Blood, all around her. I stared in shock as Tifa lay dying at my feet. I heard a groan to my left and ran to it. "Zack?", I asked.
"Cloud…… you gotta stop……", Zack gasped in pain. "Stop…. Sephiroth.", he managed to get out handing me his buster blade. I knew what I had to do. I ran past the door marked 'Jenova' and into the room beyond. There was Sephiroth never saw me come in. Please just one good hit to finish this!.
YES! I pierced Sephiroth's back with the buster blade. A clean hit that went all the way through. He's dead I know it. I ran back out to Tifa. She's fading fast! I picked her up in my arms and took her to a capsule sitting her against it. Her cut looks bad, started at her left shoulder and brought down diagonally. Just barely missed her heart. "Cloud…?", she asked weakly. "You came after all….."
"Don't talk you need to save your strength.", I said searching my person for a potion.
"Cloud…."
"You wanted your hero to save you at least once right Tifa?", I asked trying to get her mind away from the pain as a pulled out a potion.
"It's too late Cloud.", she told me as a bumble to open the cap. She was right at this rate I'll never open the damn thing in time. I placed the vial between my fingers and palm and pushed.
"Cloud?", Tifa asked in shock as the potion's liquid fell onto her mixed with my blood. I gripped my right hand in pain as the bottom half the shattered vial fell to the ground. The top half bit into my palm, even now I could see the shards of glass sticking through the back of my glove as blood leaked out. In my frantic rush to save Tifa I forgot about my own well-being. The vial did break, I just didn't anticipate the top half to keep on my fingers as I balled my hands into fist. Tifa seem to pass out from the pain of the wound but she was going to be alright.
Foot steps? I looked over to see Sephiroth? He walked down the steps wounded. His Masumane in one hand and a….
HEAD? No matter he wasn't dead yet and I had to stop him. I chased him out of the room and onto a bridge. I almost caught up with him when…
"Don't push your luck kid.", Sephiroth said his Mako eyes glowing as his sword running through my left shoulder……
"AAAHHHH!", I woke in a cold sweat in a room. I take my time to notice things. Two beds including the one I'm laying in. A window, wooden floor, walls, and roof. A single door in and out of the room and my sword rested nearby the door frame.
"Damn it's hot!", I exclaimed stripping off my boots and shoulder guard and the clothe drape with it. A little cooler but not much. I took off my shirt then my left glove. I paused at my right gloves hesitant. Nah just a dream… I thought as I removed the glove. A circular scar on my palm. So it wasn't a dream. I laid back on the bed sweating. Still blazing hot. And I'm not too comfortable with removing what clothing I had left. Everything seemed to get blurry. I yawned falling back to sleep.
I woke up to see wine-colored eyes staring at me. "Finally awake sleepy-head?", Tifa asked smiling. I notice her attire changed. She wore a white tank-top and you could tell she had a dark colored bikini top underneath it. She had on blue shorts that came just above her knee with white floral patterns on it.
"Where are we?", I asked . "I was burning up earlier."
Tifa laughed. "Costa Del Sol. A resort town. It always seems very tropical here."
"Where's my dad?", I asked.
"He carried you here after we docked the sub.", Tifa said putting a warm hand on my forehead. "You sure you're ok Cloud? You took a nasty hit back there. I thought you broke your neck."
"Just a bad dream that's all.", I said getting up.
"Oh! Vincent was here in town when we arrived. He brought you something.", Tifa said handing me a cellular phone. "He found it at home and was going to give it to you in case we ran into him."
I took it and flipped open the screen. "You have 21 new messages.", it said. I sighed. Tifa did so as well. I just deleted them no need to see who it was. Just as I closed my phone it rang again.
"You have got to be joking.", I said flipping the screen open to see a new text message. 'Call me later Hun.' From Serina, joy.…
"So you were one of Hojo's test subjects as well huh Mr. Valentine?", Rocky asked me as he read a newspaper underneath the table's umbrella where he was sitting. Two chair tables like this were common in Costa Del Sol. Offer a slight oasis under the brutal tropical sun. Due to this blistering sun I caught more stares than usual. After all, a black button-up shirt black pants and a red cloak aren't what most would call 'beach wear'.
