We are now all up to chapter 17 and things are coming to a close. Don't worry there are still quite a few chapters left, so things can still get wierd. As usual I don't own Vincent, Yuffie and all the rest. I just realized that there are characters that I do own, but aren't really worth making a fuss about.

The sandstorm had subsided in the morning. Yuffie and Vincent got ready for the trip into the northern continent. Yuffie had argued the need for warmer clothes, but Vincent had won out by saying that it was the warm season up north.

"We'll be fine" Vincent had said. "We only need clothing if we we're to stay a long time, which we aren't. Once we actually get into the crater the raw Mako will keep us warm."

Yuffie watched from her position behind Vincent to the iceberg drifting by on the open sea. Not that cold my frozen butt Yuffie thought bitterly. If this is the warm season, I'd hate to see the cold. Yuffie searched her mind for something new to gripe about and came up with nothing. So she returned to the original subject she was trying to avoid. Did she really love Vincent? Was she just toying with him? Or was this because she didn't know whether or not she wanted children. Vincent was willing to wait. And married couples did have kids. But we aren't married. Dad just tricked us. Sure, maybe, we would have eventually gotten married, but I wanted a choice. It's no fair for Dad to have forced this on me. And who was the jerk who talked him into it. What the hell was going on? Everything was happening in such a way it couldn't happen by chance. It wasn't possible that all this could happen without someone guiding it. Slowly, Yuffie was aware of the fact that Vincent was talking to her. Blinking her eyes, Yuffie stared into the face of a decapitated snowman. Yuffie blinked twice and screamed.

"You Leviathan damned jerk! You Mako sniffing %^*&^! I can't believe you did that you &$%#@ing *&^*@ #@$%#!"

"Yuffie, please. There are children present."

"That's okay with us mister scary man. We all know how to %#$@^ing swear."

"How old are you guys?"

"Seven."

"Let's go to a restaurant. You can make it up to me there."

"I'll be with you shortly. I just need to get something."

"Don't skip out on me."

A short while later.

"Hey Vince! What you got there?"

"Something I don't consider important for a marriage to work."

"You say something?"

Vincent looked over at Yuffie, who now stood several feet away looking into his wallet.

"Something's never change."

"Wow! You're loaded! If I knew you had this much money I would have hooked up with you years ago."

"You're making me feel so happy that you can think of me as a pocketbook."

"Awww, poor widdle Vincy-wincy got his feelings hurt. Shall I kiss and make them all better?"

"Oh please."

"Vincent! Not in public."

"So where's the nearest inn?"

"Stop that. Do I have to be the serious one? You know what'll happen if that's the case."

"We start staking out rich people. Fine let's go."

"Wait! There's something I always wanted to do here."

"What?"

"Follow me and bring your wallet."

"You still have it."

"Then just follow me."

"Do I still have to take you out to a restaurant, or does this make us even?"

"Only if you get one too."

"I can't really do this."

"It's easy. Just follow my lead and don't fall down."

"Shouldn't one of us ride the Chocobo?"

"You aren't getting out of this one. I'll take this one."

Yuffie pulled down an evergreen snowboard with white slashes across the body. She looked until she found a pair of white gloves with a green back that fit her. She was looking for some snow goggles when she had to dragged Vincent back into the sports store by the cape. As punishment, Yuffie had Vincent hold her stuff while she picked his stuff out. She chose a board Vincent couldn't argue with, blood red body with a ragged black edge. Since Vincent didn't need gloves she focused on finding some goggles. A black pair with red lenses were perfect and were right next to a white with green lenses one for her. Marching Vincent up to the counter she made him pay. Once outside Yuffie turned to Vincent.

"There, it wasn't that bad, was it?"

"The worse is yet to come."

"Let's get ready and then we'll hit the slopes."

Yuffie pulled on her gloves and adjusted her glasses. She was looking good. Picking up her board she walked outside of the lodge. Vincent was already there, waiting for her. He offered a weak smile and picked up his board.

"Do we have to do this?"

"Yes. I won't let you miss this for the world."

At the slopes.

"I'm glad you did Yuffie. I would hate myself for missing this."

"Shut the $#%^ up!"

Yuffie was not very good at snowboarding. Then again, she never got too much practice. Vincent had picked up on it fast and was doing well. Yuffie had fallen so many times she had lost count. Now she was cold, wet and miserable. She would make Vincent pay. It didn't matter that she had forced him into this, he would pay. Now she would have to stop by Mr. Holzoff's place to dry off. If she made it there. Behind her a rumble started. Yuffie looked behind her. Near the top of the slope there was a odd shift in the snow. Yuffie thought she could see someone, but wasn't certain.

"Hey Vince! What's that?"

Vincent followed her gesture. He froze in his tracks. Jumping out of his snowboard, he ran to Yuffie and picked her up.

"Hey? What's up?"

"Avalanche!"

"What? Barret's here?"

"The snow-type avalanche."

Vincent jumped onto his board and took off down the slope. Vincent's mind raced. He knew there were many ways to go down the mountain and that might slow the power of the snow by a bit. And even with his head start, Vincent wasn't too sure of their chances. In the end he decided to take the longer route. It was more dangerous to have the avalanche on his tail for longer, but it also meant that there was more ground to cover for the snow to catch up. Leaning as low as her could while carrying Yuffie, Vincent went as fast as he could. At the first break he turned right. He slipped through the forests and turned to the left at the next junction.

