-Disclaimer- I do not own Final Fantasy Seven, nor do I own its characters and places. I simply own this Fic.
Author's Note: It's the 'wonderful' author, Haze, back to enlighten someone. As I mentioned, I have a lot of endings planned, and I was wracking my brain all weekend until I finally figured out which one I was going to use. Little change of plans. There will be at least three, maybe four, chapters after this one. Thank you to all who've followed this, and I'll try not to slack off this time. ~_~ Later.
Part Six: Three Days. . .
Tifa awoke a few hours later, when the sun had begun its ascent over the horizon and opened the sun to its usual light blue color. She refused to open her eyes, not wanting to welcome that blazing sun, but then figured the sooner she started on her work, the sooner she could be finished.
She yawned and opened her eyes, meeting the wide-awake impassive face of Reno. The brunette smiled faintly, still feeling the sleep trying to claim her again. "Morning," she muttered groggily.
Reno had been awake and watching her since Tseng's visit, debating his words carefully. Blurting something out wouldn't be the way to go was the only thing he'd come up with, but he knew he had to speak with Sephiroth. "You're awake," he observed simply.
Tifa nodded, shifting to lay her head against his shoulder.
Reno suppressed a shudder at the image of what could happen three days later as it ran through his head, settling on pulling his fingers lightly through her hair and keeping silent. "I'll be back." An odd statement, but he knew he had to call Sephiroth as soon as possible.
Tifa just nodded, letting her eyes fall closed as she felt his weight leave the mattress of 'their' bed.
The ex-Turk sat up and fished his pants from the floor, throwing them on carelessly and standing up. He was sure his hair was a mess and that he needed a shower, but he passed that on his way to the living room.
The previous night, he decided, was the small push he needed to speak with the silver-haired maniac.
And he didn't mean Tseng's talk.
Reno mumbled and rubbed his face, finding his phone on the table. He dialed in Sephiroth's number, noticing it was only seven in the morning, and was answered almost immediately.
{"Drannor?"}
Reno sighed at the almost coolness of his voice. "Yeah, it's me. Listen, --"
Sephiroth hissed, {"Where did you go, and why is she with you?!"}
'For many reasons,' Reno thought to say. He ended up with, "We have to call the plan off."
Silence came for at least thirty seconds, only muffled voices beyond his recognition reaching his ear.
{"Impossible. Strife refuses, and he's sure he does not want to know why you're deciding to go against us."}
Reno could understand that, he decided. "Look, Sephiroth. If you don't stop it, I'll take some action. In three days, if you don't have it called off, I will find you, and the result will not be pleasant."
{"You're threatening me?"}
"If you want it to turn into a threat, it can very quickly," Reno snapped. "Get back to me."
He clicked off the phone and looked around, relieved to find he was still alone in the room, save for his cat, who was looking at him oddly.
"Go away!" he hissed, setting off one from the cat and sending it dashing into the bedroom.
Reno suspected this wasn't going to be a day he'd want to have, but he knew he'd have to face Sephiroth sooner or later. He sat down in his chair and rubbed his head, looking around again.
From the things scattered around the kitchen, he figured Tseng had found his own food in the time they were gone. He also noticed how messy the place was, stood up, and started for the kitchen.
He was up, so he might as well clean.
====================================================================
Sephiroth calmly put his phone away and drummed all four fingers on his left hand against his temple, standing facing the wall next to a file cabinet.
A large table, but not in the best of shape, held four other people behind him.
They were in an abandoned building right next to Reno's, but he'd refused to make the attack now. Turning around, the former SOLDIER captain looked at those four people and took his seat at the head of the table silently.
To his right sat Cloud Strife, and to his left, Katedona. Next to Katedona was Yuffie, who was a big part in Claratish, and next to Cloud was Cero.
Three chairs sat unfilled, belonging to Nang, Marcus, and the man they currently waited for.
"As I mentioned, Drannor wishes to stop or make us stop the mission."
He glared at Yuffie, who'd given a snort at the statement. She shut up quickly.
"All of us know this cannot happen, but all of us also know that Drannor isn't an idiot. Yes, I'll even admit he has a bit of a mind left," he added with a disturbing smirk. "We've wiped out the Den?" he queried.
"Sir," Cloud affirmed, flinching at having to call him that.
Sephiroth waited for a moment, then said, "Suggestions?"
Cero immediately spoke up. "Take out Drannor right now, then get the bitch."
"Cero," Cloud growled, his hands balling into fists. It wasn't like he absolutely hated Tifa.
