R&R longer note at the end

The group left the heart of the slums towards a park on the outskirts, the sounds of panic could still be heard behind them as they walked, after a while they reached the park they assumed the fallen resident had meant beginning their search coming up empty, the group's leader began to get more and more agitated as they prepared to return to the Sector Seven slums to force more information out of the remaining residents they stopped as they heard the sounds of someone moving around.

Hiding from sight they watched as a man in a long black cloak crawled from under a children's slide, he stood up as his long silver hair fell down his back looking around as if checking the coast was clear before walking away, Cloud's eyes fell on the man as Jessie seemed to want to ambush him he placed a gloved hand on her shoulder stopping her. He could tell something was off about that man, his demeanour seemingly defenceless was just a cover this man was far from defenceless giving it a few more moments before they left their hiding spot heading to the slide that the man had crawled from under.

Biggs knelt down looking around seeing nothing before crawling under running a gloved hand over the floor, under his fingertips he felt the rough concreate reaching further in he stopped as the feeling under his fingertips changed the rough feeling was replaced with the cold hard feeling of metal.

"I think this is the entrance" he said crawling back out "There's a metal hatch but I couldn't see anyway to open it from this side". Biggs got up as Cloud removed the sword from his back, he concentrated as his blade began to glow blue as he jumped up slamming it down he pulled it back as the children's toy split in two, with one more swipe he cut the supports causing the plastic toy fell to the ground revealing the metal man hole cover.

Jessie approached as she examined it closely, Biggs and Wedge looked around making sure no one was coming as Cloud turned his gaze in the direction of the mysterious man, whoever he was he seemed to be well away from them now. Who was he? Where was he even going? Why did he seem to concern the blonde man so much?

"There is no way this thing will open from this side" Jessie said after a few moments standing "Not without the switch to do so at least". Cloud looked over as she turned his attention to the cover blocking their entrance, he considered their options for a few moments before coming to the only conclusion he could think of he turned to Jessie who looked up curious feeling a little concerned.

"Blow it up" Cloud said as he walked away "I'm done playing games with these people". Jessie slowly nodded as she pulled out her gadgets smiling as she attached two bombs to the hinges before stepping back, she flicked the trigger as the group stood back Cloud kept his back to the hole as he smirked hearing the large explosion behind as the entrance was blown off.

"Go fetch my prisoner" he said as the three jumped into the hole.

XXX

The duo ran closely behind Aerith as members of the group began to evacuate those with no combat experience, Vincent looked around wondering where the attack had come from after rounding a few corners they found Cid helping getting some of the scientists out. As the group passed him he gave a thumbs up, the sound of gun fire could be heard as they charged forward Vincent sped up heading ahead as Aerith grabbed Tifa's shoulder.

"What? We need to keep going?" Tifa protested as Aerith shook her head pulling Tifa down one of the side passage ways.

"There is something we need it should help to turn the tide" Aerith said as she led Tifa further down towards a set of stairs leading down, Tifa looked over her shoulder worried about Vincent "Tifa, if we can get to the lower level we can save them I promise but you have to trust me". Tifa looked back to Aerith as she nodded following her further down, Vincent looked over his shoulder not seeing Tifa or Aerith as a hint of fear took over he considered turning back to go look for them before he ran into Reno and Rude who seemed to be locked in battle.

"Well look who it is" one of their opponent's said smirking, his messy black hair stood up on end in his black combat gear, Vincent's eyes darted from him to his friend in his white t-shirt and blue jeans however something was off, he knew these two men well but someone was missing. Where was the girl?

XXX

The two girl's arrived in the depths of the base as Aerith led them to a large metal door, removing a key card she unlocked the door as the two darted in the door closing behind them as Tifa looked around her eyes darted from the tubes of liquid dotted around. What was this place? Why did they have to keep it so locked up? Was this what the attacker wanted?

"Which one was it?" Aerith said as she checked every tank reading the labels, Tifa watched her as she looked back to the door concern for the man she had moments ago confessed to flooding her adrenaline fuelled veins, she trusted Aerith bringing her here but was starting to get angry.

"Please hurry" Tifa said feeling a little agitated "We have to get back there and help already". Aerith ignored her as she stopped clapping her hands happily as she beckoned Tifa over, happy to finally be getting somewhere the woman headed over to see what she had been dragged off to get, Aerith tapped come keys as the tank drained out leaving a small glass orb behind.

