Chapter 14: Destiny Intertwines.

Two sets of eyes locked, the moment seemed to last an eternity. Finally the cold voice broke the silence. "Who are you? ….Never seen you before. You must leave." Yuffie backed to the corner of the room; stunned silence fell on her. The man sat up in the coffin, his hair flowing down his back, intermingling with his cape.

Cloud stepped forward, "You were having a nightmare?"

Tifa's voice followed his, "You'll dream about bad things if you sleep in a place like THIS."

The man's hollow voice almost had a hint of amusement, "Hmph..a nightmare..? My long sleep has given me time to atone."

'What could he have to atone for?' Yuffie's thoughts raced as fast as her heart, she could only stare at her shoes, something in the man's gaze disturbed her. His gaze was empty, lifeless.

Cloud gave him a perplexed look, "What are you saying?"

The man's face furrowed slightly, "I have nothing to say to strangers. Get out. This mansion is the beginning of you nightmare."

Cloud drooped his head, "..you can say that again."

The red eyes narrowed slightly, "Hmm? What do you know?"

'Those eyes are terrifying, it's as if he can see into my soul.' Yuffie began shivering slightly, even in the heat of the crypt.

Cloud sighed before explaining. "Like you said, this mansion is the beginning of a nightmare." Cloud's eyes suddenly became hard, "NO, its not a dream, its for real. Sephiroth has lost his mind. He found secrets hidden in this mansion.."

The red eyes widened, "Sephiroth?"

The red eyes and Cloud's mako blue eyes locked, "You know Sephiroth?" Both said quietly.

The man suddenly threw himself up, arcing gracefully back, to stand on the rim of the coffin. "You start first." Under the bloody gaze of the man Cloud began to retell the story.

'This group goes against Shinra? This boy defeated Sephiroth?' Thoughts echoed in the man's mind. As Cloud told their story, the crimson caped man let his gaze wander over the group before him. 'Such an odd assortment.' First his eyes fell on the huge black man. The man was a full head taller than him, muscle-bound, his right arm seemed much like his claw, weapon replacing the hand. His gaze shifted to the golden-eyed beast, it was a massive animal, though the man sensed more than just a feral intelligence. The pink dressed one was quiet, dainty woman. She carried her staff easily, though she looked normal, some ancient power emanated from her. A stupid looking cat atop an oversized moogle, meet his gaze next. The cat seemed to be preoccupied with something far away.

The brown-haired woman stood protectively beside the blond man. He could see that she was a powerful fighter, the muscles in her legs and arms taunt, ready to attack him. The blond man, presumably their leader, would only come to his shoulder, although his hair spikes would reach higher. The boy had some sort of inner power; if he had tapped it the crimson caped man couldn't tell. They all shared one thing, they looked upon him with fear in their eyes, these people who were going against Shinra and Sephiroth were afraid of him. He didn't know what to feel, 'Why shouldn't they fear a monster?'

Finally, his gaze fell upon the one who opened his coffin. She was staring down at her yellow shoes, she absently picked at her green turtle-necked sweater. Her left arm was cover by an armguard; a shuriken was latched to her back. The man absently thought he recognized the weapon from his distant past, but quickly dismissed it. Her hair was deep brown, almost a chocolate color, highlighted by interspersed blond highlights. Her shorts were very skimpy; he absently noted that they were undone, staying on her by some force of will. His mind told him he should be slightly embarrassed by the revealing shorts, but no emotion came. 'Why did she open my coffin? How did they open the crypt? Hojo would have hidden the key.' Before answers could come, he returned his gaze to the boy.

'Is he staring at me? I can feel his eyes. Please don't let my underwear be showing!' Yuffie absently pulled her shorts up, still not doing them up. A small blush formed on her cheeks, 'I'm glad he can't see my face, but why do I care if he sees? I never cared if anyone else saw.' Yuffie couldn't understand her feelings, so many, so jumbled. 'GAWD! Leviathan help me!'

Cloud soon finished his account, "..That's how it was."

