Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
A/N: Sorry for any inconveniences, but I decided to stop putting symbols in for swearing. I put all of the chapters together to make the fic one long single chapter thing on my computer, and looking for every single little word that I have to change just takes forever for me to do. (I personally think swearing is part of emotional expression.) So, having that said, I am done ranting.
My Eyes Can't Lie...
"I'm sorry, Yuffie. For everything that has just been against you this week. I'm very sorry, but I can't just let you mope. We need your help in finding the shrine, and defeating Goliath!" Cloud said through the door of Yuffie's bedroom. Vincent was in there comforting her, and also trying to recover himself. They hadn't yet legally adopted Yukina, but she was pretty much Yuffie and Vincent's daughter.
"Actually, we know where the shrine is, we just can't enter it." Nanaki explained.
"What do you mean?"
"One, Yuffie is the only one allowed to enter, and two, she is the key, so she is actually the only one who can find it. All she has to do is focus, and she should be shown the location in her mind. But, through all of the recent events, I don't think she will be able to focus properly. And I'm sure she won't want to do it all alone. She would like to have Vincent's help."
"Yeah, but...we don't have enough time for her to be moping. The world is at stake! She can mope later!"
Yuffie and Vincent were sleeping, or were trying to. Cloud was being too loud, and Vincent was tempted more than once to go out there and silence him, but decided not to. He just wanted to rest. And get over the tragedy.
"...Vinnie?"
"Yes, Yuffie?"
"Why? Why am I such a failure? I failed my unborn baby, I failed Yukina, and now Wutai. I am such a disgrace, I have no right to be queen."
"That's a lie. You are a great ruler. Probably one of the best. You have done much to improve the state of this country. When you joined AVALANCHE, was it not for the good of Wutai?"
"...but I've failed. I didn't do what I was supposed to. I was supposed to protect Wutai and keep it safe, improve its ruins, increase knowledge and peace, and all I have done was..."
"...almost all of that." Vincent interrupted. "Being negative about yourself is not going to help our situation. Yukina would not have liked you to be so miserable and pessimistic."
"I don't think she knows what those words mean. Hell, I don't' know what those words mean!" She said with a little chuckle.
"Now, that is much better. And as much as I hate to admit it, Cloud is right. We don't have much time. We need to start searching for the shrine. We need to stop Goliath from coming back."
"I know. But...I don't think I can defeat him in time. What if I need to make a sacrifice? I don't want to have to give something or someone up just because of evil!"
"I know, but we don't have a choice. If you try, I'm sure you will beat him in time."
"...This is just so depressing."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"How is she?" Tifa asked Cloud. He gave up trying to get them to start the mission again.
"Still depressed. She needs to understand that we can't just sit here and do nothing!"
"She has been through a lot, Cloud. I'm sure that if it was me, you would practically kill all those who tried to do to me as you are doing to Yuffie." Tifa defended.
"...well, maybe..."
"You are just picking favorites. Don't, Cloud. Let her rest for a little while."
"Alright." Cloud sighed.
"OK, here we come." Yuffie yelled. She tried to sound cheerful and childish like she usually did, but everyone could tell she was just forcing it.
"Yuffie? Vincent? Are you both OK?" Tifa asked looking at them both. Yuffie was wearing the traditional khaki shorts unbuttoned and green tank top just like before. Vincent was wearing his usual red cape and black everything else. He was also given his headband back. Yuffie had it in her drawer for safe keeping.
"Yup. Never felt better. I feel like kicking some evil God ass!" Yuffie said.
"I too feel exceedingly energized. Would any of you like to join Yuffie and me in search of the shrine?" Everyone stared at them both confusedly, but then decided to go along with it since they wanted to get the Goliath thing over with once and for all.
"All you have to do is focus on Goliath. Think of him, and try to find him. An image of where he is should come up." Nanaki told her. "It is probably easy if you just meditate. Go into the Zen trance. You will still be able talk to us, though it will appear you are talking to yourself. Just talk about what you see."
