Ninja And The Demon – Chapter 21
Hotaru General
"Vincent Valentine, what in the hell are you doing?" Tifa yelled, dashing out of the pagoda after the gunman.
He did not stop, his eyes fixed on the road ahead of him as he walked toward the city gates with his guns back in their holsters. "I am doing what I should have done long ago."
"And what would that be?" Cloud roared, catching up.
"Letting her go."
Aerith was the next to catch up to the gunman, and her normally kind green eyes were infuriated. She grabbed a hold of his arm in attempts to stop him, but it didn't follow through like she had hoped. "Are you insane? She's the best thing that's ever happened to you!"
"I'm aware of that," Vincent replied, "But I knew that it was too good to be true. There was no possible way that Godo would allow us to be together – I should have seen that, and now my foolish hopes of happily ever after have backfired. Now my mistake is causing us both pain, and I'm fixing it the only way I know how."
Sephiroth shook his head in disgust, grabbing his friend by the shoulder, spinning him around and glaring into crimson eyes. "Who are you?"
The gunman blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Who are you and what have you done with Vincent Valentine?" The general asked, repeating his question. "The man I know wouldn't dream of letting someone besides Yuffie tell him what to do. He would find a way to win and come out on top, to make sure that nothing went wrong, one that never gives up. Where is he… because I want him back."
Vincent was silent for a moment. "Even if I could do something, what would it be? I can't just crash a wedding-"
A loud laugh boomed out from behind the group, and they all turned to look at who was listening in on their rather loud conversation.
Three people in blue suits stood there, each every different from the others. The one on the right was easily the shortest, and had light, cropped blonde hair that framed a delicate face. Her petite figure showed that she was a dainty and girly kind of woman, but her hard eyes betrayed her visage. The man on the left was a very threatening figure with his height and dark sunglasses. He arms were folded across his chest, and his bald head shone in what light came through the clouds. But the one in the middle was a true character with his spiky red hair, aqua blue eyes, scars beneath both eye, and a devilish grin plastered onto his face with a mag rod tapping against his padded shoulder.
"So… something needs to be crashed? When and where? I'm all over it."
Surprisingly, Sephiroth laughed. "Oh you've got to be kidding me! Reno? What are you doing here?"
"We're supposed to be guarding the Lady Yuffie's wedding." The woman replied, cutting the red head off. "But, judging by your conversation, that's not exactly what you want done…"
"You want us to help ruin it." The bald man finished, his eyes unreadable by his dark sunglasses.
The general nodded. "Exactly. Feel up to the challenge?"
The man named Reno grinned, putting his cigarette out on the paved street. "Bring it on man, I'm ready to go."
Sephiroth grinned, "That's what I like to hear." Looking around, he spotted bar and ushered everyone inside without a second thought. This conversation needed to be carried out where there wasn't a big chance they would be overheard…
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Now that they were seated, Reno lost his cockiness and looked Sephiroth dead in the eye. "Alright, so what's going on?"
"Introductions first." The bald man said, looking at each of the group in turn.
"Right." The general said. "Aerith," He said, pointing to the flower girl, "Tifa," pointing to the wine eyed beauty on her right, "Cloud," pointing to the blonde, "and Vincent." He finished, leaving the dark gunman to give the three newcomers a nod.
"Guys, these are the three top Turks – some of my closest pals." Sephiroth explained. "This is Elena," He said, pointing to the woman, "Reno, as you know," He said, waving at the aqua eyed stud, "And Rude." He said, the table falling into a hushed silence.
"I guess we should start with why we're here." The general continued, breaking the tense situation. "Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, and I first met Vincent when he came into Costa del Sol with Yuffie. You could say they're an item, and they're going to stay that way." He said, glaring at the gunman out of the corner of his eye. "We were summoned here, and discovered that Yuffie was to be wed at the end of the week. Vincent here decides that all is lost and leaves, where we run into you."
"Anything before that?" Rude asked, processing the story in a matter of seconds.
Sephiroth looked at Vincent, not knowing anything before Costa del Sol. The gunman sighed. "Nothing of importance. Before we met up with the rest of the gang, Yuffie and I met each other, and… connected."