The man crossed his arms; "So Sephiroth discovered how he was created 5 years ago?" the man's eyes stared into the darkness, "And about the Jenova project?" The man's eyes remained empty, "He was missing, but has just recently reappeared." The man put his real hand to his chin, "He is taking many lives and is seeking the Promised Land." The man's hand moved to cover his face.

'He's worried, its as if he's blaming himself.' Yuffie didn't like the slight tone to the mysterious man's voice.

Cloud carefully spoke, "Now its your turn."

The man's hands suddenly fell to his side, all trace of emotion gone from his face and voice, "Sorry..I cannot speak."

"That's dirty!" Cait Sith piped in. He fell back under the man's penetrating stare.

"Hearing your stories, has added upon me yet another sin." The man lowered himself into the coffin.

'What sins?' Yuffie desperately wanted to know, but couldn't make her mouth work.

The man lay down, "More nightmares shall come to me now, more than I previously had." He pulled the lid over the coffin, just before it closed his voice came, "Now please leave."

Before the he could fully close the lid Cloud shoved his hand in, holding the lid open, the man's voice was colder, "..You're still here."

"At least tell us your name." Cloud asked almost desperately.

The man slid the lid off and sat up. "I was with.." The man's eyes went distant, as if trying to remember something nearly forgotten. "The Shinra Manufacturing Department in Administration Research, otherwise known as..The Turks..I was Vincent Valentine."

Cloud jumped back slightly, "The Turks?"

Vincent held his claw up, "Formerly of the Turks. I have no affiliation with Shinra now." The golden claw motioned toward Cloud, "..And you?"

Cloud did his infamous SOLDIER pose, "Cloud, formerly of SOLDIER."

Vincent's eyes snapped up, "You were with Shinra?..Then do you know Lucrecia?"

Cloud tilted his head slightly, "Who?"

Vincent spoke slowly, "..Lucrecia." Cloud shook his head as Vincent continued, "The woman who gave birth to Sephiroth."

Cloud was taken aback, "..Gave birth..? Wasn't Jenova Sephiroth's mother?"

Vincent's face returned to stone, "That isn't completely wrong, but just a theory. He was born from a beautiful lady. That Lady was Lucrecia. She was an assistant to Professor Gast of the Jenova project." Vincent's eyes misted slightly, "Beautiful..Lucrecia."

Yuffie's heart sank, 'He's in love? Why do I even care?' She pondered, 'Why do I care if Vincent is in love? It doesn't matter!' she told herself firmly, although deep in her heart she knew it did.

"A human experiment?" Nanaki's voice betrayed his anger, Vincent's eyes turned to the beast he was surprised it could talk.

"There was no way to cancel the experiment. I couldn't stop her. That was my sin." Vincent's eyes showed pain, "I let the one I loved, the one I respected most, face the worst." He once again began to lie down.

"So your punishment was to sleep? That's..kinda weird." Aerith quiet voice came.

"Let me sleep.." With that Vincent pulled the coffin lid to a close.

Cloud just shook his head and began to leave the crypt. "#$& Shinra, 'nother life they destroyed." Barret cursed as he walked out.

Yuffie stood staring at Vincent's coffin, "Vincent." She called softly before following the group out of the crypt. Her heart sagged as she walked out, 'Why did I desperately need to get in there?' Small tears filled her eyes, 'Why did it hurt when he said he loved Lucrecia, I don't even know him?' she followed the group into the library, her mind jumbled. 'Was he the one in my dreams?'

As they entered they all felt an overpowering presence. Something was here. Cloud motioned them to stop and he went down the narrow hallway. He suddenly stopped, "Sephiroth." He hissed.

BACK IN THE COFFIN.

Vincent tried to return to sleep. 'Those people want to face Sephioth? They know of his power and still they go?' His eyes hardened, "&$ Hojo, if I had stopped him then none of this would be.' He closed his eyes, hoping that the nightmares would claim him again. 'I must atone.' He started to sink back into his punishment, until they appeared. Those stormy orbs were there; they held back the darkness. Fear wasn't in them, they were filled with.. 'Wonder? Innocence?' Vincent's thoughts raced. The story of the fight on the beach, the figure that he had protected from the demons, could it be that slip of a girl?

LIBRARY.