"Ummm...OK." Yuffie sat on the pillow on the floor, and started her meditation. Everyone looked at her. After two minutes, she quit. "You know, it is hard for me to concentrate when I know you are all focusing on me. Do something, like read, or...something. Just...until I am completely out of it, don't pay attention to me!"
"Alright...we'll try." Everyone did something from reading a magazine, to making peanut butter jelly sandwiches, to cleaning the toilet. (Cloud was forced to do that ^^) Soon, she was in a trance and started muttering. Everyone ran into the room quietly, and listened.
"...trees...mountains...cave...there's a cave...and...a...waterfall? Lucrecia Falls? Huh? NO! YOU CAN'T GET ME THROUGH MY MIND, GOLIATH! I WILL MAKE YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE! I WILL MAKE YOU SUFFER!" Yuffie started screaming.
"Nanaki! What's happening?!" Vincent yelled.
"She may have confronted Goliath in mid trance. He may have planned to wait for her in the spirit world knowing she would search this way."
"How do we get her out?"
"Water. Ice cold water." Cid ran into the kitchen and came back out with a big bucket with ice and water. Barret picked Yuffie up and put her on the porch (so they wouldn't have to clean up the water mess) and poured the water on her.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh...you are all very evil. I try and help you and you...you...!!" Yuffie sputtered. "I just took a shower!"
"Yuffie, you saw Goliath. What happened?" Cloud asked.
"I saw him at Lucrecia Falls. That's where the shrine is now. Where Lucrecia stood. But I met Goliath, and...he tried to fight me. He didn't try to kill me though, because I didn't have the Eye. Which reminds me. Tifa, I need the Eye."
"Why?"
"Part of re-entering the moved shrine, I have to fuse myself with the Eye. I barely recovered from the last time, but..." Yuffie put her hand to where the Eye was when she removed it.
"Yuffie, are you goin' to be able to do it again? By yourself, I mean?" Barret asked with worry in his voice.
"I don't know. I guess I might. I did it before."
"Yes, but..."
"Are you trying to tell me that I'm weak, Barret?"
"No, I jus' worried."
"Well, thank you, but after doing it once, I know what it will be like. It will hurt like hell, and I may take forever to regain consciousness after I pass out, but I should be able to do it."
"You are stronger than the 16 year old Yuffie I once knew. More mature and grown up, too." Cid stated.
"Eeeeeew! Cid! I'm gonna tell Shera!"
"Grown up mentally, you *%^@~& brat! Damn. You are just too naïve sometimes." Cid turned so no one would see him blushing from embarrassment. (He did mean grown up mentally, though. ^.~)
"Right." Yuffie stretched. "Well, I plan to leave in about one hour, so if you aren't ready, if you are going that is, then you better get a move on."
Everyone started to run around to pack the usual turbo ethers, x-potions, blankets, tents, soap, etc. Yuffie just walked out of the house with a sad look on her face, but no one noticed except Vincent, who followed her.
"Let's go, Vinnie. We have to hurry before the ceremony is done before we get there and the others find out." Yuffie whispered quickly, but quietly so only he would hear her. He nodded in agreement. They ran out towards Da Chao, but turned before entering the gates. They turned into a green area enclosed in a black iron fence. Wutai Cemetery.
"Oh, no. They can't lower the casket yet! I haven't said goodbye! They can't!" Yuffie started to sprint towards the small group of people who were starting to lower a small white casket. Vincent passing her up.
"STOP! DON'T LOWER IT DOWN YET!" Vincent yelled.
"Uhh...excuse me, sir, but this is a cemetery, and we would appreciate it if you were to be quiet." A guy in a black tuxedo said.
"Sorry, but this is our daughter..."
"You can't put her down until we say goodbye!" Yuffie said catching up to where they stood.
"L-Lady Kisaragi...I apologize. I grieve for your losses..."
"Yeah, yeah. Shut up and let me see my daughter." Yuffie walked to the casket. The priest opened the lid.