Rude nodded, satisfied with the answer. Elena leaned back in her chair, looking at the general. "So what do you want us to do?"
"Help us ruin the big day." Tifa answered, "I would rather die than see Yuffie married off to some guy that she's never met. She's meant to be with Vincent, and that's that."
Reno shook his head. "As much as I would love to help you, I really don't want to lose my job. Seph, I'm sorry, but I really do have to make a living, even if it is as a Turk. Our orders was to protect the wedding, not crash it."
Sephiroth slammed a fist onto the table, but the bar didn't notice, much to his relief. "Reno, of all the times you have to be a stickler for the rules! Help me!"
Rude shook his head, "For once, I agree with Reno. We can't just disobey the orders we've been given."
"Who can change those orders?" Vincent asked suddenly.
Reno blinked, "Or boss or a Turk of higher station… but there aren't many of them. We're as high as they come."
Elena rolled her eyes, "Oh bring it down a notch Reno, there's a few Turks we've yet to beat."
A slow, almost scary, smirk spread across Vincent's lips. "Then I order you to crash Lady Yuffie's wedding."
Rude blanched, "You can't do that – you're not a Turk!"
"Yes I am."
The table fell dead silent.
"No you're not." Reno said, trying to shove off the uncomfortable feeling.
"Yes I am. My name is Vincent Valentine."
Three mouths dropped.
"Holy shit." Reno breathed, leaning forward. "Seriously? THE Vincent Valentine? He lived 35 years ago!"
"I know. Ever heard of a man named Hojo?"
"Duh – who hasn't?"
Elena gasped, "You were his last experiment! I remember reading about it in a file while I was working!"
Rude glared at her, "You mean while you were hacking?"
Vincent chuckled, "Yes, that is me."
Reno shook his head in disbelief, but Elena clapped her hands. "Reno, it really is! He looks exactly like the after description!"
He rolled his eyes, "Laney, that means he would have a metal-"
CLUNK.
Reno starred wide-eyed at the glinting gold and gulped. "Okay… I think I believe you now…"
Three Days Later
Yuffie looked out her window, looking forlornly at the gray horizon.
He was gone.
He was gone… and he wasn't coming back.
Ever.
Just the thought nearly sent her into hysterical tears. Godo did not even show a scrap of mercy, nor did he look at her long. He didn't know what she was going through. He thought her break down after the news was just the realization that she lost her freedom. But it was more than that:
She lost the will to live.
But she wouldn't escape it – she wasn't weak. She'd make it through this. She would just run… run again and again until Godo gave up. She didn't want to face this reality anymore – she wanted to run and met her Valentine over and over again.
Wiping away the mundane tears, the sad bride-to-be looked back down at her sketch bed and chocked back another sob. She traced the faint outlines of the drawing, her tears threatening to fall and mar the picture and wash it away.
That would never happen.
Sniffling them away, she picked up her pencil and began to draw again, the outlines of a claw beginning to form around a tiny waist…
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Two Days Later
The plan was set. Everything was flawless. Little did the group know that it would crumble… on purpose.
Vincent looked at the gazebo where his love was to be wed and grinned: she would be there, but not her planned groom.
He turned away, walking back down Da Chao and grinning all the while. It was time to pay a visit to the clothing store… he was going to look every inch of whom he really was for his wedding day.
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Tifa stood on the balcony, watching the streets come alive for the much-anticipated wedding. How could such an occasion be so equally happy and depressing? Wutai was celebrating, but the fighter knew that her friend was about ready to die. This was far from fair – it was like someone placed her in her own personal hell.
"Hey there, beautiful."
She spun around, knowing full well that it wasn't Cloud. He hardly ever called her beautiful, and he hadn't been talking to her for a while. The bar hostess wasn't sure why, but she was pretty sure it had something to do with Aerith and Sephiroth. He picked her, but ever since the two had hooked up, she could feel him drifting.
Wine colored eyes rolled and she turned to look out over the celebrating streets. "What do you want Reno?"
The Turk shrugged, coming to stand beside her and leaned back against the railing, his smooth hands set loosely on the black railing. "Nothing much – just thinking."
"About something perverted?"
He grinned, "You know, for someone who hasn't even known me a week, you're doing pretty good."
