::Hey Ya'll! Would've gotten this chapter to you sooner but the loss of internet in my dorm room sorta prevented it. I left you with a nasty cliff hanger last time *dodges various thrown objects*, but I'm back to add more to the doom and toil! So it's all good :) . Anywho, enjoy, reviews are appreciated as well as constructive criticism.

Disclaimer: I own no Final Fantasy Characters! Mae, Reixez and all other original characters or story concepts are mine! Touch them and you will never touch again! And yes I was referring to cutting your hand off...

Lots of you were asking about Mae, well here's your answer... ::

Chapter 12

Pain clouded Mae's senses as she felt the blade break through the protective bone in her chest. Breathing seemed harder then before, and warm liquid was obstructing her air ways. She tried to cough it up, but more seemed to replace it.

Vincent watched as Mae stumbled back. A spray of blood spewed from her mouth, a pathetically weak cough shaking her form. Her beautiful eyes, alight with passion only moments ago were now dull and pleading as they locked with his. The moment seemed to slow, frozen as her eyes sent messages of pain and regret to him before rolling back into her head. She fell, her head lolling to the side, blood snaking down her pale face.

Vincent couldn't even reach for her, tears stinging his eyes and fury burning his throat. He turned to Yuffie, his eyes ferocious, hungering for the blood of the one who did this. His pupils contracted to slits, Chaos tearing through his mind screaming for carnage and revenge, but still to weak to take over Vincent after transforming so recently.

The growl that tore from his throat was brutish and animalistic. Though Chaos could not make him transform, he could still lend him strength and savage instinct.

Yuffie cowered at the hostility directed at her. Her rage and jealousy all but forgotten as Vincent slowly stalked towards her. She whimpered and reached for another weapon. A quick check yielded nothing but a materia band with a few status materia and a cure. All of her powerful materia were lodged in her weapon which happened to be lodged in Mae.

Damnit! she thought as Vincent's form grew closer. He seemed so much taller as he stood over her, menacing and violent. He pulled back his fist and Yuffie ducked, barely avoiding the shot. She bounded away, dodging two more crazed blows. She felt a small sting and looked down to see her leg had a decent sized scratch in it.

He gaze shot back up to Vincent who was flexing his clawed hand and bearing his elongated fanged teeth at her. Under normal circumstances she would have found his vampire like fangs dead sexy, but faced with them when he was out of his mind with anger they were down right scary.

Why was he so angry anyway? He couldn't have cared about the stupid little slut anyway. Yuffie was much more desirable then that demon's whore. No doubt Reixez had already taken Mae's body for himself numerous times, though she couldn't see what the big deal about her was anyway. She was just a skinny little whore who could barely use a sword.

Yuffie was a proud warrior descended from a line of top notch ninja! Vincent would surely be happier with her then that little cunt bleeding on the floor.

A plan started to form in Yuffie's mind. Vincent couldn't want what wasn't there, could he… And seeing as she was already dead he wouldn't have much to miss anyway…

Yuffie waited until Vincent was towering over her again before raising the arm with her materia band.

"Sleep!" she said with as much force as she could muster. Her voice shook in her fear. The spell settled over Vincent, making his eyes glaze with fatigue. He stumbled back, shaking his head as if to ward off the spell. "Sleep!" The spell settled over him again, making Vincent fall to the ground on one knee.

"N-no…" he whispered, fighting off the heavy weight of sleep. Mae lay cold and still not to far from him. He stared at the blood covering her small body and started to cry. He couldn't help it. His heart felt like it was ripping in two, and he couldn't even take revenge for her. Couldn't even find the strength to fight off the spell long enough to crawl to her, just to hold her, see if she was still alive.

"Mae…" his voice was strangled with agony as he toppled over. He reached his arm out to her, his finger lightly grazing her cheek. Yuffie leaned over him, her eyes softened with her love for him.

"Sleep," she said softly. Vincent felt the warm tears still running down his face even as the spell pulled him into blackened oblivion.


"Yuffie! Didn't I tell you to leave those two alone…?" Cid stopped dead in his tracks. Yuffie was leaning over Mae's body holding a bloodied shuriken that had obviously been imbedded in the woman a few moments prior.

Cid's jaw hung open, his mind unable to form words suitable for the situation in front of him. Mae was lying still, her skin deathly pale. Vincent was lying across from her, not moving, but Cid noted the slow rise and fall of his chest. He was still alive. Mae however…

"It's not what it looks like," Yuffie said calmly. Far to calm for Cid's frazzled nerves to handle.