"I didn't even get to plan a wake. I...I'm so sorry, Yukina. I'm sorry that I didn't get to save you. I shouldn't have even...oh, Yukina. I'm a failure to everyone." Yuffie cried, and touched her daughter's hands. They were icy, and felt like wax.
"Yuffie, don't be that way. You must tell her happy things. If you are negative, she won't want to leave because she is afraid you won't make it, and she will never be able to rest in peace. We must let her go happy." Vincent said.
"You are right. I'm sorry, Yukina. Again. I want you to know how happy you made me. You lifted my spirits when I was depressed, and it was because of you that I learned what it is like to have a child. Even though I can't have one at the moment, you still brought me great happiness. Thank you, and I hope you are happy. Just do me a favor, alright sweetie? Tell my mom, Yukkie, and Aeris hello for me." Yuffie said, and she took a few steps back to let Vincent have his turn.
"Yukina...I don't know what to say. You gave me a gift I never thought I would ever have. I was a father. A model figure for a child. A role model, and I...I never knew I would ever be able to love any child as I loved you. I never knew I would ever be called 'daddy.' But I was, and you made that possible. Thank you. I know you will be happy." Vincent said, whipping away a tear. He turned to Yuffie, and she stepped up to the case once more. In the casket, she placed the shuriken and the materia she had bought for Yukina along with a mastered Leviathan materia.
"For Leviathan to keep you safe always. Goodbye for now, my dearest Yukina." Yuffie and Vincent both closed the top as they took their last glance at their first child. When it was finally shut forever, three men lowered it into the ground.
"I'll miss you." Yuffie whispered.
"We both will." Vincent agreed. After the casket was set, they started off, and the men started to bury it in soil. When they reached the house, they noticed that they had five minutes left. Yuffie went into the bathroom to clean up, and Vincent went to put his and Yuffie's things in the Highwind.
"Hey! Vincent! Where did you and Yuffie go a while ago? We thought you had left without us, but then knew you wouldn't allow that." Tifa said.
"Yeah, we just...said goodbye to someone close."
"Huh? Oh, that one lady from a while ago? Miss Mirosami or something like that?"
"Ummm...yeah. Her."
"Oh, OK. You could have waited."
"I'm ready. I'll be waiting in the Highwind." Yuffie walked out the door, and all seven AVALANCHE members stared at her as she left.
"The Highwind? I thought she hated it and had motion sickness!" Cloud said confused.
"Yeah, we all did. Maybe she is sick or something. Or maybe she is really into getting Goliath for good and stuff." Barret said.
"I don't know. Maybe..."
"Well, whatever. Let's just hurry and leave."
Everyone else left the room and headed toward the big airship. When they sere right in front of it, they saw Yuffie standing on the deck. She was dressed in a plain white dress the whipped around her. Her eyes were silver and she was staring at the sky. Here arms stretched out as if welcoming someone into a gentle embrace. She started to take small steps slowly and headed toward the railing of the ship. She stopped right in front of it, and started to lift her foot to the rail as if to stand on it.
"YUFFIE! WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM NOW?!?!?!" Cloud shouted as he and the others besides Vincent ran into the Highwind to try and stop her before she jumped.
"Yuffie. Don't jump. Please..." Vincent whispered. He didn't go up, because if she did jump, he was going to catch her. She was balancing on the railing, now. She was standing on it as if it had been the floor, and not a slippery pipe, and she wasn't losing balance. Then she put her foot forward to take one more step. The step that would lead her to fall.
"YUFFIE!" Tifa was first to burst through the door and she ran to Yuffie ready to pull her back to the ship, but she was no longer on the ship. She was flying.
