Chapter 4: Mysterious Man
Vincent moved a stray strand of raven hair out of his field of vision and glanced around. For the better part of the morning he had sensed that someone was watching them, who and from where eluded him, which meant that whoever it was, was an extremely skilled hunter.
He moved his chocobo up next to where Cloud and Shiina were deep in discussion and casually leaned forward. "You're aware that we're being watched?" He asked quietly.
Cloud nodded, the slightest movement of his head. "Yes...I don't think he'll be a problem though, I think it's just curious."
"If you're sure." Vincent muttered, his crimson eyes still slightly narrowed.
Shiina turned slightly to regard him curiously. "You know if you're that curious why don't you go scout around?" She suggested with a slight tilt of her head.
Vincent nodded and was about to move away from the group when Cloud's voice stopped him. "If you're going, take Tide with you."
The raven-haired ex-Turk nodded again before dropping back to where Tide rode staring off into nowhere and conferred with the teen before leading the way away from the trail and into the overgrown shrubs that surrounded it.
"You sure it was a good idea for him to take the kid?" Shiina asked after the other two were out of earshot.
Cloud smiled softly and nodded. "Vincent's a fierce fighter and if Tide is anything like his mother he'll do just fine. I wanted Vincent to take him so I could find out just what he's ready for, the last thing I want is to be caught up in a fight where Tide gets hurt because he's not ready for the pressure."
She watched him for a moment longer before breaking into a grin. "Sure boss, it's nice to know I'm working with someone who actually thinks ahead."
"Thanks...I think."
Silver strands were absently pushed back just as soon as they fell from the lose tie that had been holding it out of the way.
Micah straightened then stretched languidly letting the heat from the noon sun dry the sweat that beaded his forehead. He could feel the course material of the rough baggy shirt he was wearing, which was almost translucent from sweat, sticking to his chest and back.
He had rolled up the baggy sleeves to the elbow but that had done very little to reduce the heat.
A small sparrow fluttered by and he watched as it flew up into the high up branches of a nearby tree and settled there, then without further ado it began to sing.
A gentle smile settled on his lips as he listened to the tiny birds song, something about the sweetness of the sound touched him. It was something that was beyond description yet those who heard it felt compelled to for some unknown reason. This sound, this gentle sparrows song reached out and touched his soul waking it but filling him with peace at the same time
He moved slowly to lie beneath the tall tree and let his eyes slide closed as he listened to the song.
He reached up wiped the water from his face then sighed.
He had found a small river not far from the prison he had been held in and had decided to take the time to wash the blood sweat and dirt off while he had the chance. The water was cold but somehow he preferred it to being covered in blood.
Especially when he knew it belonged to someone else.
The first night of freedom was strangely tense, he had killed the guards and so he knew he would have no pursuers but knowing that didn't stop the nightmares from coming.
He could remember other dreams, dreams he had had since he had woken up in the ocean some time ago.
Dreams filled with golden blond hair and blue eyes which would turn to dreams of silver hair and green eyes then the dreams would turn again and settle on light brown hair and emerald eyes.
He remembered the sad expression in those blue eyes and he remembered the utter lack of emotion in the green pair but above all he remembered the adoring and compassionate look the emerald eyes seemed to possess.
It felt strange, remembering little bits and pieces of a life that remained just out of reach.
With a sigh he moved back onto dry land and began brushing the remaining droplets of water from his muscular frame. That was another thing that puzzled him, he was obviously very fit and the ease in which he killed his enemies felt horrifyingly satisfying, like that was what he had been made to do.
/A monster, built for the kill...that's not me...is it/
The thought stayed with him long after he had dressed and moved on.
"BOLT!"
The shout rang out just as Tides' fist made contact with the beast's belly effectively marking the monster as the spells target. Lightning flashed from high in the sky and plummeted down, striking the monster and killing it instantly.
Off to one side Vincent returned his Peacemaker to it's holster with a nod of satisfaction as Tide jogged his way back to where he waited with their chocobos. "You looked like you've done that before."
Tide shrugged and took hold of his chocobos reins. "My mother was responsible for keeping the monsters out of Mideel, she took my brother and me with her ever chance she could."
"That sounds like Tifa. Where did you get the Ice materia?" The older man asked quietly as he watched Tide mount, his crimson gaze flickering to the second level one materia that had not been there previously.
"Cid gave it to me before we left, he said that I'd better not make my mom ashamed of me." The teen replied wryly.
"Sounds like him, come on, we need to catch up to Cloud and Shiina." Vincent remarked quietly then without waiting to see if Tide followed, he steered his chocobo up their path and pushed it into a slow run.
They rejoined the other two further up the path only to find that Cloud and Shiina had dismounted and tied their chocobos to a tree and were squatting down in the middle of the path staring at something. They looked up as the Vincent and Tide approached and motioned for them to join them.
