Don't Close Your Eyes
---------------------------
Chapter Two
'Haven't been here in a while,' Nanaki thought as he prowled through the dusty streets of Nibelhiem. He recognised the old well and the Shinra building was, of course, still standing tall and dark in the background of the small town, dampening the otherwise lazy atmosphere. A few windows here and there were broken and the horrible greenish paint was beginning to peel. It looked like it could collapse at any moment, still, Nanaki had taken worse risks than that. He pushed the creaky old gate with his scarlet paw and with a deep breath stepped in.
Nanaki had changed a lot in the past half a century. Of course, he was still quite young for one of his species but then again he had always been the mature one. The tip of his long fiery tail was now burning brighter than ever, signifying good health. His scarlet mane was now longer and grew wilder making him appear older.
The main door to the mansion was, as usual, wide open. Nanaki stepped cautiously into the old haunted house. It was dusty and old and everything seemed dilapidated. There were some creepy shadows near the main staircase that seemed to move of their own accord. The floor was even creakier now than they ever had been. Nanaki carefully climbed the long, wide staircase trying to catch a glimpse of any holes or weak spots, the last thing he wanted was to be injured after coming all this way. Suddenly, he heard a faint scream. Well, at least he thought it was a scream, the old was still playing tricks on him.
At last he came to the main bedroom that housed the secret entrance to the basement. He pressed the right brick on the wall with his paw and it swung open with a snap. He slowly descended the corkscrew staircase that lay before him. It reminded him of a wooden railroad track except there were a lot of pieces missing which he had to make a jump over. It felt like it could collapse at any moment.
The air was damp when he reached the bottom. He appeared to be in a wide cave or passageway with a low roof. He could hear water dripping every so often somewhere. A faint smell of smoke filled the air. The earth was moist against his paws. After a few reluctant steps he spun around quickly.
'Why are you following me?' he asked slowly to the dark figure lurking in the darkness.
The figure let out a barely audible yelp. She stepped forward. She couldn't have been more than eighteen. Her hair was platted and fell easily to her tiny waist. She wore shorts that could have easily been hot pants and a worn khaki jacket. She looked like she belonged more in a jungle than here. The girl reminded Nanaki of the way Tifa used to look, so much so that he almost called out her name. She began to speak:
'I…I saw you come in here and…well…I recognised you. My grandma…err…Tifa Lockhart, she, well, used to talk about you sometimes. You're the one they call Nanaki?'
She was biting her lip in nervousness. She shifted awkwardly on the spot.
'Correct,' Nanaki answered simply, 'but you still haven't answered my question.'
'Oh yea…well…it's about this.' She pulled out a small silver casket and fiddled with the lock until it opened with a snap. Inside, a small red orb was nestled perfectly in a royal blue silk cloth. Nanaki moved back in shock. HE sighed softly to himself.
'Yes, I had wondered where that had got. So you have inherited that materia. I'd keep an I on it if I were you, you don't want that falling into the wrong hands.' He nodded and turned to leave.
'Hey wait! I don't want it! I wanted to give it to you.' She said as she threw it back in the casket and handed it to him. Nanaki let out a sigh.
'No. I can't take it. It would insult her memory. You have inherited it and I'm sure she had a good reason to give it to you. Besides, I had my fair share of that particular materia a long time ago. Good-day.' He turned to leave again.
'Wait! Ummm…where are you going? It's not safe in here.' She was desperate to stop him. She needed some sort of advice.
'I have my own business to attend to down here. You should leave, as you say it is quite dangerous down here.'
'No way! What if I get attacked on the way up?' He wasn't getting away that easily.
He sighed again. 'Hmmh…very well. I will escort after I finish what I have to do, you may follow if you wish.' Without another look he strode quickly into the murky cave.
'Wait,' she said 'My name's Leah.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leah jogged briskly behind Nanaki, his tail illuminated the dark cave. At last the two came to a large wooden door. Deep grooves were etched into the old thick wood. A round gold handle was rusting at its centre. Nanaki turned to Leah.
'You should wait outside, I don't think this will take long.' She frowned. Did he really think she was gonna stay out here and miss this opportunity to see what was inside the room. She didn't care what it was but it must be something important for him to have come this far.
'No way! I'm coming inwhether you like it or not.' She folded her arms and gave him a look that could kill.
'Very well, follow me.'
He pushed the door aside with his paw. Leah gasped. It was a room, a room filled with purple candles. Cobwebs, candles, dark drapes. It looked like something out of a horror movie. She almost fainted when she saw the magnificent centrepiece. A coffin. Not a normal coffin but a strange rectangular shaped casket. It looked like it was made of ebony and there were wonderful gold carvings adorning the dark wood. She really didn't want to see what was inside. Maybe she should have waited outside. No, she thought, I won't give him the satisfaction. I'll stay. She was dimly aware of a silver rifle hung on the wall near some dark purple drapes.
Suddenly, the casket flew open in a flurry of dust. When it finally settled a tall figure stood staring peacefully at them.
'Vincent,' Nanaki muttered.
Please review each chapter! I spent ages writing this! So please tell me what you thought of each chapter, thanx!