Howdy Everyone! Well I hoped you liked the last chapter although not much happened IO think. I'll try and get the story moving more ya know. Anyway last time Vincent was able to break out of his cell as the gang closed in on the forbidden cave. Although they were ambushed by some Hadions they were saved by the not so mysterious cloaked man who finally revealed himself. Yea Yea I know it wasn't so hard to guess who it is but hey they didn't know so there, Lol anyway let's get this a story a move on.
I watched you die before my eyes! It's what brought me back to reality ~Cloud
Chapter 8- Aren't You Dead?
~Last Time~
The cloaked figure raised it's arms and shrugged his shoulders. "Guess there's no reason to hide away anymore" The man said. He grabbed the cloak and threw off him into the rainy skies. Who was underneath the cloak made both Cloud and Tifa walk back in surprise, "Y-y-you're suppose" Cloud started in complete astonishment, "To be dead" Tifa finished the sentence equally surprised. "Good to see you two also" The man said as he cracked a smile.
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Barret scratched the back of his head thoughtfully, "Yo who's that?" He asked the question on the rest of the groups mind. The man looked no older then 24.The man had long spiky black hair that fell to the middle of his back. He had mako enhanced blue eyes that are similar to Cloud's. He's is physically built a bit more then Cloud. He stood 5'10", the Buster Sword was rested on his right shoulder. He wears a purple mercenary uniform exactly like Cloud's.
"Zack?" Cloud asked shocked his voice filled with unbelief. Zack smiled a bit, "Hey man! How's it going?" "How are you-" Cloud was cut off by a monstrous roar from inside the cave. Zack shook his head, "I'd love to stand around in the rain and chat, but right now we need to get out of here"
"What the F&^% is that thing?" Cid pointed towards the cave entrance. A monster covered with men trying to retrain it came rushing out. The beast roared again and spun and jumped in different directions trying to toss off the men. (Like in professional bull riding) The men are soon tossed off and revealed a furry purple beast with sharp claws and horns on top of his head.
"It's the Galion Beast!" Tifa exclaimed. "Then it Vinnie!" Yuffie cried out. The Galion Beast turned towards the voices. It snorted and took a step forward before it roared in pain. The Galion Beast began to transform back into Vincent Valentine. When the transformation was finally completed Vincent walked calmly up to the group as if nothing was wrong, "We need to leave" Vincent stated unemotionally.
Cloud nodded his head, "Everyone back to the Highwind!" Cloud ordered. Cloud turned to his suppose-to be-dead friend, "You coming with us?" Cloud asked with a hint of hope in his voice. Zack nodded his head and held out the Buster Sword for Cloud to take, "I believe you dropped this" Cloud shook his head, "Keep it. It's yours anyway" With that everyone ran off in the storm to head back to the Highwind.
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~Back on the Highwind~
Everyone was sitting around the table in the meeting lodge in the Highwind. The group kept their eyes on the new visitor they had encountered. "Perhaps you could tell us ALL what is going on now" Red XII said as he looked straight at Cloud. Cloud nodded and took a breath, Cloud held his hand out as he indicated in Zack's direction, "This is Zack." Cloud started, "He's the real First Class Soldier that was at the Nibelheim mission nine years ago. The one I told you all about." Barret scratched the back of his head, "Ya mean this guy is the one that you thought you were?" Barret asked for confirmation.
Cloud nodded his head and glanced over to Zack's direction, "Although.." He trailed off a moment, "I don't see how your alive. I watched you get shot and killed right outside of Midgar." He stated wanting an explanation. Zack shrugged his shoulders, "True but Cloud.. Did you ever CHECK to see if I was dead that day?" Cloud thought back to that day.
~Flashback~
Cloud was being dragged along by his best friend Zack. They were heading to Midgar to start a new business. Zack turned around back to the forest as he heard the sounds of pounding footsteps. Zack placed Cloud down on the ground and unsheathed his Buster Sword as he went and attacked the Shin-Ra grunts.
