~I wait for you where love is lost...where heartbreak is born...~
No! The child squirmed, or tried to, in the heavy air. It kicked its feet and clenched its small hands into fists, but its wings held and it stayed airborne.
~I wait for you where stars are earthed...they crash and melt...~
It was aware of its eyes watering; tears running down its face and blending with the endless streams of rain. The VOICE was winning...The VOICE always wins...And at this moment, the VOICE was using the child as a mouth to send out its ghastly messages.
~I wait for you where mirrors hang...but give no reflection...~
The tingling inside told the child it was changing again. The wings - over which it had no control despite the fact they were a part of its body - stretched and gave a mighty lurch, carrying it even further into the night where it did not want to be.
~...Where cupid's arrows lie, bent and broken...~
It flew faster, and with each flap of its wings brought a sharp pain in its back. The child was starting to feel nauseous, but there was no way to avoid the pain.
~...Where noises blend, and silence rule...~
The cold wind drummed rain into its eyes unforgivingly. It closed them, willing to be swept into the freezing temperatures where it might finally find peace.
~I wait...~
Then the wings flapped harder, and the child was propelled into the distance. Every piece of it was burning so fierce with cold that it desired to just DIE and escape the torture. But it could not; the VOICE was in control and the VOICE was impatient to get to the final destination. And there, and only there, might the child get some sort of comfort. There, where it could lie still and rest until its body stopped hurting. There, where the only thing to do is...
...To wait.
SHADOWBODY ~ By Crimson Sun
Chapter Four
Vincent pulled Lucia back sharply, his breathing labored as if he had been the running bird. He had had the shadow in his sights, then he heard something at the back of his head that made his skin craw and his heart beat faster until it matched Lucia's panting breath.
It was a song that stirred him. A song that he has not heard sung by anyone for many...many a year. It had disturbed him deeply when he had first heard it, and now it was back and haunting him again. The eerie melody and the almost sickeningly sweet feminine voice made his head whirl and his insides turn inside out. Chaos shifted in his inner being, roused by his uncomfort, making the situation he was in even worse.
And the irony of it all...the song had been Lucrecia's favorite; she sang it all the time. First the ring, now he finds himself hearing - or more accurately, recalling - things that had been buried under years of burden? Though Vincent was sure that this was no coincidence. The shadow has something to do with himself, and it had used Bugenhagen as a way to arouse his attention.
Unacceptable...Yet another sin to add to his growing list. He could never atone for them all, but perhaps imperfection was in itself a punishment? The world was a strange place, and Vincent sensed things were about to get stranger still.
He took a breath to compose himself and reassure Lucia that she was not about to be harmed. The poor beast was tired, and its feathers were almost completely drenched through. Being a black Chocobo and usually immune to bad weather, it was still shivering and exhausted after the long run in the rain. But Lucia was loyal, and Vincent knew it would run for him until it could run no more. But, as long as it has stopped now, Vincent found no reason to usher it on again. The shadow, as far as he was concerned, had spread its hideous mutated wings and flown out of his reach.
~To a place where love is lost, and heartbreak is born. ~ He told himself mentally, already knowing exactly where to head.
"Vincent?" Yuffie's voice broke into his thoughts and shattered the inner palace where he had been. Immediately, he was aware of the rain, thunder, and every other hazardous thing that returned with conscience, and that just added to his depression.
"Yes, Yuffie?" Even though Vincent was just slightly annoyed that the young ninja had ignored his warning and followed him beyond the danger lines, he still hid that annoyance well. There was no point in getting angry. He had learnt that eons ago.
"Um...Flare isn't moving." Yuffie answered, her voice doubtful. "He's planted himself on the ground and won't stand up."
Vincent guided Lucia around and back towards Yuffie and Flare, who had been behind him when the whole chase started. It was true; Cloud's golden Chocobo sat on its large legs, its neck stiff and its eyes staring straight ahead. Yuffie had slid off the bird's back, and was now kneeling beside it on the wet grass and mud despite whatever stains it might give to her outfit. To Vincent's relief, she had laid her Conformer slightly away from the obviously shocked Chocobo, since that would only frighten Flare further. Rain poured off Flare's feathers and Yuffie's hair like tiny waterfalls, and the result was shivers from both.
Thanks to Vincent's extra-enhanced vision, he was able to take in every sad detail. But that didn't make him any happier.
"I told you not to follow." He was not about to offer any pity to the ignorant girl. "Flare is not used to being in such tense situations, and is not loyal enough to obey you."
