WHERE ANGELS LIE
-Chapter 9-
Her eyes glanced around nervously, as the rain pounded roughly against her petite body. She didn't understand one thing, one split second that all happened too quickly. Why the hell was she even following him? What was he to her? Yuffie's eyes squinted, as she stood there in silence. Her short brown hair, pressed against her face, as she quickly brushed it away, so she would have been able to see clearly.
She stood in the silence of the night, as she stared about. The whole place was quiet, all the lights that were there from before were somehow taken down from the pouring rain. Yuffie took in a deep breath, as she felt her heart beat quickly in her chest. She felt lightheaded, as she breathed heavily, taking every possible breath that she was offered. Her eyes flickered slowly, as she began to drift off...Seeing nothing but the blackness that now surrounded her.
"...She's not known to be unconscious for how long..." Yuffie listened, as she heard the soft echoes that rang about in her ear. She couldn't quite make out the man's voice that spoke. But she was sure that it wasn't anyone she would have known. Sometimes she even wondered if she returned to Neo-Midgar, would she have met up with Cloud and the others? And then, she heard the penetrating voice again....Yuffie tried hard to make out the words that the man uttered...but everything was no more than constant mumbles.
"...She...its not curable...," the Doctor uttered, as his eyes stared back at Vincent, sadly. His crimson eyes stared back at the man before him. What were the words that he had just said? Vincent couldn't make out anything...or Perhaps, he was just trying too hard to deny the facts. He paused, not making any emotions. He held back, as he glanced at the young body laid innocently on the small mattress, like a child as she slept.
"How long?" Vincent questioned, still staring at her petite figure. He thought, so many things running around his mind. Vincent gazed at the young girl, emotionless. Although, deep down, he regretted to hear such a thing. Yuffie was too young to die...she was just too young. The young woman had a life before her, although, she wasn't there at the time. She would have made it, that he knew.
"I'd give her one week at the most...," the man replied, "I'm sorry...its out of my grasp...."
Vincent's silence kept him looking, as the doctor slowly stepped out of the room, soon after. He paused, as he watched the young girl stir softly, slowly. Her eyes slowly flickered open, as she pulled herself up slowly. Yuffie's eyes glanced around her surroundings, when they stopped short on Vincent. He stood there, his eyes gazing at her. She remembered only last night. She couldn't quite remember where the man was, all she knew was she stood there, gazing at the pouring rain. Yuffie smiled, slightly, without a word as she gazed at him.
"Did you ever think about going back to Midgar?" Vincent questioned, suddenly, out of the blue. She paused, as she glanced down at the tiled floors and her eyes fixed back upon him.
"To see my friends...," she uttered, replying simply. Although, she hadn't any clue what Vincent had been suggesting to. He never took in that much consideration as to what Yuffie wanted. He never asked for that matter. She hesitated, as she watched his unknowing eyes stare at nothing but her face. He did that so many times, but for once, this seemed different. His eyes were soft, not as stern as they would have always been. That Yuffie couldn't quite figure out.
Tifa took in a deep breath, as she walked about the bar, thinking patiently. It had been weeks, months even, since Yuffie just left so sudden. No one had a clue as to where she was, but they somehow realized that she was safe with Vincent. Vincent, Tifa thought, as she stared out the window again. Where would Vincent be? Days went by, almost too soon, yet almost too simple.
It wasn't as though, no one bothered to search for her. Yuffie was always the type of exuberant girl who was up and about, always up to no good. She couldn't have gotten herself into too much trouble. Cid and Barrett walked into the bar, as they flashed one another a sarcastic look.
"Haaaa...," Cid sighed, as he held onto a half smoked cigarette in one mouth, as he made way to the counter sitting down. He placed both of his feet onto the table, as he leaned back into the chair, comfortably.
"Tifa," Barrett began, as he got the woman's attention. Her ruby eyes fixed upon the tall man, as she waited for him to finish. "Ya haven't seen Marlene, now would ya?"
She smiled, "She went to the church in the slums with Cloud, earlier this morning." Tifa slowly walked over to Cid, who enjoyed much his position. She quickly brushed his foot off of the table, as she wiped the previous spot with a wet cloth.
"We've been through this before," she uttered, smiling, as she shook her head in disapproval. Cid took in a deep breath, as he pulled out his cigarette.
"Ah, what the hell?!? Who gives a fuck about those tables? You could always call in a replace 'em," he remarked, his eyes hardening. Tifa sighed, she nearly went through the same routine everyday. Constantly hearing Cid's babbles, for every time, he weren't home babbling to Shera.
Her eyes quickly fixed outside the open window, as she noticed two familiar figures heading way towards the 7th Heaven. Tifa quickly pulled open the double doors, as she smiled, noticing Cloud and Marlene now entering inside the building. Marlene quickly ran to Barret, as she smiled happily, tapping him on the shoulders. Cid's eyes suddenly turned back towards the door as he uttered,
"Vincent?" With that, everyone's attention was set on the smiling Yuffie, as she grinned happily to see them. Tifa quickly ran to her, as she checked her all over, examining, as if something were actually wrong.
