' ' denotes thoughts
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To Catch A Dream
Chapter 3:
The Man In Black
"Are you sure we should have left him behind?" Yuffie asked in a slightly pleading voice. "He might get mad at us..."
Vincent raised an eyebrow, but didn't stop walking. "You know perfectly well you're just stalling. If you really are that scared, stay behind and tell Barrett where we went."
Yuffie mumbled something to herself that he didn't quite catch, but she kept walking. Vincent smiled inwardly. 'So predictable....'
"It hasn't changed. I was surprised," Tifa said quietly. "Let's go in."
She slowly pushed the door open, tensing slightly, as if ready to jumo out of the way. There was nothing. The church was completely and utterly empty save for the footprints in the dust. Tifa looked puzzled.
"Nothing. Well, I guess with ghosts you can't exactly dictate their movements, can you?" She laughed weakly, but it died down quickly in the silence.
Vincent turned his head slightly, as if listening to something. "Someone is here," he whispered.
"It's too late to hide our presence now," Yuffie said in a matter-of-fact way. "Hey, come out, come out wherever you are!"
Nothing moved, but a faint sounds was heard. A soft laughter was coming from above, a laughter that sounded cold and sent shivers up the party's spine. They looked up, but didn't see anything.
"Can-- can you come down?" Yuffie asked, a tremble in her voice. The laughter sounded again.
"Come on, this isn't funny! Who's up there?" demanded Tifa.
"Your worst nightmare... I know who you are..." The voice was soft, but cold and hard, with a strange echoing quality to it. It also sounded familiar...
"'My worst nightmare'? Isn't that a bit of a cliche by now?"
"That is what I am. You are insolent, Tifa Lockhart. Perhaps too much so for your own good." Laughter again. "Perhaps I should remedy that situation?"
There was a sound of metal scraping something, like a sword being unsheathed. Mist began to form in front of the party of three, who all stepped back. The laughter sounded again overhead, and from the shadows in the eaves above a figure stood up. It was then they saw his face.
"Oh no..."
Red didn't quite like getting left behind, but he knew someone had to tell Barrett where the others went, and he certainly wasn't going to wake him. He wished he knew where Cloud was, because he was feeling a bit lonely and wanted to talk, but then amended that thought and wished for Cid. Cloud didn't talk much, so even if he had wanted to talk to him, his chattering would go unanswered into the silence. He wondered when Cid was going to come back, and what he was up to in the mean time.
He heard creaks in the floor above him, then a loud thump!, followed by a long string off swearing and more bumps and noises. Barrett came rolling down the stairs, having tripped at the top, still yelling a whole asortment of cusswords that probably could have been heard across town.
Red tried to keep the laughter out of his voice, as he asked innocently, "What happened?"
"I fell down the bloody stairs, that's what &#% happened!" Rubbing a bruise he sat down on a chair near Red, still muttering curses.
"Want me to find some ice?"
"Yeah... damn this is going to hurt for the next few days..."
Red, feeling very mischievious that day, whispered softly, "Blizzard," and pointed a claw at Barrett's leg. The scream that followed was very satisfying. Just then, Cloud came running in, with his sword, looking around to see who was attacking who.
The scene that his eye fell upon was this: A hysterical Red XIII running around the room, laughing so hard he could hardly get a breath, and a furious Barrett, who still hadn't quite managed to get all the ice off his leg, chasing him. He paused a moment to try to use a fire spell to melt it, but proceeded to get his pant leg on fire. Barrett then began running around the room trying to put it out.
Cloud smiled, and calmly picked up the mug of beer that someone had left on the table near by, and doused Barrett in the contents. A hissing sound ensued as the fire went out, and the only sounds then were the drips of the beer falling off of him, Barrett's heavy breathing, and Red's laughter.
"I see you've been busy this morning," Cloud said in a perfectly calm voice, although he was laughing on the inside. The glare Barrett gave him nearly threatened to make the laughter burst out.
When Barrett calmed down, he glanced around and frowned. "Where is everyone?"
Cloud shook his head. "I don't know. I sort of-- blew up at Tifa and Yuffie earlier; that's the last I saw them."
"Well... I know, but..."
"But?" Cloud prompted.
"You probably shouldn't know." Red looked away from Cloud's piercing gaze, then sighed. "Fine. They went-- well, they went to the church. I think you know what I'm talking about, Cloud."
Cloud's face was completely expressionless, but he sheathed his sword and turned towards the door. Barrett shrugged at Red, the ice incedent forgotten, and the both followed.
'How could they go there?' Cloud asked himself bitterly. 'Why would they go there? It's my spot... Mine... And.... Aerith's... Was she really there this morning? Did I really see her? Was it a dream?' He felt in his pocket, and felt the rose and Materia. 'It couldn't have been... but she's dead. Can it be that somehow... she's alive?'
His thoughts occupied him until he reached the church. The door was open, and he could just see Vincent's back. He heard voices, but not clearly.
"Oh, no..." he heard Tifa say in a gasp.
He rushed forward, and saw someone he thought he never wanted to see again.
The man in black smiled a cruel smile, hatred in his eyes, and held up his sword.
"Sephiroth!" Cloud cried.
And Sephiroth pulled back the Masamune, and swung towards Tifa.
I've decided to reply to my reviewers like a fanfiction author I like does. Her name is Jedi Blu, Lady At Large, in case any of you are interested. She has written a really good story for those who like Severus Snape.
Pescado- Thanks, I'm glad you liked my story. Sorry it took so long to update, but here it is!
shortygirl- Here's the next chapter for you! It's nice to know you like it.
Amy- You don't have to wait any longer. Here's the chapter! Next one coming soon!
SleepingStarz- It only would have been R for language and perhaps some violence and stuff, but if you're that upset about it, I'll try to keep it down. Wow. I didn't know if I had gotten them right, but thanks.
If there are any characters/things you really feel need to show up in this story, please tell me, and I'll see if I can fit it in. You know, say, Lucrecia or something. All comments are appreciated, and, although I really like it, please don't give me praise all the time. I like to know if there's something, even little, I need to change. Thanks!
Lysaandi