Hey y'all. I reviewed quickly ya? I just couldn't stop typing. I have everything planned out in me head for this chapter and I just wanted to get it out of me system. Anyway we now know that Yuffie finally realized what Dregon is after. What could it be though? That's probably the question on all your minds. Here's a hint- Never forget about the Hadions because they been leaving great hints.

Cloud and Vincent were just about to break into the building after Tifa lured the two guards away. Now what will they find in the building? Will they find Yuffie? Or will they find something else Dun dun duunnnn. Well then let's get to work shall we? I don't own Final Fantasy 7 okay.

'No… she can't be'

'Please god no'

'Yuffie don't be dead'

'Yuffie, I…' ~Cloud

Chapter 12- Playing With The Mind

'999,897 bottles of beer on the wall! 999,897 bottles of beer!' Yuffie smirked to herself. She could keep this up all day if she needed to. 'Dregon doesn't know who he's messing with. Yuffie Kisasagi never loses! Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk!'

Dregon crossed his arms and thought as he read the monitor. Dregon couldn't help but smile knowingly, "Is that so Miss Kisasagi? Perhaps you just need a little help in the right direction." Dregon turned from the monitor and headed towards the door.

Yuffie continued to sing in her head, all the while blocking the thoughts of that one memory far away from her mind. Yuffie paused a moment as the door opened. Dregon walked in calm and collected. Yuffie shook her head and continued to sing in her head.

Dregon looked through a couple of documents in his hand as he paced around the chamber. He read the documents aloud, "Hmm… Tifa Lochheart. Age 22, Barkeeper at Final Paradise in Coasta Del Solo. Trained in the Martial Arts and part of the group AVALANCHE." Yuffie glanced over to Dregon as he continued to read, "Barret Wallace Ex-Leader of AVALANCHE, hometown Corel, so he wanted revenge against the Shin-Ra for attacking his hometown. Has a gun as his right arm. My what interesting friends you have here"

Dregon glanced up towards Yuffie to see if it had any affect on her. Not to his surprise, she seemed perfectly fine. Dregon smiled knowingly and had to fight to keep his voice normal as he read, "Cloud Strife, Age 22, Leader of the rebel group AVALANCHE. Defeated Sephiroth two years ago. Says here that Mr. Strife was the cause of Meteor being summoned. Seems he's a confused man, thinking he was in Soldier when he was nothing but a lowly Shin-Ra grunt."

"My, he wielded a rather interesting sword. I wonder where he got it. Hmm… Perhaps you could help me Miss Kisasagi?" Dregon glanced towards Yuffie. "Go to hell. I'm not saying anything. "Yuffie yelled angrily. Dregon chuckled a bit, "My, my, my. Miss Kisasagi, what a temper you have. You're a bit defensive about you're former leader aren't you?"

Yuffie turned her head the side, a scowl across her face. Dregon smirked a bit, "Hmm… So Mr. Strife and Ms. Lochheart are childhood friends. Tell me were they lovers?" Dregon asked a bit taunting. "No they aren't. But I wouldn't be surprised if they will be someday" Dregon crossed his arms and tilted his head to the side in thought, "Why Miss. Kisasagi. Is that jealousy I here in your voice?"

Yuffie remained silent. Dregon threw his head back, "Oh this is rich! You're in love with Cloud Strife?" Yuffie growled and shot Dregon a look, "No he's my friend nothing more" Dregon smirked a bit, "Oh yes even if you did have any feelings for him, it would never go the way you want it to." Yuffie rolled her eyes, "Oh yes I want Cloud. I want to jump him and smother him to death." Yuffie commented sarcastically.

Dregon shook his head, "Let's not forget the facts though. Cloud Strife is laying dead in Midgar." Dregon chuckled inwardly as he got the result he wanted. Yuffie lowered her head to hide her expression as she fell into silence. Dregon continued, "And when you think about it, you're the reason he's dead right now" "That's not true" Yuffie said quietly.

Oh how Dregon loved toying with people's minds, "Don't hide the truth Miss. Kisasagi. If Mr. Strife didn't have to be your little bodyguard then Plistkin would have never killed him. He died protecting you." Yuffie's shoulders trembled as she fought her tears. "Shut up" She managed weakly.

Yuffie had been able to hide her grief for Cloud up until now. She didn't want these creeps getting an edge on her so she held it all in. Now she just couldn't get the picture of Cloud's death out of her mind. The scene continued to play repeatedly in her mind.

It's somewhat true about what Dregon said on both accounts. If Cloud wasn't protecting her, he never would have been killed. Dregon was somewhat right about her being in love with him. She did have some sort of crush on him during their journeys together. She remembered one time when they all stayed at the Golden Saucer two years ago, that she dragged Cloud out on a date with her.