After a few quick slashes Zack ran back towards Cloud and leaned down to pick him up off the ground. That's when he heard a click of a gun and locked up, only to be shot. Cloud watched as two Shin-Ra grunts and a commander walked to Zack's form lying on the ground. The grunts shot Zack multiple times to make sure they got the job done.
Then they walked up to Cloud, one of the grunts kicked the still Cloud, "Commander, what about this one?" He asked. "Agh... ua" Cloud moaned sickly. The commander shook his head, "Forget it, just leave them" They walked off as it started to rain.
Cloud looked up to Zack's motionless form, he slowly crawled up to him. Blood formed underneath Zack as the rain seemed to wash away the blood on him. Cloud looked at his best friend laying there motionless, with his mouth part a bit and his head turned away from Cloud. Cloud picked up the Buster Sword that was still in Zack's hand and looked down at it. He lifted his arms up to the sky as his eyes glazed over. He yelled in anger, a moment later he was on his feet chasing after the ones that murdered his friend.
~End Flashback~
Cloud held his head down when he realized that he never once checked to see if Zack was still alive. He just assumed he was dead after being shot so many times. Cloud looked up to Zack regretfully, "When we escaped Nibelheim I was lost in my own world, I was in some sort of trance." Cloud explained, "I watched you die before my eyes! It's what brought me back to reality" Cloud said in painful regret.
Everyone remained quiet as the two once best-friends starred each other down. Yuffie bit her bottom lip wanting to find some way to cut through the thick tension that settled down through the air, "So how did you survive after being shot so many times?" Yuffie asked. Zack turned to Yuffie at her question then he looked about the group to see them watching him with questioning eyes, no doubt wondering the same thing.
Zack smiled a bit, "A old couple found me laying there not to long after." Zack stated to explain, "They dragged me back to their home and healed me back to health. I was bedridden for six months. God did that ever suck!" Zack exclaimed jokingly. Zack then turned to Cloud, "Then when I get out I hear Sephiroth is back and you were chasing after him. I also found out that Aries was killed by Sephiroth. I wanted to join you guys to get revenge. But by the time I managed to find out where you were, you guys were already in the North Crater" "Why didn't you contact me after words?" Cloud asked.
Zack sighed as he crossed his arms. He threw his legs up on the table and crossed them as he leaned back into his seat. "I've been snooping around to look for information on this situation. This all started about a month after meteor was destroyed" Zack explained. Everyone stayed quiet waiting for him to continue.
Zack took a deep breath and let it out before continuing, "See the collision between Meteor and Holy caused the forgotten cave to break open. A man that I still don't know the name of traveled into it after reading that section of the book I handed you back in Nibelheim" "So it WAS you" Yuffie exclaimed. Zack half smiled a bit, "Yea I thought the book might help you guys out some. Those creatures aren't the problem though"
"What's the real problem Zack?" Tifa asked a bit worried. Zack's eyes instinctively glanced at Yuffie, "I.. don't know yet" Zack said. Cloud saw Zack glance in Yuffie's direction and his brows cringed in thought. Something is amiss, was Cloud's only thought, he decided to keep quiet for now and asked his friend when they were alone.
"You're the one that opened the cell" Everyone turned to Vincent who is leaning against the wall. His crimson eyes fixed on Zack's mako ones. Zack nodded, "Yea, I heard what they were planning on doing with you" Vincent nodded his head, "I give you thanks" Zack smiled, "Hey no prob."
The group looked back and forth from the two in confusion, Yuffie finally decided to speak, "What were they planning on doing to Vinnie?" Zack opened his mouth to answer but Vincent cut him off, "It is of no importance" Vincent said sternly. Zack took the hint and kept quiet. Vincent's crimson eyes remained fixed on Yuffies form as he remembered what the man said about her having something that he wants. Vincent decided to keep it to himself for now until he found more information.