"Are you coming to the reunion?" Sephiroth stood before Cloud, madness in his gaze.

"What reunion?" Cloud yelled confused.

Sephiroth locked his gaze on Cloud, "The reunion of Jenova. Hmph. Maybe you're not worthy of being there." Sephiroth threw an orb at Cloud, knocking him to his knees, "I must go north, past Mt. Nibel." Sephiroth rose into the air and flew past Cloud.

"What the $&?" Barret cursed in surprise. Sephiroth sent a wave of energy crashing down on them. Everyone was thrown to the ground. Sephiroth flew down the tunnel and disappeared up the stairwell.

Cloud chased after Sephiroth, still clutching his stomach in pain. "SEPHIROTH!" he bellowed.

COFFIN.

'Those eyes haunt me.' Try as he might, Vincent could not banish those eyes. Suddenly he felt a wave of energy, "Jenova!" he threw the lid off the coffin and rose to his feet. 'Maybe my atonement must be stopping Jenova.' Vincent took a step from his coffin. 'But in doing so, I must kill Sephiroth. That will cause her more pain.' Vincent grasped his head as if in pain. 'To redeem from one sin I must commit another?' Those stormy gray eyes came to him; he slowly straightened, as a strange new feeling came over him. 'I must protect that innocence.' He rushed out of the crypt, following the footsteps. "Wait!" he called.

The group stopped and turned slowly. Yuffie kept her gaze forward, not wanting to see those eyes, full of pain and sorrow. "If I go with you will I meet Hojo?" Vincent's cold voice echoed off the tunnel.

Yuffie heart leapt, 'Is he going to follow us?'

Cloud scratched his head and shrugged, "Dunno, but we're after him and Sephiroth. So, I guess sooner or later.."

Vincent looked down, "Lucrecia." He spoke quietly. Suddenly his gaze snapped to meet Cloud's. "All right. I've decided to go with you."

'Yes!' Yuffie could barely contain her elation. 'He's coming!'

"Sure is a quick change of heart, huh?" Tifa slightly elbowed Yuffie. Yuffie just grinned broadly.

"Being a former Turk, I may be of help to you." Vincent gave his reason for joining.

Cloud turned to the group, "Should we let him join?"

"$& right! He hates da Shinra too!" Barret gave his approval.

"I just joined, so I don't get a vote." Cat Sith remarked.

"He could be a good ally, but we must proceed with caution." Nanaki gave his view.

"I don't know." Tifa was thought deeply, "I guess he'll just follow us anyways."

"Please Cloud." Aerith turned to him lightly grabbing Cloud's arm. "He needs this." Cloud gave her a confused look. She just smiled back.

"Let him come!" Yuffie practically screamed, when the eyes of the group fell on her she quickly explained, "You let Cait Sith come! So why not him? He's not as creepy as Cait Sith anyway."

"Hey!" Cait Sith looked offended, "I didn't sleep in any coffins did I?" Yuffie just stuck out her tongue at him.

"Don't start." Cloud warned the two, "Yes." Cloud turned back to Vincent, "You may join us, but don't be surprised if we take awhile to trust you."

Yuffie was dancing around inside. She had butterflies in her stomach, she was lightheaded, 'He's coming!' Yuffie suddenly thought to herself, 'Why do I care so much?'

Vincent gave a slight bow, "Thank you. I will follow your lead."

Cloud motioned for them to continue up the stairs, "Alright then. Lets go after Sephiroth, he said he was going past Mt. Nibel. We will follow him." With that said the group filed up the wooden stairwell. Vincent strode a small distance behind them.

Yuffie skipped up the stairs forgetting her earlier feelings, 'At least we're getting out of this mansion.'

Vincent paused at the top of the stairs, looked back down then to the world outside the mansion. 'My atonement and my damnation begin.' He slid the stone wall closed and followed the group out of the mansion. He squinted at the bright sunlight.

"Come on Vinnie!" Yuffie called back to him from the path leading to the mountain. Vincent inwardly winced at the nickname.

'I hope she doesn't call me that for long.' He thought, keeping his face emotionless. As he walked away from the place where his nightmare began, he thought solemnly, 'Lucrecia.'