"Yuffie!" Vincent yelled to be heard over the avalanche. "How close is it?"

"Too close! Go faster!"

Up ahead was the end of the track. Vincent jumped off the edge and flew through the air. He held Yuffie tightly to protect her from the fall. While he was spinning he saw that they were going to land in a rocky area. Vincent shifted weight and landed first, cushioning the blow for Yuffie. Stars painfully flashed before his eyes before darkness took him.

Yuffie woke up in Vincent's arms. She had fainted before they had landed. Looking around she saw no sign of Vincent. Then she looked down, she was lying on top of him. Yuffie got off Vincent and felt for a pulse, fearing he was dead. No, there was a slow steady beat. He was merely unconscious. Thank Leviathan, Yuffie thought. Let's get you to Mr. Holzoff's cabin. Yuffie picked up Vincent's body, surprised at how little he weighed. Getting her bearings, Yuffie headed towards the huge mountain to the north.

Vincent looked around. He didn't know where he was. There wasn't anything to see. It was all black. Vincent had the feeling that he was floating. A voice spoke.

"Hello Vincent. Welcome inside."

Vincent turned to face the owner of the voice. The person was beyond description. They were too bright to see clearly and didn't have enough substance to be real.

"I am real Vincent. Just as real as you are."

"I'm made up of multiple monsters. Just how real can I be?"

"Real enough to have feelings. As do they."

Vincent felt pulled in one indirect direction. Four sleeping forms could now be seen.

"These can't be."

"Why not? The Galian beast, Death Gigas, Hellmasker and Chaos all have minds to share. This is where they sleep when they are not needed. And so does Order."

"You know of order?"

"I wouldn't be a good guardian if I didn't. He sleeps in a deep, dark place where none may go. These four are bound to him as he is bound to them."

"And what of you? What are you? Why are you a guardian?"

"So many questions. How to answer them? I am a piece of the one you call Jenova. I inhabit your arm, the left one I think."

"How can you be in my arm?" Vincent asked looking at his left arm. "How can I be here and you be there?"

"You, right now, are a avatar of yourself. This is your inner self. Or rather your subconscious. Currently you are unconscious and I wanted to talk to you."

"Talk to me?"

"Yes, but let me finish answering your questions. You can't have all your answers if I never answer the question, can I? I call myself a guardian because that is my function. I am to protect you from whatever danger you face. But you have forced me into a very peculiar position. I should berate you but I understand why you are annoying me so."

"I'm annoying you? What did I do?"

"First was you falling in love with Lucrecia. Don't look surprised, I heard your dreams while you slept. That's where I came in. You were shot and what is the word? I don't quite know. It's like 'heal' except you didn't become better."

"Experimented."

"I think that's the word. You were experimented and I entered your body. I did my best and you survived. I'm proud I did well, as that's my purpose."

"How is that your purpose?"

"Long ago, Jenova was banished from her world. She survived because of me and others like me. I am an artificial nano-sized organism who's sole purpose is the heal the body. I can increase physical durability, emotional stamina and prolong the normal lifespan by a large factor. I pass myself along through the host via reproduction and continue on with the next person."

"So what happened to the people who used Jenova cells? Hojo and Sephiroth became monsters when injected."

"Those two, like Jenova, found a way to manipulate my kind and used them for their own purposes. I am sorry to have helped, albeit unwillingly, with the pain of so many people. Of course, you don't make it any easier. When I had repaired you enough so as you could continue with your life, you stopped. I couldn't stop you even if I wanted to, so I made sure you would be alright, as long as you were uninterrupted."

"Wait, you know about others with Jenova cells?"

"I am connected to everyone who are still alive that posses Jenova cells and can track those who have entered the lifestream."

"Okay. How many people have Jenova cells, right now?"

"Let me just check. Right now there is a sum total of three."

"Three? Who?"

"You, of course, are the first and foremost. I wouldn't be here talking to you if you weren't. The second is your, wife I believe is the term."

"How can she?"

"Reproduction of the host, remember? And she's why I wanted to talk to you. I'm supposed to protect your life. You, it seems, are fixed on protecting her life, even at the cost of your own. So I have to ask if your are willing sacrifice your life to save hers?"

"Of course I am. What kind of stupid question is that?"

"A necessary one. Order will wake up soon and things might become bad for everyone. Things are happening. I can only offer my support. I hope you are willing to take it. And I'm afraid it's time for you to leave."

"Wait! Who was the last person?"

"I don't know. I could tell you if they were alive or dead, but I don't know. Whoever it might be is amazingly enough neither."

"Then it must be Cloud. He's the only person with Jenova cells left."

"Hmm, you may be right, but you may be wrong. I don't honestly know. What I do know is that it's time for you to leave. Goodbye."

Vincent felt himself being pulled beyond his natural dimensions to fit into his smaller physical body. With a coughing hack, Vincent woke up.

Since the next chapter makes it impossible to stop while they're on the Gaia cliffs, I'll just have to leave this chapter as the cliff-hanger. Please Read and Review.

Cas: And I'd like to say I have posted another story. It's the "Worst Insane FF Fanfic Ever!" Read, laugh, cry and burn me in effigy, so long as you review.