Chapter 21: Final Ascension.
Vincent stood stunned at his thought. 'Monsters don't know beauty.'
Yuffie stared at her father's battle form. She felt her body screaming in agony, all of the injuries she had received seemed to grow in pain. Her shuriken felt as if weighed a ton. Her side burned intensely as she felt her own blood slowly ooze down her side. Breathing hurt, everything hurt. Her body begged her to stop; all her energy went to simply standing. 'I won't give up.' She grit her teeth and stared at her father's dancing form, his red face locked its eyes on her.
In a voice that could only be called gravel the beast before her spoke, "You can not win. Give up." Rage surged through Yuffie, everything she had gone through, all the pain; and he wanted her to give up.
"NO!" Yuffie shouted and threw her shuriken with all her might. She nearly collapsed from the effort. Godo laughed as he calmly deflected the soaring weapon. Her shuriken bounced harmlessly to the ground at his feet. Yuffie reached within her armguard and concentrated. Before she could finish, Godo swung his massive sword. Yuffie managed to force her weakened legs to propel her to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade. As she jumped she called out, "FIRE 3!" Yuffie landed and fell to one knee from the drain of the spell.
The air around Godo seemed to shimmer momentarily before coalescing into him. Flames exploded and wreathed the towering figure in shimmering heat. Godo yelled in pain as his flesh was charred. Everyone in the room gagged upon the smell of his burned flesh. Finally the flames died as Godo swayed slightly on his feet.
Vincent's eyes were locked upon the small shinobi, she remained on her knee, struggling to regain her breath. He glanced back to the imposing figure of Godo as anger crept into his mind; he forced it away and returned his gaze back to Yuffie. 'Be strong.' He mentally willed her on.
Godo laughed loudly, "Is that all you got?" as his head began to turn on his shoulders. The golden face opened its eyes as the red's closed. Godo waved the mystic staff as he brought his empty hands together in concentration. "Cure 2" He said calmly. Speckles of light surrounded him and began circling his body. The burns just inflicted healed at an incredible rate and were soon nothing more than red marks. The lights faded. Godo's head began turning again.
'Crap!' Yuffie thought as she willed herself to stand. She looked up into the pale face Godo now wore. The mystic rod once again traced intricate symbols into the air. Yuffie suddenly felt what remained of her strength being pulled away. Yuffie resisted the spell with what energy she could, but she saw the red marks upon Godo's flesh completely fade from the energy he stole from her. "You won't win." She managed to say in-between labored breaths.
Godo laughed again as he waved the mystic staff again. An orb of darkness larger than Gorki's materialized and sped toward Yuffie. At the last moment Yuffie dived to the floor, causing the orb to smash into the barrier and disappear in a bright flash.
"Good one Yuffie!" Cloud called from the sidelines, even though his voice betrayed his worry. Vincent glanced momentarily at Cloud before returning his bloody stare to the slowly rising Yuffie and Godo as Godo once again turned his face to the red.
Godo swung his sword downward, Yuffie dodged to the side and back flipped onto the back of the blade as Godo lifted it again. She then released a shower of small knives toward her father. The knives buried themselves Godo's quickly raised arms. "Not good enough!" The red face laughed. He twisted the sword quickly causing Yuffie to jump to the ground. She rose only to be met with a shower of sparks. A crackling pyramid formed around the small girl. She felt the energy coursing through her, causing her muscles to spasm wildly. She fell to the ground in a convulsing heap.
"NO!" Cloud cried as he pounded on the barrier, "Yuffie get up!" Vincent rose and quietly joined the blonde swordsman at the barrier. Vincent stared intensely at the petite ninja. Cloud looked at Vincent in surprise. "Vincent?" The crimson-cloaked man ignored Cloud and continued to stare at the still twitching form of Yuffie.
'Get up!' He cried in his mind.
Yuffie's eyes snapped open, 'What was that?' She looked over to see Vincent standing at the barrier; his crimson eyes locked on her. She felt the same warmth within her chest that she felt the night before. 'What is he doing?' She asked herself before returning her grey eyes to her father. Once again, she forced herself to stand. "Is that all you got?" She tried to sound as cocky as she could but only managed a whisper. Godo's eyes lit up fiercely.