"We stop."
All five looked to see Vincent Valentine standing at the doorway, a serious look in his hollow red eyes. "Yes, you heard me correctly. We stop. Remind me why we are doing this again."
Four were silent, and Yuffie seemed a bit nervous all of a sudden. Kate, however, spoke up.
"She has caused all of us misery at one time or another," she said with a slight hiss on 'misery.'
Vincent didn't look at all convinced. "How has she affected you, Katedona?"
The red-haired woman was silent for a moment, but finally replied, " ShinRa. I worked there, and I barely escaped."
Vincent now had his point across. "Whose fault was that? I believe it was Sephiroth's, was it not? He is the one who decided to slaughter the staff. To move on, Cloud?"
Cloud glared at him. "You know very well."
Vincent was rounding the table now, hands behind his back. "That was your own fault. Aeris got in the way, I believe, and you shoved Tifa away. Then, when Aeris was killed, you got mad because Tifa was no longer there wanting you. Again, not Tifa's fault. Possibly Sephiroth's. Yuffie?"
Yuffie was absolutely silent. She finally murmured, "Nothing."
"And you are only here by Cloud's command, therefore, you've every right to blame Sephiroth as well, in my view," he added, sending a look Sephiroth's way.
"I believe you've said enough, Valentine," the tall man snapped.
Vincent continued. "Cero?"
"He didn't stay off of our turf," the former gang leader said confidently.
But Vincent shook a finger at him. "This disappoints me. Even as a gang leader, you know you've caused him enough pain. You're here just to try to end it you say, but you actually just happened to be a fan of Sephiroth. I know this, and it can be retraced to him once again."
The crimson-clad man turned to look at Sephiroth with some twisted satisfaction in his blood-like eyes. "And, yourself?"
"A request from Aeris," he immediately said.
Vincent went on. " Sephiroth, Aeris does not control you. You have no reason to do this, and you know it, except for the fact you would like to get your revenge on AVALANCHE. Aeris is gone, therefore, there is no reason to obery her anymore. Do not get me wrong, I loved her as a friend, but this has to stop. All in all, even you yourself can blame the tall ex-SOLDIER infront of me."
As anticipated, everyone was mulling over what had been said, and they mostly came up with one conclusion.
Sephiroth was to blame, and they had never wanted to do this.
"You're down to five members," Vincent finally broke the silence, turning on his heel and walking from the room.
The leader of the operation waited for a moment, approving silently as at first no one seemed to want to leave, but then Yuffie dared to stand and follow suit.
Cero caught Sephiroth looking at him and give a curt nod of his head. He then gripped inside of his jean jacket and leaped up, jamming the end of his best knife into Yuffie's spine.
As she felt the pain, the blood started flowing from her back, which kicked the adrenaline in and caused it to pump faster. All in all, trying to stay alive was killing her. A part of her brain had shut down when her spine had been severed, and she was no longer able to comprehend what was happening.
This made it impossible for the adrenaline to stop, and also for the blood to quit flowing. As she hit her knees and then fell onto her face, the glaze in her eyes signified the pain she could no longer feel, and as the knife was pulled from her back, another jolt went over her form.
Her lungs collapsed, making her breathing stop in mid-inhale, and her mouth formed a small 'o,' as if to say something or make a short prayer.
The room went silent, and Cloud deathly pale.
Yuffie's corpse was laying there at Cero's feet, the man's knife still held threateningly at his side, but he soon shoved it back into his jacket and took his seat.
Silence was still there, before Sephiroth muttered one thing.
"Four."
====================================================================
Vincent moved back through the building until he was in the alley next to Reno's place. He looked up and frowned, seeing the window twenty feet in the air, and closed.
He settled for the front door. It took only a few moments for him to get to Reno's door, and from there, picking the lock came easy.
====================================================================
Reno was finishing up picking the clothes from the floor when Vincent entered quietly, but still enough to attract attention with the creaky door.
Tifa was asleep, again, in his armchair, looking like a cocooned animal, and didn't wake up as he came in.
"You're here to kill me," Reno accused, though his eyes were hollow and sunken, as if he were expecting it. Truth was, he knew they would probably send someone after him after he'd run his smart mouth that morning.
Vincent stared at him, shaking his head. "I'm here to keep both of you alive. I believe we've both irritated them to the edge."
Reno snorted and stood up, his hand knowing the path to his mag-rod if the need were to arise. "And I should believe you, why?"
