Chapter 11: Christina
Tifa gave a slight groan, feeling the stony ground beneath her, stones and cracks making it uneven, and an occasional drip of water was heard, or the squeak of a rat. Instantly she sat up, taking in her desolate surroundings. When they had knocked her out, obviously they had tossed her in a rarely used, not to mention cleaned, cell. It was small, not even a window, the door barely visible in the dim light, a small square the only thing that let light in. Tifa blinked, shivering in the cold air. Suddenly a small cough was heard, and Tifa looked up, seeing two figures emerge from the shadows. Startled, she immediately stood up, getting into a battle stance.
"Don't worry." A feminine voice said a bit weakly, and Tifa didn't relax until the two figures came into the light. Instantly her eyes widened, as she identified them as the two Turks, Rude and Elena. Rude was supporting Elena as she gave a weak smile, then it turned into a grimace as she started coughing loudly, wracking her petite body with her sickness. Tifa blinked and looked up at Rude, whose eyes were hid by his ever present sunglasses. He no longer looked as intimidating as he always did, looking thin, as if he hadn't had a decent meal in a long time. Elena looked no better, thick bags under her brown eyes, which were haggard and tired, both of them filthy.
"Do you have a potion or anything on you?" Elena coughed again, Rude looking at her with concern barely hid on his face.
"No I'm sorry." Tifa said softly, sitting down next to the ailing woman.
"How long have you two been here?" Tifa asked, concern in her voice, feeling horrible. Petty differences could be set aside till later. The two proud Turks seemed to be rotting her in this dreary place.
"Since we were captured." Rude said stonily, while Elena emitted another cough, and she looked up at Tifa, her eyes wide with worry.
"What about Reno? Is he okay? He managed to get away, and we've been worried." Elena trailed off as another cough wracked her body, and Tifa smiled a bit, glad that she could at least bring them some good news.
"Yes, he's fine. I saw him a while back, and he was just fine. You need your rest." Tifa said gently, and Elena nodded her head, giving Tifa a slightly grateful smile, before falling to the floor, Rude catching her and tucked his jacket under her head. Blinking at Rude's show of affection, Tifa shook off her own jacket, glad she had grabbed it before they had dragged her out of the room, and used it to cover Elena. Silently, she put her hand to Elena's forehead, which was burning fiercely. Startled, Tifa looked at Rude, who said nothing for a moment.
"She has been ill two weeks after we were locked up in here." Rude said, and Tifa nodded her head, looking back down at the haggard Elena.
"What. happened?" Tifa asked softly, and Rude looked up at the dark ceiling, his expression as unreadable as always.
"We got lost in the mazes. Elena and me were captured, and sent here." Tifa nodded her head, then looked up wine colored eyes horrified.
"Mazes?" She whispered, and Rude said nothing, looking back at her with a somewhat uncomfortable look on his face. Tifa nodded her head slightly, looking back down at the ground, knowing it was a probably very touchy subject. Vincent. she pleaded silently, please be okay, and don't do anything foolish.
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"Welcome Mr. Valentine." The soldier said politely, and Vincent's eye twitched, though he said nothing. Obviously they were expected, but for Masson to send a guide for him, he must be very eager to extract his revenge. Vincent had no problem with that at all, as long as Tifa was safe and sound. Reno was right behind him, looking around the place suspiciously, Kakyuu grumbling something while Kojin stood patiently, hands in his pockets.
"Take me to her." Vincent growled, and the soldier put his hands up, giving a slight nervous laugh.
"Sorry Mr. Valentine, but sir told me to bring you straight to him before I can lead you to Ms. Lockheart." The soldier said nervously, and Vincent's eyes narrowed, knowing what Masson had planned. A duel to the death. He knew he wouldn't try anything tricky, no ambush, since Masson, with all his kidnappings aside, was a man of honor and wouldn't be satisfied if he didn't get his revenge in an honest way. Tifa had just been bait so Vincent would get here as fast as he could, and Vincent had to admit it had worked. He hoped Tifa was okay, and he had already sworn to himself that he wouldn't let her out of his sight again.
"Guide us there then." Vincent snapped a bit impatiently, earning gazes from his comrades, who looked a bit startled and amused.
