The Forgotten

Chapter 17: What Next?

Later that night, our group of heroes had gathered with the leaders of the Rebels to discuss what the next move should be. Blain, Akira, Lance, and Yuffie sat around a large rectangular table. Red lay on the floor, next to the table. Stratus and Gale stood behind Lance, hands resting on the arm of his chair. Vincent was leaning against the wall to the left of the table, hiding his face with his cloak.

"Now that we have a well trained team to infiltrate Ranish, I think we should take this opportunity." Said Akira calmly, glancing at Blain who gave him a nod of approval. The two seemed to work well together, who would have thought it. A Bounty Hunter and an Assassin, working together. Akira was defiantly the brain of the duo though.

"I agree, we should strike as soon as possible." Agreed Red, who stood on all fours and started to pace, thinking of exactly what to do.

"We should strike a place that is of great meaning to Ranish, we have to show them we mean business." Commented Vincent from afar; Akira nodded his head at the man in black.

"Like Junon?" offered Stratus, surprises by his suggestion.

"Yes! Junon, its perfect Stratus." Replied Yuffie, slightly surprised at his comment. Stratus didn't look like intelligent, but maybe that was all an act. Who knew?

"That is a wise choice. Junon is the only base of Ranish on this island, therefore if we take it. They have no say on this entire island. Also, it is a major base for them, and will show them exactly what we are capable off." Stated Akira, giving Stratus a smile.

"Who would have thought an intelligent idea would come from an idiot like you, ey Stratus?" mocked Lance, a huge smile gracing his lips.

"Shut it Firecracker!" countered Stratus; Lance flinched at his nickname and gave Stratus a death glare.

"Then it's settled, we attack Junon, we set of the day after tomorrow, so get some rest."

----

The town of Gongaga, one of the smallest towns in this dominated world. The main road lead through the center of the town, sprouting of many smaller ones, houses and shops mixed together. It was a peaceful town, not a single person in this town hated another, all pacifists. But that soon changed.

A dark figure stalked his way into the town, not moving for anyone. People dodged him as he strolled through the streets, searching for a hotel in this mouldy old town. He hated places like this, they reminded him of his childhood, with his mother and father. He had lived such a happy like until that tragic day when avalanche-

He was knocked out of his thoughts as a tall, well-built man stumbled out of the house to his left, bumping into him.

"I'm so sorry Sir." The man apologised, Piper glanced at the man, he had blond spiky hair, his deep blue eyes would intoxicate any woman, he was sure of that. The image of this man caused a fire to burn in his black heart, he looked like Cloud Strife! Piper felt all the restraint he had slip out of his control as he grabbed the man by his collar and slammed him into the wall, cracking the moulting dry paint of the wall.

"You better be sorry!" hissed Piper, his eyes a fiery with rage. He slammed him again, and then threw him to the floor. He grabbed the handle of his oblivion and thrust it to the frozen mans throat. The guy was petrified, he was sure he had wet himself in sheer fright.

"Hey, he said he was sorry. I think your taking it a little over the top. Please. Just go back to your business. He is sorry he troubled you." A man called from behind him. What a good-hearted man he was, trying to save someone he didn't even know.

Piper turned to see the man he had come to assassinate staring him in the eye, he wasn't afraid of Piper. He would be later, oh yes. Piper would make sure of that. With a glare, Piper turned and began to slowly walk down the street once again, people clearing a path for him.

----

Lance stood at the entrance to the cave, waiting for his newfound friend, Luna, to show. He hadn't been waiting long, and to be honest, he didn't mind waiting a while. Just as long as he got to see he beautiful face. He certainly was attracted to the teen; he just didn't want to scare her off. He would wait; see how she felt for him. On that, he turned to see the girl of his thoughts standing behind him. She wore a red dress that clung nicely to her frame, he long blonde hair falling down her chest. Her hands held a small brown basket in front of her body. Lance smiled at the angel before him.

"Wow, you look amazing." He commented, hoping not to startle the girl. She really did though, he wasn't sure if he'd be able to keep his hands of her. That blew his plans straight out the window.

"Thank you," She smiled at him before continuing. "You ready?"

"Ready for what?" he asked feeling stupid.

"We're going to the top of the mountain, I made some food so we can have a picnic. If you don't mind that is?" she replied with her own question.

"Of course I don't! You sure you want to go out at this time, we could get attacked."

"But you'll protect me, right?" she said with a smile.

"Yeah, of course I will." With that, the two began to walk up the side of the mountain, Luna had to take her high heels of to make it up the mountain safely, Lance carried the basket and soon they reached the top.

"Here." She said, pointed down at a spot next to a small drop, the ledge was perfect to sit and watch the sun set. Lance set the basket down and gave her is hand as she sat, he legs dangling of the edge. Lance took his seat next to her and grabbed a sandwich out of the basket, offering it to the girl beside him. She accepted.

