I Finally Found You
Chapter 1: My Preexistent Self
By: Empathic Soul
Just to point, Italics are for another person's voice, and so is bold letters.
Vincent Valentine is annoyed and he did not know when he first felt THIS annoyed. All he wanted was a few more years of undisturbed sleep and yet why can't those people give him just that? He did not want to bother anyone at all so why wouldn't they let him sleep?
He heard another rattle of tiny rocks hitting the walls of the mansion and tumbling inside the marble floor. Of course it caused quite an annoying sound of rolling and rolling, then when it falls down the loop of stairs it has that sound of impeding doom. You know the one that you listen to when you throw a rock in the cliff—you feel that expectation of hearing a loud clunk or thump in the ground.
But the worst noise of all was the sound of broken glass. He could strictly remember that every single day in the entire year at least one window would be broken. He would glide to the upper level and check on it at nighttime and then retreat back to sleep. The next morning he just finds people fixing the broken window only for it to be broken by mid- afternoon.
Pointless, he knew of course.
But what the heck, that's what people in Nibelhelm are, pointless...
No wonder Cloud and Tifa came from this place...
Oh...
Well, they're a different case. Tifa and Cloud are just...
Unique.
He sighed. It's been a year since the entire Planet has gave them recognition in being heroes of the century. Of course he vanished just before the ceremonies and decided to just leave a messages. He still has manners.
So he left a message at the flower vase in the corner of the room they bought in Costa del Sol, it's their fault they did not bother to look there! At least he left a message.
But even though he did not want to admit it, he misses that kind of life. The kind where you don't know what to expect the next time you turn around the corner. It was a life where you seem to place extra effort in merely surviving and even getting a few winks of sleep. Even though it was stressful and fearsome, traumatic to some, it was still a life the energized his system.
It did not matter to him if it was a result of Hojo's experimentation on his body that it excites him in battle, but it just puts his blood on the run. Rather than this kind of life, compared to this, he'd settle for a flower vendor in the corner of Midgar Slums and act like a girl.
Yes, that girl, Aeris.
Well that's the result of war, you win some, and you lose some. And the sad part of it is that you always lose the most important thing to you.
He wanted to tell Cloud that, but then the guy vanished even before he did. Cloud did not even say goodbye and no one knew where he is now. Vincent did not bother looking for him because he knew someone who wants to hide cannot be found, except if the job is given to the Turks and assassins like him.
Oh well, he did not want to place extra effort on things anyway.
Lazy?
He knows. Vincent sat on the old sofa in the second floor gazing at the now setting sun. He sighed and wished to have a few moments of sleep tonight, even for a while before those kids start to throw stones at the walls and windows again. People think that he's alone, that's where they're mistaken, and Vincent Valentine is anything BUT alone.
Vincent....
And yes, did I forget to mention that I have voices coming from my head.
Idiot, we're two persons in one body.
Ah yes, the complicated world of alter egos where they exist to haunt you even in your dreams and nightmares, perhaps.
I am not Chaos. I am Vincent.
Nice to meet you. Did you know we have the same name?
Ha-ha very funny...
Yeah, I find it extremely gratifying to know that THAT stupid and fing professor has actually created three personalities in me! He thought transforming was painful! Ha!
I'm not hurting you, am I?
No, but Chaos is.
There was a grunt inside his unconscious but still refused to speak at all.
Yes, inside Vincent Valentine's head exists two other egos as Hojo called it. The first one is the dominant Vincent Valentine, the current one with a golden claw and red glaring eyes. He is the Vincent that most people think is a descendant of some ancient vampire family. Not that he blames them. Who wouldn't think so when they see a man with skin as pale as a corpse, with bloody red eyes brighter than a stop light, and fangs that glisten almost ready to bite your neck off, no pun intended. That's Vincent Valentine, the dominant personality. He is also the narcissistic, masochistic, sadistic personality, quite a combination!