"Show me your left glove" Aerith said as Tifa looked on curious what was happening as she offered her left gloved hand "This will help I promise". Aerith removed a small covering as she forced the orb into Tifa's glove reattaching the cover, Tifa looked feeling no different she stared at Aerith with a look of anger this had been a waste of time, how could something like this help anyone?

The black haired woman turned her back on the other woman as she walked to the door clenching her left fist, the moment her fingertips touched the palm of her gloved hand she fell to her knee's as pain shot through her arm her glove feeling like it was on fire as she unclenched her fist the pain went away.

"Wh-what did you do?" Tifa asked as she panted feeling her hand going slightly numb, she heard the tapping of Aerith's feet on the metal grating placing her hand on Tifa's back reassuringly she knelt down with a smile.

"It's called Materia" Aerith said as she tapped the glass orb in Tifa's glove "This one increases your overall strength, it can sting a bit at first but your body will grow use to it and block the pain away. We will need to put on in the right glove, trust me this will be worth it the director told me and professor Hojo to only use it in emergencies".

"This seems to fit that" Tifa said as she pushed herself to her feet "Let's just do this, we need to get to Vincent".

XXX

Vincent fired off shot after shot as he locked into battle with Wedge, the pair of gun slingers continued to fire off shots as Biggs kept Reno and Rude busy, the duo unable to land any hits as the black haired man seemed to be toying with them swatting their punches and kicks like they were nothing.

"This is getting us nowhere" Rude said as he was forced back "How about we get serious?"

"Fine by me partner" Reno said as she he smirked pulling his fold out baton from his pocket pressing a button on the side as it shot out he flicked a switch as the metal began to crackle with electric "Let's end this already". The duo charged again as Biggs watched jumping back giving himself more room as he continued to toy with the duo in front of him, Wedge continued to empty bullets in Vincent's direction not giving him much time to reload Vincent reloaded as he looked around still concerned about the missing third member along with the missing Tifa and Aerith.

Had they been caught by the missing woman? He knew Tifa could handle herself but if she was forced to protect someone he wondered how long she would last, he watched Wedge's movements it was time to end this one way or the other. As Vincent dodged he looked for something he could use as a distraction, he noticed too late the heavyset man had been monitoring his movements as the man pointed the gun just ahead of him.

"Not so fast big boy" came the voice of a female as a large star shaped weapon collided with the barrel knocking the man's aim off, Wedge glared as his shots landed into a nearby wall he looked around for the person who had ruined his shot. The star shaped weapon flew like a boomerang back to its owner, Vincent and Wedge looked up to the nearby rafters spotting the young girl who dropped down to the floor with a grin.

"I'll handle this nerd" she said as she looked to Vincent "Don't you have someone to help?" Vincent nodded as he took off back the route he had travelled in search of Tifa, he looked back as the battle began to start up again he made a mental note to thank them later he turned his eyes forward as he continued looking.

Where had Tifa gone?

XXX

Cloud tapped his foot annoyed as he stared at the hole, what was taking those morons so long he looked around making sure the mysterious silver haired man hadn't returned, sighing he walked to the hole before removing his sword dropping it down as he followed. If you want something doing right, do it yourself he thought as he made his way into the underground base.

Jessie wondered through the maze like structure as she came to yet another open area, her annoyance of the place beginning to rise as she stopped for a moment wondering if she had already been here or not, she stopped as she heard the sounds of rushing footsteps a smirk found its way to her lips as she saw two women come out of the passage ahead of her.

"Well look what I found" she said with a smirk as her eyes fell on the figure of Tifa "End of the line ladies but don't worry, if you tell me where he is I'll let you die quickly". Tifa locked eyes with the woman who had destroyed her pride tossing her around like a rag doll, the woman who had destroyed her bar and chased her from her home she pulled her gloves a little tighter as the materia in her gloves glinted in the light.

"Aerith" Tifa said as she stepped forward her face was laced with anger and hatred toward the brunette in front of her "Go on ahead, me and this thing have some unfinished business".

"Thing?" Jessie said with a smug look "Oh come on, we're practically friends now. So come on, use my name" Jessie pushed off with her back foot as she charged closing the distance between the two Tifa quickly brought her arms up protecting herself as she clenched her fists the materia in her gloves took over strengthening her muscles as she was pushed back a little staying on her feet. Aerith took off running again as she headed down the path Jessie had come from using the passage ways hoping to find Vincent somewhere.

