Black Threads of Fate
Chapter 10: Tainted
Vincent unconsciously shivered at the mention of materia. He didn't know why, but it just did not mix well with him.
It made him feel like a worm was crawling under his skin. The materia made him feel less in control of his power.
Lifestream.
Maybe that was why the materia mixed badly with him, because it was directly from the lifestream.
Either way, it made him feel erratic and uncontrolled, making him despise the stuff even more.
"It is all yours, Yuffie. Bad reaction with it." Once more, he spoke curtly, avoiding having to explain his decline.
Yuffie sighed and said nothing. The prospect of looking at tons of top-quality materia was tempting, but walking between her cynical new friend and the most dangerous man on the planet seemed to cut away at the wonderful prospect of doing her favorite pastime without any repercussions. She looked over at Vincent and frowned, noticing he seemed to have a grimace of some sort on his face. She didn't understand why though; All they were doing was having a simple discussion about Materia...
'That's it...he must not like Materia for some reason...' Swallowing, she gathered her courage and decided to ask the question despite the fact that her curiosity only made her sound more and more like a naive child.
"How come you don't like Materia?"
He knew it.
He just knew she would ask him that question.
He merely hoped that it would occur later.
However, she was more astute than she appeared and had picked up on his obvious distaste.
"It is personal." That was all he said. Vincent had no desire to explain the circumstances of his existence to her. He did not even understand why his body rejected the materia, so how could he possibly explain it to someone else, especially someone as innocent as Yuffie.
"You can look through it. Do not let my aversion inhibit you."
Vincent wasn't quite sure why he added the last bit; it just seemed somehow wrong to allow his own distaste to stop her from the task she so obviously wanted to do.
Sephiroth chuckled to himself.
"Lifestream get 'under your skin' Vincent?" he asked showing his grasp of the situation.
'Hojo must have put him through some of the same tests as I...that brilliant...yet evil man...'
Yuffie raised a brow at Vincent, unsure of what he was trying to say.
"Look through what? I understand how some people are with Materia...a lot of folks just don't like working with magic. That's understandable. I mean, I've seen some people go power-hungry with materia...they don't look so good when they overdo it with those things. Then again those people are the ignorant ones who think they'll become immortal if they have enough materia plugged into their weapons and armor at all times. They're just crazy if you ask me." She laughed.
"Of course you aren't crazy...I mean, I think it's the smart thing to do to choose not to use it."
Vincent chuckled suddenly. It was a strange, alien sound, even to him.
Him afraid of magic? What was this girl playing at?
"No, I am not afraid of magic. I cannot use materia. My body rejects it. And as for magic..."
Vincent uncovered his left arm and held it aloft in front of Yuffie. Even though it was plated with metal, any person with a brain could tell that his arm was not that of a human.
The corners of his mouth upturned into a slight smirk.
"Now do you understand?"
Sephiroth looked over his shoulder slightly.
'He's becoming close with her; This could present a problem. I cannot have his loyalty to me questioned, not now. I shall have to accelerate my plans with the Yuffie girl; I must turn her to my side. That way Vincent will forever remain true to the Path...' Sephiroth stopped and turned around slowly.
"Vincent...you say your body rejects materia?" he reached into his sack of materia and produced a white piece of materia. He raised it in his hand as it let out a bright white light.
"Yuffie, let me show you why he hates Materia." his eyes softened.
"Im sorry, Vincent, but you must learn to overcome your weakness if you travel with me. Magic is a common form of attack, and I cannot have you vulnerable to it..." his black energy activated the materia as a stream of white dust enveloped Vincent's form as Sephiroth slowly uttered a word.
"Life 3..." the white dust turned into white energy that sunk into Vincent's form, its life energy reacting with his undead side. Sephiroth watched as Vincent collapsed on the ground writhing in agony.
"Im sorry, friend...but we must build up your resistance..." he cut off the MASTERED life materia's blast and put it back into his materia sack.
"Carry him." he said to Yuffie.
"And tell me when he is awake. Then I will blast him again, and again, and again, until he does not pass out from it." Sephiroth continued to walk, casually tossing Yuffie a strength talisman.
"Put this on; it should boost your muscles enough to the point that it isn't a burden to carry him...and yet you will still gain strength. Come now Yuffie; onward.." he started walking again.
Yuffie stood there, speechless over what had just happened. She stared down at the talisman in her hand for a moment, then glanced over to Vincent's unconscious form. I can't believe he just did that to him, without warning like that. She knew this wasn't a time for anger and distaste. That could wait for later. She quickly put the glittering trinket on around her neck and picked Vincent up, carrying him on her back almost effortlessly. She knew this wasn't right. Torture like this would only kill Vincent after enough times: It was no better than what Hojo used to do to animals all the time.
'Please don't wake up Vincent...' she thought pleadingly.
'You don't deserve to be hurt anymore.' sighing, she stayed careful with the new burden on her back, following Sephiroth only a few steps behind.