"Seems our little Vinnie is anxious to get his lady friend back." Kakyuu whispered in an amused voice to Kojin, who gave a slight smirk, following the young soldier, who was chatting uneasily to fill the silence, not that anyone but Reno was listening. He was sure that the soldier would slip sometime and talk about Elena and Rude, hopefully about their whereabouts and their condition. However, even if the soldier was talking about things going on around the building, he either failed, or guarded, the secret of where the prisoners were. After the winding and twisting of so many corridors that should not have been able to fit in the small building that they had watched, the soldier proudly stopped in front of a big wooden door, with a wooden sign on it, worn with age, but Vincent recognized it immediately. It was *her* door marker, something that had been engraved in his heart ever since that fateful day he had failed her once, then again. He knew that was what this was all about. Masson had been plotting for thirty years how to get his revenge. No doubt. He sighed, and the soldier gave a slight, respectful bow, opening the door slowly, peering into the darkened room, eyes wide and somewhat fearful.
"Come in, Valentine." A voice boomed from the shadows, and Vincent's blood red eyes narrowed, and he brushed past the boy who blinked and look up at him, eyes wide with something like fear. Vincent's boots echoed in the large room, all of it covered in shadows, though it might as well have been lighted to Vincent's enhanced, glowing mako eyes. He knew what Masson wanted, quite simply to put it, his life and revenge. Revenge he could understand, though he couldn't let Masson take the other. His life was important to him now, now that he had someone who meant someone to him. What was worse is that Masson had dragged her into this. He had no quarrel now of killing Masson, he never had, but now. now it was personal.
"How is she?" Vincent asked evenly, though his eyes were burning with hellish flames, his voice calm, though his aura flaring with barely concealable anger, and from across the darkened room, a laugh sounded throughout the room, just as cold and merciless as Vincent's expression had just pulled into.
"That's all you have to an old friend?" Masson had stepped out of the shadows, his figure tall, pale, his eyes covered with black sunglasses, his brown hair coming down to his ears. He was semi-muscular, though he looked a bit speedy. A noticeable smirk was on his face, a sneer of anger and hatred. Vincent's eye twitched with a barely concealable trace of emotion, though he hid it, all of his self restraint used in holding himself back from killing the man.
"I would not call you a friend." Vincent hissed back, his eyes flaming even brighter, and Reno noticed, eyes widening as he glanced down at Vincent's hand, which was clenching and shifting, fingers growing long and clawed, skin turning scaly, though it flickered as though it was an illusion. Reno blinked, eyes wide as he turned his gaze back up to Vincent's face, which was expressionless, at least, to the naked eye. Even famous ex-Turk Vincent Valentine couldn't hide the fury from his eyes. Masson just grinned, looking back up Vincent, a smirk on his face.
"You need not worry about the girl Valentine. Unlike yourself, I can protect the ones I love." Masson sneered, and instantly Vincent lunged forward, but Kakyuu held him back, struggling to hold the enraged Vincent, whose face was changing rapidly into Chaos.
"Don't let your anger cloud your judgment." Kakyuu snapped, Vincent tugging free, flinging his cape aside. With an almost indignant look on his face, he turned back to Masson, who only had an amused look on his smug face. Masson gave a slight shrug of his shoulders, standing straighter, and instantly torches were lit, springing forth to life and lighting the arena with an eerie glow. The sudden jolt of light had startled Vincent's but not Vincent himself, who looked rather unshaken.
"We will begin Valentine. For the sake of Christina, my beloved."
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"C'mon Mass!" Christina called, deep brown eyes laughing as she twirled in front of him, her brown hair twirling in the wind, her laughter wafting through the air like the purest and sweetest music. Masson said nothing, allowing himself to be dragged along, a small, barely noticeable smile had tugged on his lips as she sang and danced merrily in front of him. Christina May Archer was a daughter of a high executive in the Shinra building, doing well in life. She was cheerful, energetic, loving, and passionate about anything she loved. Especially her dearest friends, which included Masson, or 'Mass' as she had lovingly dubbed him. He had meet her only recently, and yet, he still knew, no matter how much he wanted to. He had taken a liking to her ever since laying eyes on her, when she had bumped into him when he was in a foul mood.