Yuffie stared blankly at the woman, "Tifa, I'm okay...."
Cid slowly stood up, stretching, "Well, if it isn't the thief." The young girl stared at him, one eye brow rising, as she gave him a look.
"Listen, old man," she began, her head tilted to one side, "I suggest you don't start. If you want a rematch, we'll take it outside later."
He smirked, "That's fucken fine with me." Tifa quickly shoved Cid, as she gave him a concerned look, glancing at Marlene.
"Not in front of the child," she replied, reluctantly, as she glanced at Vincent, who seemed spaced off, as usual.
"Hey, Vincent," Barrett uttered, as he approached the tall man, "Haven't seen ya of awhile. How ya been?"
"Perfectly fine," he replied, simply, as he gazed at Yuffie, who stared at him, a bit questioningly. Cloud greeted Vincent, as Tifa slowly turned back to the young girl.
"I was worried about you, Yuffie," she began, "but, I knew you would have been okay, with Vincent beside you." She nodded, a false smile upon her face, as she glanced at the man briefly. Was he going to leave, after all that? That, she couldn't help but think negatively.
"Where were you two all this time?" Tifa questioned, as they sat around at the counter. She slowly wiped a glass, as she placed it up on the shelf, waiting for a reply from him. Vincent ran his fingers along the top of the mug, as his eyes glared down.
"I think there should be something you ought to know," he uttered, causing Cid, Barret and Cloud to turn to him. Vincent hesitated, as he didn't make any signs of eye contact, "Yuffie..........she's dying."
Cid quickly arose form where he was siting, startled to hear the words that came out so simply from the man's mouth, "What the fuck?!?! Who's dying?!?!---Where is that kid???" Tifa paused, as she stared wide eye as to all the things that came out so clearly. Everyone was quiet, except for the continuous talk that went on with Cid, all by himself. Shouting out every curse words his mouth could ever manage.
"Dying?" Cloud questioned, his expression concerned, "How's that even possible?"
"She's diagnosed with a type of disease," Vincent uttered, his eyes still avoiding everyone else's'. "It's not curable...the man had said that it was something that ran in the family, in one's blood..."
Barrett asked, "Does Yuffie know that?" He shook his head, as his crimson eyes fell upon the man who questioned him.
"She can't know," he replied, almost stating, instead of a suggestion, "She can't ever know about that. Some things are too hard for people like Yuffie to take. She's much too young...."
Cid paced around the room, impatiently, as he slammed his hand on the table causing a loud racket, "And what the hell do ya expect to fucken happen? Just let her die, without knowing shit!?!? Just let it happen??!?!"
Tifa took in a deep breath, as she began, "But its true...Cid, you know what type of person Yuffie is...If she ever found out anything like that, she'd go berserk.."
"But....," he began, his expression tight with confusion, "The kid is too damn young to die...Sure, she gets hella on my nerves. Hell yea, she talks too damn much....but.." Vincent's gaze slowly fell upon Tifa, who seemed the most suggestive at that moment. Her eyes slowly glanced down, as she sat on the small chair. There was a moment of silence that fell amongst them.
"What do we do?" Tifa uttered, glancing around towards everyone, "Act as though nothing ever happened? I can't do that....not our Yuffie...."
Vincent sat quietly, his thoughts running about as it usually would. So many unusual things had happened in his life. Most he could never deny. It seemed as though, he were the burden carrier. Always the bail of bad news. His crimson eyes slowly gazed up at the high skies over head. Everything was quiet, except for the soft chirping of birds in the newly built city.
He had not an ounce of idea why he was still there. What did he want in for? Vincent could have handled anything, he could have coped with physical pain. But it was just that the emotions that had always gotten the best of him. He had longed to cope with the pain and self-hatred that he so much consumed. But things always seemed to have gotten worse, with every passing day. It was as though, he couldn't breathe, as if he were being drowned away, submerged by water.
It couldn't have been Yuffie, he thought, as he gazed down simply. His attention slowly turned behind him, as he noticed the young woman stood behind him. For who knows how long.
"Yuffie," he uttered, as his eyes fixed upon her. The sun shone behind him, dimly, as it showed signs of setting. She slowly made way to him, as she found a place beside the man, and sat down.
"Hmmm," she murmured, as she leaned back on both hands, staring up at the darkening sky. "You must miss her a lot, huh?" Vincent paused, as he let her words seep in. She had started on pretty much a bad note although he hadn't taken it offensively. If it weren't for the sympathy that he felt for her, he would have likely simply told her to go away and leave him alone. But he didn't.
Yuffie took in a deep breath, as she sat up straight, peering over at the man's face. His crimson eyes laid fixed ahead of him, as far as his eyes cold see. She smiled, slightly to herself, as she gazed around. "Do you remember what I talked to you about last time? Ya know...about how, you shouldn't always give up so soon. How you live for yourself, and it's no ones business?" Vincent stayed silent, as he let the young woman continue.
