final fantasy vii and all its characters © squaresoft, inc.
a/n:
Whooo... this is the quickest update yet! You're gonna love this chapter, especially if you're waiting for the ever-so waited Dirge of Cerberus. On the contrary, thanks for the reviews! (hugz all) As usual, review references are on the bottom. Oh, and please note that I update biweekly (sometimes 3).
To the Sky
chapter five: the bounty hunter
Aerissa felt a gentle pour of sweat driving down on the side of her temples.
They saw me, they saw me, they saw me...
Her tears came running dry. The two figures reappeared from behind the gashed curtains.
What am I going to do?
I cannot possibly go back to the castle now... I still have to find out about Elena and what is going on in this kingdom--wait--in Midgar too!
An unbalanced brick on the floor sent her whole body to a slow pace of falling. She tried to get up before any of the guards touch her. Unfortunately, the lengthy and slippery dress she was wearing was beginning to make her irritated.
No! I shall not go back now! I have to run!
Her foot plunged over on the burgundy skirt. She saw two dark shadows hovering from the top of her head. It felt like a shriek was commencing to escape from her mouth. Then one of them extended a hand.
No! Get away from me!
"Aeris, are you okay?"
Aerissa flinched. She looked up at the soldier whose hand was given out towards her, quivering for response. There was something in his voice that sounded familiar, although she doubtfully suspected it was of someone she knew. Still, she did not stop to think who voice it was, and where she heard it.
Attached to her guessing, the guard on his back opened his headpiece, which exposed the face of someone Aerissa thought was peculiar to be seen in crested breastplates.
"Captain Cid?" she exclaimed, casting a dumbfounded look. The princess mentally added the look did not suit the foulmouthed pirate at all.
"Got you, didn't we?" the other one who extended his hand pulled it back, and stood up to open his helmet. It revealed the sight of a young blonde with hair resembling pikes of thorns who to Aerissa's opinion, was annoying of him to coat himself in a disguise.
"Cloud!" she yelled in a mix of disgust and delight, "Didn't you know how scared I was? Why did you have to do that?"
The blonde grinned, trying to look repentant. "Sorry, I didn't mean to. We just thought 'cause you heard something about Elena, you'd go to her chamber before any of us do."
"And panicked too." Cid piped in, which turned the heads of the two teenagers, "We lost out tour guide and got completely lost. Thank goddess the head chef wasn't that annoying. I always thought they're irritating."
"Then you should meet the one at Prancing Pony." Cloud commented his all-time favorite Terrenian pub. "And don't forget about Tifa."
"Um," Aerissa hesitated as she watched the two blondes who were deeply into their conversation about pastry-cooks, "I've been wondering," she said aloud, which punctually stopped the discussion, "where are the girls?"
"Tifa and Yuffie?" Cloud helped Aerissa jerked up on her feet. "They're watching the play."
"On the roof." Cid marked notably.
Cloud shrugged. "But I think it should be over by now--"
"THE PLAY!"
Aerissa suddenly pulled herself out from Cloud's helping hands and sprinted over to the end of the balcony, only to cast an astounded look.
Cid and Cloud trailed from her back and joined her. What they expected to see was an airship theater stage with oddly-costumed people and singing sonnets. But what it presented was a group of exhausted-looking actors with their hands linked to one another, standing side-by-side before a screen of closed red curtains. They bowed and as they did so, huddles of roses and flower bouquets were showered toward them.
The very scene was sufficiently suitable for a well-toned play that had a successful ending. (Cid waged it must be a tearful one.)
Cloud did not react to this, but he knew Aerissa was highly disappointed. He saw her sank with a disenchanted sigh.
"Oh no..."
"So he said 'Take me with you! For I shall never return!'"
"And they kissed!" a squeal awed. "How romantic!"
Aerissa's emerald orbs flashed an envious glare as they fixed on the sight of two teenagers hurling several stools away from her.