Next is Chaos. Well, he's the monster created by Hojo as a revenge for stealing Lucrecia. Funny, but Chaos never considered himself to be a monster, merely...special. Well, that's one way of putting it. That's the reason why Chaos was never really bothered being called a monster. It's true anyway, and somehow the other alters, the Turk Vincent accepted him as such. Chaos is the type A personality. He's aggressive, always angry, antisocial, meaning having the tendency to become a murderer, and of course, obsessive compulsive. To think a monster would get annoyed seeing a speck of dust in the furniture of Nibelhelm Mansion. Well, that's the reason why the mansion always seems clean.
And lastly, The Turk, Vincent Valentine. He's the Vincent that's always calm, composed, to both Chaos and Vampire Vincent; he's the perfect little snoot! Yes a snoot, snob, and a spoiled brat who did steal Lucrecia from Hojo. The main reason for all of this. Vincent the Turk and the jerk.
Chaos and me, we're a part of you as you are a part of us. Why can't you accept us?
Because if I do, I just acknowledged myself to be an ultimate psycho!
You were a psycho in the first place.
Chaos, stop-making things worse
I did not know it COULD get worse...
For once, I agree to you.
I refuse to say something anymore. But I just want to tell you Vincent, there's someone inside the mansion.
What? What?
Turk Vincent did not want to speak anymore so he hid himself in the deepest recess of the mind of Vincent Valentine. OF course the two alters are unable to see him anymore, they were left confused and utterly bewildered that someone entered the house.
It's probably some kid who wanted to play hide and go seek.
Maybe...I'll check it out.
Go do that.
Vincent slid down stealthily the stairs careful not to be noticed by anyone who stepped inside the house. He heard two voices speaking from reception area. Judging from the sound it was a boy and a girl. He sighed they were only children! He quietly trudged down the stairs willing himself to take a glimpse of the children that wandered inside the house. Of course, Chaos and Turk Vincent also seemed eager to know who the unlucky little brats who would get the fright of their lives are.
Not that Vincent had any intentions of scaring them away. He just wanted to sleep so he's going to talk to them.
Yes.
Scary as it is.
He stopped when the voices were suddenly hushed. He leaned on the wall near the entrance to the reception area and tried to strain his hearing to listen to what the children were talking about. He heard the little girl speak first.
"Why are we keeping quiet?" She asked softly knowing that the boy that she was with asked her to be quiet just a while ago.
"It's that I feel a bit odd about this place." The boy replied looking at the girl straight in the eye.
"Odd?" She strained her eyes to look around and merely smiled. "Well, this place indeed seems a bit...um..."
"Creepy?" the boy asked walking towards the broken window that he noticed a while ago Whoever is living here sure ain't getting that much respect.
"No. It's more like...mysterious." She answered smiling as she picked up a small porcelain frame with a drafty picture of a woman with long brown hair wearing a lab coat. She was smiling gently and even a bit ethereal.
"Everything is mysterious for you! You even said that the well was mysterious! You even told me that the piano in the old house was mysterious!" The boy shrugged off the comment the girl did and did an exasperated sigh.
"But they really are!" The girl pouted stomping her way towards the boy who placed his hands inside the pocket of his khaki shorts. "I feel like they have so much memories inside them."
"Sigh, everything has memories you know, even the smallest speck of a dust has memories." The boy raised his eyes to meet the girls and the girl smiled at him gently picking up his hand and gently grasping it.
"See, you understand." She nodded and the boy shook his head.
"No, I don't. I don't lean on wells and try to dance without a sound like you! I know they have memories but I don't try to make one with them." He shoved her playfully. It was just a form of their usual teasing remarks.
"You're so mean! I swear! I felt like when I leaned on the well that I was listening to two people talking there about...about..." She looked up the ceiling.
"About?" the other kid raised a brow just to make sure she feels a bit empathized on. The least he could do of course.
"About...the sky...being...being...um what do you call that...the one they do to train people?" the kid looked up to the boy expecting an answer.