"So now that we got Vince here. What the hell we gunna do next?" Cid asked as he exhaled the smoke of his cigarette. Cloud thought for a moment before turning to Zack, "You've been in that cave right?" Zack nodded his head, "Have you seen any other prisoners besides Vincent?" Cloud asked.
Yuffie's attention immediately went to the answer hoping to know the whereabouts of her father and the Warriors. Zack frowned and shook his head, "There was but they transported them elsewhere, sorry" Yuffie crossed her arms on the table and rested her chin on them as her hope dropped. Cloud looked towards Yuffie, "Don't worry Yuffie, we'll still find them." Cloud said trying to cheer her up. Yuffie nodded her head a bit before standing up and leaving the room.
Tifa stood up also and followed Yuffie to go and try cheering her up. Before leaving she cast one more glance towards the friend she thought was dead. "I'm going to the bridge to make sure the F^&*%$# flunkies don't screw anything up" Cid said before marching out of the room. "I'll make sure the FOO don't kill'em" Barret stood up and left. Red XII looked between Zack and Cloud, "I'll jus leave to give you two privacy" Red XII said as he trotted out the door.
Zack chuckled a bit, "Odd set of friends you got yourself man" Cloud shrugged a bit then continued to stare Zack down. Zack raised an eyebrow, "What?" "Your hiding something" Cloud answered as if it were a common fact. Zack shook his head and lowered his head, "Does it have something to do with Yuffie?" Cloud asked.
Zack stood up and headed towards the door, "All I know is we can't let them have her." He explained. He looked over his shoulder and half smiled his eyes dancing with mirth, "Protect her" He stated. Before heading out the door.
Cloud sighed and ran a hand through his blond spikes. Despite what was happening Cloud couldn't help but smile a bit, after all his best friend that he thought was dead is back. He always looked up to Zack when he was just a Shin-Ra grunt. Zack had always looked after Cloud, back all those years ago. Cloud chuckled a bit, he still looked up to him.
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Zack walked out of the room and into the hanger. He always wanted to ride the Highwind when he was in Soldier and here he was doing just that. Zack tilted his head to the side as he looked down at the other end of the hanger. Yuffie was hunched over and she looked a bit green.
Zack shook his head and walked up to the ninja, "You get airsickness?" He asked amused. Yuffie looked up to see his amused smile, she gave him a goofy little grin, "And seasickness and carsickness, the only thing I don't get sick on is my own two feet" Zack laughed a bit, "Cloud was like that back when we worked for Shin-Ra"
Yuffie smiled as an amused smile spread across her face, "Yea he told me once, being crammed up in the back of trucks and traveling a lot. Zack nodded his head, "Yup that's exactly how it was, luckily for me though he didn't vomit everything he had" Zack said as his lips twisted in disgust at the sight of her vomit all over the wiring. "Yea well, GURP, good for you" Yuffie said as she wiped her mouth with a piece of cloth" As she sat down.
Zack sat cross legged next to her, Yuffie turned her head a bit, "You really didn't see anyone else there?" She said sadly. Zack sighed as she lowered his head, "I'm not going to lie to you. What I said was true about them transporting others elsewhere. But they were already dead" Yuffie face became downcast, she gave a dry laugh, "I should of known those bastards would kill them"
Zack shook his head, "I'm sorry" He put a hand on her shoulder to try and comfort her. He could feel her shoulders tremble as she fought back her tears. Zack's eyes widened a bit when Yuffie quickly wrapped around him and cried into his chest. Zack sighed miserably and just sat there on the cold metal floor of the Highwind as he let Yuffie cry on him. Cloud walked into the bridge after he witnessed the scene between them. He kept his eyes lowered to the ground in thought.
Well there you have it folks. I know not much happened but I promise there will be soon. Hmm... Is Cloud jealous? HEY What if I turned this into a Zack/Yuffie fic? I Don't think I've ever seen any of those. Hmm.. What do y'all think? Review!