Chapter 6: The Chase
"Wait up!" Kakyuu puffed, trying to keep up with Vincent, who had disappeared over another pile of rubble, moving like someone possessed. Kojin had decided it would bring less attention if they moved in on foot, saying to a concerned Walker that they wanted to be attacked, for they wanted to know who was responsible for this. Kakyuu had suggested they wear neo-signs saying 'shoot me'! He was ignored. Vincent had said, in a monotone pissed way that only he could pull off, that they should stop arguing and go. The more time they wasted, the more time the enemy had. No one asked who the enemy was, and eventually just followed Vincent as he took of walking. Or, to Kakyuu, what seemed like jogging. "Wait up!" He snapped again, trying to keep enough oxygen in his lungs to sustain his cry. Sure, he was fit for his age, but damn! He wasn't young like he used to be. Kakyuu gave a small sigh. His age was starting to catch up with him. Vincent gave a slight indication of hearing him, slowing down a bit and taking a slight glance over his shoulder. Kojin, Kakyuu noticed with a frown of irritation, showed no sign of exhaustion. A Turk to the end, that one, but he was still a good guy underneath.
"You were a Turk." Vincent said simply, and Kakyuu glared at him, not bothering to say anything about the 'were'.
"Yea so? Not all of us have drunk from the fountain of youth!" Kakyuu snapped, brushing past him and walking off, still visibly fuming. Kojin gave a slight smile, turning to Vincent with an eyebrow raised, seeing Vincent's almost angered expression.
"He's irritated, so let it go. He's just as worried as you are." Kojin said with a slight shrug, starting off after Kakyuu. Kojin had met the famous Tifa Lockheart, who was as every bit as attractive as Kakyuu claimed her to be, as well as polite, and that aura. well, she was one in a kind, that was certain. Vincent deserved someone like her to get him back on track. And as Vincent's comrade, no friend, he would make sure she was returned to him. Vincent looked after his two comrades and walked briskily after them, not wanting to be left behind.
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Tifa watched the door anxiously, hearing the slight creak of it opening, like someone was having a hard time pushing the heavy thing forward. Tifa was ready; this might be her only chance! Once the door was open, a woman appeared, smiling uneasily.
"Hello-" Was all she managed to get out before Tifa had brushed past her, tearing down the halls as she ran past the two guards on either side of her door, who were shouting and giving chase. They couldn't catch her though, even if they tried. The halls passed by in grayish dusty blurs, with only the sounds of her panting and the thud of her boots on the concrete like floor. It was like a maze, and here she was, randomly weaving through the people who tried to stop her, but not succeeded, just watching in some sort of awe as she rushed past. Suddenly, a figure shot out, a hand snatching her arm and twisting it painfully behind her back. With a cry, Tifa jerked back, landing on the chest of the one who stopped her.
"Let me go!" Tifa shrieked, feeling the rush of freedom living her instantly. She was so close!
"I'm afraid you'll have to come with me." Masson hissed, seeming dreadfully angry. He dragged a struggling Tifa back all the way to her prison, glaring at the people who just watched in awe. "Idiots! You should have caught her!" Masson snapped, and as if being struck with common sense, began apologizing profusely, most with frightened looks on their faces. "Just don't let it happen again!" Masson said, shrugging it off, though still looking angry as he shoved Tifa back into her room, slamming the door shut. He strode back before her, fists shaking and eyes blazing with anger, almost as much so as Tifa's garnet eyes. "What the h*** do you think you were doing?!" Masson roared, his form shaking with fury. Tifa looked at him with equal fury.
"Escaping, you idiot! What did it look like!?" Tifa snapped back, glaring at him.
"You little b***! Don't you see this is for your own good?" Masson snarled back, and Tifa's eyes narrowed furiously.
"B****?!" She shrieked, fists clenching at her sides. He was asking for it. Masson visibly calmed after a second, staring at her with an almost amused expression. "What?!" Tifa snapped sourly, still steaming, though it was going down from a moment ago. Why was he looking at her like that?