Her eyes seemed to drift about, far away in the distance, "It's true...you never know what's goin' to happen in the future, and you don't expect it. If you die, you die..."
Vincent turned to her, a bit startled, although he didn't show it, "Why are you speaking of death all of a sudden?" She shook her head, with a warm smile.
"Like my father...," she uttered, "back in Wutai we hear a lot of legends and stories. That tells of life and death...how one could...well...the point is," her eyes slowly fixed upon him, as she continued, "Never give up, and don't lose anything that's not worth losing."
Vincent smirked, "That's not possible...not if you lost something special once, and you lose it again." She stayed quiet, as she thought about the words that he uttered.
"What are you losing anyway?" she questioned out of the blue. He didn't bother to turn to her, as he shook his head. Yuffie smirked, as she thought about it, "How could you be so down all the time? Don't ya get bored?" She slowly stood up, as she began to stretch, back and fourth.
She took in a breath of fresh air, as she placed a happy smile upon her round face, "OH GAWD, YUFFIE! YOU'RE SUCH AN IDIOT!" Vincent's gaze turned onto the young woman, as he stared blankly at her. What the hell was she talking about? She flashed him a quick smile, as she began to jump around, chanting something to herself, joyfully.
Vincent slowly arose, as he gazed at her. The wind gently rustled through his ebony hair, as it flew gently over his shoulders. Yuffie's gaze quickly fell upon the man, as she smiled.
Tifa turned to the young girl, that had somehow managed to fall asleep in all of the loudness that filled the bar, just earlier that evening. Her eyes slowly fell upon Vincent, who sat at one table near the corner, drinking out of a big mug. She smiled, slightly, noticing Cid and Barret dead asleep as they usually would have been after a couple of drinks. But a couple to them, was plentiful, evening out to hundredths. Tifa took in a deep breath, as she exited towards the room.
Vincent's eyes slowly fell upon Yuffie, who had fallen asleep sitting at one of the tables. He took in a deep breath, as he hesitated to make movement. He couldn't have made out anything that went on in that brain of his. It was all too much. He slowly arose, as he walked over beside her, glancing down at her complexion. She seemed so pale, under the moonlight that shone through the window.
Vincent's crimson eyes gazed at the young woman, as he brought his UN-clawed hand to her face slightly, brushing off strands of brown hair, from her face. Why had she reminded him of someone he love so dearly? It brought back such memories, such pain. Vincent exhaled, as he gazed at the young girl, studying her as she slept. She was only a meir child, he couldn't have had such thoughts of love for a girl like she.
Yuffie's eyes fluttered opened on impulse, as though the words he thought to himself, she had heard. She slowly lifted her head off of the table, as her brown eyes fixed upon him. Vincent stared down at her, not once turning away.
Yuffie smiled, slightly, "What were you doin'?" He paused, he didn't have much of an answer, and he didn't plan on giving her one after all.
"Can I ask you something,' Vincent?" she questioned, her eyes tense. Yuffie paused, before she found words that escaped her that minute, ".....Am..am I dying?"
He stared down at her, emotionless, although he were startled by her question, "What are you talking about?"
"Don't lie to me..," she uttered, her voice drifting off, slowly, "I heard you guys talkin' the other day...why didn't you tell me sooner? I would have been okay with it...Seriously, I would have...." Vincent stared down at her, as he kneeled down in front of her. Yuffie's eyes revealed hurt, as he noticed the tears that she so much tried to hold back. But no matter how hard the girl tried, it was useless. The tears slowly flowed down her cheeks, as she whimpered softly.
"Why do you cry?" Vincent questioned, staring at her, his eyes fixed. She glanced downward, as she adjusted her eyes onto him again.
"I don't wanna die...," she uttered, her hands clasped tightly together, as it rested in her lap. He studied her, feeling sympathy towards the young woman.
"I tried...," Yuffie uttered, "I tried so hard to make...to make myself believe that it would be okay....That's why I said the things I did....But.....oh gawd, I'm dying...." Her brown eyes stared into his, as she paused, wiping another tear from her eyes. Vincent hesitated to say anything, for his words weren't so comforting, even he, himself realized that.
"Your friends are here for you...," he uttered, the first thing to his mind.
Yuffie hesitated, as she began, "But you said--"
"Just forget what I said...," Vincent replied, "remember, you shouldn't give up so soon..." She smiled, as she glanced down then back onto his frail features. He had repeated the words that she had said before. Something that she had tried to explain to him. Vincent gazed at her, as he stayed there, beside her.
Yuffie held onto her hopes, as she began, "And, you shouldn't give up on the people around you...."
"Death is a challenge. It tells us not to waste time...
It tells us to tell each other right now that we love each other."
NOTE NOTE :: yeah..dat was the plan. Do you hate me? Hope ya can review for meeh.