"Thank you, Sherlock, I knew that already." Yuffie pulled a face as she looked up at him. "But what am I supposed to do now? I can't just sit here and look after him."
Vincent turned Lucia towards the now closer Nibel mountains that they had been going along, and set her off again at a slower pace.
"Frankly, I don't care what you do." He said back to Yuffie. He knew he was acting slightly cold, but the girl needed to be taught a lesson. "I have more important things to attend to."
"You want that thing that was flying ahead of us?" Yuffie was shouting now, her voice slightly panicky. "It's gone! You don't know where it went! How would you know where it was going?"
"I have my ways." Vincent answered, and he did. In fact, he knew the shadow's whereabouts down to the last detail, and he was not going to be held now back by a stubborn brat. She could sit there and scream with that equally stubborn Chocobo all she wants, but he was not going to listen. Maybe if he didn't need Lucia for the trip ahead, he would have lent it to Yuffie and sent them both back, but since he did...well, too bad for Yuffie.
When he has gone a few paces with the girl's shouting, he was surprised to find she stopped quite suddenly. But he didn't slow down. Perhaps Yuffie had just come to her senses.
"You told me I wouldn't be able to turn back once I'm in this." What followed her silence was something strangely quiet from the normally noisy girl; just above the noise of the rain. Then her voice rose and she was shouting again. "Now I can't go back and you're just gonna leave me here?"
This time, Vincent stopped.
No... Was he softening? Had what she said reached him deep enough for the feelings of guilt to work their evil inside him? Vincent wanted to tell Yuffie it was all her fault, had wanted to do a bit of screaming himself and just leave her there, but somehow... somehow he couldn't.
She was going to ruin all his plans, but whether he liked it or not...Vincent Valentine and Yuffie Kisaragi were in this...together.
He sighed deeply as his mind came to a decision he highly disagreed with. Pushing an irritating band of hair away from his face, he turned Lucia back the way they had come and went...unfortunately...back to Yuffie and Flare.
She looked up at him with innocent eyes as he approached, and he was surprised to find the faintest sign of tears in those stormy orbs. As he drew up to her with Lucia, she stood and took her Conformer close to her, but didn't say a word. Her puzzled expression did all the questioning for her without having to utter a sound.
"Get on." Vincent said coldly. He did not want her to have the wrong impression and think he was actually keen about this.
"What about Flare?" She asked softly, seeing his annoyance and fearing it slightly. "Cloud would be really angry if-"
He cut her off. "If you wish to stay here, I am very willing to continue by myself."
"No, no, I'll come." She said quickly, struggling onto the back of Lucia with one hand while the other still clutched her precious weapon. The Chocobo warked under its sudden heavier cargo, but Vincent knew Lucia could hold double the weight on any other day. It was just a bit tired now, that was all. And Vincent intended for it to recover. Since he knew where the shadow was headed now, the rest of the way was going to be smooth and easy.
If Yuffie allowed it, that is. Almost immediately after getting up on Lucia behind Vincent, she began to talk again.
"Why didn't you shoot that thing?" She asked, while one hand absent- mindedly took hold of his cape for support. "I know you have your Death Penalty here and it was well in your range. Then we wouldn't have to go chasing it."
"My business is my own." He answered icily, and Yuffie retreated.
Of course, even if he told her, would she understand? The answer there is quite obvious. And not only would Yuffie not understand, she would ask further questions, and questions were not a thing he liked... Queries about things he did not understand entirely himself was especially dislikeable.
But why hadn't he shot the shadow? That was simple. That child, or whatever it was, had obviously some connection to his past... and Lucrecia. For her, he had to find out just what the link was, and killing his only source of information would do him no good. Though, he reminded himself, the time for killing would possibly come sooner or later. Bugenhagen's injuries were not to go unnoticed, and the culprit was not to go unpunished.
Yuffie lasted for about a minute before she spoke again. But, Vincent guessed, that minute's silence was already a record for her.
"What's that thing I saw in your hand?" She asked curiously. "It looked like a ring of some sort."
This time, Vincent did not even give her a reply. He just took Lucia's reins and kept her trotting along.
"Fine." He heard Yuffie pout. "I know it has something to do with that ugly thing anyway."
~Then you already know too much. ~ Vincent thought, but kept his eyes strictly on the road before them.
With her favorite hobby (talking) ruled out, it was not long before Yuffie found herself falling into the world of dreams as both the steady rhythm of the Chocobo's steps and the sounds of raindrops lured her deeper into sleep. Ok, so she was cold, tired, and so wet she could be part of water itself, but leaning on Vincent's back had an element of comfort to it that she didn't quite understand...