"Thank you."

"Your welcome." He replied, taking his own sandwich out of the basket.

"So, do you mind if I ask where you live, I mean you said your parents. Died. So, do you have a foster parents or something? She asked, barely above a whisper. She really didn't want to offend him.

"It's okay, I don't mind talking about it. As for your question, yes I do have foster parents. I live with my mentor Barret Wallace."

"Is he nice?" she asked again, hoping he didn't mind her probing into his life. After all she had only just met him, even though she felt like she had known him for years. She had to face the fact it had only been a day.

"He is incredibly nice, a great man. I feel like he is my real father, it may seem disrespectful to my real parents, but I do. I love my real parents and all, but I love Barret and Melanie just as much." He answered, giving her a genuine smile. (A/N: Melanie is Barrets wife, the name comes from the fact Mel Gibson played William Wallace in the movie Brave heart, and seen as Barrets last name is Wallace, I decided on that name.)

"That's great. I'm happy for you." And so they talked, for around three hours. They talked about many things, about Lances life, Luna Life. Luna mother, who died when she was young. They had a lot in common. The sun was just setting, Lance looked into Luna's bright blue eyes, her face illuminated by the suns rays.

"Luna. Would you mind if I kissed you?" he asked plainly. She seemed shocked at first, but that soon passed and she smiled at him. He took that as yes and closed the gap between them, their lips met and they shared the first kiss of their relationship. It was amazing; he could feel her soft lips on his, her hot breath on his. Everything was perfect. It was like a fairy tale love story, kissing as the sun set. The kiss felt like an eternity to both of them, both not wanting to let go. Lance was the first to retreat, his face covered by his huge smile. Her cheeks where slightly pink, how cute.

"Was that your first kiss?" he asked, she lowered her head as if ashamed, he put his finger under her chin and raised her head as her eyes met his.

"It's okay." He assured her, before closing the gap once more in another kiss.

----

He was always the loner, Vincent Valentine. He had left the cave to watch the sun set, however, he was unaware that he had been followed. Yuffie, in her ninja grace had been following him since the cross bridge. He wandered towards the east and sat on a nearby rock, gazing at the horizon, watching the sunset.

How is it I always find myself in these situations, he thought, it happened all those years ago with Cloud and the others. Now it was happening again with his son, Vincent liked to be alone but always ended up in a group. Of course he wasn't always like this, he once loved being in a group, that group was the Turks. But things change, and they did. He wasn't the same man he was then. He had changed completely. He didn't even look like himself anymore, and then you cant forget those demons that like to show there hideous faces once and a while.

Yuffie watched, crouched behind a rock not far from the mysterious man. He was watching the sun set; Vincent Valentine was watching the sun set. That cold-hearted man was actually marvelling at the beauty of am sunset. Perhaps he wasn't as cold-hearted as he made himself out to be, behind that demon like exterior was a perfect gentleman. She carefully stood and began to walk away when he spoke.

"Going somewhere Yuffie?" he mocked.

"Was that a joke? You must be in a good mood, I'm sorry I followed you." She apologised, before walking up to him and sitting.

"That's okay, you like to watch sunsets?" he asked, feeling somewhat compelled to do so. Maybe he felt guilty for being mean to her earlier. Maybe.

"As a matter of fact, I do. You?"

"I used to watch them all the time, before. Hojo. I guess something's never change, no matter what you look like, you are still the same person you have always been." He confessed, why? He didn't know.

"Are you trying to tell me your still the same person you where back then?" she asked puzzled.

"No, I meant I always enjoyed watching the sun set, I have changed. I guess deep down I may still be my old self, but I just can't be. I accepted that a long time ago." Explained Vincent.

"Why is that?"

"I was once a good man, I enjoyed social events, with my friends. But that isn't possible anymore, who could be friends with a monster like me." He whispered sadly, he hated what Hojo did to him, what he took from him. Not just Lucrecia, but his life.

"Well, Me." She replied simply, placing a hand on his broad shoulder.

"Yuffie. Why would you want too?"

"Vincent, you really are an idiot! I don't care what you look like. Show me you. Show me the real Vincent Valentine. Please?" she pleaded.

"That wouldn't be fair Yuffie, I have sinned, and I cannot be allowed to - "

"Would you shut up? You haven't done anything-wrong Vincent! Hojo is the sinner, not you." She pleaded once again, desperate to break his shell.

"You can say that Yuffie, but I know it is a lie."

"How can I prove to you that you haven't sinned?" she asked, growing frustrated with his stubborn nature.

"There is nothing to prove, now I would like you too leave." He droned sadly in response to her question.

"Fine! But this isn't over Vinnie!" she yelled, before storming off.

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