"Muwakane miyajetsu rutokenai." Yuffie said in her Wutainese tongue. (A/N: Sorry if my gibberish is bad.) Everyone and the ship then started to glow and their clothes were changed. Tifa wore what Yuffie was wearing, and the guys wore a silvery kimono. Nanaki wasn't wearing anything, as usual. But his eyes turned from their usual color to a glossy pale blue color, and his fur was pure white, and the flame on his tail, blue. Everyone looked different. Then before they could comment on the new clothes, they were blinded by a bright light. When they opened their eyes, they, and the Highwind, were in front of Lucrecia Falls.
"How...did we get here?" Tifa asked confused. She stood up and looked around. "Oh my God! Where is Yuffie?"
"Right behind you." Yuffie said, scaring Tifa.
"I don't know whether to be relieved, strangle you, or whether to have you explain what the hell is going on!"
"Well, I used the power of the Eye to transport us to the shrine directly. I guess, the Eye kinda did it by itself, you know."
"No, I don't. But since when does the Eye have these weird powers and do things by itself?"
"I don't know. But it happened, and now that we are here, we should get on to business." Yuffie ran and jumped off of the ship.
"YUFFIE!" Everyone shouted, thinking she was trying to kill herself.
She landed gracefully on the ground next to Vincent, who was looking at the entrance to the cave. Yuffie walked up to him, and put her arms around him. When he didn't return the embrace, she looked up at him with hurt eyes, only too see confusion and bewilderment in his.
"Vinnie? What is..."
"I can't believe it." Vincent interrupted her. Yuffie turned and looked at where he stared, and gasped. As did the others. For there at the cave stood Lucrecia and Goliath. Goliath was in the form of a human. A very cute human. A very cute human with abs. A very cute human with abs and a perfect tan. Lucrecia stood next to him as if in a trance, wearing what Yuffie wore, only black. She also held a staff with Goliath's symbol on the top.
"L-Lucrecia. What are you doing?" Vincent asked, taking slow steps to where she stood.
"Vinnie, no! It's a trick! Goliath has her under his control! You can't go over there! He'll use her against you!" He kept on walking, ignoring all of her cries. It was as if he was in a trance of his own.
"You are going to get hurt, Lucrecia. You must...get away from him. Now, before it is too late."
"I think you are the one who should leave, Vincent. We have no business here with you. We only want the girl and they Eye. Please, step aside." Lucrecia, pointed the staff at him, and motioned it to her right, where she wanted him to be.
"Lucrecia. Please."
"Vinnie...I thought...I thought you were over her and loved me."
"Yuffie! It doesn't matter right now! You must defeat Goliath!"
"A sacrifice...must be made." Yuffie closed her eyes, and started to chant in Wutainese. Then, an angel riding a phoenix appeared before her.
"Princess...Lady Kisaragi. I bring news of the sacrificial order. Your mother, the Enchantress Kisaragi, has decided the sacrifice for you. As final word, all Gods and Goddesses in the heavens agreed, and you must cast that sacrifice to defeat Goliath. No other sacrifice will be enough." She said. "Are you prepared to make the sacrifice?"
"What is it?"
"The sight of your first child. He will not be able to see. So he will only see the inside of people, not the lies of the outside."
"You mean, he will be blind?!"
"Affirmative."
"I...I don't know."
"Lady Kisaragi, it is either the vision, or the life of the whole world. Wouldn't you rather have a blind child than no child or people at all?"
"You are right, but..."
"He will be proud to have helped the world in such a way."
"Then, OK. I'll do it. But how did Goliath appear when I have the Eye?"
"The Eye never was the gateway, but a window that showed the gateway.
It showed what was happening. It is, after all, the Eye, so it makes sense that
it shows you the pictures. But you must begin the ceremony."
"Yes." The angel and the phoenix flew away and Yuffie faced Goliath.
"Goliath, I sacrifice the vision of my first child in exchange for your defeat. With this promise, you are gone for all eternity, never to return." To seal the promise and vow, Yuffie lifted her dress to the thigh and took out the dagger that was strapped on by a garter. She started to dance the ceremonial dance and placed the tip of the dagger on her arm, where a tattoo of an eye appeared. Then, she threw the dagger at Goliath, and he screamed as he started to smoke and writhe. When he disappeared, Yuffie fell to the ground, and everyone's clothes turned back to normal. Lucrecia also disappeared. Vincent snapped out of his trance, and looked around him. When he saw Yuffie on the ground, he ran up to her, and carried her onto the Highwind.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So, how is she?" Barret asked Cloud.