"You could say that.", I responded. Giving a glare to a couple passing by giving me and odd stare. They snapped their heads back in shock. I knew it was wrong to do that and to scare innocent people just for looking at me. However I derives a sort of sick joy from seeing their shock.
"What is this world coming too.", Rocky said laying down the news paper and tapping the table with his claw tips. He removed a set of half-moon glasses from his face. "A demon assaulter in Kalm?" I looked down at the headline and sigh. In bold print it said: Demon assaulter strikes again! Victim tally now up to 11!
"I read about him.", I said. "Supposedly a demon who attacks innocent people after dark. Beats them viciously but never kills."
"Why though?", Rocky asked scratching his beard thoughtfully.
"Problem some sick minded freak looking for cheap thrills."
Rocky shook his head. "Whole world turned upside-down when Hojo gave me that damn serum!", he said pounding his clawed hand on the table. "So Vincent I was wondering if you are just another one of Hojo's test subjects or the real deal."
"I could show you, however there are too many people here. Last thing I want is attention.", I said. Rocky laughed.
"It looks like we're getting plenty of it just by our clothes.", he said. I reclined in my chair and wrapped my cloak around me thinking. Are there others like me? If so how many? Are they all completely changed into monsters as well? Rocky's laugh broke my train of thought. "Hell if I didn't know any better I'd think Hojo changed you into a turtle by how you keep tucking your head into your cloak!", as he said this I gave him my best glare I could muster after the initial shock of this man comparing me to a turtle.
"Mr. Strife you are only one of two I know who would make that type of accusation.", I said.
"Who's the second?", he asked.
"A young kunoichi named Yuffie Kisaragi."
"A female ninja from Wutai?"
"Yes"
"How did some brooding gunslinger like you run into a kleptomaniac like that?", Rocky asked taking out a cigar and lighting it.
I readjusted my cloak to better hide my Death Penalty rifle, something I've grown slightly fond of. "Your son Cloud did that. She was with his group when they found me in the ShinRa basement in a coffin.", I noticed Rocky taking another puff of his cigar. "Those things will kill you.", I said.
"With the shit Hojo did to me?", Rocky laughed. "I doubt it."
"What exactly did Hojo do to you?"
Rocky looked around. "Like you I can't show you in public. Follow me.", he said getting up.
Sunlight, fresh sea air, crystal clear waters. Costa Del Sol wasn't that bad a place. A lot of people. Most of them staring at me and Tifa. Guess we look like a prize couple walking together. I was wearing sandals and red swimming shorts. Due to me being shirtless I got a lot of stares from women walking around town, some of the women glared with envy at Tifa think her and I to be a couple. It was the same with the men. Slobbering over Tifa and giving me stabbing glares. A part of me want one of the punks to try and split us. I could use a warm up.
"Cloud just follow along.", Tifa said warning me as she pushed me against a wall. She leaned into me. "This guy was hitting on me all morning I told him I had a boyfriend already. Cloud I need you to just follow my lead ok?" I nodded. Tifa gave me an approving smile. She kissed me as the said jerk came by us.
"Oh hey there. Ummm sorry I forgot your name.", Tifa said sweetly. I smiled trying not to laugh.
The man looked shocked. "Damn you really did have a boyfriend.", he said to himself.
I yawn and wrapped an arm around Tifa's waist. I pulled her closer and said. "He buddy you have a staring problem or something?", the man just shook his head and walked off defeated. Tifa and I walked off with me still holding her by the waist. Once we were near the beach line Tifa broke away from me laughing. "What's so funny?", I asked.
"I just find it funny when some guy's chances shatter like that." she said walking down to the beach.
"You're weird.", I said following her.
Tifa turned around walking backwards slightly facing me. "You're not too normal yourself."
"Whatever.", I said with a chuckle.
"Hey Cloud you go on ahead. I'm going to get something to drink.", Tifa said. I nodded as Tifa walked off. I went down to the crowded beach and decided to go swimming. Since the waters closest to shore were slightly crowded I went out deeper. I dived into a wave and was about to surface when something hard whacked me across the skull. I slowly floated to the surface when I heard.
"Goddamnit! I just got this surfboard! Who's the nut job that got in my way?", a high-pitched annoying voice range out.
Don't forget to review please. Also, if anyone is interested in being a beta reader for this story contact me.