"You do not know Valentine at all, do you? You think he'll actually come for you?" Masson asked, an almost curious expression on his face.
"Of course I know him, and he *will* come for me! I know it!" Tifa said with conviction, folding her arms across her chest, still glaring at him, wincing a little when she stretched her arm. He twisted her arm so *hard*! Of course, Masson noticed.
"Are you all right?" He asked in concern that couldn't be feigned, and knelt beside her, examining her arm with intensity, enough to make her blush.
"I'm fine." She said hastily, looking away. "You shouldn't worry about me anyway. After all, I'm your 'bait' aren't I?" Tifa snapped, a little bitterly, and Masson looked up at her, an eyebrow raised.
"You shouldn't take it so personally. I am only after Valentine." Masson said with an indifferent shrug, standing up. Tifa looked over at him cautiously, deciding that since he was in a good mood now, she might as well squeeze information out of him.
"Why are you after Vincent anyway?" Tifa asked cautiously, unconsciously rubbing her arm and letting a slight blush color her cheeks at his name. Masson noticed, but didn't comment.
"Valentine has told you nothing about him as I supposed. Predictable." Masson said with a shrug, turning and going to exit the room.
"He has told me things about him!" Tifa snapped, and Masson looked back at her, his eyebrow rising again. This woman certainly was something, he'd give Valentine that.
"Oh? Is that so? Do you even know his birth date?" Masson asked, and Tifa colored, looking down at her hands, which were clenched in her lap. "I see." Masson said, with a smugness that could not be hidden. He turned again, to leave the room, when Tifa's voice reached him.
"It doesn't matter to me." Tifa said softly, still not looking up at him. "I don't care about his past, how dark it is, that he worked for Shinra. I.love him and that's all that matters." Tifa finished in a whisper, and Masson noticed her reluctance to say the word. Perhaps she too, had felt its pleasure mixed with pain.
"You say love with reluctance. could it be that you don't know how he feels for you? Humph, predictable." Masson stated, though he felt compelled to stay. She was interesting, this woman of Valentine's.
"He loves me. I know it!" Tifa said with conviction, to herself, and to the one who stood before her. She still had those doubts in her about her place in his heart, whether it be she was a Lucercia replacement, or an honest love, she didn't know. She clutched the material of her skirt tighter, her bangs hiding her eyes.
"I see." Masson said again, closing the door, leaving Tifa with her doubts.
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Masson sighed, giving a slight lean against the door that held that woman prisoner. She was. just like his love, only she had a different passion than her. Masson opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, ignoring the questioning looks from the guards. She definitely was something else.
"Sir!" A haggard looking messenger skidded to a halt in front of him, giving a sloppy salute, looking shaken.
"What is it?" Masson asked in a tired voice. Holding that struggling woman had been a challenge, and he wasn't so young anymore.
"Valentine his headed-" The messenger started, but Masson shrugged him off with a wave of the hand.
"Get Alex and his men there now!" Masson said with a yell, and the messenger yelped, nodding and running off.
"Sir?" One of the guards asked him, raising an eyebrow and gesturing to the room Tifa was locked in. Masson smiled.
"Don't worry. I'll be serving her meals to her from now on." Masson stated casually, turning and walking down the hall. He had more pressing matters to deal with now.
~*Author's Notes*~ Sorry for all the cursing! I don't think there will be much more in this anyhow. Well, anyway, moving on. Sorry to keep Vinnie's parts so short! I just don't know what to do with him! I promise he'll have a bigger part next time! K? K! Thanks to all of you who are reading this. The three of you who actually review! *waves* I should give you guys something, like a request or something. *blinks* Anyway, sorry it took so long to get this chappie out. I've had no motivation and I'm swamped with my website and everything. *eyes twitches* Who knew it would be so tough? Well, anyway, read and review.