During the Round attraction, she had kissed him, only on the cheek though. Cloud didn't seem to really react much to it. He just fell into silence. She had kept asking him to say something and after she pestered him enough he did say 'Something'. She smacked him across the face for being such a smart-ass. It still pissed her off.

Dregon watched amused, as Yuffie seemed to race with thoughts. Now would be the best time to get what he wanted since her guard is down. "Yes he died protecting you. Just like your mother died protecting you during the Wutianease War" Yuffie thoughts turned to her mother. She did in fact die protecting her during the war.

Although her mother had died she left something very important to Yuffie. She trusted Yuffie to keep it safe with her and not let anyone find it out. A year before Yuffie's mother died she taught Yuffie that Wutianease chant. She told Yuffie that it's part of some ancient ritual, and that the chant is part of it. Yuffie actually remembered how it goes too. She could recall it even now because she sang it to calm herself whenever she is scared or sad.

Yuffie's eyes widened in surprised as she realized how close she was to giving it away. She lifted her head up and smirked at Dregon, "Sorry chum, but you'll have to try harder then that." Yuffie said amused. Dregon cursed, he was so close to getting what he wanted.

"Are you ready Vincent?" Cloud asked as him and Vincent stood outside of the entrance of the building. Vincent's reply is kicking the door open. Vincent pulled out his Death Penalty as the door opened. No one is on the first floor. Cloud scratched his head, "Some security they have." He commented sarcastically.

'Head up' Chaos ordered Vincent through his mind. Vincent glanced around the room to find a means of getting to a higher level. A door that led to a staircase is on the other end of the room. Vincent kept his Death Penalty clutched in his hands as he walked over to the staircase.

Cloud kept his right hand on his sheathed Ultimate Sword as he followed Vincent towards the staircase. They walked through the door that led to the staircase. Cloud looked up and he let out a sigh. The stairs seemed endless. "Oh man. I hate stairs. This feels like I'm back at the Shin-Ra building again." Each fleet of stairs had it's own floor and different rooms. Cloud cracked his neck, 'This is going to be a LONG search.'

Cloud turned towards Vincent and saw that he too seemed to curse the many stairs, "How about we skip the lower levels and leave them for Tifa and Zack" Cloud suggested. Vincent nodded his head and they began running up the many steps.

Zack is on the ground clutching his stomach, laughing at the embarrassed Tifa, "I can't believe you actually went through with it" Zack choked out. Tifa glared at him, "It was your idea. And it worked so there." Zack held out his hand and shook his head, "I was only joking, but when you actually agreed to it, I couldn't help myself." Tifa's mouth dropped in disbelief, "You mean. I tried seducing two men for no reason at all!?" Tifa raised her voice.

Zack stood up and wiped the tears out of his eyes. Then he shrugged his shoulders at her, "Hey what's wrong? I mean it worked right?" Tifa's fists shock, "I'll tell you what's wrong! I just tried seducing two men! I am not a whore!" Zack chuckled, "That may be. But you're good at it." Big mistake is Zack's only thought before he received a rather powerful slap across the face.

Tifa's face is beat red in anger, "I am not a whore" Zack rubbed the cheek that was slapped, "I didn't mean it like that." Tifa just turned around and started towards the building. Zack jogged to catch up with her, "Oh come on Tifa. I would never think that of you," He said as an amused smile spread across his lips. 'Messing with Tifa always was fun'

Cloud slowly and quietly opened the door. He tensed as the door squeaked on its hinges. Luckily for Cloud, when he looked inside the door, no one was in the room. Cloud sighed in frustration 'Another dead end' Cloud walked into the room. It appeared to be an office of some sorts, like the many rooms he has already seen in the building.

Cloud walked behind the office desk and sat down on the computer chair. (The chair with wheels on it. I don't know the real name sorry) Cloud proceeded into looking through the drawers of the desk. Documents and papers are crammed into the drawers and stacked on top of the desk and computer screen.

'Whoever works here is a complete slob' Cloud thought to himself as he closed the drawer. Cloud propped his elbows on the desk and hunched over. Cloud thought of what he should do next as he glanced at the many papers on the desk. 'Maybe we're searching in the wrong places. I haven't seen a single person on any of the floors besides those two guards outside.'

Cloud turned his head to the door as he heard paper being flipped through from the next room. Cloud relaxed as he realized it's only Vincent searching through the place. Cloud turned his head back to the desk, as something interesting seemed to catch his eyes.

Cloud unfolded the paper that lays on the top of the desk. When he finished unfolding it, Cloud couldn't help but crack a triumphant grin. The folded sheet of paper is a blueprint of the building. Cloud quickly rolled the blueprint back up and went to show Vincent.

