Any one who has been following the dates in which these have been posted will notice they're fairly close together. And considering that the first seven chapters had been on hiatus for the better part of a year, I think I deserve some credit for this. Next stop, Wutai!

Vincent and Yuffie bid Baxent farewell in the morning and headed off to Wutai. It was easy going from Nibelheim and they made good time. They rode long and hard all day, stopping only for short breaks. By evening they had reached the edge of the continent. Wutai could be seen far in the distance. Not much can be said of that night since nothing really happened. Nothing as far as anyone else could be concerned. The next day they crossed the ocean and onto the west continent.

"Hey Vincent?"

"What?"

"Where did you live?"

"What?"

"You grew up in Wutai, right? Where did you live?"

"Baxent told you."

"Yep."

"Anything else?"

"Not really."

"Good."

"So where was your house?"

"A few miles north of Wutai. On a cliff overlooking the ocean."

"Should we go visit?"

"It's not there anymore. Destroyed in the war."

"What about your parents?"

"Don't know. I was asleep for so long. They're probably dead."

"You don't know? How could you not know? They're your parents."

"They probably thought I had died. The Turks did dangerous stuff. They prepared themselves for that possibility."

"Sorry."

"What about your mom? You never said how she died."

"The Wutai War. She was a casualty in a skirmish with soldiers attacking refugees."

"I remember reading about that. A platoon of Soldiers 2nd class attacked a group of about a hundred noncombatants. It was the Adamantaimai Beach massacre. About ten refugees and 3 Soldiers lived through it. Your mother was part of that massacre?"

"No, she wasn't. She died protecting the refugees. That's why only three Soldiers were left."

"Your mother must have been an impressive fighter."

"Better than my Dad. She didn't give up. She fought to the last."

They rode on in silence until they came to Wutai. It was getting dark when they rode into town. There were lanterns hanging everywhere. A drummer was beating a drum somewhere and everyone was dressed for a festival. Yuffie stopped the first person she met.

"Hey. What's up? There a party going on?"

"Don't know. Lord Godo just called for a celebration. I'd ask Lord Godo what's going on. He's going to be making a speech in about two hours."

"I think I will. Two hours then? Vincent! Let's head to my house for now."

"Alright."

At Yuffie's house.

"I'm going to change, okay? You just look around. Make yourself at home. And we're going to have some fun while the festival or whatever is going on. So make yourself presentable. At least less scary."

"I'll try."

"You'd better."

A short time later.

"Okay I'm ready. Vincent? Where are you?"

Vincent had left Yuffie to change and had gone downstairs to her training room. He poked around a bit and tried to think. Unable to think, Vincent set about to at least try to look "presentable." He took off his cape and claw. That would help. Vincent looked around and found a long black glove that fit him well enough to wear. Vincent shuffled through some pieces of armor before he found a small sharp-angled shield he liked and, using some leather strips he found, tied it to his arm. With a little more time he could make it more useful, but it was pretty good with the little time he had. He had just finished when Yuffie called. Heading upstairs, Vincent ran into Yuffie coming down. She was wearing the kimono she had found in Nibelheim and she looked wonderful in it.

Yuffie saw Vincent and nearly squealed with delight. He had ditched his cape and claw. Even thought he still covered his left arm it was alright since the shield he put in it's place was much less creepy. They stood there staring at each other for several moments before anyone said anything. Yuffie broke the ice.

"You look better."

"You're beautiful."

"I know. But when am I not?"

"Where did you get that dress?"

"Found it in Nibelheim. Looks just like one my grandmother owned. Why do you ask?"

"That's Lucrecia's."

"I thought it was her room. Hey, what was Lucrecia's last name?"

"Hojo."

"Her maiden name."

"Westrale."

"That's my grandmother's maiden name. Of course her name was Lufenia. So your technically a friend of the family."

"You do realize that that would make Sephiroth your step-uncle?"

"Screw family and marriage. Let's party!"

Vincent followed Yuffie around the festival, carrying the prizes he or she won, buying the food Yuffie ate, and generally having a good time. They both had such a good time that it wasn't until three hours after they had started everything did either of them remember the speech or Godo. In fact it wasn't until Gorki showed up and asked them to follow him did they remember. Gorki took them to the Pagoda and climbed the stairs. At the top was Godo, trying to not look upset. Gorki informed Godo and then left. Godo gestured to two seats in front of him, not saying a word. Vincent and Yuffie sat down. Godo took a deep breath and exhaled, then he looked at Yuffie.