"How am I supposed to know? I did not hear those voices!" the boy exclaimed looking a bit tired with the conversation. He leaned on the wall and stared at her.
"Oh you're such a spoil sport! I don't know why I continue to join you on this trips!!!" She stomped and turned around looking annoyed.
Geez, I don't know why, but I always feel guilty when she does that. The boy placed a hand to calm his aching head. "It's called SOLDIER."
"Yes! That's it!" The girl smiled and rushed to the boy leaning on the wall. "Then, then I heard them talking about this super, super, great SOLDIER! I didn't hear his name but the guy in the well wanted to be like him!"
"Okay, you. Stop this. It's getting really freaky to hear you say such things." The boy placed a hand on her shoulder. "Let's leave that thing on the safe and then let's get going."
"Oh yeah, hehe, sorry side tracked!" She laughed and went straight to the safe and took out a red orb. She knelt down and the guy turned the knob and it opened.
The girl slowly placed the small object inside and pushed the safe to close while turning the combination to place it into lock. She stood up and smiled at the boy that she's with and took his hand.
"Okay! We're done here! Let's go!" She grinned and the boy sighed. He merely let himself get dragged to the door leading outside.
Vincent heard them getting nearer to them so he slid to the shadows where he would be less noticed. He expertly glided and stared at the direction where they would be expected to come out. He waited for a few moments and then there they passed. Though this time he wished they didn't.
There they were, the two kids that he was listening to.
Walking towards the door hand in hand and with a smile on their faces.
Vincent's mouth went agape and he felt his hand slack down from the crossed position over his chest. The boy opened the door and the girl ran out only to be followed quickly by the other. It happened in slow motion. He knew who they were, but it was simply impossibly as to why they were here...as to why...them in the first place.
What the hell! Turk Vincent was as surprised as the two other personalities. They could not believe what they just saw. It was something...something that they...
"Why are they here? Why are..."
"I've had it!" Tifa shouted throwing the piles and piles of paper work stocked in her office in Junon. It was already 7 hours of continues paper work and still the pile did not seem to decrease at all. It just seemed more---piled up that the beginning.
"Tifa calm down. We just need to finish this since we have an inauguration of the New Empire in a couple of days. Bear with me. We really have to get this done." Reeve muttered patiently for the nth time since Tifa exploded and threw the papers all over the room.
"That's what you said two days ago and now is the couple-th day." Tifa grunted crossing her arms over her chest. She slightly dusted her gray suit with a white blouse and a gray mini skirt. "Reeve, why is it that it's only the two of us who's working here?"
"Because of the following reasons." Reeve muttered as he read the Electricity Bill #254 that was passed among the congress. "First, Vincent was not to be disturbed, unless you volunteer to go greet him in Nibelhelm and say 'hey, I was wondering if you'd like to review the experiments Hojo did in the Department of Science and Research'."
"Okay, so what about Barret?" Tifa sat over her desk while crossing her legs.
"Are you kidding, the guy has even shorter patience than you have. Oh and just in case you haven't heard, he's getting married to Elmyra. He's too busy getting ready for his wedding ceremony and the details of it." Reeve pointed his pen towards Tifa just to emphasize the point. "And speaking of weddings, it seems that there is truth in the rumors of Red XIII having a girl friends. They are celebrating a mating union in a couple of months. We're invited."
"Oh yeah! A party!" Tifa jumped down the desk and did a victory sign.
"Yes, a party where we get to talk to animals and dance around the campfire. I'm thrilled." Sarcasm was dripping from Reeve's statement and merely shrugged the glare Tifa sent him.
"Reeve, may I remind you that you acted like a cat for a while. You should not dare say those words." Tifa scolded and Reeve nodded in defeat.
"Okay, I concede." Reeve nodded once more. "One more thing, Yuffie is always missing. Well, I don't know if there is truth to the rumors of her running as a renegade Materia bandit, but nonetheless, she's not really causing harm in majority of the areas in the Planet, only in Wutai."