Ever since they went back to Seventh Heaven, Tifa and Yuffie did not stop to discuss about the play Coulisse de un Princesse. It was rather disturbing, especially for Tifa who was supposed to cook for them. But being two melodramatic young girls, the others considered it was nothing out of the ordinary. To Aerissa, however, it was getting more and more of a pain.
"Don't let it get to you." a freckled face said, offering a giant mug of sparkling water. "They don't watch plays as much as you do. Just cool it off, okay?"
The princess snorted. Aerissa almost ignored the redhead she later learned was called Jessie. "I guess so. But still, it was Coulisse de un Princesse... the long-awaited play ever..." she took the handle of her mug.
"I know that." Jessie smiled simply, jiggling her auburn-colored ponytail. "But they haven't watched Loveless yet, have they?"
There was something about Jessie that Aerissa was profoundly interested at. For some reason, she sounded really polite and mature. And to think she was related to a group of pirates was rather dubious. "Loveless? The infamous play?"
Jessie nodded. "Coulisse is nowhere near that."
"I know." Aerissa cupped her hands around the mug and swallowed, still peering her eyes over to the chattering two. "But I have yet to read Loveless, let alone watch the play. I heard it was replayed a number of times, but never in my lifetime."
"Same here." Jessie leaned down towards her, too watching avidly at Aerissa's appointed direction. "None of us have watched it too. Only Cid has. Barret isn't the type who's into those stuff."
The brunette placed down her mug. "I can see that." Aerissa looked up at the older lady, looking puzzled. "But I never thought Cid is interested with plays."
"I bet nobody seen that coming." Jessie tittered, pouring a glass of light cocktail for herself. "But believe me, Cid used to be a very important man in his time."
Aerissa's jaw dropped an inch. "What?"
"That's right--"
"Yo, Jessie!" the two heard Barret bawled from the other side of the bar, shoveling his deck of cards as he was waited patiently by four other men. "Three cups of vodka, wouldja?"
Jessie, who did not look at all unpleasant of Barret's rash behavior, replied cheerfully, "Coming!"
However, she did not tell Aerissa any more about Cid's youth hood.
Although none of them were eventful, Cloud and Aerissa spent their next few days at Nibelheim. They were waiting for Cid's next move, for he and his crew were plotting to decide their next destination. Barret and Tifa too offered their helping hands to join the pirates after Seventh Heaven is restored back from its temporary hiatus.
Apparently, Aerissa had talked to everyone about Elena's disappearance. Ever since, the whole crew tried their best to gather information about the missing first daughter, for the princess can only go out in the evening to avoid inquisitive eyes. It was no surprise though, when the situation became the most conversed topic in the city. In fact, the discovery of her head was granted a bounty of 300,000G--which was just as much as the prize for Aerissa's.
However, by the end of their fifth day, nobody had any good news to deliver.
"All of them lot said the same things like the other day." Barret groaned, taking a dashed-up ginger cocktail. "'Bet they dunno anythin' more than we do."
"Yeah." Yuffie agreed after thanking for her order of low-alcohol fruit punch from Tifa's tray (which Cid scorned, "You outta drink milk, girlie!") "The local paper posted news about Elena as a part of a rebel group, and it's really just that."
Cloud took a sip of today's special. "Are you sure Elena didn't leave you some clues, Aeris?"
Aerissa glanced her eyes toward him, finding a look of the same worried faces she had been spotting wincing around the small, humble bar. And this question brought her back memories she wished they never occur.
"My father died, and because of that, Nibel now has a bastard for a king. Now, the future of Nibel is undecided. Although he's my uncle, Heidegger had sent many of our soldiers--even his friends--to battle just to die for a victory we aren't sure of!"
"But now the world is at peace. We do not have nothing to worry about a loss, Elena..."
"Yes, it looks like we're good friends now. But really, do you think the Midgar Empire is that stupid? Rufus can kick our arse anytime he wants! And maybe by then, we'll all be as good as dead!"
"What makes you think that way?"