Godo swung his sword sideways, smacking Yuffie with the broadside. She bounced lifelessly against the barrier and crumpled to the ground. Godo laughed in triumph, "More than enough for you!"
Vincent glared at the inhuman form, 'How dare you strike a defeated opponent!' The demons began mocking him for his mind's outburst. They clung to the new emotion and began forcing their way out. Vincent fought to control them but his anger gave them strength. 'I won't let you have control!' Vincent continued to fight his inner battle until he glanced at Yuffie, immediately all his anger flew from him as he thrust the demons back into the dark pits of his blackened soul. She was standing. Somehow she was standing.
Everyone stared at the teenager. Yuffie barely stood, her left arm hung limply at her side, blood flowed freely from the gash in her side. Sweat glistened from her skin as her short bangs concealed her eyes. She drew her breath slowly, painfully slow. Godo laughed once again, "Still not ready to submit!" At this comment Yuffie's head snapped up and her eyes locked with her fathers and the great Godo froze.
"Yuffie?" Cloud called.
"Yuffie?" Vincent mimicked quietly. Vincent nearly shuddered at what he saw in Yuffie's stormy eyes. A thunderstorm seemed to be raging within them. All her emotions flowed from her eyes with inhuman intensity. Her body seemed to glow faintly. Vincent stared at her in awe, the demons within his shied away from the faint light, releasing all their grips on Vincent's mind and retreating deep within him. 'What's happening to you Yuffie?' Vincent did not notice the demons retreat, everything he was focused upon Yuffie. Godo suddenly dropped his mystic staff and griped his sword with all of his hands; he brought the massive instrument of death above his head before swinging toward his daughter.
'I can't lose, I won't lose, I won't fail.' Yuffie thought to herself. She knew she was lying to herself she could barely stand much less dodge the coming blow. Tears began welling up in her eyes; she felt all of her emotions boil within her. All the pain her mother's death caused, all the sadness she felt for Wutai, all the love she held for her new friends, all her hopes, and dreams. They all combined with in her. "ALL CREATION!" She yelled just before the blade cleaved her from existence, Yuffie flashed brightly, making all eyes in the room close tightly, except for a pair of crimson. Vincent squinted against the light; he could barely make out a stream of energy crushing Godo's form into the barrier. Vincent strained against the light to barely see the form of Yuffie.
She stood with her arms spread wide as the white light poured from her. Vincent noticed twin shapes behind Yuffie but was forced to close his eyes, as the light grew even more intense. The barrier ballooned outward as the energy continued. As Godo screamed in agony, the barrier burst allowing the huge figure to crash into the wall. The energy suddenly dissipated and the room grew dark again. Godo was surrounded by the pale light and returned to human form as he fell to the floor. "I win." Yuffie smiled weakly before collapsing as well.
"Godo!" Staniv yelled, "Chekhov help me with him. Shake, Gorki you two attend to the girl." Godo and Yuffie were both carried out of the room followed by a concerned Cloud. Vincent stood in the now silent room staring at the spot where Yuffie fell. He slowly walked over and knelt down.
Vincent reached down and gingerly picked up a small white feather. He held it carefully and stared at the faintly glowing object. "Beautiful." He spoke the word aloud this time. He twirled the feather in is fingers as his mind returned to the blurred image of Yuffie. "What were those shapes?" Suddenly the feather glowed brighter and burst into small white lights that dissipated as quickly as they had appeared. Vincent stared at the empty void that the feather left for a moment before rising and turning toward the stairs. With a quick glance back into the room, he began to descend the Pagoda.
When he arrived at the bottom he noticed that Aerith and Tifa were both casting cure spells on Yuffie, Chekhov and Gorki were doing the same with Godo. Vincent watched as the bruises across Yuffie's body faded and the gash in her side closed and mended, leaving only the faintest white line. Aerith and Tifa both nearly collapsed as they finished.