"I cannot force you," Vincent replied immediately, figuring it a good thing he hadn't been shot at yet. "But I do hope you believe, for it is the easiest way to guarantee Tifa will not be harmed. I know how you feel about her, and I know you'd like it no other way than she stay alive."
Reno looked as if something had just walked out of Vincent and crawled into him. "How would you know any of that?"
Vincent, for once, gave him a smirk. "Yuffie has brought back some interesting updates, Reno."
Reno had almost taken those words as a physical blow. "Yuffie's in on this? And exactly what'd she say?!" He looked over his shoulder, satisfied to see Tifa still sleeping.
"Yuffie's always been in on it, and you know what she said," Vincent assumed. "If you wish to live, I am going to stay here when needed for the next three days, because we need to plan this out well."
Reno thought on it, then nodded faintly. "Mention it to Tifa, and you're dead. Take the couch."
====================================================================
Vincent made it seem like he was perfectly content that night as he 'went off to sleep.' What he really did, though, was call Sephiroth again, waiting patiently after three rings.
{"Drannor?"} came the grumbled greeting.
"Valentine," Vincent replied simply, pleased with a sound of acknowledgement. "I'm guessing they all bought it?"
Sephiroth chuckled on the other end. {"Yuffie, a bit too much, but the others, yes."}
Vincent closed his eyes, knowing very well what they had agreed on if someone had chosen to follow."I. . .suppose. Back on the subject. Here is how we do this. . ."
And so, he gave Sephiroth a plan in detail.
Himself, Reno, and Tifa would arrive inside the hangar near the large office building in the heart of Junon in three days, where Vvincent would act on their side until Cloud, Sephiroth, Cero, and Katedona showed up. From there, he would then turn on Reno and Tifa, following through with the original plan and then leaving.
Reno would live, Tifa would die, and the plan would be fixed again.
Sephiroth brooded this for a moment. {"Deal."}
And with the click of a phone, they were disconnected for three days.
Author's Note: Alright, so this is a bit short. I added the bit with Claratish as an explanation as to why Vincent showed up at Reno's, and Yuffie. . . Well, that was a bit hard to do, considering I'm one of the few Yuffie 'fans' around. As mentioned, some more chapters will come, maybe three or four. The ending will not be disappointing. =) (The arrows don't work for phone conversations, so from here on, I'm using { }'s.)
-=Haze=-
.Exo. - 2003
Author's Note: It's the 'wonderful' author, Haze, back to enlighten someone. As I mentioned, I have a lot of endings planned, and I was wracking my brain all weekend until I finally figured out which one I was going to use. Little change of plans. There will be at least three, maybe four, chapters after this one. Thank you to all who've followed this, and I'll try not to slack off this time. ~_~ Later.
Part Six: Three Days. . .
Tifa awoke a few hours later, when the sun had begun its ascent over the horizon and opened the sun to its usual light blue color. She refused to open her eyes, not wanting to welcome that blazing sun, but then figured the sooner she started on her work, the sooner she could be finished.
She yawned and opened her eyes, meeting the wide-awake impassive face of Reno. The brunette smiled faintly, still feeling the sleep trying to claim her again. "Morning," she muttered groggily.
Reno had been awake and watching her since Tseng's visit, debating his words carefully. Blurting something out wouldn't be the way to go was the only thing he'd come up with, but he knew he had to speak with Sephiroth. "You're awake," he observed simply.
Tifa nodded, shifting to lay her head against his shoulder.
Reno suppressed a shudder at the image of what could happen three days later as it ran through his head, settling on pulling his fingers lightly through her hair and keeping silent. "I'll be back." An odd statement, but he knew he had to call Sephiroth as soon as possible.
Tifa just nodded, letting her eyes fall closed as she felt his weight leave the mattress of 'their' bed.
The ex-Turk sat up and fished his pants from the floor, throwing them on carelessly and standing up. He was sure his hair was a mess and that he needed a shower, but he passed that on his way to the living room.
The previous night, he decided, was the small push he needed to speak with the silver-haired maniac.
And he didn't mean Tseng's talk.
Reno mumbled and rubbed his face, finding his phone on the table. He dialed in Sephiroth's number, noticing it was only seven in the morning, and was answered almost immediately.
{"Drannor?"}
Reno sighed at the almost coolness of his voice. "Yeah, it's me. Listen, --"
Sephiroth hissed, {"Where did you go, and why is she with you?!"}
'For many reasons,' Reno thought to say. He ended up with, "We have to call the plan off."
Silence came for at least thirty seconds, only muffled voices beyond his recognition reaching his ear.