"What the fuck do you mean, 'it's not what it looks like'? It's exactly what it looks like you miserable fucking-"

"She attacked him!" Yuffie cut in.

"Bull fucking shit Yuffie! You killed her! You actually fucking… killed her…" Cid's voice broke and the gravity of what he said hit him.

Yuffie watched the sadness over the loss of Mae's life cross over the pilot's face and felt her anger start to simmer once again. What the fuck was so goddamned special about her! Why did they care so much about some little girl who can't kill one man and is to pathetic to protect anyone let alone herself! Yuffie was a warrior and had helped save the planet once already. Hell, she just saved Vincent from the clutches of the corrupt little bitch right now hadn't she?

Cid looked back to Yuffie, whose face betrayed none of the turbulent emotions coursing through her body. She actually had a little smirk on her face.

"You're wrong Cid…"

At first Cid thought she meant Mae was still alive, but Yuffie quickly clarified.

"I saved Vincent from her. She attacked him, right in front of me! What else could I do? Her eyes got all funny and she went after him… it was all I could do to fight her off…" Yuffie's eyes got a little strange. The more she talked, the crazier she looked. Desperate almost. Not for Cid to believe her, but more so she could convince herself.

Cid watched her carefully, very aware that he had left Venus Gospel up in his room. Damn him for letting down his guard! He couldn't have predicted this particular situation, but they were all supposed to be ready at all times, just in case Reixez dropped in for a visit.

Yuffie wiped the blood from her shuriken on her short shorts and tucked it haphazardly in her pouch. Cid didn't fail to note that the latch was left unhooked. She moved to pick up Vincent but Cid pulled a small pocket knife from his boot.

"Stay away from him Yuffie." He tried to make his voice sound intimidating, but instead it sounded hollow and raspy. Without taking his eyes off of her he moved over to Mae's body and felt lightly along her neck for a pulse.

Yuffie watched the pilot; her normally bright brown eyes were black and cold. She did not move to take Vincent. Instead she waited.

Cid had almost given up on a pulse when a faint movement, a murmur of life, alerted him that Mae was still alive. Thanking all the gods he could think of, Cid used the cure materia stuck in his pocket for emergencies repeatedly on Mae. Every time he used it the black anger in Yuffie grew, her eyes glittering with unspent fury.

Sensing this, Cid stopped long enough to call for help. "Cloud! Tifa! Get your asses in here! NOW!" Yuffie immediately donned her mask again and sat calmly on the floor, her ebony eyes as placid as a lake on a day with no wind. Completely and utterly blank. Cid found this more disturbing then her anger.

Cloud burst through the doors, his stance rigid from the hint of desperation in Cid's voice. Tifa followed moments later. They both took in the scene and in seconds Tifa was casting cure spells and Cloud was cautiously edging towards Yuffie and Vincent.

"Yuffie… is Vincent hurt?" he asked monotonously.

"No, I stopped her before she could hurt him. She knocked him out though. He probably has a big old goose egg on his head now." Her smile didn't reach her eyes and the humor in her voice was empty. Cloud felt a chill run up his spine.

"Why don't you let me check…?" Yuffie let her dead smile drop away from her face.

"I already checked him."

Cloud held up his hand. "I still think it would be best if I make sure…"

"I said I already checked him." The hostility in her voice threw him, but Cloud wasn't going to back down.

"And I said I want to make sure." His voice was hard and the look in his eyes even harder.

Yuffie didn't appreciate that, nor did she appreciate the way his hands started roaming around her Vincent. Cloud pointedly ignored her, confident that she would not be openly hostile towards him with Tifa and Cid so close.

Vincent had no apparent injuries, and there wasn't even a bump on his head. A sneaking suspicion tugged at the edge of Cloud's mind. He held his bangle up to Vincent and one of the materia stared to glow.

"Status magic…"

"You're right…" Yuffie said softly. Cloud hadn't even heard her move. Yuffie softly laid her hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear. "Confuse."

Cid looked up from Mae to see Yuffie hovering over Cloud. "Cloud?" he said warily. Cloud turned around.

"Yes?" Yuffie slunk back to her previous spot and ran her hands through Vincent's hair, reveling in the soft silky texture.