Vincent was there first squatting down next to Shiina. "Trouble?" He asked softly.
Cloud pointed out something in the dirt. "Tracks, they belong to a Tonberry, but it looks like there are at least twelve of them."
"Tonberry's are solitary monsters they almost never travel in groups, it's really rare to see more than two or three in a group at one time." Shiina said, taking over from where Cloud left off. "On top of that they usually stick to specific a specific area and that being North Crater."
"Then what are they doing here?" Tide asked with a frown.
Cloud shrugged then stood. "I don't know but I don't think I want to find out, one Tonberry on its own is fairly bad but twelve? It's asking for trouble. Anyway I want to get going, the sooner we get to Midgar the better."
Vincent stood and moved to walk beside the blond as he made his way back to where he left his chocobo tied. "Why Midgar?" He inquired softly.
"Before we left Reeve told me that the guards have been having problems with the monsters inside for a while and apparently there's someone in there with them."
"How?"
Cloud shrugged. "No one knows, he just suddenly showed up one day."
"And now we have to rescue him?" Tide asked wryly. "I don't get why anyone would want to go in there anyway. With all the monsters that started to mutate and breed from the after effects of Meteor and Holy, not to mention the damaged done by Diamond Weapon."
Vincent and Cloud turned to stare at the teen. "How do you know about all that?"
The brunette shrugged. "I overheard you talking to my mother once when I was a kid. You also said that the city became ruins after it was abandoned."
Cloud grinned at the younger man and mounted his chocobo. "You have a habit of remembering important facts, that's a useful trait to have, especially if you travel around a lot like us."
"Uhh, thanks."
"Shiina..." Cloud started turning to face the already mounted SOLDIER general.
"And here I thought you had forgotten about me." She announced haughtily.
Cloud stared at her for a long minute before sighing and tugging on his reins. "Let's go."
There's no point to you staying here any longer
We're better off without you
You don't belong here
You were created to be a monster
Green the color of the beast...you have green eyes
Why don't you leave
Are you going to kill us too
You're just a tool
A weapon some rich fat man created to do his dirty work for him
You're not like us
I would give you my blessings but God frowns upon those who help demons
That's what you are
Demon
Monster
Abomination
Tool
Weapon
Beast
Evil
Unwanted
He woke with a start, his heart racing. He sat there for what felt like an eternity trying to get his breathing under control then shivered as a bead of sweat rolled down his back from between his shoulder blades. Slowly he pushed back his blankets and swung his legs over the side of his small bed then in one smooth motion he stood and moved to the window, opening it as far as it could go.
For nearly ten minutes he simply stood there breathing softly and letting the pre-dawn air-dry his sweat streaked skin. He ran one hand through his hair, pushing damp strands away from his face with a sigh. It wasn't the first time he'd woken up from that nightmare and he had a feeling it wouldn't be the last.
With a sigh he moved away from the window and suddenly his heal hit something causing him to lose his balance, quick reflexes stopped him from hitting the floor and waking the rest of the house. With a short sigh of relief he looked down to see what he had tripped over. It was a suitcase Mrs. Wrinehart had given him over a week ago after it was decided that he should leave and see the rest of the world. He stood there staring at it for a long time before he deftly picked it up and carried it over to his bed, he opened it with a flick of his wrist but stopped when he saw a piece of paper sitting in the bottom of it.
He slowly reached for it and gently lifted it out of the bag then turned it over, he recognized it with a strange wretch of pain, it was a picture Thom, Millie and Sam had drawn one day of them and him playing. He absently noticed how they went to great trouble to pick out the exact colors for everything in the picture, even his hair and eyes.
He gently folded the paper and set it back into the suitcase before turning to the tiny closet and swung the doors open to reveal the small collection of clothes that had been donated to him by Mrs. Wrinehart. The only things inside that he knew belonged to him were a long, soft black leather jacket and matching black leather pants.
He reached in and took hold of them then quickly and precisely folded them to fit in the small suitcase before moving to remove the few other items of clothing he had been allowed to call his own. After folding each he set them in the suitcase on top of the black leather garments and deftly closed the lid and locked it.
He stood still a moment just listening to his breathing, trying to shake off the nervous flutter of his heart.
He knew it now.
What he had to do.
He had to leave.
He had to find himself.
The blue eyed boy he saw sometimes in his dreams, he had to find him.
The gray eyed man whose grin seemed never to falter, he had to find him.
He needed to know, who he was, where he had come from and why his dreams were haunted by people he didn't know.
It was time for him to leave.
With a deep breath he turned quickly to make the bed that had once been his own and picked up his suitcase, pausing just long enough to stare at his reflection in the mirror before turning once again to leave his room, for the very last time.