Jessie jumped back a gleeful smirk on her face as Tifa lowered her arms, she hadn't had much time to practise with the enhancements but now wasn't the time to worry about that, she wasn't planning on loosing again. Tifa watched as Jessie charged again aiming a kick at the right side of the black haired woman's head, blocking it with her right arm she grabbed the woman's ankle pulling her closer as she drove a fist into the brunette's gut sending her sliding backwards across the floor.

"Y-you got better" Jessie said panting a little her gut throbbing a little as she smirked "This may actually be worth it this time". Jessie smiled as she stood up stretching as the throbbing began to subside, she looked just in time as she saw the black haired woman sending a kick towards her head she pulled back as the tread on Tifa's boot missed her face by inches. Jessie smiled as she gripped her foot sending one of her own at Tifa's abdomen feeling it connect as the black haired woman grunted sliding across the floor hitting a nearby wall as she gripped her side, as she spat some blood on the floor.

"Seems you didn't get better after all" Jessie said with a sigh "Well I might as well kill you this time".

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Vincent ran through the halls feeling his lungs begin to burn as he rounded a corner he stopped suddenly before he collided with the brunette lab assistant who looked up recognizing the man in front of her, a wave of relief seemed to wash over the pair as she quickly explained Tifa was just ahead. Vincent thanked her as he took off at full speed, his worst fear had been realised after Aerith had explained the confrontation with Jessie he only hoped he wouldn't be too late. Cloud walked through the passage ways as he came to a clearing with two women in the middle of the floor, a black haired woman lay beaten down at the feet of his brunette subordinate.

"Is she alive?" Cloud asked as Jessie turned to look at him her eyes flashed in surprise as her boss walked further in "Well? Is she dead or not?"

"N-no sir" Jessie said "She's still alive, I was just about to kill her".

"Don't bother" Cloud said as he smirked raising his sword "She's not what we came for, he is". Jessie turned seeing the figure of Vincent stood in the furthest doorway, he gunman walked in feeling fear take over as he saw the two in front of him stood with the fallen Tifa. His yellow eyes burned with anger as he glared at the figure of Cloud, he drew his gun as he charged firing off shots as the blonde deflected them with his sword making his way towards the gunman.

"If you had just come back none of this would have happened" Cloud yelled as he got closer his sword glowing blue as he jumped into the air "You just couldn't help yourself". Vincent jumped backwards as the man's sword landed leaving a crater in the floor, the blonde turned as Vincent's black wing shot from his back sending bullet like feathers in Cloud's direction he dodged while swiping some away.

"You die here" Vincent said his voice full of rage and venom as he rushed the blonde seeing the smirk on his face as he jumped up to meet him, Cloud brought up his sword as he smiled passing by the other man in mid-air. He turned as he saw Vincent fall the ground in a heap, landing shortly after he watched waiting for the fallen man to get back up for another attempt at him.

Seeing the man didn't move he smirked as he looked to Jessie who pushed Tifa over to see the end of the battle, Tifa's eyes slowly opened as she looked to Vincent laying a few feet away from her she made to crawl to him wanting to see if he was ok as Jessie smirked walking between them.

"Afraid not, he's ours now" Jessie said with a smirk "Don't worry, you'll forget all about him before long". Jessie kicked Tifa in the face as the black haired girl rolled to her side unconscious, Cloud looked up as Wedge and Biggs entered the room looking a little beat up as he pointed to the fallen Vincent.

"Let's get out of here" Cloud said as he returned his sword to the clip on his back "Don't forget to grab that". The two men smiled as they walked over to the fallen Vincent dragging him up while Jessie looked down at the fallen Tifa, she smiled down at the woman if she was able to get this far maybe she could go a little further and give her a real challenge.

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Tifa woke in the hospital bed a week after the attack as she looked around, realisation setting in as she laid back down her hands pressed into her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks. She felt so helpless, she felt lost, the man she had down so much with, travelled so far with was gone, taken by the enemy.

"Tifa" a voice came sounding like it was miles away "I'm glad to see your awake, I just thought I'd check on you". Tifa didn't respond as the tears continued to fall, she heard the person leave after a while the tears stopped as she looked at the ceiling a new passion burned in her, no matter how long it took, how far she had to travel.

She would find Vincent and bring him back and make those people pay for ever crossing her, they would pay for taking the man she loved away from her.

Well my friends, that's it the final chapter. It's been so much fun writing this journey that I feel bad to end it but as they say all good things must come to an end, it was kind of hard to realise that this would be the final chapter but I hope you all enjoyed reading through their journey as much as I enjoyed writing it.

So in closing I send my thanks to you all for reading and I hope this has been enjoyable

The end...or is it?