"I was just… uh… How's Vincent?" he finished lamely. Cloud shrugged.

"Seems fine to me," he said standing up. "Looks like he's got a bit of a bump on his head. Yuffie was telling the truth." Yuffie hid her smile as she toyed with Vincent's hair.

Cid narrowed his eyes. "I don't know Cloud, don't you think-"

"I think we should get them both up to the infirmary and ask Vincent about it when he wakes up," he said with an air of irritation.

"Yeah… sure."

Tifa watched the exchanged with trepidation. Something wasn't right. She watched a secretive smile curl across Yuffie's face. Tifa placed her hands on Cid's arm. He looked away from Cloud, confusion etched onto his stubbly face. She locked eyes with him. A mental message passed from her to him and she allowed her eyes to dart to Yuffie and back to him. Realization dawned in his eyes, visual only by the slight widening of his pupils.

Relieved Tifa turned back to Cloud. "Cloud, honey, what do you say you and Cid carry Vincent up to the infirmary and get him into one of the beds there?" Cloud blinked slowly at her then nodded.

Cid quickly walked over to pick up Vincent's feet, careful to stay away from Yuffie. Cloud seemed unsure how to react to this, staring for a moment at the pilot before going over and picking Vincent's upper half up from the ground. Yuffie touched him lightly on the shoulder, her lips making barely perceptible movements. Cloud's movements became more confident as he and Cid carted Vincent off to the infirmary.

Tifa still hovered over Mae, who was now breathing in short labored gasps. The internal damage was still eating away at her, but Tifa knew that she would live. Even though she wanted to continue to cure her, she refrained from action.

Yuffie watched the long haired woman across from her. Tifa's big brown eyes were locked onto her, but they held no hostility. Yuffie would be careful. Tifa was a warrior, much like herself and would beat Yuffie in hand to hand combat. Though Yuffie had her shuriken, Tifa knew how to disarm her, and her weapon was with her at all times.

No, attacking her head on was not an option. The older woman would be ready for that. What she needed was a distraction. A way to bring down the woman's defenses long enough for her to disable her, even kill her if she got the chance. Her musings were interrupted by a small movement from her opponent. Yuffie jumped at the slight motion, and instantly was on guard.

"Do you love him Yuffie?" Yuffie was not expecting that, of all things, and it threw her off guard. Tifa watched the younger woman, watched the confusion eat away the nervous anger in her eyes; watched the black flicker for a moment to brown again.

"Love him? Vincent?"

Tifa inclined her head, her friendly brown eyes never leaving that of the ninja's.

Yuffie found she could not look away from the other woman's eyes either.

"Of course I love him," she answered without hesitation.

"If you love him why would you hurt someone he cared about?"

"I told you she attacked him." Yuffie thought her voice sounded sure, infallible, but Tifa detected a flaw. An ounce of uncertainty.

"Yuffie," Tifa said with a sad smile, "How long have we been friends? You can tell me the truth… I already know it." Yuffie felt the black anger taking over her again.

"You know nothing." Her voice was hard, cold and bubbling with ferocity. Tifa's smile widened. Yuffie snarled, wanted to smack that damn smile right off her pretty little face.

But why? a small voice in her mind said. She's only stating the truth… Yuffie felt the anger die suddenly. It was true. Tifa had always been a good friend. The only other female presence in the group since Aeris' death those few long years ago. It was only natural that they bonded. They'd shared stories of childhood adventures, love and love lost, secrets…

Some part of her brain was screaming at her that it was a trap, mind manipulation, but another part was saying softly, listen to her.

"If you love him, don't you want him to be happy?"

Yuffie pondered this. The war of emotions making her eyes dance from black to brown, her mind in a frenzied turmoil.

One part of her mind screamed, He can only be happy with me!

The other simply stated, What if he can't?

Tifa waited patiently for Yuffie to come to her senses, even though a part of her knew that it wouldn't be this easy. No, couldn't be this easy. Her suspicions were justified when Yuffie looked down to the floor.

"He can only be happy with me…" she said monotonously. When she looked up, it was a jerky mechanical motion. "Only with me!" she hollered and leapt at Tifa.


Cloud and Cid entered the infirmary, which was a small room with three old beds and a stack of medical supplies near each. The beds were in pretty sad shape, but luckily the medical supplies were a bit more up to date.