"Yuffie? She's still in bed. I don't know whether she is crying or sleeping."
"How about Vincent?"
"I'm not even going to start on that subject. He is moping because of how he acted to the so-called "Lucrecia." I feel sorry for him. He didn't know. He was in a trance created by Goliath to distract Yuffie."
"Yeah, but I'm sure Yuffie will forgive him."
"I know that, but he doesn't believe it and won't believe it until Yuffie tells him that to his face."
"Well, I am just gonna go up there and give him a piece of my mind!" Cid came from behind them, and started up the stairs.
"No, you won't. You'll just make thangs worse, foo'." Barret grabbed his arm and stopped him from going any farther. "You would be doin' the same thang if it was Shera. And you know it."
"Fine. But I really think he needs a man to man talk."
"You ain't no man, so it wouldn't work anyways." Barret said.
"What did you say you fat ass cocksucker?"
"You goin' down, you fucking sissy ass blondie!"
"Stop. You will wake Yuffie. She needs her rest." Tifa said from the top of the stairs. She wore her comfy pants and shirt. The pants were like those poofy pants that priests and priestesses wear at a Shinto shrines.
"Y-yeah. Sure, Tifa." Barret said apologetically.
"Sorry, Tif." Cid said through clenched teeth. She walked towards Yuffie's room and opened the door just a crack.
"Y-Yuffie? Are you awake?" Tifa whispered. "Please come out. I know you are tired and saddened by recent incidents, but now it is all over. We can live our lives now. There isn't anyone who can stop us."
"That's right, Yuffie. We can be normal people." Cloud said who had mysteriously appeared next to Tifa, which scared her.
"Ack! Cloud, don't do that!"
"You are right. I've been acting like a baby. I keep moping for everything that has happened these past weeks, but there is nothing I can do. Crying won't help. I'm sorry."
"I knew you'd come around, kid." Cid said from the bottom of the stairs.
"I bet you did, old man. Now if you all excuse me, I need to speak to a certain boyfriend of mine." Yuffie walked to Vincent's room, and everyone went downstairs to leave them to their privacy.
"Vinnie? Are you in there? Never mind. That was a stupid question. Of course you're in there. Are you awake?" Yuffie knocked on the door softly.
"Yes." Vincent opened the door, and he looked like he had just had a fight with gel and a hair dryer. "Yuffie, I'm sorry."
"Vinnie, I know you didn't do it on purpose. You were...in a stupor created by Goliath. I don't blame you. You have done nothing wrong, therefore, I can't accept your apology, because it isn't needed."
"Yuffie...I..."
"I know, Vinnie. I love you, too." Yuffie hugged him, and kissed him lovingly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So, Vincent. Are you sure you want to do this with me? I mean, it won't be the same." Cloud asked. He and Vincent were at the Jewelry Store. They met there coincidentally, both looking for the extra special ring for their extra special women.
"Yes. I love Yuffie very much, and I'm sure she would love to have a double wedding with you and Tifa. I just hope this is the time. I don't want to ask when it is inconvenient."
"Don't worry. I'm sure she'll say yes."
"OK. I hope you are right."
"Sirs? May I interest you in these engagement rings? They just came in, and as the first customers to see them, you get a special discount price." A young woman walked up to them from behind the counter holding a blue velvet pillowy type thing that held about twenty beautiful rings. Half gold, the other half pure silver. A few of them had diamonds or other precious gems.
"I think...Yuffie will like this one." Vincent pointed at the silver ring with a perfect sized emerald, glittering at the angle of the lights.
"Yeah! I'm sure she will. I think Tifa will like this one." Cloud pointed to the one next to it. It was a gold band with a gleaming garnet embedded in it.