She shook her head, stirring playfully her thick rigid spoon on her chicken soup.
She never told me why she hated the empire so much... but maybe, just maybe...
"I think I know where she is going."
"Oh," Cid jolted up, after being severely bruised by Yuffie's bar stool. "where?"
"Midgar." the princess said firmly, "She said some things about Rufus... so I figured out, she might be going there."
Barret guffawed heartily, commenting with his deafening voice, "Everyone's gotta have somethin' to say about Rufus, eh?"
"No, it is not like that." Aerissa pointed out, placing her spoon aside, "She was really... touchy when she said those things, as if something happened between them in the past. I do not know exactly but... she is filled with hatred."
"Well," Yuffie swallowed her beverage in a quarter's time. "that's typical of her. The chick complains too much." and promptly ordered a glass of parfait.
"Really, Yuffie," Tifa shook her head in skepticism, taking back her tray to the other side of the bar. "if you would please stop ordering drinks with alcohol? If your stomach isn't strong enough, you'll puke!"
"Shut up!" the ninja retorted, feeling her head slightly dazed by the newly lit light bulb on top of her head, "You host a bar and you're underage!"
"Hosting a bar doesn't mean I drink!" Tifa snapped back. However, this statement gathered incredulously prying eyes, which seemed to be staring at her in distrust. She then confessed, "Okay, maybe several times, but I definitely don't drink as much as you do. And you're two years below me while I'm only one year before being of age. Oh, I also have a parent, so I won't be getting into a lot of trouble."
Yuffie raised an eyebrow dubiously. "Who? Barret?" she gestured her hand toward an intoxicated black man, who luckily did not pay attention to this very conversation. "What a nightmare."
Glaring at the sight of a victorious grin, Tifa stammered, "There's--"
CRASH!
Bumping the shelves five inches away from her, was a wrecked burly six-foot-two figure pinned against the recess of fallen wineglasses and bottles.
The crash opened dozens of mortal wounds and a few old scars. Although it looked very painful, the tumbled man did not look he was hurt in the slightest. He regarded his gory wounds and body-pierced glasses, promptly heading toward to the back of the kitchen, crawling hastily beneath the now partially damaged beverage booth.
Two third of the Seventh Heaven population shrieked in chorus as they hurriedly made their way out of the narrow exit, some of them even smashed the windows with chairs to bare new exits.
However, their constant horrors for help easily went dim when a thick, bright laser beam propelled into the scene, causing a massive hole of the size of a baby elephant from the front entrance until twelve meters toward the kitchen.
For several seconds the crowd went into a motion of pause. But as they realized the tension was getting thick, the mob shrieked seven notches higher.
Cid appalled at the long trail of laser wreckage from under the table. "Blistering &$#? barnicles!"
"MY BAR!"
Apparently, the freezer room was strong enough to absorb the laser beam, which left a severely bash on the door that did not look too serious, thus ended the wreckage trail. Tifa rushed toward the end of the ruins, to the kitchen. However, her moves were stopped by the glimpse of a slender frame of a cloaked man, standing calmly on the main exit as shimmers of daylight broaden throughout the room from behind his shadow.
It was expected of him to at least bring something interesting that looked like it overthrown a white laser beam. But unfortunately, what was on the man's right hand was it was an ordinary five-inch revolver with an unusual design.
Soon, his shadow began to emerge closer into the picture, showing more of his tall, vivid built. He was indeed mantled with a long black cloak, and had quite of a dark exterior. Underneath the shadows of his robe was a dark maroon vest and his gloved left hand, which had unusually point fingers. His hair was jet black and considerably long for someone who can cast a laser beam in the range of forty feet, although it was tied up rashly.
And the piercing eyes. Piercing ruby eyes.
"Judgment," he said in a cold, deep voice, still aiming the tip of his gun on his desired prey, "you got to reap what you sow."