"You're back."

"I think so Dad."

"Did you bring any of the you-know-what?"

"No I did not get any materia."

"Well, that's okay. It's not important."

"Not important? Who the hell are you?"

"Something has come up Yuffie. Something that makes materia unimportant to me. I need your help on something."

"What is it?"

"Just a little ritual that we do around here from time to time. You might know about it if you studied something more than martial arts. But too little, too late. You may help too mister?"

"Vincent."

"Vincent what?"

"Valentine. Vincent Valentine."

Something sparkled in Godo's eye. Yuffie could tell something was going on, but she couldn't tell what.

"Thank you Mr. Valentine. You both don't need to do anything really, just do as I tell you and it won't take long."

"What is it Dad?"

"Just a little ritual."

"What type of ritual? Not some way to pass debts off to your kids I hope."

"It's a ritual of hope, used by the older generation for the younger one."

"Alright. What do we do?"

"Just bow your heads and stay quiet. I'll take care of the rest."

Godo went to a cupboard and pulled out a scroll, two cups and a pitcher filled with liquid. He put the two cups in front of Vincent and Yuffie and poured a sweet-smelling liquid from the pitcher into the cups. Sitting down, Godo opened the scroll and read off some words Yuffie didn't understand.

"What's that Dad? I can't understand you."

"It's an old tongue that predates Wutai by a thousand years. It's the leader of Wutai's duty to pass it on the next leader."

"What's it say?"

"Don't know. It was written so you can read the syllables, I haven't a clue as to what it means in actual terms."

"So why use it at all?"

"It's tradition! Now follow tradition and shut up!"

Godo continued with his now less than credible ritual. It went on for ten minutes before started to say anything understandable.

"Now this is the part where you drink the water."

"This is water?"

"As a matter of speaking."

"What does that mean? I don't like the sound of that. What do you think Vince?"

"I don't like it either."

"If you two would let me speak. It's called the Water of Leviathan. Its just water with a little bit of sake and fruit juice in it. Alright? Now just drink it!"

"Fine." Yuffie said, taking a sip. "This is good. I knew you were holding out on me."

"You're right. It's quite refreshing. I don't usually like alcohol, but this is exceptional."

"I'm continuing with the ritual, if you don't mind."

Godo started again. There was something bothering him about the whole ritual, but he couldn't remember what. Vincent let his mind wander. It wound up in his memories of childhood. He was sitting in his mother's lap, looking at a photo album. Vincent remembered a few of the pictures. Several of his house, Vincent playing as a toddler, a few snapshots from his parent's wedding day, several family pictures and a one of Vincent playing on a tame baby Adamantaimai. One of those seemed important, but Vincent couldn't figure out which one. Vincent snapped out his memories when his name was mentioned, but is was just Godo mentioning him or something. He heard Yuffie's name, but Yuffie seemed to have nodded off. Vincent returned to his memories and recalled his mother talking in that memory. She had been looking at one of the pictures and talked to Vincent.

(Vincent's Memory)

"The ceremonies are always small, not a lot of fussing you have with a Midgar wedding. Of course before hand there was a festival. Everyone in town was invited. it was so much fun."

(Exit Vincent's Memory)

"Wait a minute. This is a wedding ceremony!"

"I know pronounce you Vincent Valentine and Yuffie Kisaragi Valentine. I'll trust you two know the rest."

"Yuffie, wake up."

"Huh? What's up?"

"You're married Yuffie. Now kiss the groom."

Yuffie looked from her father to Vincent, then up to then ceiling. That was more because she just fainted.

"Overcome with joy I should think. How are you holding up son?"

Godo looked at Vincent's prone figure sprawled on the floor.

"First the bride, now the groom. Maybe there is something else in the water. First things first. Hey Gorki! I need your help. The newlyweds are out cold! Let's move 'em to Yuffie's place."

"Yes Lord Godo."

Oh yes, I do plan on explaining what the hell just happened, if not coherently. Next chapter though.