"You are both lucky. Those are the rings mined from a certain mine that just hit it big. They found a big area that had a lot of rare gems. So, there is a sale where two combine to one price, and then you also get the discount for being the first ones to see the new arrivals. So added together, you get over 30% off!" The woman said cheerfully with a big smile.
"Alright. We'll take them. How much for both after all the discounts and stuff?" Vincent and Cloud said together.
"Well, the original price for each is 5000 gil, two added together, it is only 7900 gil. Then take 20% off, the total is 6320 gil. So, that is around 32% off! That is a tremendous deal!"
"Yeah! So, how much gil do you have, Cloud? I have enough for my ring. It is 3160 each."
"I have...5000 gil total for spending, so I have enough. Great. Can we have them in special velvet boxes? I want the garnet in a red box. No, black. It is more traditional. And then she'll know I'm asking her."
"I think when you go on one knee that she'll know anyways. But whatever. I want the diamond in a lime green box." Vincent said with a smile.
"Ummm...lime green?" The woman asked with a confused smirk.
"Vince, man, lime green is just not a great color for proposing."
"If you remember correctly, Cloud, Yuffie gave the Eye to me in a lime green box."
"I don't remember. I don't think I saw it. The box, I mean."
"Oh, well. She still gave it to me in a lime green box."
"You are very lucky, sir. We have only one. I think it is the only one left from the last time we ordered 20 years ago."
"Great! I think..."
"Are you ready, Vincent? Here goes the start of our mission!"
"Yup! I'm ready as I'll ever be."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was about nine o'clock, and the party was going crazy. Tifa and Yuffie were dancing in the middle of the dance floor, encouraged with the cheers from the crowd. All of which were from the guys.
"Hey, Tifa! Do you think Cloud and Vincent will be here soon?" Yuffie asked Tifa when they took their seats at the bar.
"Maybe. Umm, I'll have a margarita. What about Yuffie?"
"I'll have some sake. Hehehe. If they don't get here soon, I'm going to be so wasted, and they'll have to carry me back."
"Yeah, me too. But that is OK, I guess. It will be their fault." Suddenly the music turned soft and mellow, the lights changed from franticly dancing bright lights to pale blues, pinks, and silvers. Everyone left. Not one person was left in the room. Even the bartender left.
"Ummm...Tifa, do you find this a little freaky too?"
"Yeah." Then the lights went out, and they couldn't see anything.
"Tifa, give me your hand! I don't want to get lost in the dark. And...I'm kinda scared of the dark." Just before Yuffie extended her hand, the lights turned back on, but dimly. They found two figures in front of them, but the lights were so dim that the faces were unable to be made out.
"Who...who are you?" Tifa and Yuffie both asked as the figures as they pulled them to their feet and started to dance. Throughout the dance, they didn't say anything. Neither the figures nor the girls. After the dance, Tifa and Yuffie were side by side in the center of the room. The pink lights turned on and were spotted on them. The lights made the two figures' identities known.
"Cloud?!"
"Vinnie?!" Tifa and Yuffie said simultaneously.
"What are you doing here? I bet you turned off the lights. You scared the crap out of me! And then when you didn't show up earlier, I..." Yuffie was silenced when Vincent put his finger over her lips.
"Hush now. You may bite your tongue." Vincent whispered.
"We are here for a very important reason. Would you like to go first, Vince?"
"Would you like to go first?"
"Why don't we go at the same time." Cloud turned back to Tifa, and bent on one knee. Tifa quickly put a hand over her mouth, the other being held by Cloud. "Tifa, from the very beginning, when I first met you, I had liked you. The other boys made me jealous, knowing that I was not accepted, but they were. And when I tried to prove myself, and believed a lie, you stuck with me. Through thick and thin, you were always by my side. I have tried to gather my strength and ask you to be mine since very long ago, but now I finally have the courage. Tifa, please give me the honor of being my wife. Please make me the happiest man alive." Cloud pulled out the small box from his pocket, and opened it as he lifted it up to her. Tifa looked down at him, her burgundy eyes glistening. She nodded, then knocked him backwards as she went into his arms and kissed him.