The whole Seventh Heaven staff and customers that did not have enough time to evacuate were now scattered all over the bar, settling in their respective hiding spots. Only the cloaked man and his victim were clearly visible amid the chaotic scene. The burly man looked as if he had been in the pursuit for the longest time, and was completely out of luck. His face went instantly white in the rage of terror, surfacing cold sweat from his spine.
"P-Please," the man pleaded, looking deadly terrified, "Please don't k-kill me..."
Cloud watched the gesturing finger tighten its grip on the gun hold.
"S-SPARE MY LIFE!"
A few seconds before a loud BANG! occurred, everybody had promptly covered either their eyes or ears. The loud sound was followed by a small crack, which bothered everyone to take a peek.
What they spotted was an unconscious white-faced man, as if he just overcame a huge sum of fear. From the corner of his thick pallid lips were dripping foam, which brought sheer shudders. He was laying on the broken closet of Tifa's most treasured china, although she was yet to discover. The man was very huge and muscular, a little bigger than the likes of Barret. His open bare chest exposed a fair amount of hair, the six-pack stomach, and several open scars.
However, he was still alive. No hint of bloodshed were imprinted on any point of his paralyzed body. There was neither a mark of a bullet blotch too. Literally, they realized the bullet did not at all hit him. It settled right beside his ear, causing another hole on the wall.
The crowd assumed it was a miss, but Cloud knew the shooter did it on purpose.
Rubbing the tip of his beloved revolver, the cloaked man mused calmly, "What a waste."
Cloud was about to go up to him until Tifa came marching with a frown on her face, preparing a finger to be pointing accusingly.
"I don't know who you are but look at this mess!"
Although it was not at all extraordinary, it was still scary to see someone like Tifa--someone sweet and patient--to be yelling on the top of her lungs to a person she barely knew for thirty minutes. In fact, she hardly ever throw a fit at anybody, even the likes of Cid and Barret. Cloud presumed it was due to overworked nights. Tifa was a workaholic after all, but she never exploded in any point of her career. She may be angry a couple of times, but never as angry as this.
"My apologies." the cloaked man bowed.
Normally, Tifa would compliment it was very polite of him. However in the moment, she was too enraged. "Well, aren't you going to be responsible for this? Last week the same thing happened in the store and I've just fix it two days ago. You're not expecting me to clean up this mess alone, right? After what I've been through?"
The man switched on his gun safety and said calmly, "I'm sorry, but I must go."
"Wait!"
He walked past Tifa, examining the whitish body of his fallen target. "I have to take this man to the guild and collect my bounty. I'm also assigned for another job. I'm afraid I don't have much time."
"But you can't just leave the bar like this! Aren't you going to do something?"
The long-haired man did not pay attention, however. He was too preoccupied to scanning his surrounds, as he spotted the people were emerging out of their shelters one by one. It appeared that one of them were of his interest that he did not stop to look at him.
He began to walk faster.
"Hey!"
All of Tifa's complaints became dim in an instant as he enthusiastically approached the man he was too keen looking at. He stopped on a point at the back of the kitchen, which most of the pirates were hiding at.
After rounds of peering eyes, he pondered, "Captain Cid Highwind of the... Highwind?"
Cid gave a dumbfounded look. He did not know how the stranger knew who he was. Yet deep inside, he wished this young man was not from the dark side, in spite of his gothic exterior. Yuffie though, thought this was just another eccentric sweeper with a weird sense of fashion.
"No?" the man tested. "Nonetheless, you still have to come with me."
"Hey!" Yuffie jerked up. "Ya can't just take him away!"
The strange fellow remarked sternly, "Cid Highwind's bounty is now raised to 50,000G. Cid or no Cid, I still have to take you." he took a pair of handcuffs from inside his robe. "And if I'm correct, I get my bounty."
Barret reappeared from the other side of the kitchen, putting down his brunette daughter from his brawny shoulders. "Get yer bounty and drop him in jail? Who d'ya think you are? Ya ain't outta be a sweeper, aren't ya?"
"No. I'm a bounty hunter." the man bowed again. "Vincent Valentine."
