Again, I do not own Final Fantasy VII, nor did I create it. All belongs to Square and etc. Go figure.
Chapter 10
The roaring engines of the great airship died as it crested on the tattered grass. No sooner did the massive carrier land, its occupants darted out of it abruptly, Cloud leading them with anticipation.
"Cloud, do you think it's too late?" Tifa whispered as Shera gently forced the stewed liquid down the pilot's neck.
"Let's hope not. Come on, we need to clear out of here Shera needs work." The ex-SOLDIER pressed lightly on Tifa's narrow shoulder and slowly ushered her out of the room.
The rest of the team sat impatiently in the living room as the couple made their entrance. Barret gave Cloud a questioning look. "Is he doin' better?"
"We will not know for certain until a few hours possibly. We must be positive though." Cloud frowned.
The dark man gently shook his head as he took a seat beside of Red and began to lightly tap his fingers on the sofa's surface. He said no more as the others took a seat and waited nervously for the unknown verdict.
Yuffie broke the silence as she glanced over to the Turks who gathered in a vacant corner. "I thought you guys were leaving. Why are you not going?"
Reno glared at her aggravated. "We're staying until our escort arrives which should be in a few minutes, Sweetie. You don't need to get all teary-eyed over my sexy departure!!!"
"How dare you! I would never cry over you!" Her voice raised in anger.
"Whatever you say Sexy, but I think you want me!"
"What's to want on a body like yours? I'd rather die!"
Reno smirked. "I believe that can be arranged! When do you want your execution Darling?"
"The only execution that is going to happen is yours! Make my words Turk if you dare try it I'll…"
"You'll what? Hit me with that pitiful object you call a weapon? Don't make me laugh!" Reno began to pull the hair back from his face.
"Yuffie calm down!" Cloud warned her with his blazing mako eyes.
"Yeah Brat! Sit your ass down before you do something stupid again!"
Yuffie said nothing to Barret or Cloud as she sat back down next to Vincent. The hurt and embarrassment was apparent in her eyes. However, no one in the room seemed to notice her pain over the little incident, or so she believed.
Time passed slowly as everyone waited impatiently for Shera to come out of the bedroom. The Turks finally departed and day was drawing to a close. Tifa fell asleep on Cloud's strong shoulder as the others glared blankly into the open space.
A light sound of someone turning a brass doorknob and the unanimous response it gave was quite apparent with anxiety and hope. A brunette made her way quietly into the living room and nodded her head in recognition.
"He will survive I believe. He just needs his rest in order for the medicine to work through his system."
"Can we see him?" Cloud asked; a hint of relief played on his features.
The technician gently shook her head. "You may later. He needs his rest and so do you. I know you must be exhausted from your journey. I'm afraid I only have two spare rooms upstairs. I hope you guys can improvise for the time being." Shera smiled before retreating back to the occupied bedroom.
Cloud nodded to the exhausted group gently pulling Tifa into a cradle-like embrace and signaled for the others to follow his lead by the claustrophobic stairway. Turning to a very annoyed Barret and Red Cloud whispered to them. "Take the first room, while Vincent and Yuffie sleep in the other."
"But where will you and Tifa be sleeping?" Red gazed at him questionably.
"I'm going to rent a room in the inn for us. It won't be any trouble and I have the gil so don't worry, you guys need to sleep. Now, if you wish to change sleeping arrangements then by all means go ahead I'm too tired to think right now. We'll return in the morning to see how he's doing. Until then, goodnight and sleep tight!" Cloud smirked as he and the dreaming Tifa made their exit.
"Well, duz anyone got objections?" Barret looked to the small band of tattered Heroes.
Yuffie said nothing in protest to sleeping near a vampire again she couldn't… Red held no disapproval to the arrangements either. Barret glanced to the brooding gunman hidden in the shadows. "Vince, you got any objections?"
Vincent glared at the dark man and shook his dusky mane. The gunman paused a moment before acknowledging his journey to the vacant room with his companion for the night. Brushing past Barret and the lion known as Nanaki he politely ushered the fatigued girl inside *their* room.