"Watch where you're going you bumbling fool!" Masson roared, glaring up indignantly only to see brown eyes wide with amusement, not fear. He had found it strange she hadn't, since many did. He was known as a First Class Soldier with a mean temper, and not someone to mess with. It was also said that he would have made the Turks, that he had, but had turned them down since he didn't like to be ordered around by Shinra, and as a First Class Soldier, he didn't need to do so. She squatted down next to him, her green eyes amused as she helped him pick up the papers that had been dropped from his surprised hands when she had bumped into him.
"Sorry sir," She said musically, still collecting papers of the shining Shinra floor, "I wasn't paying attention. Just got out of a board meeting, and I'm sure you know how boring those things are." She stated with a slight sigh, shaking her head as wisps of light brown hair escaped from her sloppy bun, but somehow, Masson was positive that's the way she had wanted it to be. She looked like a plain beauty, someone who didn't know her own grace and loveliness. Masson blinked, processing the information. Board meeting meant she was either a secretary of a high ranking Shinra employee, one herself, or related to one. With another slight sigh, she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, giving him a slight grin. Utterly confused, Masson blinked and looked at her, wondering why in the world she didn't wince or get angry at his comment before.
"I'm sorry," Masson stuttered, a bit tongue tied to his fury and puzzlement, "about what I said earlier. I just got out of training a class and." Masson trailed off, and instantly her eyes went wide, and she jumped up happily, looking down at him.
"Do you know Matthew Archer? He is my brother!" The woman said happily, Masson still a bit confused, though he registered the last name of Archer. Matthew Archer was a cocky, vain, high tempered young lad who he only put up with because of his extraordinary skill with a spear.
"Yes," Masson said sourly, wondering how in the world a seemingly nice woman like her could be related to someone like him, "I know him." Instantly she brightened, laughing as she grasped his hand in her slender ones, startling him even more when she inched closer.
"Please, tell me where my brother was sent. I wish to know." She said urgently, and Masson blinked, shrugging, fighting the blush off of his face. Women never came this close to him, a cold glare or two had sent them off without another look over their shoulder, but she was different, he could already tell.
"He's on a simple mission, on patrol in Junon. He will be back in a week or so." Masson said in disinterest, snatching the papers from her, brushing his rough fingers against her soft ones, and instantly electricity sparked into his body, igniting something in him he didn't know he had. And it scared him. He turned to leave, but her hand on his shoulder made him stop, more electricity surging through him at a rapid pace.
"Thank you. I was really worried y'know? Matt likes to keep these things from me so it'll be more dramatic he says. Thank you Mr..?" She trailed off, looking deep at him, as if probing into his soul with one glance.
"Masson." He said, a bit startled, brushing off her hand and continuing to walk along briskly, trying to put some distance between them. He hadn't liked what had been coursing through his body, mostly because he was raised on no emotions
"Wait!" Crap, she was running after him, her sneakers thudding loudly against the slick floor of the Shinra building. Masson, irritated to no end, continued stomping off, until finally she grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop. He was shocked she had the nerve to do something like that, and not to mention the strength. "Hey! I just wanted to say thank you, y'know?" She asked irritated, and Masson blinked, looking down at her.
"And so you have. Good day miss." Masson said coldly, trying to ignore her hand on his arm, and turned, but was stopped by the sound of her voice.
"Christina Archer. You can call me Christy." With that, Christina turned, walking out, though forever leaving an imprint on his heart.
~*Author's Notes*~ *looks around* Hello? Is anyone still with me? Am I talking to myself again? What happened to everyone? *sighs* Guess I had it coming, dragging this on so long. Okay, so finally, a big showdown. I know I promised action in this chapter, me thinks, but I don't feel like it. Sorry, but school's a big pain and I'm really not up to making a battle scene right now. So, instead, tossed you a little tidbit of Masson's past, and his love is revealed. But why exactly does she know Vincent, a Turk, and why would Hojo agree to clone her if she didn't have any special purpose. Hmmm. well, anyway, read and review and I'll see to get the next chapter out faster.
