Howdy y'all! Hmm... where is everyone? I guess you missed the last update or just decided not to review (Cries). Well anyways, things are going to start to kick off in this chapter or maybe the next. Depends on how much I end up typing in this one. We'll just have to wait and find out huh? I've noticed some new reviewers out there recently and let me be the first to say, Welcome to our loving little gathering where we all share our thoughts and feelings, lol. Feel free to let me know your thoughts anytime heeheehee. Um anyways, it's twelve o'clock right now so I'm kind of getting tired so I'll start typing because my best writings are the ones that are done when I'm half asleep =0) It makes me picture the scenes in my head easier because everyone else is in bed so no noise is distracting me while I sit in the darkness with the simple glow of my computer screen to shed light.

Disclaimer- "That was close. If you hadn't pulled me into this here bush I would of been seen by her"

??????- "It's what you're paying me for."

(Raises eyebrow) "Since when am I paying you?"

??????- "........"

"Come on. We got a corporation to over throw so I can get my claims. MWAHAHAHA Cough cough. Hair ball."

Chapter 47- Vincent's Confession

"So what's up Tifa? Why did you want us to gather up?" Yuffie asks as she sits down on the ground around the large fire. Tifa had asked for everyone to meet near the fire pit. Everyone went down to meet except for Rima who is still in the inn, Yuffie and Vincent haven't mentioned what has happened tonight, yet.. Tifa immediately explained everything about Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie. She explained who they are and what she thought happened to them. Then she told them how Jessie can help them with the modifications on there weapons. The group listened carefully, making sure they understood everything Tifa is saying. They're all relieved at the idea of finally finding a way to fight the hadions with their weapons.

"So as soon as possible, you should hand your weapons to Jessie." Tifa says as she finishes her explanation.

Vincent's eyebrows lower as a thought occurs to him, "There is no sense in handing her my weapon. The Death Penalty is not used in hand to hand combat." Vincent explains.

Tife thinks for a moment as she just realizes the problem. True, modifying Vincent's weapon would be no use really. A gun is used to shoot bullets, not strike at an enemy. So Vincent still doesn't have a way to fight hadions. Tifa lower her head, scratching the back of it in thought, "That's true. Well we can see what Jessie can do." Tifa states.

Vincent nods in agreement. Everyone stands up ready to leave, "There's something that needs to be discussed." Vincent announces, making everyone turn to look at him. Vincent turns his gaze towards Yuffie, "Yuffie has something to tell you all."

"Do I have to?" Yuffie immediately complains. Vincent shots her a glare that shows her his answer. "Fine! You big meanie!" Yuffie sits back down while Tifa, Zack and Red XIII look at the two in confusion. Yuffie crosses her and mumbles something under her breath, Vincent is only able to catch the words 'Conformer' and his name. What she said he doesn't know. "It's about Rima." Yuffie announces.

The three sit back down. Zack looks around, scratching his cheek with a single finger as he thinks, "Hey.. where is she anyway?" He asks just realizing her absence.

"She's resting." Vincent says simply.

"Is there something wrong with her? I can have some of the elders tend to her." Red XIII says concerned for his new comrade.

"The elders can't help what's wrong with her." Yuffie mumbles under her breath. Yuffie takes a deep breath and tries to explain about Rima, instead though she turns towards Vincent giving him a pleading look, "Vincent can't we just let this be?"

"Tell them or I will." Vincent states as he crosses his arms, a scowl crossing her lips.

Yuffie jumps to her feet, "Hey that's fine by me Vinnie. Go ahead." She says waving him off as she begins to walk away.

Vincent quickly grabs her by the wrist from his spot on the ground and pulls down, hard. Making the small ninja fall to the ground, "You will tell them. This is your own fault for not saying anything sooner." Vincent shouts, his crimson eyes ablaze with anger. The group sits there speechless after witnessing the usually stoic, and quiet man raise his voice for the first time to anyone, well at least that they know of.

"ALRIGHT DAMMIT!" Yuffie yells back, pulling her arm out of his grasp and standing up, "You don't have to bite my head off." She shouts.

Vincent's eyes narrow as he stands up to face off the angry ninja. "It appears to be the only way that gets you to do anything. So I must." Vincent states as he glares angrily at Yuffie. Their audience's gaze switch from one to another as they continue to yell at each other, part of them not wanting to get involved in the argument, while another part wants to know what's exactly is going on.

"You know what Vincent? Screw you! I don't know what the hell has gotten into you recently but you're lucky that I haven't shoved my Conformer up your ass yet." Yuffie threatens while she thinks that the idea is sounding pretty good at the moment.

Vincent's head lowers a little bit as his crimson orbs are only visible through small slits of his narrowed eyes, "You wish to know what is wrong?" Vincent asks quietly. Yuffie continues to glare away, "I'm frightened." He states earning himself a few raised eyebrows. Vincent shakes his head, clearing his thoughts before continuing, "I don't know what's happening anymore. I don't know if what will happen to me now that.... I no longer feel the presence of the demons inside me. Without their strength and power I feel weak and useless."