Barret flaunted his apparent confusion to his bed buddy for the night with the look of *what the hell just happened? Did that really just…no! *
Yuffie stood in the center of the cramped room and looked to Vincent for an answer. "Vinnie, I'll take the wood chair over there you can have the bed this time."
His luminous eyes gazed into hers as if for a moment portraying some foreign emotion in the sanguine ruby depths. Vincent exhaled deeply and moved to the chair for his answer.
"Vinnie, really you can sleep over there, I don't need to be babied, you know?" She mumbled and raised an irritated dark brow to her companion.
"I'm far from babying you Yuffie Kisaragi, now go to sleep before I make you."
Yuffie snorted at his strange command. "And how are you gonna do that? Tie me down? Knock me out? Don't make me laugh Vinnie!"
Vincent unhooked his cape and dropped it to the ground for effect. The morose man held something shiny in his balled human fist as he waltzed over to her. A brief smile appeared on his gaunt face, one word "Sleep." as Yuffie fell into his stalwart hold.
****
The former AVALANCHE leader known commonly as Barret stared blankly at the wooden floor lost in thought and apparently aggravated. Could it be? No way! Impossible! Absolutely nothing going on between them, right? How could there be? Merely impractical that someone like Vincent Valentine could sustain feelings for another woman. Especially the young lady the burly man had claimed as his other daughter.
The gunman could no longer take the random questioning inside his psyche he needed to talk to someone and who better than an intelligent Red?
"Hey Cat get your red ass over here, we need to talk." The burly gunman whispered.
Red lazily got up from his bed on the floor and made his way to Barret. "What do you wish to discuss Barret, I was about to get some rest, you know?"
"Keep your trap shut on this Cat, awright?"
"Scout's honor, now what is it?" Red looked at Barret tiredly.
"Did you see how Vince jus ushered her in, without complainin' I mean, I thought he'd like object to stayin' in a room with her. I would and you too right?"
Red barked with mirthful laughter. "You got me over here just do ask me that?! Barret, are you insinuating there's something going on between them? If so, it's not our business, now is it my foul-mouth friend?"
"Cat, I ain't insinuating nothing! Look at 'em! He practically clings to the girl like some kind of lapdog! Not, that's it's bad…but still Vince liking someone else? I must say I'm quite shocked it'd be someone like Yuffs."
"Barret, you suggest offhand things that does not concern us, now if you do not mind I would like to commence to sleep." Red gently yawned and made his way back to his place on the wooden floor leaving Barret to ponder on the comrades next door.
****
Cloud knocked the wooden door open with his foot and tiredly placed his sleeping wife on the soft mattress. The exhausted leader closed the door and collapsed on the bed immediately not even caring to get inside the sheets.
The young man was almost asleep before a gentle hand lightly caressed his warm face. Mako-enhanced eyes glanced jadedly at his beautiful wife in concern.
"What is it Tifa? Is something wrong?"
Tifa smiled and pulled him closer to her. "Cloud you worry too much! I'm fine I just want to know where are we? This is not Cid's house. Did I miss something while I was asleep?"
"There was no room for anyone else to board up so I let Vincent and Yuffie take our room for the night."
The brunette suddenly giggled to herself much to Cloud's surprise. "What so funny about that?"
Tifa shook her head at her husband's apparent stupidity and kissed him. "Nothing dear, just go to sleep, alright?"
"Is there something I missed?"
"No, there's nothing. It's just you look so cute when you're tired!"
"Tired?" Cloud smirked as he got on top of her. "I'll show you how tired I really am!"
"Tonight? Come on, it's late." Tifa smiled evilly.
"That's never stopped us before, right?"
"Well no, but…"
"No buts. Can you or are you too tired?" Cloud teased with a girly voice.
"Hey! Don't imply I'm girly! I'll show you how girly I really am Mister Cloud Scott Strife!"
"Ooh, you just said my full name, now I know you're serious!"
Tifa pulled him closer to him and ruffled his hair with her free hand. "I'm serious but let us put that aside for another day right now we need to sleep."
Cloud gave her a puppy-like face but nodded and lay next to her with his arms around her. "Goodnight Tifa." He whispered as he placed a small kiss on her forehead and drifted off to sleep.