Having had been a ninja all of her life, she could have slept standing on a wire. So it was no problem to her sitting on a Chocobo AND holding her Conformer in one hand. In fact, it was actually quite 'cozy' once she had gotten used to it. Yuffie was actually pretty happy - dreaming of warm beds and her Wutainese home of cats - when her headrest moved suddenly out of its place, and all of her delusions of happiness snapped as she fell forwards.
"Aw...ViVi, I was asleep." She yawned. With waking, all muscular pains and discomforts returned.
"We're here." Vincent answered. He had gotten off Lucia's back and was walking ahead of them, holding her reins and leading her along the wet banks of what appeared to be an awfully large lake. Yuffie rubbed her eyes and her ears as sounds returned to her. She was aware of another roar in the distance, but it was not the rain she heard. Slowly, she lifted her head...
"Where's..." ...and beheld a somewhat breathtaking scene that instantly took her sleepiness away.
The lake she saw was definitely large, so huge that she could not see the other side of the bank, but just the mountains in the distance. The water was pure and seemed to glow in the pale gray light (which she suspected came from morning). Beyond the crystal clearness of the lake and off in the background, she spotted a giant blue mountain. And so straight it seemed to be a suspended piece of silk hanging off the mountain's peak was a majestic waterfall, shining in the lake's magical glow.
She looked behind her, spellbound, and found herself surrounded by more immense landmarks, stretching their heads to heights unimaginable. The lake was like a round mirror, dead in the center of a jagged frame.
"...Here...?" She finished her question, and gulped.
"Lucrecia Falls." Vincent answered. He didn't appear to be enjoying the view.
"But...but, why are we here?" Yuffie could clearly recall chasing a monster that had harmed Bugenhagen the night before, and had definitely not expected to end up in a fairy-tale wonderland the day after.
She slid off Lucia's back and absent-mindedly stroked the bird behind its ears as she followed Vincent along the banks of the lake towards the mighty waterfall. For once, she didn't care that her companion didn't bother to answer her questions; it gave her more time to think things through for herself. Yuffie wondered just how even Lucia - probably the best black Chocobo there was - could scale the mountains that surrounded her. After all, she was looking at peaks nearing the height of the Northern Crater!
How did they get here and where the hell was here?
What exactly did Vinny have in that mysterious mind of his to bring her to this place?
What happened to the shadow?
Who was Lucrecia?
There was surely a lot of detective work to be done around here. And since Vincent was not exactly Mr. Talkative, Yuffie would have to find out by herself.
About halfway to the waterfall known as 'Lucrecia Falls', Vincent freed Lucia from its reins and checked if the communication device that would allow Chocobos to hear their master's calls from far away was still in its ears. Then with a few whispers to the bird and a pat on its head, he released Lucia and watched as it climbed the mountains, back the way they had come.
"Why did you do that?" Apart from being curious, Yuffie was also now slightly scared.
"She is tired, and I don't know how long this would take." Vincent had begun walking towards the fall again. "Besides, it may be dangerous for her."
A realization struck Yuffie suddenly.
"This...this is where that...that thing is, isn't this?" She asked, her voice quivering slightly. Vincent's silence answered for him.
Well, at least two of her four main questions were out of the bag.
She walked the remaining way to the waterfall with Vincent quietly; pondering just what was in store around the next bend. They stopped right up close to Lucrecia Falls and Yuffie took a moment to survey the enchanting scene again. All darkness seemed to bounce off the clear crystalline waters, and her fear seemed to evaporate with it. Despite what her father had once said against superstition, Yuffie believed the waterfall was magical, and it helped boost her confidence.
"Are you sure you're ready?" Vincent asked her when they were at the foot of the mountain where the waterfall hung. She wasn't exactly sure what he meant, but she believed he knew what he was doing. She nodded, being more ready than she'll ever be.
So when Vincent neared the falls and disappeared into the entering of a cave behind it, the young Wutainese followed without questioning. After all, she did tell Vincent she wouldn't back out, and a Lady of Wutai always kept her word. She was willing to face whatever danger was waiting for her beyond the next step, and danger there would be.
After all, they were now both WAY into enemy territory.
Chapter Four ~ Fin
AN: That...has got to be the most lengthy thing I have ever written. Please tell me what you think.
Repetitive?
Boring?
Lame?
Stupid?
Well, whatever your opinions are, I would like to hear them. And again, sorry for the delay in posting this. And thanks to the people who still want to read this story of mine.