Yuffie's gaze softens on Vincent's confession, "You're not-" Vincent holds up his hand cutting her off.

Vincent's gaze turns up to the stars above, "I always thought that I would be happy if they were ever gone. But they've become a part of me. I learned to respect them as much as I do with everyone else. I feel weak without them. And once more I'm afraid I may be too late." Vincent lowers his head down as he looks at both of his hands, one a deadly golden claw, the other, his own flesh and blood, "She may already be gone by the time we reach Nibelheim." Vincent's voice is barely a whisper.

Yuffie tilts her head to the side in confusion after hearing the last comment, "Who?" Yuffie asks the question on everyone's mind at the moment. Vincent quickly raises his head in surprise, obviously he didn't think he voiced his last comment. But the look in his eyes suddenly makes Yuffie want to try and give him some sort of comfort. Sorrow, intense sorrow is the only thing she sees at that moment deeps within the crimson depths. She hasn't seem that much sorrow from him since AVALANCHE first found him in his coffin.

Vincent lowers his head a bit, ebony strands fall to cover his eyes as he walks away in the direction of the inn/pub, leaving the group in confusion. "What was that about?" Zack asks as he places his hands on the ground behind him and leans back.

"What was it that you're suppose to tell us Yuffie?" Tifa asks in wonderment.

Yuffie sighs in defeat as she sits back down. She proceeds to tell them everything that she knows about Rima. About her being a vampire, where they met, how they ended up traveling together, and how Rima seems to have some sort of past connection with Sephiroth.

{}

{}

Rima slowly opens her eyes to the stone ceiling of the canyon's inn. Rima brings her left hand up to her temple and winces when she touches it, feeling the bruise that has formed there. The night's events suddenly flash through her head as she remembers biting Vincent and then the powerful blow to the head. Rima lets out a painful groan, it had felt a train had smashed her skull in. Slowly she sits up and closes her right eye a bit as everything seems to spin around her. she sits up against the headboard of the bed as she wonders how she had gotten there.

Deciding it's in her best interest not to get up since it seems she'd fall over in nausea if she tries to, she leans her head back against the headboard as she stares up at the ceiling. She finds the ceiling suddenly fascinating, the cracks in the dugout inn from the canyon form images in her head. Most of them involving a silver haired swordsman. Rima sighs and lower her gaze to her feet. She's thinking about him again, she's been doing to much of that lately.

Ever since he kissed her out in the plains of Coasta Del Solo, she can't get the memory of his lips on hers out of her mind. There was a time in her life when she would of craved for another kiss from him, but now it fills her with disgust as the thought of the man responsible for her pain having any physical contact with her whatsoever.

My mother's name is Jenova. My father... I don't want to talk about him...

I don't know who my parents are or where I come from...

Rima's eyes glaze over as memories of the first time speaking with him during their mission. It had been two weeks when Sephiroth showed up to help her finish the job and in the first two weeks, they merely ignored each other. She doesn't even remember how they managed to get into that conversation.

You're quite skilled for a woman, I'm impressed...

You're not so bad yourself...

Rima's hands clench the blankets underneath her into her fists as more memories appear in her mind. Memories that she would rather forget. She doesn't want to remember them. Memories can't help her now.

Mmm.... you have soft lips Sephiroth....

You're lips are chapped ha ha ha....

Their first kiss. Rima closes her eyes as she tries to block out the memory. Why must they haunt her now? She had nearly forgotten them after so many years of hunting him down. So why must they make a nuisance of themselves now? She hadn't had a problem with them before. Then another memory flashed through her mind. In her opinion, the worst of the all. The memory that will always make her hesitate killing him every time she has a chance.

Please... I need you.... I love you...

l lov...

Rima screamed hatefully as she grabs the lantern on the nightstand and throws it across the room. It hits the wall and shatters to pieces. Why can't she just lose those memories as well. She already lost all her other memories. The oldest memory she can recall is standing in front of President Shin-Ra's desk excepting a job from him. Why can't she just remember anything before that. Where was she before then, where does she come from? Who is she really? Why did Sephiroth betray her like that?

I read Hojo's journal...

All is not what it seems....

What did he mean by that? What is it that she's missing? She has all the facts written out for her. Rima's hands frantically go through her pockets before she finds the object of her desire. She pulls the little black book out from her pocket and turns to the page that she practically has memorized in her head from all the times she has already read it.

X Month, X Day, X Year.

After doing the tests on the subject that Sephiroth has asked. I found some peculiar results. I was soon able to balance out the specimen's genetic code and alter it a bit more thanks to my scientific genius. The results are more impressive then I ever expecte. Rima Hikari's body is beginning to show signs of fatigue, proving Sephiroth's and my own theories. Soon she'll need to feed, I'm interested in seeing what will happen once I place some 'food' with her in two days. Sephiroth wishes to see her so he'll be checking out my progress tomorrow. I am sure he'll be quite surprised with the results.

Simon Hojo.

Rima reads the last entry over and over again, trying to find something she might of missed. But she knows that there isn't a single thing in the entry that tells her Sephiroth isn't the reason for all of this. The doorknob begins to turn, Rima quickly places Hojo's journal back in one of her pockets as the door opens. She turns her head towards the door as the crimson cloaked man walks into the room.