Tifa gave a slight groan, feeling the stony ground beneath her, stones and cracks making it uneven, and an occasional drip of water was heard, or the squeak of a rat. Instantly she sat up, taking in her desolate surroundings. When they had knocked her out, obviously they had tossed her in a rarely used, not to mention cleaned, cell. It was small, not even a window, the door barely visible in the dim light, a small square the only thing that let light in. Tifa blinked, shivering in the cold air. Suddenly a small cough was heard, and Tifa looked up, seeing two figures emerge from the shadows. Startled, she immediately stood up, getting into a battle stance.
"Don't worry." A feminine voice said a bit weakly, and Tifa didn't relax until the two figures came into the light. Instantly her eyes widened, as she identified them as the two Turks, Rude and Elena. Rude was supporting Elena as she gave a weak smile, then it turned into a grimace as she started coughing loudly, wracking her petite body with her sickness. Tifa blinked and looked up at Rude, whose eyes were hid by his ever present sunglasses. He no longer looked as intimidating as he always did, looking thin, as if he hadn't had a decent meal in a long time. Elena looked no better, thick bags under her brown eyes, which were haggard and tired, both of them filthy.
"Do you have a potion or anything on you?" Elena coughed again, Rude looking at her with concern barely hid on his face.
"No I'm sorry." Tifa said softly, sitting down next to the ailing woman.
"How long have you two been here?" Tifa asked, concern in her voice, feeling horrible. Petty differences could be set aside till later. The two proud Turks seemed to be rotting her in this dreary place.
"Since we were captured." Rude said stonily, while Elena emitted another cough, and she looked up at Tifa, her eyes wide with worry.
"What about Reno? Is he okay? He managed to get away, and we've been worried." Elena trailed off as another cough wracked her body, and Tifa smiled a bit, glad that she could at least bring them some good news.
"Yes, he's fine. I saw him a while back, and he was just fine. You need your rest." Tifa said gently, and Elena nodded her head, giving Tifa a slightly grateful smile, before falling to the floor, Rude catching her and tucked his jacket under her head. Blinking at Rude's show of affection, Tifa shook off her own jacket, glad she had grabbed it before they had dragged her out of the room, and used it to cover Elena. Silently, she put her hand to Elena's forehead, which was burning fiercely. Startled, Tifa looked at Rude, who said nothing for a moment.
"She has been ill two weeks after we were locked up in here." Rude said, and Tifa nodded her head, looking back down at the haggard Elena.
"What. happened?" Tifa asked softly, and Rude looked up at the dark ceiling, his expression as unreadable as always.
"We got lost in the mazes. Elena and me were captured, and sent here." Tifa nodded her head, then looked up wine colored eyes horrified.
"Mazes?" She whispered, and Rude said nothing, looking back at her with a somewhat uncomfortable look on his face. Tifa nodded her head slightly, looking back down at the ground, knowing it was a probably very touchy subject. Vincent. she pleaded silently, please be okay, and don't do anything foolish.
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"Welcome Mr. Valentine." The soldier said politely, and Vincent's eye twitched, though he said nothing. Obviously they were expected, but for Masson to send a guide for him, he must be very eager to extract his revenge. Vincent had no problem with that at all, as long as Tifa was safe and sound. Reno was right behind him, looking around the place suspiciously, Kakyuu grumbling something while Kojin stood patiently, hands in his pockets.
"Take me to her." Vincent growled, and the soldier put his hands up, giving a slight nervous laugh.
"Sorry Mr. Valentine, but sir told me to bring you straight to him before I can lead you to Ms. Lockheart." The soldier said nervously, and Vincent's eyes narrowed, knowing what Masson had planned. A duel to the death. He knew he wouldn't try anything tricky, no ambush, since Masson, with all his kidnappings aside, was a man of honor and wouldn't be satisfied if he didn't get his revenge in an honest way. Tifa had just been bait so Vincent would get here as fast as he could, and Vincent had to admit it had worked. He hoped Tifa was okay, and he had already sworn to himself that he wouldn't let her out of his sight again.
"Guide us there then." Vincent snapped a bit impatiently, earning gazes from his comrades, who looked a bit startled and amused.
