Chapter 10 – Comfort in the Rain
Vincent Yuffie thought in shock she didn't even notice that Cloud had come by the side of her. "Yuffie?" He said putting a hand on her shoulder.
"We need to find him" She replied eyes not moving from the direction Vincent ran.
"Yuffie we can't"
"No we can, we can go out there and find him!"
Cloud looked at her "Yuffie, he's…"
"He's what Cloud!"
"He's too dangerous"
These words hit Yuffie hard. Cloud walked back with the others to the fire leaving Yuffie to her thoughts.
Later that night when everyone was asleep Yuffie picked up her weapon and headed in the direction where Vincent ran. After a few minutes of walking Yuffie saw a something under some branches that hung over a large rock, which created a shelter. As she looked closer she recognised a red cape under the branches. She ran towards the shelter and kneeled down near the entrance, there lying down was Vincent. He had his back to her and his breathing was uneven. "Vincent" She said as she put a hand on his shoulder.
"Yuffie" His voice was barely a whisper. After receiving a reply she entered the made shelter and kneeled in front of him so she could see his face. His pupils were normal again but the skin around his eyes was red. The rock he was resting his head on had splashes of water on it. She looked up and saw crystal like tears fall from his eyes and onto the rock. The roar of thunder and the sound of rain bouncing off the ground snapped Yuffie out of thought.
"Let's get somewhere that's more sheltered." Yuffie said pulling Vincent gently o his feet. Together they walked further into the forest and came across an abandoned cave.
Cloud and others heard the roar of thunder and felt the rain and sighed. Cloud was about to close his eyes again when he noticed someone was missing. Wait a minute where's Yuffie? Cloud thought as he sat up. I bet she's gone after Vincent Cloud thought. "Tifa" He said shaking Tifa by the shoulders making her wake up.
"What…What is it Cloud?"
"Yuffie's gone after Vincent"
"What!"
"I'm going to look for her"
"Cloud no, besides Yuffie has probably taken shelter due to the storm, she wouldn't look for Vincent in this weather" Though I wouldn't put it pass her.
"Your right, we'll find her in the morning" Cloud lay next to Tifa and began to fall asleep.
Be careful Yuffie Tifa thought as she went back to sleep as well.
Yuffie helped Vincent sit down against the wall of the cave and then sat next to him. His eyes were still full of sadness. "Vince…What's wrong?"
He didn't reply, he was lost in thought. "Vincent…tell me what's wrong" Yuffie said putting a hand on his shoulder. Tears filled Vincent's eyes and were ready to fall down his face. Seeing this, Yuffie put her arms around him and pulled him into a hug. "Just cry Vincent...its okay" Yuffie whispered to him. Hot torrents of grief coursed down his face, his racking sobs lost in the strong winds that were now blowing outside, running alongside the thunderstorm. Tightening her embrace Yuffie rubbed his back to try and help calm him down and help him through what ever was wrong. In this state he wasn't the strong gunman she had met all those years ago. Now he was vulnerable, scared and distressed. "Wha…what's happening…t…to…me?" Vincent cried as he tried to fight back against his tears. He pulled away from Yuffie and drew his knees up to his chest encircled them with his arms while rocking back and forth like a frightened child. His voice seemed caught in his throat as he struggled to form the words as tears fell from his bloodshot eyes and rolled down his face, he sobbed into his hands "Why me?"
"Vincent" Yuffie said but was given no answer. He sat there still rocking back and forth trapped in his own dark illusion he had created in his mind. Yuffie didn't want to leave him on his own but she needed to get some wood so they can stay warm through the night. "Vincent I'll be back in a minute." She said as she exited the cave.
She was travelling through the forest gathering wood when a thought crossed her mind. Cloud is going to kill me in the morning. Quietly laughing to herself she picked up more wood, two rocks and headed back towards the cave. Once she reached the cave she split the wood into two piles, one in which she lit by creating sparks by hitting the two rocks together. The other pile she put to the side so she could add more wood later. She walked over to Vincent who was on the opposite side of the fire watching the flames dance around in the air and spread itself across the wood.
She turned her head and saw his eyes fixed on the wavy movements the fire. Tears still threatened to fall from his eyes and down his pallid skin. From where she was Yuffie could see his eyes were slowly beginning to shut, however he continued to try and force them to stay open. Eventually he was lying down not to close to the fire and shut his eyes Yuffie stayed up for a while and watched Vincent sleep, she remembered when he had a nightmare on The Shera; even the memory of it made her shudder. She watched him for a bit longer and then lay in front of him and began to fall asleep. As she was drifting sleep she felt Vincent put his arms around her and pulled her close.
Authors Note: Thank you for reading this chapter, hope you have enjoyed it. See you next time. Bye