Vincent's eyebrows raise a bit surprised when he sees Rima awake. He expected her to be out until early morning. Slowly he turns around and closes the door, not saying a word. He turns back around seeing Rima starring at him from the corners of her eyes. Vincent gaze falls on the shattered lantern by the wall in front of Rima's bed. He slowly walks over to it and bends down as he picks up the pieces of glass and the bass of the lantern.

Rima watches the man cautiously, waiting for him to attack her. After all, she nearly killed him before which made her wonder how he can act so calm when she's awake. Perhaps it's a way to lower her guard so he can attack her when she's least expecting it. But that really doesn't make sense. He could of finished her off when he managed to knock her out. Rima's eyes suddenly catch a glimpse of the white bandage on the right side of his neck where she had bitten him. Now she remembers, his blood had made her body react to it weird when she bit him.

Vincent quietly stands up and walks over to the small garbage bin, he throws the broken glass, the bass and frame of the lantern into the garbage. He turns back around, walking around the bed next to the trash bin, he gets to the other side of it and sits down on the edge. Rima's eyes stay locked on his form as he sits on the bed next to hers. Vincent keeps his gaze to the floor as he pulls out the Death Penalty. Rima's left hand slowly slides to the inside of her trench coat as she grasps one of her daggers.

Vincent pulls out a small cloth with his claw and begins to polish the Death Penalty, taking note that Rima's left hand is grasped to something inside her coat. He knows what it is but doesn't say anything. When he's down he removes the Death Penalty's holster around his waist and places it on the night stand. Vincent places the Death Penalty on top of it's holster. Rima's hand hesitantly slides out of her coat when the gun is out of Vincent's hand. She does however, know that he can easily kill her with his sharp claw so she keeps an eye on his form.

Vincent reaches up to his headband and pulls it off, letting his hair fall freely across his face. He pushes it out of his face with his human hand before bending down and unclasping the latches on his boots. After kicking his boots off he undoes the clasps of his cloak and places it on the floor. Leaving his long sleeved black shirt on, he brings his feet up onto the bed and lays down on his side, his back facing Rima.

Rima's brows lower in confusion at the stoic man's calmness around her. "How do you know I'm not going to attack you?" She suddenly asks.

Vincent remains silent for a moment, debating whether or not to answer her question. Vincent gives a small sigh but doesn't turn to face her, "I don't" He says honestly. "But if you're going to attack me you would of done so when you had your hand on your dagger." Vincent points out.

Rima remains quiet as her gaze lower to her hands that are in her lap, "How can you trust me after I attacked you." She asks generally confused at his trustworthiness.

"Yuffie trusts you." Vincent states.

Rima crosses her arms and turns her head to the side, "She's just naive."

"That she is." Vincent agrees quietly.

"Then why do you trust me?" Rima asks wanting to know.

Vincent remains quiet. When Rima doesn't get an answer after a few moments pass she assumes he's not going to answer, "I guess.." Vincent begins to say, "Because you're similar to me."

Rima raises an eyebrow at the statement, "How so?" She questions.

Vincent turns around and sits on the edge of the bed again. He puts his elbow on his knee as he rests his chin in the palm of his hand. His crimson eyes stare ahead at nothing as he seems lost in thought, "When I first acquired Chaos..." Vincent begins, "The others would have to get far away from me whenever Chaos took control. I couldn't control him. After defeating the enemies he would attack them next until I learned to control the demon. You're much the same way, that's why I don't blame you for attacking me."

"You get possessed by a demon. I don't" Rima states. "When I turn it's still me. I control my actions. I tell my body what to do and I do it. So we are NOT the same." Rima points out.

Vincent doesn't say anything for a moment as he allows the silence settle in the room, "Perhaps you're right. But you do seem to lose control of yourself when you turn." Vincent states, "I lost control of Chaos, you lose control of yourself. It that sense, we are similar." Vincent explains. He turns his gaze from the wall to look straight into Rima's eyes for the first time since they've met, "Will I become a vampire now that you've bitten me?"

Rima lowers her gaze from Vincent's not liking the look into those crimson eyes. They remind her of a part of herself. A part that lurks deep within wanting to be released as its hunger grows more and more, "I don't know." She answers honestly, "I've ended up killing everyone I've bitten." She explains.

Vincent gives a slow short nod before blowing out the other lantern, letting the darkness blanket the room as he lays back down on the bed. He closes his eyes. He focuses on falling asleep, not about how close Nibelheim is and who is waiting for him there, if it isn't already too late.

Oh.. ohohoh. What exactly is waiting at Nibelheim for Vincent? What has he been hiding all along? Will he be too late? It seems the two dark gunslingers have come to a mutual understanding of each other it seems... for now at least. It looks like we got to see glimpses of Rima's connection with Sephiroth. Just what was their relationship? How will the others act around Rima now that they know the truth about her? Will Vincent turn into a vampire? Will Jessie's modification's to everyone's weapon work? I'd would have written more but it's three in the morning right now and I want to go to bed so I can get up early enough to post this.