"Oh let her father deal with her. It's a family thing anyway." Tifa returned to her seat after picking up the papers that are scattered on the floor.
"And of course, your dearest Cid has been really busy with Shera. They're coming with a baby in a couple of months so I'd rather not bother the captain." Reeve smiled handing over the invitation to a baby bash in two months.
"A baby!!! This is exciting Reeve!!!" Tifa exclaimed looking rather happy with the news that she's been receiving. But then her face suddenly turned to soft scowl looking at the president she gazed at him shyly. Reeve noticed the sudden change in attitude and he merely sighed.
"As for him, he's still missing. I've heard of some rumors that he's been traveling around the Planet, but aside from that I did not hear anything about him being in one place for too long." Reeve signed the paper he was reading and proceeded to the next one.
"He hasn't really gotten over her you know." Tifa pulled one folder and opened it to prepare to read its contents.
"Teef, he loved her." Reeve knew how touchy the topic is but it should be confronted sooner or later. He raised his eyes and was surprised to see a smile on her face while shaking an index finger towards Reeve as sign of a mistake.
"Wrong. HE LOVES her." Tifa smiled. "I have come to realize that over the year. It was ironic really, how the things between the four of us changed."
"Four?" Reeve raised a slender brow in confusing as he continued to sign the paper that he just finished browsing through.
"Yes, four, me, Aeris, Cloud, and Zack." Tifa nodded with a smile.
"Zack, as in Sephiroth right hand man, Zack?" Reeve asked extremely surprised for Tifa to know Zack, the commander of the second fleet.
"Yes, Zack. Well, he has always been a good friend of mine, a short boyfriend when he was here in Nibelhelm." She smiled and sighed. "I really wanted to apologize to Aeris when I found out that she was the girlfriend of Zack. But I never got the chance to do so. Then all of a sudden, Cloud, who I thought would be the person I would marry and love for the rest of my life, loved Aeris, the girl I stole Zack from. Utterly bewildering love story, huh?"
"Love? I'd say. I don't know what to relate to your story, but I thank you for sharing them." Reeve nodded yet again and placed the next folder to the out folder.
Tifa merely looked fondly at the president. Reeve is certainly a promising leader. She gazed at him for a while, his neatly gelled hair with two strand falling in front, making him look a bit like Rufus, only older. His hair has gotten longer, but he decided to tie it up to a low ponytail to make him appear elegant. His white suit also highlighted his pale complexion and his blue eyes shown with experience and knowledge.
A bright future is ahead the New Empire.
Knocking suddenly came up and both occupants of the room raised their head to eye the door. Reeve answered by saying the door is open and Elena, one of the former Turks entered with two cups of coffee.
"Elena." Reeve smiled and the blonde placed the cups of coffee on their desks. "Thank you."
"How thoughtful of you!" Tifa smiled warmly and took the cup.
"Well, the two of you have been working non-stop since yesterday, so I presumed that you probably need a little boost. Coffee would do the trick." Elena replied and Reeve sighed.
"I agree. My muscles are a bit tensed already. I would gladly take a few winks but I must finish this because the inauguration is a couple of days from now. Speaking of which, what is happening with the preparations in the harbor?"
"Tseng and Reno are doing their job well, must I compliment them. Rude and I have been observing them and they've been really exerting a good amount of effort to rebuild the government." Elena smiled. "I have never seen Reno work that much before. Truly amazing!"
"I would like to see it too." Reeve laughed. "Thank you for the update, Elena. Get a few winks as well."
Elena was about to reply when the door suddenly barged open and Rude was lying on the ground slouching low. His face had scratches and tons of bruises. A blood trickled down his lip and his eyes were weary of tiredness and pain. Elena dropped the tray in surprise and crouched down to check on Rude if he was alive. Reeve suddenly stood up and took a pistol from his drawer readying himself to shoot whoever is the attacker.