"Wait up!" Kakyuu puffed, trying to keep up with Vincent, who had disappeared over another pile of rubble, moving like someone possessed. Kojin had decided it would bring less attention if they moved in on foot, saying to a concerned Walker that they wanted to be attacked, for they wanted to know who was responsible for this. Kakyuu had suggested they wear neo-signs saying 'shoot me'! He was ignored. Vincent had said, in a monotone pissed way that only he could pull off, that they should stop arguing and go. The more time they wasted, the more time the enemy had. No one asked who the enemy was, and eventually just followed Vincent as he took of walking. Or, to Kakyuu, what seemed like jogging. "Wait up!" He snapped again, trying to keep enough oxygen in his lungs to sustain his cry. Sure, he was fit for his age, but damn! He wasn't young like he used to be. Kakyuu gave a small sigh. His age was starting to catch up with him. Vincent gave a slight indication of hearing him, slowing down a bit and taking a slight glance over his shoulder. Kojin, Kakyuu noticed with a frown of irritation, showed no sign of exhaustion. A Turk to the end, that one, but he was still a good guy underneath.
"You were a Turk." Vincent said simply, and Kakyuu glared at him, not bothering to say anything about the 'were'.
"Yea so? Not all of us have drunk from the fountain of youth!" Kakyuu snapped, brushing past him and walking off, still visibly fuming. Kojin gave a slight smile, turning to Vincent with an eyebrow raised, seeing Vincent's almost angered expression.
"He's irritated, so let it go. He's just as worried as you are." Kojin said with a slight shrug, starting off after Kakyuu. Kojin had met the famous Tifa Lockheart, who was as every bit as attractive as Kakyuu claimed her to be, as well as polite, and that aura. well, she was one in a kind, that was certain. Vincent deserved someone like her to get him back on track. And as Vincent's comrade, no friend, he would make sure she was returned to him. Vincent looked after his two comrades and walked briskily after them, not wanting to be left behind.
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Tifa watched the door anxiously, hearing the slight creak of it opening, like someone was having a hard time pushing the heavy thing forward. Tifa was ready; this might be her only chance! Once the door was open, a woman appeared, smiling uneasily.
"Hello-" Was all she managed to get out before Tifa had brushed past her, tearing down the halls as she ran past the two guards on either side of her door, who were shouting and giving chase. They couldn't catch her though, even if they tried. The halls passed by in grayish dusty blurs, with only the sounds of her panting and the thud of her boots on the concrete like floor. It was like a maze, and here she was, randomly weaving through the people who tried to stop her, but not succeeded, just watching in some sort of awe as she rushed past. Suddenly, a figure shot out, a hand snatching her arm and twisting it painfully behind her back. With a cry, Tifa jerked back, landing on the chest of the one who stopped her.
"Let me go!" Tifa shrieked, feeling the rush of freedom living her instantly. She was so close!
"I'm afraid you'll have to come with me." Masson hissed, seeming dreadfully angry. He dragged a struggling Tifa back all the way to her prison, glaring at the people who just watched in awe. "Idiots! You should have caught her!" Masson snapped, and as if being struck with common sense, began apologizing profusely, most with frightened looks on their faces. "Just don't let it happen again!" Masson said, shrugging it off, though still looking angry as he shoved Tifa back into her room, slamming the door shut. He strode back before her, fists shaking and eyes blazing with anger, almost as much so as Tifa's garnet eyes. "What the h*** do you think you were doing?!" Masson roared, his form shaking with fury. Tifa looked at him with equal fury.
"Escaping, you idiot! What did it look like!?" Tifa snapped back, glaring at him.
"You little b***! Don't you see this is for your own good?" Masson snarled back, and Tifa's eyes narrowed furiously.
"B****?!" She shrieked, fists clenching at her sides. He was asking for it. Masson visibly calmed after a second, staring at her with an almost amused expression. "What?!" Tifa snapped sourly, still steaming, though it was going down from a moment ago. Why was he looking at her like that?