{"Impossible. Strife refuses, and he's sure he does not want to know why you're deciding to go against us."}
Reno could understand that, he decided. "Look, Sephiroth. If you don't stop it, I'll take some action. In three days, if you don't have it called off, I will find you, and the result will not be pleasant."
{"You're threatening me?"}
"If you want it to turn into a threat, it can very quickly," Reno snapped. "Get back to me."
He clicked off the phone and looked around, relieved to find he was still alone in the room, save for his cat, who was looking at him oddly.
"Go away!" he hissed, setting off one from the cat and sending it dashing into the bedroom.
Reno suspected this wasn't going to be a day he'd want to have, but he knew he'd have to face Sephiroth sooner or later. He sat down in his chair and rubbed his head, looking around again.
From the things scattered around the kitchen, he figured Tseng had found his own food in the time they were gone. He also noticed how messy the place was, stood up, and started for the kitchen.
He was up, so he might as well clean.
====================================================================
Sephiroth calmly put his phone away and drummed all four fingers on his left hand against his temple, standing facing the wall next to a file cabinet.
A large table, but not in the best of shape, held four other people behind him.
They were in an abandoned building right next to Reno's, but he'd refused to make the attack now. Turning around, the former SOLDIER captain looked at those four people and took his seat at the head of the table silently.
To his right sat Cloud Strife, and to his left, Katedona. Next to Katedona was Yuffie, who was a big part in Claratish, and next to Cloud was Cero.
Three chairs sat unfilled, belonging to Nang, Marcus, and the man they currently waited for.
"As I mentioned, Drannor wishes to stop or make us stop the mission."
He glared at Yuffie, who'd given a snort at the statement. She shut up quickly.
"All of us know this cannot happen, but all of us also know that Drannor isn't an idiot. Yes, I'll even admit he has a bit of a mind left," he added with a disturbing smirk. "We've wiped out the Den?" he queried.
"Sir," Cloud affirmed, flinching at having to call him that.
Sephiroth waited for a moment, then said, "Suggestions?"
Cero immediately spoke up. "Take out Drannor right now, then get the bitch."
"Cero," Cloud growled, his hands balling into fists. It wasn't like he absolutely hated Tifa.
"We stop."
All five looked to see Vincent Valentine standing at the doorway, a serious look in his hollow red eyes. "Yes, you heard me correctly. We stop. Remind me why we are doing this again."
Four were silent, and Yuffie seemed a bit nervous all of a sudden. Kate, however, spoke up.
"She has caused all of us misery at one time or another," she said with a slight hiss on 'misery.'
Vincent didn't look at all convinced. "How has she affected you, Katedona?"
The red-haired woman was silent for a moment, but finally replied, " ShinRa. I worked there, and I barely escaped."
Vincent now had his point across. "Whose fault was that? I believe it was Sephiroth's, was it not? He is the one who decided to slaughter the staff. To move on, Cloud?"
Cloud glared at him. "You know very well."
Vincent was rounding the table now, hands behind his back. "That was your own fault. Aeris got in the way, I believe, and you shoved Tifa away. Then, when Aeris was killed, you got mad because Tifa was no longer there wanting you. Again, not Tifa's fault. Possibly Sephiroth's. Yuffie?"
Yuffie was absolutely silent. She finally murmured, "Nothing."
"And you are only here by Cloud's command, therefore, you've every right to blame Sephiroth as well, in my view," he added, sending a look Sephiroth's way.
"I believe you've said enough, Valentine," the tall man snapped.
Vincent continued. "Cero?"
"He didn't stay off of our turf," the former gang leader said confidently.
But Vincent shook a finger at him. "This disappoints me. Even as a gang leader, you know you've caused him enough pain. You're here just to try to end it you say, but you actually just happened to be a fan of Sephiroth. I know this, and it can be retraced to him once again."
The crimson-clad man turned to look at Sephiroth with some twisted satisfaction in his blood-like eyes. "And, yourself?"
"A request from Aeris," he immediately said.
Vincent went on. " Sephiroth, Aeris does not control you. You have no reason to do this, and you know it, except for the fact you would like to get your revenge on AVALANCHE. Aeris is gone, therefore, there is no reason to obery her anymore. Do not get me wrong, I loved her as a friend, but this has to stop. All in all, even you yourself can blame the tall ex-SOLDIER infront of me."
As anticipated, everyone was mulling over what had been said, and they mostly came up with one conclusion.
Sephiroth was to blame, and they had never wanted to do this.