"Seems our little Vinnie is anxious to get his lady friend back." Kakyuu whispered in an amused voice to Kojin, who gave a slight smirk, following the young soldier, who was chatting uneasily to fill the silence, not that anyone but Reno was listening. He was sure that the soldier would slip sometime and talk about Elena and Rude, hopefully about their whereabouts and their condition. However, even if the soldier was talking about things going on around the building, he either failed, or guarded, the secret of where the prisoners were. After the winding and twisting of so many corridors that should not have been able to fit in the small building that they had watched, the soldier proudly stopped in front of a big wooden door, with a wooden sign on it, worn with age, but Vincent recognized it immediately. It was *her* door marker, something that had been engraved in his heart ever since that fateful day he had failed her once, then again. He knew that was what this was all about. Masson had been plotting for thirty years how to get his revenge. No doubt. He sighed, and the soldier gave a slight, respectful bow, opening the door slowly, peering into the darkened room, eyes wide and somewhat fearful.
"Come in, Valentine." A voice boomed from the shadows, and Vincent's blood red eyes narrowed, and he brushed past the boy who blinked and look up at him, eyes wide with something like fear. Vincent's boots echoed in the large room, all of it covered in shadows, though it might as well have been lighted to Vincent's enhanced, glowing mako eyes. He knew what Masson wanted, quite simply to put it, his life and revenge. Revenge he could understand, though he couldn't let Masson take the other. His life was important to him now, now that he had someone who meant someone to him. What was worse is that Masson had dragged her into this. He had no quarrel now of killing Masson, he never had, but now. now it was personal.
"How is she?" Vincent asked evenly, though his eyes were burning with hellish flames, his voice calm, though his aura flaring with barely concealable anger, and from across the darkened room, a laugh sounded throughout the room, just as cold and merciless as Vincent's expression had just pulled into.
"That's all you have to an old friend?" Masson had stepped out of the shadows, his figure tall, pale, his eyes covered with black sunglasses, his brown hair coming down to his ears. He was semi-muscular, though he looked a bit speedy. A noticeable smirk was on his face, a sneer of anger and hatred. Vincent's eye twitched with a barely concealable trace of emotion, though he hid it, all of his self restraint used in holding himself back from killing the man.
"I would not call you a friend." Vincent hissed back, his eyes flaming even brighter, and Reno noticed, eyes widening as he glanced down at Vincent's hand, which was clenching and shifting, fingers growing long and clawed, skin turning scaly, though it flickered as though it was an illusion. Reno blinked, eyes wide as he turned his gaze back up to Vincent's face, which was expressionless, at least, to the naked eye. Even famous ex-Turk Vincent Valentine couldn't hide the fury from his eyes. Masson just grinned, looking back up Vincent, a smirk on his face.
"You need not worry about the girl Valentine. Unlike yourself, I can protect the ones I love." Masson sneered, and instantly Vincent lunged forward, but Kakyuu held him back, struggling to hold the enraged Vincent, whose face was changing rapidly into Chaos.
"Don't let your anger cloud your judgment." Kakyuu snapped, Vincent tugging free, flinging his cape aside. With an almost indignant look on his face, he turned back to Masson, who only had an amused look on his smug face. Masson gave a slight shrug of his shoulders, standing straighter, and instantly torches were lit, springing forth to life and lighting the arena with an eerie glow. The sudden jolt of light had startled Vincent's but not Vincent himself, who looked rather unshaken.
"We will begin Valentine. For the sake of Christina, my beloved."
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"C'mon Mass!" Christina called, deep brown eyes laughing as she twirled in front of him, her brown hair twirling in the wind, her laughter wafting through the air like the purest and sweetest music. Masson said nothing, allowing himself to be dragged along, a small, barely noticeable smile had tugged on his lips as she sang and danced merrily in front of him. Christina May Archer was a daughter of a high executive in the Shinra building, doing well in life. She was cheerful, energetic, loving, and passionate about anything she loved. Especially her dearest friends, which included Masson, or 'Mass' as she had lovingly dubbed him. He had meet her only recently, and yet, he still knew, no matter how much he wanted to. He had taken a liking to her ever since laying eyes on her, when she had bumped into him when he was in a foul mood.
