Cloud twisted the throttle of the snowmobile and launched them over the icy ridge. Vincent watched through the scope of the Accuracy International Artic Warfare Magnum Cid had lent him. Cloud drew his Buster sword and charged the front gate. Vincent fixed the crosshairs on the guard keeping watch at the tower moving to the mounted heavy machine guns. He breathed in and then out.

Crack!

The .338 Lapua magnum hit home and turned the contents of the soldier's head into a spray of red mist. The man slumped against the gun dead and bleeding. Vincent pulled back the bolt and ejected the casing. Vincent swung the rifle on his back from the harness and gunned the engine on his snowmobile. He sped closer to the next ridge and stopped shouldering the rifle again.

Crack!

A soldier carrying a grenade launcher dropped to the snow. His blood and brains blown away by the icy wind.

Vincent pulled back on the bolt.

Crack!

Another soldier on a turret fell. Cloud continued to race towards the gate. Several blasts threw up snow and smoke in the distance. Vincent worked the bolt again and adjusted his aim to the three men manning a mortar launcher. One spotter, one operator and one loader.

The loader was dropping the tiny little bomb into the tube. Vincent squeezed the trigger. He worked the bolt in one fluid motion and re-sighted hitting the shooter. The spotter was currently fleeing to cover doubtlessly trying to direct fire on the sniper picking them off.

Vincent dropped him and ejected the spent casing into the snow. He fished a single round from his pocket and slid it into the chamber closing the bolt. He then ejected the empty magazine and loaded in a fresh one. Five rounds in the box and one in the chamber. Six rounds six kills.

Vincent heard the screaming overhead. He gunned the throttle of the snowmobile and raced down the hill hearing the mortar drop and explode. Snow and ice rained down on him. His cloak flapped as he speed down and found his way to another ridge. He heard the pop of more shells being fired. He shouldered the rifle and sighted another crew manning another mortar launcher. He fired and dropped the gunner. Then speed along to another firing position. He sighted again and fired dropping the spotter trying to take the gunners place.

He looked at Cloud as he burst through the front gate blade him hand. Vincent slung the rifle and speed forward. He followed close behind grabbing his Cerberus he fired at any stragglers Cloud left behind. Vincent stopped the snowmobile and stepped off grabbing the rocket launcher he'd hand secured to the back. He sighted one of the anti-aircraft guns and fired blowing it to pieces as Cloud charged another emplacement and hacked it in half with his blade.

Vincent dropped the rocket launcher and keyed his radio. "Cid you're clean come on in."

"Copy that Vincent I'm coming in for a gun run get clear of the base and prepare for some fucking danger close air support."

"Affirmative." Vincent said hopping back onto his snow mobile. He speed off leaving the base as quickly as he arrive Cloud was close behind as the thundering engines of the Shera screamed overhead. The massive airship's guns opened fire raining hell upon the base. Rockets and cannon fire steaked across the leveling the base.

The base launched its anti-air missiles at the assaulting airship. The Shera released a barrage of decoy chaff confusing and the heat seeking missiles making them fly off missing their target as the ship hovered and fired down destroying enemy teams and equipment.

Cloud halted the snowmobile and returned his blade into the sheath on his back. "You're doing good Cid." He said touching his finger to his ear. "Clear out as many as you can and start circling."

"Fine but you two better compensate me for the fuel." Cid said. "And the munitions I'm dumping on this place. Bullets and bombs aren't free you know."

"We'll talk to Reeve." Cloud said with a smirk. He turned to Vincent and smirked. "Ready to head on in?" he asked.

Vincent reached into one of the saddle bags and grabbed a short UMP .45 submachine gun. He unfolded the stock and inserted the magazine chambering a round. "I guess we have no choice." He said.

"Yuffie… Who was the first boy you liked?" Marline asked sitting on the edge of her hospital bed. Yuffie shot a look to Tifa who was sitting in the chair.

"What?" she asked.

"Tifa says you like Vincent." The little girl explained. "But have you ever liked anyone before him?"

"Gossiping about me are you?" Yuffie growled at Tifa.

"Sorry." Tifa said with a smirk. "But I'm curious too."

"So you put her up to this." It wasn't a question but Yuffie sighed. "Alright." She said looking at Marline.

"A long time ago." She began. "Back when I was your age I used to go to a special school for training ninja girls or kunoichi like myself. But the classes where boring and they treated us like kids never letting us practice with weapons. So I naturally snuck out from time to time and hid myself in the woods just outside of town. There I practiced climbing trees and I hid away from the teachers that tried to come find me."

"And one day I found a clearing where the forest floor was covered in green moss. It was there I saw a copper haired boy practicing with a sword. It wasn't a bamboo practice sword but a real one. All the weapons he practiced with where real.

He never saw me. As skilled as he was he never noticed me watching him. And I watched him practice day after day. He was a teenager a lot older than me. But I thought he was cute. Even if he wasn't that good at throwing shuriken and kunai knives."

"Did you talk to him?" Marline asked.

"Once." Yuffie said. "I gave him some pointers on throwing his shuriken. I also made a little bet that I could throw them better than him and of course I won. I was hoping I would see more of him after that. I'd wanted to talk to him some more and maybe even play some games but I didn't get the chance. That night I learned he was leaving Wutai on a secret mission for my farther. He left that night and soon after the war started."

"Did he die?" Marline asked.

Yuffie shook her head. "No… he endured many hardships but he survived the war." She explained. "He changed and I changed and we've gone our separate paths."

"That's not a very romantic story." Marline said.

"Everyone's a critic." Yuffie growled.

….

Someone pulled the black bag off of Kayaku's head. He turned to see Elena sitting next to him. The handcuffs had been removed. So far so good. He'd been taken prisoner under worse circumstances that was for sure.

He looked at the man in front of him dressed in a black suit his hand folded on the table. He was fairly old his black hair starting to grey. A face full of age lines. "Good afternoon." He greeted formally. "Kayaku of the Sasori clan and Elena of the Turks."

"You know who we are." Elena scoffed. "Do you expect us to be impressed?"

"No but I trust you will appreciate our abilities." He said.

"You have us at a disadvantage." Kayaku said folding his hands on the table. "Our reputation has somehow proceeded us. But we have no idea who you are?"

"You may call me Takashi Hebi." The man said. Kayaku recognized the name immediately. Hebi meant snake. They were an old ninja clan. Once a rival to his own clan long ago.

"I am the head of the Wutai Central Intelligence Agency." He explained.

That threw Kayaku off for a moment. Wutai wasn't supposed to have its own intelligence agency. As a member of the WRO Wutai was supposed to have its own branch of the World Regenesis Intelligence Division. He shared a look with Elena.

"We are a community created after the fall of Shinra by Good Kisaragi." He explained.

"So why grab us?" Elena asked.

"We know you are here tracking criminals linked to international terrorists. We want to aid you and the rest of the WRO. Whatever these terrorists have in mind in Wutai we trust it can't be good. We're some steps ahead of you and the WRO."

"How so?" Elena asked.

"We know that various Shinra equipment have been smuggled into the country. Mostly by cargo ships on docks controlled by the Silver Lotus gang. We believe they're the criminals you're looking for."

Kayaku locked his gaze with the old man. "We're listening."

...

Hey guys I'm sorry if I slow down on this story. The holidays are busy for me with work and rent and buying everyone I love gifts. But don't worry I promise I will keep writing whenever I can and give you the best I can with this story. I love this time of year so much it makes me so happy! Merry Christmas! Or whatever holiday you celebrate I don't care I just hope you enjoy this December.