She snorted, "No, I'm just a good guesser."
"Huh." He said, taking out a cigarette and a lighter.
Tifa plucked the lighter away from him, and he let out a cry of protest. "If you need to smoke, leave. Don't do it around me."
He pouted, snatched his lighter back and shoved both items back into his pockets. She smiled smugly; he obviously wanted to stay… but why?
They stood like that in silence for a while before Reno asked a rather unexpected question. "So you and that chocobo head are together?"
Tifa blanched at his use of nicknames. "Of course we are! And how dare you call him that!"
Reno just shrugged again. "Whatever – it's just a harmless nick name. And if you are together… why am I here with you instead of him?"
Having no response, Tifa fell silent, looking down at the railing, tears threatening to show themselves. He was right – why wasn't Cloud here?
Reno went on, getting up off of the railing. "If he knew what he had, he wouldn't leave you standing here while he chased things he can't have. He doesn't know how to treat a woman-"
"But you do?" Tifa hissed, spinning on him with a dangerous glare.
The Turk just looked into her wine eyes and didn't blink. "I will admit to you right now that I'm no better than him, but at least I can recognize something beautiful and give it the proper attention that it deserves."
And he left her on the balcony, all alone with her thoughts. She sat down hard, leaning her back against the black iron. She looked at her hands and they blurred in her vision. Why did that stupid (cute), promiscuous (sexy), pigheaded (amazing) Turk always have to be right?
Two Days Later
It was here. The day she had been dreading. She walked down the steps of her father pagoda in her wedding gown, the white material spanning out behind her in waves, the fine silk trailing on a red carpet to protect it from the dark and dirty street. Nothing could return them to their former glory… not like this.
The crowd cheered as she ascended the steps of the gazebo and she wanted to cry when she set eyes upon her future husband.
Dark emerald eyes… dark brown hair, almost black… why did he have to haunt her even today? She walked toward him and he took her hand, and waked her up to the priest.
They continued through the ceremony, and the closer they came to the "I do's", the closer Yuffie came to screaming. Why must it end like this?
The young priest looked up and asked the crowd the question that Yuffie desperately hoped that someone would answer.
"Does anyone object to these two souls from being wed together?"
"Yeah – we do."
The crowd gasped, turning around to look at the Turk that had spoken. Reno's hair was still spiky as ever, and his grin was more pronounced. The other two Turks swooped in, along with Sephiroth and Cloud, and took out the guards.
Godo pointed at him, his rage written clearly upon his face. "How dare you! I will report you for disobeying my orders!"
"Your orders?" Reno scoffed, walking up the red aisle. "I don't listen to you old man, I listen to my boss and Turks of higher station. My orders have been changed around, so I must follow them. They were to make sure that this didn't happen, and I gladly accepted them."
The Lord of Wutai looked about ready to pop, and he spun around on the priest. "Declare them wed!"
But before the priest could even look back down at his book, it was deftly kicked from his hands. Tifa darted up, grabbed Yuffie up bridal style and jumped down the gazebo steps. They rolled for a few seconds, the bride's dress being ripped in a few places.
"Sorry…" Tifa gasped out, but Yuffie just shook her head.
"It's fine, really."
By now the crowd had run, but the police force had kept them in the square. They fired off shots, causing a frightened silence to fall over the wedding ceremony. Guns were pointed at the Turks and their helpers, and one of the remaining guards snatched Yuffie away from her friend, bringing her back up to her groom. Tifa looked around wildly, her eyes searching for his scarlet cloak. Where was he? He was supposed to take Yuffie and run! Had he been caught? Her head snapped around when the announcement to continue the ceremony was given. Her heart sank.
"No…" She whispered.
The priest nodded, his book back in hand. "Now, where were we…"
"Halt."
Dead silence filled the square. Guns were turned to point at the new comer, but were soon lowered in confusion. Who was this man?
Soft leather boots thudded upon the red velvet runway, and long, flowing black pants swished in their wake. A long sword hung from the figure's waist, its black sheath shimmering in the little afternoon sun. A deep and dark red coat hung from strong, broad shoulders, and fell well past its owner's knees, almost trailing just like a bride's dress. It was buttoned up in the middle, the bottom and top halves left to reveal the man's toned form. A dark gold undershirt was revealed underneath the coat, making the man's pale skin shine in what little sunlight came through the gray clouds. Dark strands of ebony were pulled back in a high ponytail, revealing a strong face and eyes as hard as ice.