Tifa, who was supposedly to be pouting over her chaotic store, recoiled. "World-class?"
Vincent nodded. The girl apathetically raised her eyebrows, disregarding a chirping Yuffie. ("WHAT? I thought you're gonna teach that scumbag a lesson!")
"Why, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Valentine." Cid sniggered, letting the cloaked man handcuffed his wriggly hands, "I heard rumors about ya. You're younger than I thought." he drifted off, although Vincent did not take it as a compliment, "But sorry, kid, ya can't just take an innocent guy for a big fat 50,000G."
Vincent shrugged carelessly. "I'm always right in terms of hunting."
The pirate smirked, "Then this is the first time you're fallin'."
"Wait a minute." Cloud surfaced from the back of the crowd, after noticing a devastated hint on Vincent's ruby-tinted stare. "If you want to investigate, you can do it here. Nobody or nothing's going to stop you. Unless there's something going on between you and the money."
At first, Vincent wanted so much the blonde to introduce himself, but he delayed the attempt to ask his name. "Sorry, but money doesn't interest me much."
Cloud went bewildered. "Then... why?"
Vincent mused dispassionately, "It's none of your business."
"Leave him alone, Cloud." Cid demanded listlessly, stretching his iron handcuff chains, "Hunters like him have their own reasons."
The taller man nodded, as if he was trying to thank the older man.
"What do you mean?" Cloud retorted, "You're just gonna give yourself in just like that?"
Cid smiled. Well, it looked more like a smile than any other smirking smiles he ever made. "I knew this day's gonna come. I just never figured it's gonna be this quick."
It was unpredicted that Cid's arrest would be very dull for such a superlative wanted man. He had became a pirate for ten years, famous for his ever-so beautifully distinguished airship named after his Highwind, and loved by his loyal and steadfast band of rogues. The whole world knew what he had done for the people, and what he did to succeed it. But being a disreputable pirate that he was, he was indeed respected by either his friends or foes.
Yet guilty or not guilty, he was still the object of Shinra's loathe and his most foreseen political adversary. His archenemy. He did not know whether the late king taught young Rufus to hate Cid Highwind, but after all, like father, like son. It just had to be.
He found it rather ironic when he realized no one were crying out his name, pleading for his return--in spite of what he did in this short, yet adventurous ten years.
But as he and Vincent almost reached the front door, as he heard his men were starting to cry out protests at his leave, Vincent paused.
Aerissa came encircling toward the two, as if she was trying to send her last goodbyes and--more importantly--an honorable gratitude. She was just about to open her mouth and fill in her "thank you." but Vincent strike first.
"Princess Aerissa?"
Cid almost forgot about Aerissa--who was also a bounty hunter's target, who was also a first-class subject, who was none other than the Terrenian princess. He assumed she had been hiding the huddles of barrels behind Tifa and Yuffie, that hardly anybody could recognize her physical presence.
He would have been happy if the princess jumped into the scene in better circumstances, and certainly not this time.
But before Vincent could hand her in, Cloud stormed, "Whoa! You're definitely not taking her." he remarked accursedly, "You already got Cid and that's enough from what you've bargain for."
The marksman did not reply, although his eyes were still closely attached to scanning his vulnerable subject, who eventually became alerted. Through his impassive facial expression, Cloud knew he would be taking Aerissa.
"Sorry to bother ya, but um," Cid voiced from behind Vincent's bang-hidden ears, "if you're serious about taking me and the princess without the money being much of an appealing article, care to fill us in a few details?"
Vincent's eyes went wide. He turned to face Cid with a confounded look. He clearly did not get the message.
"You're a bounty hunter who's really pushy of his targets' whereabouts." Cid straightened, "Most hunters I've met would just leave me alone and threaten to catch me the next we meet again, but you're different. You're the first topnotch hunter who wants me captured the minute he laid eyes on me. I won't be too surprised if you're a blue-collar, but ya ain't, which bothers me."