"I guess I should take that as a yes." Cloud smiled and put the ring on her finger. Vincent started when Cloud did, but he took a little longer.
"V-Vinnie?" Yuffie said as Vincent too went on one knee. He took both her hands as she looked at him through shocked eyes.
"Yuffie, thank you. That you for everything. I was a monster cursed by Hojo; And in my nightmares, Chaos. But you saw past all of that. You trusted me when I could have done you harm. I can never thank you enough. I mean, look what you've done. You've made me happy. But my happiness isn't perfect. Not without you. I dream sometimes that we are married, and that we live a perfect life. But even so, that is only a dream. Please let my dream come true. Grant me my dream. Please, Yuffie. Marry me, and be with me forever." Vincent said with heartfelt emotion. He took out the lime green box from his pocket and opened it. Yuffie eyed the ring that sparkled in the light, and then fell down on her knees and looked at him with sad eyes.
"Oh, Vinnie. I...I would love to be your wife! But...I can't. I'm so sorry, but...I just can't." Yuffie started to cry and put her hands over her eyes, hoping to hide some of her tears. Vincent set the box on the floor, and put his arms around her.
"Why, Yuffie?"
"Because. I...I...Wutai. I can't just forget about it, or tie you to the customs of rule. I don't even know if you want to rule. And...I just can't! I'm sorry." Yuffie cried her heart out on Vincent's shoulder.
"But Yuffie, I have already thought of that. I know about the customs, and I would never tear you away from Wutai. If I get to be with you forever, I don't care if I had to be Satan's slave for all eternity. Yuffie, I love you. I will gladly rule Wutai with you." Vincent said, pulling her away slightly so she could look him in the eye. Just incase she needed proof of his sincerity.
"Vincent...Vincent James Valentine, I accept your proposal. I will be your wife forever and always!" Yuffie declared. Vincent picked up the box, and placed the ring on her finger. She kissed him lovingly as the lights all turned back on and the AVALANCHE members stormed from behind the bar and closed doors. The crowd from earlier came storming in with loud cheers. Everyone rooting them on, congratulating them.
"I can't believe you are getting married, Vamp-boy! And to Yuffie!" Cid exclaimed as he shook Vincent's hand. Then he turned to Yuffie and gave her a big hug. "I can't believe I'm gonna see you grow up. I saw you grow up just way too fast, and now...you're going to get married. And...married? Just how old are you, Vincent?" Cid turned back to Vincent.
"Well, I don't age as you do because of Chaos. When he was..."injected"...to be part of me, my age started to change. So, I am 59 if you count by the years, but 25 if you count by the new aging I go by."
"Oh. So that is only about 7 years apart. OK. I'm fine with it then." Cid said and walked away to join Shera who had flown in that afternoon. Everyone else said their congrats, and the party got wild again.
"Wow. Tifa, did you know this was going to happen?" Yuffie asked.
"Well, I don't think anyone is supposed to know when someone proposes."
"I was just wondering."
"MISS YUFFIE!" Chekhov came in with Staniv, Shake, and Gorki behind her. "THE INVITATIONS! WHO DO YOU WANT THEM SENT OUT TO?"
"All of Wutai's allies. And all of our friends."
"Who is "our"?"
"AVALANCHE."
"Yes ma'am!"
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One more chapter to go after this! I can't believe I am almost done! I want to try to make the last chapter as lengthy as possible, and don't worry. There will also be an epilogue. That doesn't count as a chapter, does it? Well yeah. So there are 21 chapters, and an epilogue. I hope you liked the chapter! And I'm sorry it took so long for this one to come out! I've just been so busy, but since school is out, I can probably write the rest in no time...well, maybe after drivers ed. ^^ I have it in the summer (well, right now. But only for 2 weeks.)
Ruri-sugar