Tifa smiled at her husband's sleeping form as she closed her eyes. *Dear, dear Cloud, don't you realize what's happening? You're so cute when you don't know what's going on and I love you for it. Maybe one day you'll see what I was talking about. Until then sweet dreams Baby! *
****
Blue eyes opened to the sleeping world and in utter soreness. The retinas finally focused allowing the proprietor to see clearly. A throbbing intervened in the man's skull as he shifted to position himself in a sitting position. A left hand came in contact with his gruff face as he rubbed the exhaustion from his eyes. *What the hell happened? I feel like shit! * The man questioned himself. After much heartache and deliberation. The valiant pilot known as Cid was finally awake.
"Hey Vincent! Brat! Wake up! Get your lazy asses downstairs! He's awake!" Barret rapped on the wooden door.
Yuffie opened her exhausted eyes and hesitantly sat up in the large bed. Glancing over blurred eyes focused on the crimson clad man who had apparently gotten ready before Barret's wake up call. Red eyes acknowledged her as he got up from his seated position and walked near her.
"I will be downstairs with everyone. When you are ready to come down be sure close the window. I left it open last night."
Yuffie nodded to Vincent's odd request as she seen him leave her. The brunette lifted herself out of the bed timidly and strolled over to the opened window. She gasped at what saw. The beautiful horizon collided with iridescent stars from twilight. The entire scene was breathtaking and Yuffie absorbed its lavish exuberance. Why had he wished her to see this magnificent sight? Maybe he only wanted her to lock the pained window but she thoroughly doubted it. But why had he then? Vincent never acted without a reason or cause. Maybe he was just being nice? Yuffie knew better, it was something more than just being kind or asking a favor.
Whatever the reason Yuffie turned her attention back to the small room and rummaged through her small bag. Before long she would need to get a new set of clothing to pack. She finally found a decent top and a pair of loose kaki jeans and replaced them with her tattered old ones. Glancing at herself in the wall mirror the teenager made her way downstairs ready for a barrage of profanities from her comrades.
****
"Well, how does it feel to be back in the living world?" Cloud questioned the smoking man.
"Fucking peachy! I feel like taking a round the world flight right now!" Cid barked with apparent laughter.
"Cid, you do not need to be smoking right now. You may have a relapse." Shera pulled the cigarette out of his mouth and trashed it.
"Damn it Shera I just wake up and I don't get at least one smoke?! Woman!" Cid quarreled.
"Don't 'Woman' me! You're going to take it easy before I am forced to tie you down Cedric Highwind!"
"Cedric?" Barret snickered.
"Yes Cedric! You god a fucking problem with my name Wallace?!"
"No, I jus didn't know you're real name was…Cedric!" The dark man derided.
Cid huffed and turned his attention to the others. "So, you guys pulled my ass out of the brink of death? How sweet of you! When I get better I'll give you all a hug!" Cid made giddy gesture.
"Don't overexert yourself Cid, you may have a reversion if you move around a lot right now." Red growled.
"Red, I'm fine! It takes more than some kind of rare disease to off me! 'Sides where's the brat at? I don't see her."
Vincent stepped forward from the corner he stood in and looked at his comrade. "Yuffie will be down momentarily. She's still upstairs getting dressed."
"And how would you know that Vince?" Cid smirked.
Vincent stared at the smoking aviator with a neutral face. "Because, I seen her this morning before Barret woke us up."
"Woke you up? You two slept together?! Did I miss something while I was on the verge of death?!"
Vincent kept his unbiased visage to the pilot and said nothing. The gunman only shook his head in response as Yuffie opened the door.
"Cid! I can't believe you're awake!" Yuffie smiled and hugged the man tightly. "I'm so happy that you're okay!"
"Thanks. Now, will you get off of me? I'm afraid I'll die if you cut off my circulation!" Cid smirked at the girl and patted her on the back before she released her grip on him.
Yuffie smiled as she backed into the crowd next to Tifa. "Yuffie," A voice said behind her.
"Yes?" She asked as she turned to Cloud. "You have a phone call…it's Shake."
****
The teenager stood in the living room alone with the tiny black handheld phone in hand her stormy eyes wide with shock and disbelief. "Are you certain? All right, I'll be there as soon as I can. Shake…no…calm down! Wait until I get there okay? Now, just wait until then. No problem, bye."