Cloud walked into the room seeing Vincent standing in the middle of it with his arms crossed and with one hand on his chin as he thought of the next move. "Hey Vince!" Cloud called out. Vincent turned his head to look at the blonde spiky haired man. Cloud held the rolled up blueprints out in front of him and grinned at the gloomy man, "I think I've found something you'll like"

Vincent merely stood in his spot starring at Cloud. Cloud took it as a sign that Vincent is waiting for him to show what he found. Cloud walked over to a nearby table and started unrolling the blueprints. Vincent walked over to look at what Cloud had found.

"It's a blueprint of this entire building" Cloud explained. He turned his head to Vincent and received a single nod in understanding from the dark man. Cloud looked down at the blueprint and scratched his head in thought. "Now what would be a good place to search?"

Vincent studied the blueprint for a few moments as if he's trying to memorize the buildings layout. At the bottom of the blueprint, on the first floor, something caught the gunman's eye. He pointed to a section of the blueprint. "This blueprint is incomplete." Vincent explained in monotone.

Cloud looked up at him as if telling him to go on. "There's a door here" Vincent pointed to a spot on the first floor, "That leads to another staircase, that leads below the building." Cloud nodded his head in understanding, "The blueprint doesn't show anything down there" Cloud finished. Vincent nodded his head.

Cloud crossed his arms as he tapped his right foot in thought, "They must not want anyone to know about the place. Otherwise it would be on the blueprint." Cloud thought aloud. "The occupants of this building may be down below" Vincent warned. Cloud nodded his head in agreement, "That would explain why we didn't run into anyone up here"

Vincent turned from the blueprint and began walking towards the door that led to the hallway, "We shall search down below. If there's something here it will be down below." Cloud scratched his head, "Uh, right" He said then thought, 'That would be the most logical place to hold Yuffie'.

~ Meanwhile ~

Tifa threw herself down on a chair exhausted. Zack stood near her waiting for her to catch her breath. "I hate stairs," Tifa said between breaths. Zack shrugged his shoulders, "They're not that bad" he said calmly and not out of breath. Tifa shot him a glare, "That's because you're used to climbing all those stairs from Soldier." Zack gave her a half-smile, "I know" He replied smugly.

Tifa took a deep breath and got back to her feet, "Where did Cloud and Vincent go?" Tifa asked, annoyance clear in her voice. Zack just gave her a shrug of his shoulders as a reply. Tifa rolled her eyes at the man, "You're not being very helpful" Zack grinned and shrugged his shoulders as if telling her he doesn't care. Tifa groaned, 'Why me?'

Dregon starred at the still smirking Yuffie. Dregon crossed his arms in annoyance. Yuffie's smirk only grew wider, "I'll never tell" Yuffie chanted. "You're only delaying the inevitable Miss Kisasagi. No one can save you, for no one knows of this place" Dregon tried sending reasoning towards Yuffie.

Yuffie rolled her eyes, "Oh yes and if I tell you what you want, then what? You'll kill me because I won't be of any use to you anymore." "Hmm…" Dregon rubbed his chin then shook his head, "I didn't want to have to do this the unconventional way but I guess I have no choice." Dregon turned from Yuffie and began walking towards the door.

Yuffie raised a curious eyebrow at his back, "What do you mean?" Yuffie asked uncertain. Dregon turned around and gave the, oh so familiar, sinister grin he uses when he has something up his sleeve. "You'll find out soon enough" He replied before leaving the chamber.

Yuffie gulped nervously, 'Me and my big annoying mouth' Yuffie thought to herself. Yuffie remained calm though. She could not let them know the mystic Wutianease chant or else it could have some rather chaotic consequences.

Dregon reentered the research room. Everyone turned to his direction awaiting orders. Dregon grinned insanely, "I guess we'll have to do things the old fashioned way!" Dregon laughed to himself. His workers each exchanged looks but said nothing. Dregon narrowed his eyes, "Start the procedure!" Dregon ordered, 'Soon, soon, I'll have what I desire."

Yuffie looked around the room waiting for something to happen. She didn't like the way Dregon said the last part of their 'friendly' conversation. Yuffie looked around the room nervously as she suddenly heard humming. 'Sounds like a generator trying to kick on' Yuffie thought to herself.

Yuffie gave a short laugh, "Sounds like an old piece of sh—AHHHH!!!" Yuffie screamed in pain as she gets shocked throughout her entire body. The electricity shocks her for about ten seconds but to Yuffie it measure up to enough pain that added up to a couple of years. When the electricity is turned off, Yuffie immediately gasped for air since she couldn't breath from the shock of the pain and her own screaming.

Tears already began to break at the corners of her eyes, 'This is a torture table' Yuffie finally realized what she is strapped down to. Yuffie could just picture Dregon laughing from wherever he's hiding. Yuffie heard the humming again and braced herself as she realized she's about to be shocked again.