"You're down to five members," Vincent finally broke the silence, turning on his heel and walking from the room.
The leader of the operation waited for a moment, approving silently as at first no one seemed to want to leave, but then Yuffie dared to stand and follow suit.
Cero caught Sephiroth looking at him and give a curt nod of his head. He then gripped inside of his jean jacket and leaped up, jamming the end of his best knife into Yuffie's spine.
As she felt the pain, the blood started flowing from her back, which kicked the adrenaline in and caused it to pump faster. All in all, trying to stay alive was killing her. A part of her brain had shut down when her spine had been severed, and she was no longer able to comprehend what was happening.
This made it impossible for the adrenaline to stop, and also for the blood to quit flowing. As she hit her knees and then fell onto her face, the glaze in her eyes signified the pain she could no longer feel, and as the knife was pulled from her back, another jolt went over her form.
Her lungs collapsed, making her breathing stop in mid-inhale, and her mouth formed a small 'o,' as if to say something or make a short prayer.
The room went silent, and Cloud deathly pale.
Yuffie's corpse was laying there at Cero's feet, the man's knife still held threateningly at his side, but he soon shoved it back into his jacket and took his seat.
Silence was still there, before Sephiroth muttered one thing.
"Four."
====================================================================
Vincent moved back through the building until he was in the alley next to Reno's place. He looked up and frowned, seeing the window twenty feet in the air, and closed.
He settled for the front door. It took only a few moments for him to get to Reno's door, and from there, picking the lock came easy.
====================================================================
Reno was finishing up picking the clothes from the floor when Vincent entered quietly, but still enough to attract attention with the creaky door.
Tifa was asleep, again, in his armchair, looking like a cocooned animal, and didn't wake up as he came in.
"You're here to kill me," Reno accused, though his eyes were hollow and sunken, as if he were expecting it. Truth was, he knew they would probably send someone after him after he'd run his smart mouth that morning.
Vincent stared at him, shaking his head. "I'm here to keep both of you alive. I believe we've both irritated them to the edge."
Reno snorted and stood up, his hand knowing the path to his mag-rod if the need were to arise. "And I should believe you, why?"
"I cannot force you," Vincent replied immediately, figuring it a good thing he hadn't been shot at yet. "But I do hope you believe, for it is the easiest way to guarantee Tifa will not be harmed. I know how you feel about her, and I know you'd like it no other way than she stay alive."
Reno looked as if something had just walked out of Vincent and crawled into him. "How would you know any of that?"
Vincent, for once, gave him a smirk. "Yuffie has brought back some interesting updates, Reno."
Reno had almost taken those words as a physical blow. "Yuffie's in on this? And exactly what'd she say?!" He looked over his shoulder, satisfied to see Tifa still sleeping.
"Yuffie's always been in on it, and you know what she said," Vincent assumed. "If you wish to live, I am going to stay here when needed for the next three days, because we need to plan this out well."
Reno thought on it, then nodded faintly. "Mention it to Tifa, and you're dead. Take the couch."
====================================================================
Vincent made it seem like he was perfectly content that night as he 'went off to sleep.' What he really did, though, was call Sephiroth again, waiting patiently after three rings.
{"Drannor?"} came the grumbled greeting.
"Valentine," Vincent replied simply, pleased with a sound of acknowledgement. "I'm guessing they all bought it?"
Sephiroth chuckled on the other end. {"Yuffie, a bit too much, but the others, yes."}
Vincent closed his eyes, knowing very well what they had agreed on if someone had chosen to follow."I. . .suppose. Back on the subject. Here is how we do this. . ."
And so, he gave Sephiroth a plan in detail.
Himself, Reno, and Tifa would arrive inside the hangar near the large office building in the heart of Junon in three days, where Vvincent would act on their side until Cloud, Sephiroth, Cero, and Katedona showed up. From there, he would then turn on Reno and Tifa, following through with the original plan and then leaving.
Reno would live, Tifa would die, and the plan would be fixed again.
Sephiroth brooded this for a moment. {"Deal."}
And with the click of a phone, they were disconnected for three days.
Author's Note: Alright, so this is a bit short. I added the bit with Claratish as an explanation as to why Vincent showed up at Reno's, and Yuffie. . . Well, that was a bit hard to do, considering I'm one of the few Yuffie 'fans' around. As mentioned, some more chapters will come, maybe three or four. The ending will not be disappointing. =) (The arrows don't work for phone conversations, so from here on, I'm using { }'s.)
-=Haze=-
.Exo. - 2003