"Watch where you're going you bumbling fool!" Masson roared, glaring up indignantly only to see brown eyes wide with amusement, not fear. He had found it strange she hadn't, since many did. He was known as a First Class Soldier with a mean temper, and not someone to mess with. It was also said that he would have made the Turks, that he had, but had turned them down since he didn't like to be ordered around by Shinra, and as a First Class Soldier, he didn't need to do so. She squatted down next to him, her green eyes amused as she helped him pick up the papers that had been dropped from his surprised hands when she had bumped into him.
"Sorry sir," She said musically, still collecting papers of the shining Shinra floor, "I wasn't paying attention. Just got out of a board meeting, and I'm sure you know how boring those things are." She stated with a slight sigh, shaking her head as wisps of light brown hair escaped from her sloppy bun, but somehow, Masson was positive that's the way she had wanted it to be. She looked like a plain beauty, someone who didn't know her own grace and loveliness. Masson blinked, processing the information. Board meeting meant she was either a secretary of a high ranking Shinra employee, one herself, or related to one. With another slight sigh, she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, giving him a slight grin. Utterly confused, Masson blinked and looked at her, wondering why in the world she didn't wince or get angry at his comment before.
"I'm sorry," Masson stuttered, a bit tongue tied to his fury and puzzlement, "about what I said earlier. I just got out of training a class and." Masson trailed off, and instantly her eyes went wide, and she jumped up happily, looking down at him.
"Do you know Matthew Archer? He is my brother!" The woman said happily, Masson still a bit confused, though he registered the last name of Archer. Matthew Archer was a cocky, vain, high tempered young lad who he only put up with because of his extraordinary skill with a spear.
"Yes," Masson said sourly, wondering how in the world a seemingly nice woman like her could be related to someone like him, "I know him." Instantly she brightened, laughing as she grasped his hand in her slender ones, startling him even more when she inched closer.
"Please, tell me where my brother was sent. I wish to know." She said urgently, and Masson blinked, shrugging, fighting the blush off of his face. Women never came this close to him, a cold glare or two had sent them off without another look over their shoulder, but she was different, he could already tell.
"He's on a simple mission, on patrol in Junon. He will be back in a week or so." Masson said in disinterest, snatching the papers from her, brushing his rough fingers against her soft ones, and instantly electricity sparked into his body, igniting something in him he didn't know he had. And it scared him. He turned to leave, but her hand on his shoulder made him stop, more electricity surging through him at a rapid pace.
"Thank you. I was really worried y'know? Matt likes to keep these things from me so it'll be more dramatic he says. Thank you Mr..?" She trailed off, looking deep at him, as if probing into his soul with one glance.
"Masson." He said, a bit startled, brushing off her hand and continuing to walk along briskly, trying to put some distance between them. He hadn't liked what had been coursing through his body, mostly because he was raised on no emotions
"Wait!" Crap, she was running after him, her sneakers thudding loudly against the slick floor of the Shinra building. Masson, irritated to no end, continued stomping off, until finally she grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop. He was shocked she had the nerve to do something like that, and not to mention the strength. "Hey! I just wanted to say thank you, y'know?" She asked irritated, and Masson blinked, looking down at her.
"And so you have. Good day miss." Masson said coldly, trying to ignore her hand on his arm, and turned, but was stopped by the sound of her voice.
"Christina Archer. You can call me Christy." With that, Christina turned, walking out, though forever leaving an imprint on his heart.
~*Author's Notes*~ *looks around* Hello? Is anyone still with me? Am I talking to myself again? What happened to everyone? *sighs* Guess I had it coming, dragging this on so long. Okay, so finally, a big showdown. I know I promised action in this chapter, me thinks, but I don't feel like it. Sorry, but school's a big pain and I'm really not up to making a battle scene right now. So, instead, tossed you a little tidbit of Masson's past, and his love is revealed. But why exactly does she know Vincent, a Turk, and why would Hojo agree to clone her if she didn't have any special purpose. Hmmm. well, anyway, read and review and I'll see to get the next chapter out faster.