WHERE ANGELS LIE
-Chapter 2-

"Some things are only missed, when they're gone"

"Have you ever felt lost somehow?" Yuffie questioned, her sobs only soft muffled cries. Tifa stood watching the young girl, a saddened expression on her now, frailed face. The woman tried hard to hold back her tears, everything that happened to Yuffie had always gave her this sink feeling inside.
"Everyone does, at least once in their life," Tifa replied, standing behind the young girl, her arm crossing the other. She slowly kneeled down beside Yuffie, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. The girl flinched, as her eyes gazed up at the caring face above her.
"It's just one of those things you have to deal with," Tifa uttered, her expression showing her concern. Yuffie closed her eyes, as she let the words seep through. Sure, she didn't have many plentiful thoughts about the man, but he was her father. Just that word meant enough. Yuffie's eyes slowly opened, as she stared blankly at the altar, her father's name encarved onto it.
"Tifa," she uttered, staring down, as her legs folded beneath her, "Have you ever heard the story of death?" Tifa's ruby eyes squinted, as she stared at the young woman, a tight expression on her face.
"I remember," Yuffie began, her voice nearly a whisper, against the cold air, "When I was younger, my Mom use to tell me about Angels...and how, when one dies...there's always that special angel watching over them...and when they do go, it's always for better....and that they'll always remember the good memories in their past life...Do you believe that?"
"Yes," the long hair woman replied, "I do...just like Aeris...remember?" Yuffie let out a soft laugh, a smile now brightening upon her pale face.
"Yeah....," she uttered, turning her eyes back onto the stone, "Yeah...."



Rain had seem to come so suddenly, that evening. All was quiet, except for the soft pattering of the winter raindrops, against the cold, hard ground. Wutai had somehow, fallen deep into sleepel. No one, not even a cat wandering around the darkened streets. Once, nice decorative buildings now shifted onto gloomy shadows, just hovering over, beneath the dark skies.
Her body laid drenched from the falling rain, as her eyes showed no emotion, staring blankly at the darkness around her. Yuffie hadn't made much of an attempt to move, nor was she planning to. The last thing on her mind, that she recalled was Tifa's soft murmuring that had kept her up all this time. Where was Tifa? That, she didn't remember. Yuffie slowly budged, as her eyes narrowed, at the sound of soft, but ragged foot steps. Almost as if someone was carrying a ton too large against their will.
She took in a deep breath, as her body began to shiver, at the coldness that encircled her. For a moment, she thought she was hallucinating, seeing small shadowy figures dancing and gliding across the wet streets. A smile soon found way to her pale features, as her head rested glumly on her right arm, the other pressed against the cold ground. She was too tired, to remember anything, or hear anything at fact.
Things just seemed to drift off somewhere, and for that second, she wasn't afraid. Her brown eyes slowly closed, as she felt the warmth inside her body. Was that what death felt like? Who was she kidding, Yuffie was no where near that...Although, she felt like dying at that very moment. Her eyes slowly fluttered, as she felt herself being picked up, her head tilting against a warmth, that she couldn't quite describe. And all she heard, was the soft rhythmic beating of a heart.



Vincent took in a deep breath, as he stood by the hallway door, his arms crossed in front of his broad chest, as he leaned in against the door frame. His eyes stood still, watching the young woman's soft movements, with every breath she took. He recalled last night, to be more than what he needed. He found her there, lying helpless. And for that brief moment, hadn't intended on helping the girl, but perhaps, it was his guilt that made him take her in, at most.
Yuffie slowly stirred, as she turned her face towards Vincent, her brown eyes slowly opening, as she recognized the strange, hollow figure. He slowly straightened up, as he stood watching her, watching him. There was an odd silence, that fell, after that.
Yuffie slowly sat up, her eyes gazing across the quiet room. With that, she broke the silence, "Vincent...." He stared back at her, his crimson eyes, not once blinking. Yuffie's eyes slowly gazed away, feeling a feeling she hadn't quite recalled. Perhaps, it was that same feeling, she always felt, when she thought of the man known as Vincent Valentine.
"I heard about you father," he replied, suddenly, causing her eyes to gaze up.
"What?" she questioned, squinting. Vincent hesitated, as he watched her soft repeated movements. There was a soft opening of a door, as seconds later, a figure slowly loomed into the room.
"Are you okay?" Tifa questioned, slowly approaching the now crying girl. Yuffie stared blankly at the woman, that greeted her, her mind drifting off somewhere.
She shook her head, "Where am I?" Vincent hadn't bother to enter the room, full ways, instead he stood there.
Tifa smiled, warmly, placing a hand on Yuffie's wrist, "Vincent was kind enough to bring you back here. You're at home, with Barret, Cloud and I." Yuffie shook her head, as if not recalling any flashed moments of remembrance. When her eyes then adjusted onto the tall, hovering Vincent.
"I don't know....I don't know!" she whispered, then a sudden crying. Yuffie's hands quickly pressed onto her face, softening the unbearable cries. Tifa paused, as she gently stroked the girl's hair, thinking deeply.
"Where is he...?" Yuffie uttered, her hands quickly wiped away her tears, as her eyes gazed up. Tifa paused, watching the young girl, with an uncertain expression.
"Who?" she questioned, a bit confused. Yuffie let out a soft laughter, as she leaned back against the wall, pressing her back firmly against it, breathing heavily.
"Gone...," she uttered, shaking her head, her eyes wide open, "Gone...." Yuffie's eyes quickly gazed back up at Tifa, her expression changing, "It hurts, Tifa....I've never been without family.....never....I'm scared....."
Tifa smiled, her eyes gazing lovingly at her young friend, "It's all right...you have Cloud," she began, convincing Yuffie, "Barret, Cid, RedXIII.....and Vincent." Yuffie's eyes quickly gazed up, as she stared tear-filled at the tall man, standing far off in his own section. Tifa paused, as she quickly stood up, walking over towards the door.
Turning back around, she smiled, "I'll leave you alone...rest, okay?" Yuffie paused, bringing her knees to her chin, as she slowly shook her head. Tifa's eyes then turned onto Vincent, as she flashed him a quick smile. His eyes slowly gazed back onto the frightened Yuffie. She seemed almost lifeless, if he hadn't known better.
Her face, that was always filled with excitement, was nothing more than an expression facade. Vincent took in a deep breath, as he slowly turned into the opposite direction, just about to head out of the door, when he heard her soft humming. She stared off, blankly into what seemed so distant, as she began to hum to a nameless tune. Which soon ended in soft cries, that would soon soften into her sleep.