Disclaimer: I don't own any of the FFVII characters, places, etc.
Chapter 51: Legacy
Shunji wasn't sure he'd ever felt the same weight on his shoulders as he did now. He raced through the halls as fast as he could, hoisting the kimono up to allow better movement. Sonji had been silent and lethal, slaying the guards along their path to reach Godo. Shunji just counted his blessings that Nayuta's room wasn't on the chosen directory.
"Father!" Shunji hissed, bursting through the shoji none to gracefully. He skittered across the tatami mats and pounced on his startled father, shaking him. "You have to go to grandpa! Sonji is here and he's gonna kill him!"
"What?" Nayuta was instantly awake, gripping his sword and hurrying to stand. "The legacy!"
"He gave it to me to give to Yuffie!" Shunji whispered, wide-eyed. He was shaking, before he started yanking the cords of his obi and tearing off the kimono. He pulled open the drawers and slid into his father's garments.
"What? What's going on?"
"Go help grandpa! I have to get to Yuffie! Don't worry about me!" Shunji whispered. Nayuta caught his arm as the boy moved to flee out the door. There was a definite slice, and then Shunji's hair tumbled into his eyes.
"You can't afford to even look like yourself," Nayuta said, taking his sleeve and smearing it over Shunji's make up. He embraced his son in a quick hug, and kissed his forehead. "Don't you look back. Not once!"
"Be careful!"
The men parted ways in the hallways, each running swiftly and silently. Godo, for all his shortcomings, had been exacting in the training of his blood. And for Shunji's part, Yuffie had made sure he was silent and deadly, allowing him no breaks or faults in stealth. Shunji extracted the phone, and pressed the key that would get him Cloud.
"What's happening?" Cloud's voice demanded.
"I need to get to Yuffie," Shunji said.
"I'll be at the front gates in ten minutes."
"Faster, if you can," Shunji replied. He hung up, and skittered to a halt as other ninja blocked his way. He looked at them, and recognized Shuya's clan. Confused and alarmed, Shunji recognized trouble as the swords came down at him. This was not the time for revelations and shell shock.
There were no words exchanged between them, only an instant shift into combat. Shunji wished he had a weapon, and recalled Godo saying once that if he didn't, then he should take one from the enemy. So, Shunji snapped a wrist and took the dagger it had been holding.
No master of kata or ninjitsu, Shunji did what he could and spent most of the time fleeing. His heart was pounding in his ears, and blows connected or missed. He was coming around a corner when a ninja popped up before him, and he had to sacrifice his shoulder to save his heart. The knife wedged deeply into his body, twisted, and Shunji cried out. He tumbled over backwards, and scrabbled on his belly to escape the pursuing enemies. They caught onto one of his feet, dragging him back and rolling him over. Shunji stabbed at what he could, managed to throw his captors of briefly, and managed to get to a window. He broke the pane and was about to throw himself through, when he was pulled back again.
The silent struggle was over in a moment, and Shunji was despairing at his failure as he watched a glittering blade arch down to strike his throat. A massive object cleaved the air over his head, and blood spattered down on his face. He yelped as another hand gripped him and dragged him back. Looking up, he saw the faint illumination of Cloud Strife's mako eyes.
"Sorry I'm late," he said, shifting the massive buster sword.
"No problem," Shunji said shakily, awestricken as Cloud swept into battle with impossible speed and grace. He had the invading ninja populace down to nothing in a minute.
"Let's go," Cloud said, holding out his hand. Shunji reached forward and felt his heart jitter as the sinews in Cloud's arm bunched and pulled him up. Shunji shook the zinging emotion off, reminding himself Cloud was straight and married. Cloud took point and they proceeded quickly down the stairs. Shunji wished his father and grandfather luck.
"Have they found Yuffie?"
"She contacted us about five hours ago," Cloud replied. "Cid's on his way here. We'll rendezvous shortly."
A sudden lancing fear wound through Shunji. His heart sped up and squeezed, and he stumbled forward a few steps. His hand reached out and caught Cloud's arm before they could go any deeper into the center of the pagoda to get to the ground floor.
"We have to get out!" he urged, and Cloud looked faintly perplexed. "My grandfather's going to summon Leviathan…it won't be like the legacy, but it'll tear the palace apart." Cloud's face cleared instantly, and he threw an arm around Shunji's waist. Shunji did his best to ignore the thrill, as Cloud barreled towards a window and flung both of them out. Free falling, Shunji looked back, and saw water explode out of the topmost tower, as Leviathan's sleek, scaly body wound out into the night sky. He proceeded to snap and snarl at the men up there, and Shunji's eyes widened.
He wanted to cry out, but held his tongue. Cloud landed roughly, and put Shunji down, still holding onto his arm. They sprinted toward the Fenrir, which sat quietly under the moonlight. Cloud hopped on smoothly, and jammed the keys on and over in the ignition, looking back at Shunji.
"Get on," he instructed, and Shunji complied robotically. He turned his gaze in the direction of the pagoda as the Fenrir snarled beneath them. Leviathan was tearing the pagoda into pieces, and Shunji could feel the great dragon's anger swelling in his heart. The sea monster swept through the pagoda, water bursting through the floors, and Shunji watched it collapse. The pagoda was no more, and Leviathan vanished.