Yuffie rubbed her face frustration as she entered Cid's room and gave the group a staid look. "I have to go home something's happened so I guess I'll see everyone later."
"What happened Yuffie? Do you need us to help?" Mako-eyes questioned her.
"Cloud, I can handle it on my own; I just need to leave right now." Yuffie chucked the PHS to her leader.
Cloud shook his head and returned it. "Take it just in case you need us."
"Okay." The ninja nodded as she stood in threshold of the door. "Thanks guys and Cid don't die on me alright?" Yuffie smiled and turned as a hand grabbed her arm.
"Vincent, did you need something before I left?" Blue eyes inquired to her holder.
"How are you going to get there?"
"I um…well, I haven't figured that out yet."
"Hey Yuff, we can drop you off with the Highwind." Cloud suggested.''
"Hey! You just brought my *baby* back!" Cid chuckled. "Take her if the Brat needs to get home but bring it back in one piece will you?"
"Cid, what do you think we're kids? Of course it will in one piece!" Tifa grinned.
"Okay, take her then…sniff…I'll miss her!"
Cloud nodded to pilot in gratitude. "We'll be back as soon we can."
Shera and Cid waved the group off by the window as the massive airship took to the sky once again. Cid smiled as his ship sailed off into the Rocket Town sunset. "Shera, it's great to be in the Land of the Living once again. I never thought I would miss it!"
"Cid, I honestly thought the worst might happen if we did not find that cure. I was so worried." Shera smiled as a tear escaped from her eye.
The rugged pilot wiped the saltine droplet away from her pallid face. "Shera, you don't have to worry anymore. It'll be a while before I kick the can and go to the great chain-smoking airfield in the sky! And you'll be there…handing me a wrench while I cuss at my ship!" Cid smiled at her.
"You honestly think that?"
"Oh course Babe! Hell, if you weren't there I'd cuss and vamp until I got my way! Besides, I…I…" Cid hesitated.
"You what?"
"Damn it Shera, you're not making this easy on me!"
"Cid, what did I do?" Brown eyes pleaded.
"You made me…love you! There…I said it…whew…now don't get all mushy on me all right? I cannot stand hysterics and women crying!"
Shera blushed. "Why Mr. Highwind, I never believed I would have such an impact on you!"
"Well…you did…happy?" Cid smirked and cast his eyes to the ground.
"Very!"
"Well…come on…we need to um…fix that ShinRa car that's in the garage. I have been meaning to for almost a decade now. I believe it's a good time to start, right?"
"Cid, the car is fixed. Remember you repaired it last summer?"
"It still needs check-up…perhaps ahem…search and recover."
Brown eyes widened as she got the meaning. "You wouldn't dare!"
"Babe, let's go fix the car now! I need some assistance!" Cid leered.
"You're still not fully recovered though. What if you have a relapse?"
"Sugar, I don't give a damn! Now come I wanna work on the engine and see if I can make it run to the fullest!"
"Alright, but if you pass-out on me…I'll be certain to strap you down until you are fully well!"
"Ooh getting aggressive, aren't we? I rarely see that side of you! Come on!" Cid grabbed her hand and led her to the abandoned garage.
****
Wisps of orange clouds passed by the roaring airship as it headed to its apparent destination. No one seemed to notice the magnificent horizon but a very airsick ninja. Even on the brink of vomiting her lunch over the bridge Yuffie could still be amazed by the sunset. She loosely gripped the bars as another phase of nausea flooded her senses. She did not notice the slamming of the bridge door someone paced over to her. "Yuffie, are you okay?"
"Tifa? Is that you? I feel so sick that I cannot function right. Sorry."
The martial artist shook her head. "Don't be silly, you do not need to be sorry. I have a confession to make."
Yuffie lifted her heard and turned to Tifa. "And what would that be?"
"I used to be in the same boat as you…actually worse! I'd loose my lunch the moment we go on board anything that moved!"
"And how did you stop throwing up?"
"Who says I didn't?" Tifa chuckled.
"I never see you barfing!" Yuffie yelled as she leaned over the railing again.