No! The child squirmed, or tried to, in the heavy air. It kicked its feet and clenched its small hands into fists, but its wings held and it stayed airborne.
~I wait for you where stars are earthed...they crash and melt...~
It was aware of its eyes watering; tears running down its face and blending with the endless streams of rain. The VOICE was winning...The VOICE always wins...And at this moment, the VOICE was using the child as a mouth to send out its ghastly messages.
~I wait for you where mirrors hang...but give no reflection...~
The tingling inside told the child it was changing again. The wings - over which it had no control despite the fact they were a part of its body - stretched and gave a mighty lurch, carrying it even further into the night where it did not want to be.
~...Where cupid's arrows lie, bent and broken...~
It flew faster, and with each flap of its wings brought a sharp pain in its back. The child was starting to feel nauseous, but there was no way to avoid the pain.
~...Where noises blend, and silence rule...~
The cold wind drummed rain into its eyes unforgivingly. It closed them, willing to be swept into the freezing temperatures where it might finally find peace.
~I wait...~
Then the wings flapped harder, and the child was propelled into the distance. Every piece of it was burning so fierce with cold that it desired to just DIE and escape the torture. But it could not; the VOICE was in control and the VOICE was impatient to get to the final destination. And there, and only there, might the child get some sort of comfort. There, where it could lie still and rest until its body stopped hurting. There, where the only thing to do is...
...To wait.
SHADOWBODY ~ By Crimson Sun
Chapter Four
Vincent pulled Lucia back sharply, his breathing labored as if he had been the running bird. He had had the shadow in his sights, then he heard something at the back of his head that made his skin craw and his heart beat faster until it matched Lucia's panting breath.
It was a song that stirred him. A song that he has not heard sung by anyone for many...many a year. It had disturbed him deeply when he had first heard it, and now it was back and haunting him again. The eerie melody and the almost sickeningly sweet feminine voice made his head whirl and his insides turn inside out. Chaos shifted in his inner being, roused by his uncomfort, making the situation he was in even worse.
And the irony of it all...the song had been Lucrecia's favorite; she sang it all the time. First the ring, now he finds himself hearing - or more accurately, recalling - things that had been buried under years of burden? Though Vincent was sure that this was no coincidence. The shadow has something to do with himself, and it had used Bugenhagen as a way to arouse his attention.
Unacceptable...Yet another sin to add to his growing list. He could never atone for them all, but perhaps imperfection was in itself a punishment? The world was a strange place, and Vincent sensed things were about to get stranger still.
He took a breath to compose himself and reassure Lucia that she was not about to be harmed. The poor beast was tired, and its feathers were almost completely drenched through. Being a black Chocobo and usually immune to bad weather, it was still shivering and exhausted after the long run in the rain. But Lucia was loyal, and Vincent knew it would run for him until it could run no more. But, as long as it has stopped now, Vincent found no reason to usher it on again. The shadow, as far as he was concerned, had spread its hideous mutated wings and flown out of his reach.
~To a place where love is lost, and heartbreak is born. ~ He told himself mentally, already knowing exactly where to head.
"Vincent?" Yuffie's voice broke into his thoughts and shattered the inner palace where he had been. Immediately, he was aware of the rain, thunder, and every other hazardous thing that returned with conscience, and that just added to his depression.
"Yes, Yuffie?" Even though Vincent was just slightly annoyed that the young ninja had ignored his warning and followed him beyond the danger lines, he still hid that annoyance well. There was no point in getting angry. He had learnt that eons ago.
"Um...Flare isn't moving." Yuffie answered, her voice doubtful. "He's planted himself on the ground and won't stand up."
Vincent guided Lucia around and back towards Yuffie and Flare, who had been behind him when the whole chase started. It was true; Cloud's golden Chocobo sat on its large legs, its neck stiff and its eyes staring straight ahead. Yuffie had slid off the bird's back, and was now kneeling beside it on the wet grass and mud despite whatever stains it might give to her outfit. To Vincent's relief, she had laid her Conformer slightly away from the obviously shocked Chocobo, since that would only frighten Flare further. Rain poured off Flare's feathers and Yuffie's hair like tiny waterfalls, and the result was shivers from both.
Thanks to Vincent's extra-enhanced vision, he was able to take in every sad detail. But that didn't make him any happier.
"I told you not to follow." He was not about to offer any pity to the ignorant girl. "Flare is not used to being in such tense situations, and is not loyal enough to obey you."