It was dark outside and Tifa could barely make out any silhouette of the person who attacked one of the Turks. But one thing is certain, if that person were able to push Rude around that easily, that person would definitely not be some easy enemy. She placed on her materia pouch just in case.
"He...he..." Rude muttered weakly.
"Rude, who did this? What happened?" Elena knelt down cradling the head of the nearly unconscious " Rude muttered wheezing in pain and already coughing out more blood than necessary. He felt nauseous, almost ready to give in to darkness, but not before giving them a warning.
"Stop, just rest now." Reeve ordered looking slightly unnerved with someone trying to attack the government this early. Everything was supposed to be perfect!
A voice came out from the group and they knew it did not belong from any of them... It was familiar, especially to Tifa. The voice was echoing inside the room, the deep timbre in the voice of a full-grown man. It sent chills down their spine.
"Where is he?" The low voice of the man echoed in the room. They unconsciously took a step back and a step forward was heard, it was obviously from the man who spoke. "Tell me, where is he?"
Tifa raised her fists to ready herself in battle stance. Reeve raised his gun up and prepared to shoot. Elena started to chant a Bolt3 spell just in case. But what they saw made them unprepared for battle.
The man stepped out of the shadows revealing his big frame and sword. His black attire glistened in pure leather. His face contorted in anger as he gazed at everyone in the room.
Reeve dropped his gun in utter surprise.
"It can't be. You're supposed to be dead." Reeve exclaimed, and the guy looked at him.
Cloud drew his weapon, the ultima weapon and went into fighting stance, mirroring the opponent. They have grabbed the attention of the children who became frightened and ran towards Aeris who merely watched with keen interest and a small ounce of nervousness. She looked back and forth the two men in fighting stance.
Cloud stared at the opponent with utter hate. He did not know why HE was there, why this person was alive. Why the hell would the planet give another chance of life to the person that stood in front of him? Why would he...
"Who are you and state your business!" The man spoke in a command frightening the children who cowered down to Aeris. Aeris muttered a few reassuring words before focusing her attention to them again.
What? Cloud wanted to focus on Aeris but the question of his opponent struck him in the bull's eye. "What are you talking about? You're supposed to be the one that I'm asking what your business is here with Aeris and the children!"
"Aeris? How do you know her? Speak or I'll make you sorry you've ever been born!" The man threatened lowering his stance almost ready to attack.
Cloud lowered his in defense as well. He stared at the man and noticed something. There was something so wrong with the scene unfolding in front of him. Aeris was merely watching like she was interested in the outcome. The children were just cowering but yet supporting his opponent instead of him; as if they did not know the man he was about to fight with.
And him...
Why the hell did he not know me?
Cloud was confused. He merely stared at the man in front of him for the longest time and the man obviously felt annoyed with the staring. He stood up and relaxed his stance and stared at Cloud with a deathly threat.
"Listen stranger. Leave or be killed."
"Se-sephiroth..." Cloud muttered out of sheer ignorance that he did. It just kind of slipped from his tongue and surely the man's eyes widened.
Sephiroth stared at the man in front of him with a confused look. It was weird because he was like staring in the same mako depths as his. This guy is definitely SOLDIER that was one thing. But why can't he remember the name of this guy? If he were SOLDIER then he ought to remember him because he was general. He knew everyone.
But who is this man?
Cloud muttered something short to a stutter and Sephiroth barely heard it. But because of his superior hearing abilities thank the mighty and crazy old geezer named Hojo, he was able to pick it up.
"What are you saying that I'm supposed to be dead?" Sephiroth felt his precious patience slipping beneath his grasp. "Speak!"
How dare he command me! I killed him! Cloud gritted his teeth in annoyance. He was so angry towards him and he could barely contain it anymore. A low growl escaped from his throat and of course, the General took it as a sign of a warning. Sephiroth drew his sword again ready to attack.