Cloud placed Vincent's head on the pillow of the nearest bed and looked up at Cid who had just unceremoniously tossed Vincent's legs onto the same rickety old bed. He rubbed his cigarette on the bed post, threw it into a nearby trash can and calmly lit another. His casual adaptation of his fighting stance did not throw the stoic look from Cloud's face. He didn't seem phased in the least.

Cid watched as he slowly drew his very large sword and held it carefully at his side. "Are you going to let that little girl control you Cloud?"

Cloud didn't respond. Didn't even move.

Cid sighed. "You're going to make me do this the hard way aren't you?"

"…."

Cid laughed ruefully. "Of course you are! I'm not armed, you aren't fighting the spell, and you're very armed. What god did I manage to piss off?"

Cloud responded by taking very slow steady steps towards Cid and lifting his sword so it was parallel to his body.

"Whoa! Let's not do this in here spiky!" he said glancing at Vincent nervously. Cloud didn't listen. Cid managed to duck under the monstrous sword. Cloud struck at him with blinding speed, the air from the swing blowing open the door behind the cowering pilot. "Shit!" Cid ground his teeth.

Cloud stood over him, his face as cold and uncaring as a statue. He pulled his sword up above his head with slow deliberate movements, but Cid did not misunderstand their intent. He turned tail and dove for the door, the sword a blur as it descended breaking open the floor. Wood splintered and cracked, flying into the air.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck," Cid chanted as he ran for his room. Cloud was beside him in moments, "FUCK!" This time Cloud's fist came at him first, Cid ducked under the blow, practically tripping over himself trying to get down the hall way. Three doors away lay his salvation. Three measly doors.

An iron wall descended in front of him, cutting off the tip of his cigarette. Cid's mouth fell open and the other half fell to the ground. Cloud's pale face was unmoving as he lifted the sword again. Cid thought it appropriate to liken it to death's pale face. No wonder so many creatures had cowered from him in battle. Cid hadn't thought much of it, them being on the same side and all, but he could almost understand why now. Not that he really wanted this eye opener. He would have been happy not knowing how scary his ally could be when faced with his glare in battle.

"Cloud…" he said with a hint of fear. Again, with deliberate slowness the mercenary raised his sword.

Cid rolled from under the blade, amazed by the speed of the strike, and caught off guard by the follow up slice that cost him a few precious hairs from the top of his head.

"Shit!" Plaster and paint flew from the walls as Cloud's sword sliced through them like butter. "God damnit Cloud! Wake the fuck up!"

His sword still in the wall, Cloud looked up dispassionately at Cid's startled countenance. He stood up straight and went to pull his sword from the wall. It didn't move. Cloud turned and placed his other hand on the hilt to remove it from the thick beam it was lodged in.

Cid saw his chance and practically broke his door down to get to his beloved Venus Gospel. The moment he laid hands on it, a creaky groan and the sound of wood breaking wood alerted him that Cloud's sword was free. Cid turned to the door as Cloud's light foot steps echoed down the hall.

Cid took inventory on what materia he had. There was his cure materia, a bolt materia, two summon materia, and a few other materia that would be useless in this situation. He felt his panic rising as the foot steps stopped, Cloud's figure standing just outside his door.

Cid ran his fingers over the materia slots in his weapon anxiously. He could have sworn he had a heal materia equipped… A green glint in the corner of the room caught his eye. Cid's eyes darted over to the location before going back to Cloud, who had just stepped into the room, his sword pointed directly at Cid. He was done playing.

Just as Cloud pulled back his sword to jab at Cid, the pilot dove for the small night stand the little green orb was sitting on. The confused blonde mercenary wasted no time in slicing Cid's exposed back open. The pilot howled in pain, but still managed to get his hands on the small green orb, flipping himself over midair and shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Esuna!" Cloud had poised his sword for the death blow, had even started the descent into the final strike, but, but to the pilot's immense relief, he stopped mid swing. Cid opened his eyes to look up into Cloud's very confused eyes.

"What…?"

Cid smiled and laid his head against the worn thin carpet. He'd have to replace it now that he was bleeding all over it.

"It's about time you came to your senses!" the pilot boomed loudly.

:: Cid's Thoughts... "I'm to old for this..."

Hehe.

REVIEW! No seriously. I was enjoying all the reviews from the last chapter, even though I had to practically kill someone to get them... I'll do it again! And not bring them back... ::