"I did the first time I was on here! I believe you grow out of it because I did after I got used to moving around a lot. Um, there is something else I need to tell you…"
"Other helpful advice? Go on Tifa tell me before I pass out."
"It's been decided that someone will stay with you after all. You know, just in case you need our help one of us will be there."
"Is it you?"
Tifa shook her head. "No, I have to watch Cloud! He cannot function without me at times, if you get what I mean!"
Yuffie nodded trying not to laugh at her friend's dirty comment. "So, who is it?"
"I'll let him tell you. Oh, it's almost time to land, be ready Yuffie!"
"Okay…but who is it? Tifa, tell me!" Yuffie whined.
"Hold on, I'll get him. You can argue with him if you wish but Yuff, he's going with you! It doesn't matter if you disagree or not!"
Yuffie closed her blue eyes as she heard the door close and within seconds reopened. Metal clinking was heard on the bridge's wooden floor. The brunette did not turn to see who her visitor was.
"Tifa, I'm going to pass out just tell me who it is!"
"I'm not Tifa." A dark voice whispered in her ear.
Hazy eyes stared into crimson sober ones in shock. "Vin…Vincent? What are you doing here?"
"I was informed by Tifa to come up here. It seems that I had to tell you something."
"I already know. Lemme guess you're the one who's staying with me right?"
"Correct."
"Vincent, I can handle my problems! You don't need to help me since it's out of your way."
"Yuffie, it's not out of my way." Vincent stared at her neutrally.
Yuffie shook her head and looked over the railing once more before feeling weak. She closed her glazed eyes and hunched over the railing losing all control of posture. She was fading fast as the conscious world diminished from her physical grasp. She barely felt the muscular arms snake around her waist and pull her back from the metal bars.
Yuffie sighed and finally lost all perception of her surroundings not knowing that Vincent held her tightly against his stalwart form. The gunman perched the sleeping girl over his shoulder and grabbed their bags with the other hand.
"Are you sure you have everything Vincent?" Red asked with concern.
"I have every adequate material needed."
Cloud nodded. "Good, if you need us you have the PHS. We'll be here immediately if you call."
"Alright, now it seems you need to get back to your residential areas. Yuffie and I shall be fine."
"Yeah, it's time to go. Okay, well we'll see you guys later then I guess." Cloud waved as the crew boarded the Highwind once more and left the couple behind.
Vincent exhaled deeply as he carried his unconscious companion into the quite Wutianese town. Shake's little problem would have to wait until Yuffie was awake. The dark man would not bother to wake her for such frivolities her cousin got into with his gambling. It was quite an advantage to have enhanced hearing when coming to private conversations.
The stoic man was stared at by many of the residents, as he passed them swiftly not that he truly cared what they thought of him. Truth be told, he could concern himself less.
He opened the ninja's pagoda door with ease and shut it behind him abruptly. Laying the bags down by the door Vincent gently placed Yuffie onto a mat and pulled a sheet over her tiny form. The morose man watched her sleep as tiny breaths escaped her. He closed his magnificent ruby orbs and bent down near her.
He hesitantly placed a gloved human hand on her cheek and traced its intricate indentions. The smooth skin felt welcoming under his callous touch. Vincent sighed inwardly at the interaction between them as he caressed her angelic cheek. * What in Odin am I doing?! I'm touching here without permission! I can't do this! But why…does it feel so…right? * Vincent inwardly thought as Yuffie subconsciously moved closer to him.
He hastily removed his hand from her face and got up. She had almost caught him doing something he had not done in years…touching another human.
Vincent inwardly scolded himself for such behavior he had just conducted onto his partner. How could he? The ex-Turk was almost three times her age, and possibly very well become portrayed as her father in the eyes of many. He could not do this to her. She did not deserve the likes of a monster such as himself and he would be damned if the demon within destroyed her.
The gunman sat down in a vacant chair and shut his eyes once more allowing unwanted memories to flood his senses and he loosing all control…
Owari! Ah! Chapter 10! Finally right? Sorry for the long wait for everyone who is reading this and Jason, I didna kill Cid! Anyhoo, Chapter11, should very well be up soon…hopefully that is. Damn art projects and staying after school! Please tell me how ya like it so far! Till then ta-ta! ^_*