And of course, this was the time Aeris decided to intervene. She calmly placed a hand over Sephiroth's shoulder and gave him a soft smile.
"Stop this." She whispered and the general obeyed silently re-sheathing his masamune. He retreated back to the flowerbed and glared at Cloud while the children flocked him.
For this, Cloud was surprised to see a gentle look escape from the eyes of the tough general. He was rendered speechless when a kid launched himself to the lap of Sephiroth and the general kissed the boy's forehead slightly while listening to their stories.
It was...
Disconcerting...
Disorienting...
Disturbing...
And most of all...
Amusing...
Cloud suddenly sensed a presence nearing him and he looked straight to the source. His breath got caught in his throat as he came face to face to the girl he sought for the entire year. He longed to embrace her, to touch her, to tell her he was sorry for not being able to protect her.
And right now, that she's in front of her, waiting for her response, it was...
Torture.
"I'm sorry for the behavior of my companion. Please forgive him." She smiled and Cloud could merely nod for his voice decided to hide from him.
But though his voice abandoned him, his body decided not to. He reached for her and suddenly pulled her to an embrace. It came as a surprise that her emerald eyes became wide and her breath stopped for a while. She was tense and so was he. But he rested his head on her shoulder. HE could feel the burning gaze of Sephiroth in the back and at the same time the shocked expression of the children watching the scene envelope in their midst.
"Sephy-chan, it's like watching a soap opera." The little girl with a small teddy bear muttered softly while embracing Sephiroth's arm.
Sephiroth merely grunted while seething with anger.
Cloud finally found his voice and started talking. He started his 1-year delayed speech and continued to utter soft soothing words.
"I'm so sorry for leaving you Aeris. I wanted to be there to protect you but I was not able to. I was so lonely without you. I felt utterly devastated when you died. I did not know what to do...I lost you...I really thought I lost you. When I heard about the rumor about you, I immediately went here to see the truth! I sought to see you, to look for you! I wanted to; no I needed to find you! Aeris, I'm so happy that you're safe and sound! I'm so happy that you're alive!" Cloud muttered. His voice shaky with his tears and his rattled emotions. It kept flowing and flowing out of his system. All his pent up emotions flowed out streaming like a broken dam. His embrace tightened and Aeris relaxed slightly. Not knowing what to do but place a hand on his back and gently rub it to comfort the crying man. She smiled softly.
"Aeris, come back to us! Let's go to Junon where the rest are! We can finally be together with them and finally be happy! Aeris I'm so sorry for having not able to save you! I'm sorry for not finding an immediate way to revive you from your death, but you were the one that saved us from destruction! Your selflessness saved me, and every one in the Planet. Aeris..." Cloud pulled back but stopped when he noticed a look of utter confusion in the eyes of Aeris.
"Aeris?" Cloud muttered.
"I'm sorry...I...I don't know what to say..." Aeris looked down.
"Are you...it's alright, I don't expect an answer right away anyway." Cloud then looked at Sephiroth with a glare. "But what are you doing with a murderer like him?"
Aeris trained her eyes to where he was glaring and saw Sephiroth glaring back. Aeris merely shook her head and faced Cloud.
"Sephiroth has been my friend ever since." She muttered and Cloud stared at her as if she grew horns and a tail. "I'm sorry, I can't stand you talking about my friend like that. Who are you?"
Aeris took a step back and examined the man who suddenly froze in front of her. She somehow felt that she was important to him and that he was important to her. But who was he?
"Aeris...you don't know me? We've known each other for a long time...you...you were...21, I was 20 when we first met..." Aeris' eyes widened.
"Pardon me, but that would be impossible." She shook her head and smiled while placing a hand on Cloud's shoulder. "I'm just 17."
Who are you?
I'm just 17...
I can't stand you talking about my friend like that...
I'm sorry...
It was repeating over and over Cloud's head. It started to give him pain to even remember. The last thing that he saw was Aeris' worried face before he suddenly fainted.
TBC