"You do not know Valentine at all, do you? You think he'll actually come for you?" Masson asked, an almost curious expression on his face.
"Of course I know him, and he *will* come for me! I know it!" Tifa said with conviction, folding her arms across her chest, still glaring at him, wincing a little when she stretched her arm. He twisted her arm so *hard*! Of course, Masson noticed.
"Are you all right?" He asked in concern that couldn't be feigned, and knelt beside her, examining her arm with intensity, enough to make her blush.
"I'm fine." She said hastily, looking away. "You shouldn't worry about me anyway. After all, I'm your 'bait' aren't I?" Tifa snapped, a little bitterly, and Masson looked up at her, an eyebrow raised.
"You shouldn't take it so personally. I am only after Valentine." Masson said with an indifferent shrug, standing up. Tifa looked over at him cautiously, deciding that since he was in a good mood now, she might as well squeeze information out of him.
"Why are you after Vincent anyway?" Tifa asked cautiously, unconsciously rubbing her arm and letting a slight blush color her cheeks at his name. Masson noticed, but didn't comment.
"Valentine has told you nothing about him as I supposed. Predictable." Masson said with a shrug, turning and going to exit the room.
"He has told me things about him!" Tifa snapped, and Masson looked back at her, his eyebrow rising again. This woman certainly was something, he'd give Valentine that.
"Oh? Is that so? Do you even know his birth date?" Masson asked, and Tifa colored, looking down at her hands, which were clenched in her lap. "I see." Masson said, with a smugness that could not be hidden. He turned again, to leave the room, when Tifa's voice reached him.
"It doesn't matter to me." Tifa said softly, still not looking up at him. "I don't care about his past, how dark it is, that he worked for Shinra. I.love him and that's all that matters." Tifa finished in a whisper, and Masson noticed her reluctance to say the word. Perhaps she too, had felt its pleasure mixed with pain.
"You say love with reluctance. could it be that you don't know how he feels for you? Humph, predictable." Masson stated, though he felt compelled to stay. She was interesting, this woman of Valentine's.
"He loves me. I know it!" Tifa said with conviction, to herself, and to the one who stood before her. She still had those doubts in her about her place in his heart, whether it be she was a Lucercia replacement, or an honest love, she didn't know. She clutched the material of her skirt tighter, her bangs hiding her eyes.
"I see." Masson said again, closing the door, leaving Tifa with her doubts.
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Masson sighed, giving a slight lean against the door that held that woman prisoner. She was. just like his love, only she had a different passion than her. Masson opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, ignoring the questioning looks from the guards. She definitely was something else.
"Sir!" A haggard looking messenger skidded to a halt in front of him, giving a sloppy salute, looking shaken.
"What is it?" Masson asked in a tired voice. Holding that struggling woman had been a challenge, and he wasn't so young anymore.
"Valentine his headed-" The messenger started, but Masson shrugged him off with a wave of the hand.
"Get Alex and his men there now!" Masson said with a yell, and the messenger yelped, nodding and running off.
"Sir?" One of the guards asked him, raising an eyebrow and gesturing to the room Tifa was locked in. Masson smiled.
"Don't worry. I'll be serving her meals to her from now on." Masson stated casually, turning and walking down the hall. He had more pressing matters to deal with now.
~*Author's Notes*~ Sorry for all the cursing! I don't think there will be much more in this anyhow. Well, anyway, moving on. Sorry to keep Vinnie's parts so short! I just don't know what to do with him! I promise he'll have a bigger part next time! K? K! Thanks to all of you who are reading this. The three of you who actually review! *waves* I should give you guys something, like a request or something. *blinks* Anyway, sorry it took so long to get this chappie out. I've had no motivation and I'm swamped with my website and everything. *eyes twitches* Who knew it would be so tough? Well, anyway, read and review.