Although she readied herself for the shock, it still isn't enough. Yuffie screamed in pain as electricity coursed throughout her entire body. This time the shocking lasted longer and when it finished, Yuffie's body twitched as the nerves in her body seemed to react to the shocks.

Dregon laughed in amusement at Yuffie's pain. He had almost forgotten how much fun watching others pain is. He turned to the operator of the torture chair. "Shock her again" Dregon ordered amusement dancing across his eyes. The operator nodded his head, "Yes sir" The operator reached for the switch when suddenly.

BRU BRU BRU BRU! Alarms kicked off throughout the building. Red lights flashed about the room and the siren continued to go off. Dregon turned to his left to a man at the panels, "What's going on?" Dregon demanded to know. The man at the panel nervously turned to his boss, "S-s-sir, two unauthorized personals are down here"

Dregon walked over to the panel and looked at the screens that showed different areas. One screen showed Cloud and Vincent running down a hallway fighting their way through the men that tried to apprehend them. Dregon cursed, "Continue on. We must get the information before they get here!" His men saluted, "Yes Sir!"

Cloud impaled another man as he heard shots fired from Vincent. Cloud cursed himself for tripping the alarm system. A man pulled out a semi-automatic machine gun and opened fired at Cloud. Cloud held his Ultimate Sword out in front of him and slouched behind the massive sword. Bullets ricochet off the sword and scattered to the walls and ceiling.

Another shot is heard from behind Cloud and then the man with the machine- gun dropped to the ground. Cloud turned around and nodded thanks to Vincent. With no other men attacking them now, the two ran onward not knowing where to go.

Cloud and Vincent soon ran into a fork in the road, both looked in different directions before turning back to each other. Each giving their own nods, before running off in different directions. Vincent ran down to the left, and Cloud ran down to the right.

Cloud ran as fast as he could through the hall. His feet echoing from the steel floor and walls. Cloud's breath quickened as he began running short of breath, 'Yuffie is here. I just know it' Cloud thought to himself. Cloud made a sharp left and stopped in surprise.

About ten meters away Vain Plistkin stood waiting propped against a wall. Cloud immediately got down in a defensive stance. Vain just stood there leaning against the wall with an amused grin across his face. Cloud examined Vain and found that he had no weapon with him. Cloud narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip finding the situation suspicious, "Don't get in my way." Cloud yelled out.

Vain pushed himself off a wall and walked a few feet closer to Cloud until he stood in front of a door. He turned the handle to the door and opened it up. He glanced at the still ready Cloud, "Head down to the end of the hall and turn left" Vain said. "Huh?" Cloud said apparently confused.

Vain walked through the doorway and started closing the door, "You'll find her there." Vain said as the door closed, and a click heard afterwards as the door locked. Cloud didn't waste any time trying to figure out Vain's scheme. Instead, he took off sprinting down the hall.

"Sir they're almost here!" The man at the panel spoke to Dregon. Dregon gritted his teeth in anger, 'Damn!' "Alright lets evacuate" Dregon ordered. His men wasted no time in running out of the room. Dregon walked over to the controls to the torture chamber. An insane look spread across his face as he flipped the switch, "Good bye Miss Kisasagi. Mwahahaha!" Dregon quickly left the room.

Cloud heard familiar screaming as he turned left at the end of the hall. His heart skipped a beat when he realized who is screaming, 'Yuffie!' Cloud ran into a room not knowing what it is. The room he ran into is filled with many different switches, panels, and monitors. At the end of the room is a large glass window. Behind the window, Cloud could see Yuffie strapped to a torture table. She is screaming in pain as she continually gets shocked.

Cloud's eyes widened in fear, "Yuffie!" Cloud immediately ran to the panel in front of the window and began hitting all sorts of switches. Nothing seemed to work as Cloud desperately tried to save Yuffie. In a last desperate attempt Cloud unsheathed his Ultimate Sword and swung with all his might at the panel. Electricity sparked from the panel as the Ultimate Sword slashed through it.

Yuffie's screaming stopped as the torture seized. Cloud looked through the window to see Yuffie's emotionless limp form. "Yuffie!?" Cloud called out. He received no reply. "Yuffie?" Cloud tried again with the same results. Cloud's eyes began to water as he fell to his knees in agony, 'No…she can't be. Please god no. Yuffie, don't be dead. Yuffie, I…'

Well y'all that's it for now. Mwahahahaha! Cliffhanger! Dun Dun Dun. Aren't I just the greatest? Oh poor little Ol' Cloud. Boohoo. Whatever will he do? And why is Vain helping Cloud? Not everything is as it seems. Don't be fooled or you'll be caught off guard at what happens next. Heeheehee. I just keep getting more and more ideas for this fic! This is so great! Well everyone if you seriously want me to get the next chapter up just as quickly as this one, then drop a review, and I'll type for you, so you have something to view! Tehehehe I made a rhyme. Well ya'll TTNC!