Godo looked about ready to faint, and raised a shaking hand to point at him. "You… you…"
"It is I, Godo."
The old man let out a booming laugh, quickly descending the gazebo steps. He walked briskly, his old, lithe form showing through the sickly shell that he had become. He raised an old, withered hand and the mysterious man lifted a young hand to place it against his, and Godo laughed again.
"By Leviathan, it IS you!" He cried, giving the man a brief hug. Strangely, the enigmatic man only returned the friendly hug with one arm.
Godo pulled away, his face bright with long forgotten joy. "Yuffie, come here! Do you remember the heir of the Hotaru clan?"
Yuffie blinked, coming to stand at the top of the steps. "Godo, he is long dead."
He laughed even harder, "No my girl, he is not! He is right here!"
A dead silence became a stunned one as Yuffie gasped. "What?"
"My daughter, it is my utmost pleasure to introduce you to General Ven Hotaru!"
The plaza cheered, recognizing the name instantly. Sephiroth looked at Cloud, confusion written all over his face. "What? Isn't that…"
Cloud's eyes widened in shock, "Holy it IS!"
Yuffie shook her head, gray eyes wide in shock. "No… it's not possible! The heir fled Wutai-"
"35 years ago." The unnamed man replied in smooth Wutain, his velvety voice sounding like pure heaven in his native tongue. Yuffie almost swooned on the spot.
"It's… no…" She gasped, her heart wanting to believe it so badly.
"It's true…" He whispered, breaking away from his friend's hold and quickly jogging up the gazebo steps. "It's true, Yuffie, I swear." He repeated, taking her hands in his.
She shook her head, tears of joy shinning in her eyes. "You never said a thing…"
The man smiled a rare smile. "I know. I didn't think that I would have to say anything. I was more afraid of what would be thought of me after all of these years. I should have known that your father wouldn't hate me – we were best friends before I left."
Yuffie laughed at the irony of it all and hugged him close to her, and the crowd cheered. Godo ran back up the steps and dismissed the priest, grabbing the ex-groom by the ear and throwing him out of the gazebo.
"You are no longer welcome in my house – my daughter is not for you to marry. The old pact between the Kisaragi and Hotaru goes into effect as of today! Even though the leader of the clan is long gone, his son has returned home to us at last!"
The Wutain people cheered, and the Lord of Wutai smiled for the millionth time that day. "He is home, and he is going to wed a Kisaragi, as it was arranged many years ago! My sister is also long gone, so Lady Yuffie will take her place! Do not fear, our beloved Ven has not aged a day!"
Turning back to the couple, Godo laughed at the resounding cheers of the crowd. "How did this happen Ven?" He asked in Wutain.
Ven laughed, his rich and deep tone echoing throughout the entire gazebo. "You would not even begin to believe me if I told you."
"Then I will delight in hearing it." He replied, looking at his daughter. "Is this what you want?"
"Yes." She replied, placing her head on Ven's chest.
"Whoa, whoa, WHOA!" Sephiroth cried, breaking free of his guard's hold. "Yuffie, you're just going to marry some stranger?"
Ven just laughed, turning back to face the general. "What, can you not recognize friend from foe, Sephiroth?"
Everyone blanched at the sight of his face, but more importantly his eyes.
"Just because they call me by a different name, Sephiroth," Vincent explained with a grin, "Does not mean that I am someone different."
A/N: ((giggles insanely)) Oh you know you love me now... XD
Actually, I felt so horrible about last chapter that I updated really quick. I wanted to leave you on a happy note for Thanksgiving, so I updated this for EVERYONE!!! A few people were on top of it and reviewed for last chapter, so this goes out to you!
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Thank you all so much for reading, and have a happy Thanksgiving!
-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-
P.S. This was typed in a bit of a rush, so I'm very sorry if there are any mistakes. I'll go back and fix them when I get back. XD
((Edited: 06.05.07))