Vincent kept silent. He ran his eyes slowly away from Cid, to Aerissa, then to the rest of the crew. Each of every face cast a mix of impatient and curious look in their very own trademarks.
The hunter groaned uninterestedly. "You sure are persistent."
Cid grinned maliciously. Vincent promptly loosen his grip.
"I'm searching for someone."
Cloud cringed. "Someone?"
"Someone." Vincent recapped, "Someone in Midgar, to be exact."
Cid rose his eyebrows vacantly. You're right, Barret. Everybody does have something to say about Midgar. Barret on the other hand, beamed triumphantly, as if he mentally got the message.
"He works in the Empire's official scientific laboratory. But I don't have anything to go to Midgar, so I thought if I keep taking high-ranked jobs, I'd be closer to Midgar. That's why I never hesitate to catch any rewarded bounty whenever I see one, and in this case, it's you." Vincent enlightened, "There's also another person I'd like to meet, but regarding his little 'project', he's my main priority."
Aerissa tilted her head toward Vincent's. "A... project?"
Vincent nodded. "But I can't tell you anymore of it. I'm sworn to secrecy."
The last of his words went directly to Barret's nerves, where he instantly strode furiously to the mysterious newcomer. "SECRECY? Yer trying to tell me yer part of the Empire?"
Even after being burst out by Barret's harsh words, Vincent kept calm. "I'm not, but I was." then he quickly noted after noticing Barret's livid reaction. "And before you jump to conclusions, I'm no longer with the Empire. I don't care whether or not you're a rebel group. If someday you attack Midgar, I won't complain."
Barret immediately went quiet.
"Yes, I'm a traitor."
Vincent can vaguely hear the big oaf muttered an "oh."
"Then it's settled!"
Cid heard Cloud gestured both of his hands into a faint clap. "What d'you mean?"
"How about this, Vincent?" Cloud ignored Cid's later remarks. "You let go of Cid and the princess, and we'll take you to Midgar in no time! Oh, and we'll also fill you in about Elena's disappearance, 'cause we happen to know a little too much than the press does."
"Hey, wait!" Cid bellowed from the background, "Ya saying yer letting this guy in my ship? Nope, ya can't do it."
"C'mon, Cid!" Cloud countered defensively, "You wanna spend the next fifty years in prison? What a pirate's life for you..." he swiftly turned to Vincent's side. "How about it? We'll help you too, if you want to."
("#$#&#!#..." muttered Cid gloomily.)
Vincent did not answer right away. He was too busy scanning every inch of the hectic bar, and the pending faces of everyone surrounding him. It felt like he had no other choice.
"...do as you wish." he murmured.
Cloud jolted up. "What?"
"Do as you wish." Vincent declared finally, "As long as the destination is Midgar, I don't mind."
Cid growled.
-tbc-
a/n
There yah go! Vincent Valentine has made his first appearance at last! Hope you fangirls love that (Yeeeep, I can see everybody's waiting for this moment.) Anyway, I'm sorry if the end is a bit fast-paced, I was on a rush and all... but okay, at least one character had jumped into the picture. BTW, this fic is gonna be a lot longer than it looks, so it seems like I'm gonna put ABSOLUTELY all FF7 characters in. But the statement might change later on...
Regarding Yuffie, TBM, she is a little off-character than I'd like her to be. In FF7, Yuffie was possibly the most clueless AVALANCHE member, 'cause she almost didn't pay attention to anything about Shinra or Sephiroth that she wandered off to her own world of marveling materias... which developed a sneaky, childish personality who's hardly ever serious. However, in TTS, Yuffie is a full-fledged member of the Highwind and she knows what's going on around her, so she's a lot more focused and reliable. But yes, she still inherit her original hyperactive ways.
XXAeris4rmff7XX, nobody came crashing down to Elena's chamber before Aeris did. If you're referring to the person narrated on the start of the forth chapter, that's Elena herself--Elena cutting short her Pantene ProV hair xD;