"Thank you, Sherlock, I knew that already." Yuffie pulled a face as she looked up at him. "But what am I supposed to do now? I can't just sit here and look after him."
Vincent turned Lucia towards the now closer Nibel mountains that they had been going along, and set her off again at a slower pace.
"Frankly, I don't care what you do." He said back to Yuffie. He knew he was acting slightly cold, but the girl needed to be taught a lesson. "I have more important things to attend to."
"You want that thing that was flying ahead of us?" Yuffie was shouting now, her voice slightly panicky. "It's gone! You don't know where it went! How would you know where it was going?"
"I have my ways." Vincent answered, and he did. In fact, he knew the shadow's whereabouts down to the last detail, and he was not going to be held now back by a stubborn brat. She could sit there and scream with that equally stubborn Chocobo all she wants, but he was not going to listen. Maybe if he didn't need Lucia for the trip ahead, he would have lent it to Yuffie and sent them both back, but since he did...well, too bad for Yuffie.
When he has gone a few paces with the girl's shouting, he was surprised to find she stopped quite suddenly. But he didn't slow down. Perhaps Yuffie had just come to her senses.
"You told me I wouldn't be able to turn back once I'm in this." What followed her silence was something strangely quiet from the normally noisy girl; just above the noise of the rain. Then her voice rose and she was shouting again. "Now I can't go back and you're just gonna leave me here?"
This time, Vincent stopped.
No... Was he softening? Had what she said reached him deep enough for the feelings of guilt to work their evil inside him? Vincent wanted to tell Yuffie it was all her fault, had wanted to do a bit of screaming himself and just leave her there, but somehow... somehow he couldn't.
She was going to ruin all his plans, but whether he liked it or not...Vincent Valentine and Yuffie Kisaragi were in this...together.
He sighed deeply as his mind came to a decision he highly disagreed with. Pushing an irritating band of hair away from his face, he turned Lucia back the way they had come and went...unfortunately...back to Yuffie and Flare.
She looked up at him with innocent eyes as he approached, and he was surprised to find the faintest sign of tears in those stormy orbs. As he drew up to her with Lucia, she stood and took her Conformer close to her, but didn't say a word. Her puzzled expression did all the questioning for her without having to utter a sound.
"Get on." Vincent said coldly. He did not want her to have the wrong impression and think he was actually keen about this.
"What about Flare?" She asked softly, seeing his annoyance and fearing it slightly. "Cloud would be really angry if-"
He cut her off. "If you wish to stay here, I am very willing to continue by myself."
"No, no, I'll come." She said quickly, struggling onto the back of Lucia with one hand while the other still clutched her precious weapon. The Chocobo warked under its sudden heavier cargo, but Vincent knew Lucia could hold double the weight on any other day. It was just a bit tired now, that was all. And Vincent intended for it to recover. Since he knew where the shadow was headed now, the rest of the way was going to be smooth and easy.
If Yuffie allowed it, that is. Almost immediately after getting up on Lucia behind Vincent, she began to talk again.
"Why didn't you shoot that thing?" She asked, while one hand absent- mindedly took hold of his cape for support. "I know you have your Death Penalty here and it was well in your range. Then we wouldn't have to go chasing it."
"My business is my own." He answered icily, and Yuffie retreated.
Of course, even if he told her, would she understand? The answer there is quite obvious. And not only would Yuffie not understand, she would ask further questions, and questions were not a thing he liked... Queries about things he did not understand entirely himself was especially dislikeable.
But why hadn't he shot the shadow? That was simple. That child, or whatever it was, had obviously some connection to his past... and Lucrecia. For her, he had to find out just what the link was, and killing his only source of information would do him no good. Though, he reminded himself, the time for killing would possibly come sooner or later. Bugenhagen's injuries were not to go unnoticed, and the culprit was not to go unpunished.
Yuffie lasted for about a minute before she spoke again. But, Vincent guessed, that minute's silence was already a record for her.
"What's that thing I saw in your hand?" She asked curiously. "It looked like a ring of some sort."
This time, Vincent did not even give her a reply. He just took Lucia's reins and kept her trotting along.
"Fine." He heard Yuffie pout. "I know it has something to do with that ugly thing anyway."
~Then you already know too much. ~ Vincent thought, but kept his eyes strictly on the road before them.
With her favorite hobby (talking) ruled out, it was not long before Yuffie found herself falling into the world of dreams as both the steady rhythm of the Chocobo's steps and the sounds of raindrops lured her deeper into sleep. Ok, so she was cold, tired, and so wet she could be part of water itself, but leaning on Vincent's back had an element of comfort to it that she didn't quite understand...
