Sephiroth thought as he kept the pace his opponent could handle. 'It would be so easy...' Cloud overstepped and lost his balance. 'to just...' Before he could rethink his movements Masamune had already changed direction and lunged for his opponent's unguarded neck.

Blue eyes widened as the blond realized the careless mistake and tried to bring the broadsword up in an attempt to block the oncoming blow, but it was too slow.

Red sparks flew from where Masamune made contact with a rapier, forcing the battle to a halt. A different set of blue eyes glared at him from beneath red hair, and Sephiroth stepped back to confirm that the fight was over.

"I hope there's an explanation for this," Genesis growled as he looked back and forth between them.

"Did you not give Strife permission to battle?" Sephiroth asked. It would be an issue if the blond had also lied.

"That I have, but I was talking about the fight itself, General," Genesis continued in a low, displeased tone. Angeal and a SOLDIER, who had left previously to go get his superior, chose that moment to be the next to come rushing into the gym.

"What's going on? I heard there was trouble in here," Angeal asked, but he could already take a guess as to what had happened from the scene. The blond was equipped with an enhancement bracer while Sephiroth had on battle support, and Genesis was standing in the middle, seemingly protecting the said fallen boy.

"Let's discuss this elsewhere," Genesis said, focusing his tone on Sephiroth. "Office. You too, Blondie."

Cloud got up, lowering his head as he followed his superiors out the door and at the same time keeping his eyes on Sephiroth. The other SOLDIERs in the gym could only look at the hole from where the blond had driven his sword in. The fight wasn't as fast paced as a First could make it, but still… they had never seen a duel that serious before.

To be continued…

AN: To all of you who love Vincent - I adore him, and I absolutely love how people make his waking up all epic! BUT… I wanted to do something a little different then the norm. I hope you guys enjoyed watching Vincent smack himself in the head XD

Have any questions? I might have matching answers!

Please Review! (Criticism accepted as long as it's constructive...)