Having had been a ninja all of her life, she could have slept standing on a wire. So it was no problem to her sitting on a Chocobo AND holding her Conformer in one hand. In fact, it was actually quite 'cozy' once she had gotten used to it. Yuffie was actually pretty happy - dreaming of warm beds and her Wutainese home of cats - when her headrest moved suddenly out of its place, and all of her delusions of happiness snapped as she fell forwards.
"Aw...ViVi, I was asleep." She yawned. With waking, all muscular pains and discomforts returned.
"We're here." Vincent answered. He had gotten off Lucia's back and was walking ahead of them, holding her reins and leading her along the wet banks of what appeared to be an awfully large lake. Yuffie rubbed her eyes and her ears as sounds returned to her. She was aware of another roar in the distance, but it was not the rain she heard. Slowly, she lifted her head...
"Where's..." ...and beheld a somewhat breathtaking scene that instantly took her sleepiness away.
The lake she saw was definitely large, so huge that she could not see the other side of the bank, but just the mountains in the distance. The water was pure and seemed to glow in the pale gray light (which she suspected came from morning). Beyond the crystal clearness of the lake and off in the background, she spotted a giant blue mountain. And so straight it seemed to be a suspended piece of silk hanging off the mountain's peak was a majestic waterfall, shining in the lake's magical glow.
She looked behind her, spellbound, and found herself surrounded by more immense landmarks, stretching their heads to heights unimaginable. The lake was like a round mirror, dead in the center of a jagged frame.
"...Here...?" She finished her question, and gulped.
"Lucrecia Falls." Vincent answered. He didn't appear to be enjoying the view.
"But...but, why are we here?" Yuffie could clearly recall chasing a monster that had harmed Bugenhagen the night before, and had definitely not expected to end up in a fairy-tale wonderland the day after.
She slid off Lucia's back and absent-mindedly stroked the bird behind its ears as she followed Vincent along the banks of the lake towards the mighty waterfall. For once, she didn't care that her companion didn't bother to answer her questions; it gave her more time to think things through for herself. Yuffie wondered just how even Lucia - probably the best black Chocobo there was - could scale the mountains that surrounded her. After all, she was looking at peaks nearing the height of the Northern Crater!
How did they get here and where the hell was here?
What exactly did Vinny have in that mysterious mind of his to bring her to this place?
What happened to the shadow?
Who was Lucrecia?
There was surely a lot of detective work to be done around here. And since Vincent was not exactly Mr. Talkative, Yuffie would have to find out by herself.
About halfway to the waterfall known as 'Lucrecia Falls', Vincent freed Lucia from its reins and checked if the communication device that would allow Chocobos to hear their master's calls from far away was still in its ears. Then with a few whispers to the bird and a pat on its head, he released Lucia and watched as it climbed the mountains, back the way they had come.
"Why did you do that?" Apart from being curious, Yuffie was also now slightly scared.
"She is tired, and I don't know how long this would take." Vincent had begun walking towards the fall again. "Besides, it may be dangerous for her."
A realization struck Yuffie suddenly.
"This...this is where that...that thing is, isn't this?" She asked, her voice quivering slightly. Vincent's silence answered for him.
Well, at least two of her four main questions were out of the bag.
She walked the remaining way to the waterfall with Vincent quietly; pondering just what was in store around the next bend. They stopped right up close to Lucrecia Falls and Yuffie took a moment to survey the enchanting scene again. All darkness seemed to bounce off the clear crystalline waters, and her fear seemed to evaporate with it. Despite what her father had once said against superstition, Yuffie believed the waterfall was magical, and it helped boost her confidence.
"Are you sure you're ready?" Vincent asked her when they were at the foot of the mountain where the waterfall hung. She wasn't exactly sure what he meant, but she believed he knew what he was doing. She nodded, being more ready than she'll ever be.
So when Vincent neared the falls and disappeared into the entering of a cave behind it, the young Wutainese followed without questioning. After all, she did tell Vincent she wouldn't back out, and a Lady of Wutai always kept her word. She was willing to face whatever danger was waiting for her beyond the next step, and danger there would be.
After all, they were now both WAY into enemy territory.
Chapter Four ~ Fin
AN: That...has got to be the most lengthy thing I have ever written. Please tell me what you think.
Repetitive?
Boring?
Lame?
Stupid?
Well, whatever your opinions are, I would like to hear them. And again, sorry for the delay in posting this. And thanks to the people who still want to read this story of mine.