"This is bad. Neither one is waking up." Gorki began, "Let's take them back to Lord Godo's house." Staniv picked up Godo's limp form as Barret knelt and gingerly cradled the motionless Yuffie in his arms. Vincent absently noted that he had seen new fathers hold their children in the same fashion. Everyone followed the comatose forms across the courtyard and into the large house. Staniv carried Godo to his room as Gorki slid open a door.
"Please put Lady Kisaragi in this room." He motioned to Barret. Barret gently laid the sleeping ninja upon the futon in the room.
"Thanks Barret." Aerith gave him a pat on the shoulder, "Now all of you out. Yuffie needs quiet. Tifa and I will stay with her. We'll call you if anything happens." Everyone silently obeyed and left the house to gather on the steps. Nanaki lay on the ground, Cid sat on the steps smoking nervously, Cloud and Barret both paced back and forth at the foot of the steps, Cat Sith watched them from the steps, Vincent sank into the shadows of the doorway. Each remained as night slowly fell.
"WHAT THE f#$ IS GOING ON!" Cid suddenly yelled. Cloud just shrugged and continued his pacing.
"Da brat can't die." Barret grumbled. "She jus' can't."
Cloud place a reassuring hand on the massive man's shoulder, "She'll be ok. Yuffie won't give up before she can get all of our materia." Barret just sank to the ground next to Cid and continued to grumble.
Vincent listened intensely for any sign from within the house. 'Don't give up.' Slowly sleep overtook each member on the steps. Vincent looked between the sleeping men; each still had their worry written on their faces. 'How odd it is that the one girl can mean so much to this group.' Vincent raised his gaze to the rising moon and for the first time in his life, he prayed.
Darkness. All that Yuffie could see was darkness. It engulfed everything. She tried to move but something held her back. She tried again and felt pain shoot through her. "Am I dead?" She asked the darkness. She struggled again but the pain grew too intense.
"SHE MUST NOT CONTINUE." A cold voice echoed throughout the air.
"But she has already taken the first step." Another dry voice replied.
"Who's there!" Yuffie cried.
"IT DOESN'T MATTER." The cold voice answered. Suddenly Yuffie felt a tearing pain in her chest. It felt as if she was being crushed.
"Why are you doing this!" She screamed. "I don't even know you!"
The dry voice answered, "We cannot allow your destiny to be fulfilled." Yuffie screamed louder as the pain intensified. It became harder and harder to breathe. A figure materialized atop her, its form was hideous. Blue flesh shifted across the creature as if it had no true shape, deadly talons tore through the pile of skin. One pressed down upon Yuffie. Yuffie nearly vomited at the creature's grotesque form. "Kill her." The dry voice ordered.
Yuffie felt the pressure increase upon her chest, "YOU CAN'T STOP ME." The cold voice reverberated from the creature. Yuffie cried out in pain.
"Help me! Someone help!" Yuffie gasped as her breath was forced from her. "Please!" Yuffie felt her body going limp as darkness began clouding her vision. "I can't die yet." Her thought went to AVALANCHE. Each member's face passed in front of her. Vincent's dark visage was last, "Help me." Yuffie cried to him.
Suddenly a terrifying roar echoed throughout the area. The creature removed its talon from Yuffie's chest; "WHAT WAS THAT!" fear had replaced the coldness in its voice. Yuffie sucked air back into her lungs with relief. Two violet-grey hands emerged from the darkness, the glinting talons sank deeply into the creature's flesh and pulled it screaming into the void. Yuffie grimaced at the cries of pain that flowed from the darkness. She could hear the tearing of flesh and the sloshing of spilt blood. Finally, the last sound she heard was a dying gurgle.
Yuffie stared into the space the creature disappeared into, "Who's there?" Suddenly two elongated red eyes locked onto her. Yuffie stared into them "Who are you?" The eyes disappeared and were replaced with emerald green.
"What's wrong!" Aerith shook the stunned ninja. "Yuffie!"
Yuffie stared at Aerith for a moment before jumping into the flower girl's arms. Yuffie broke down into sobbing tears as Tifa approached. "Is she okay?" Aerith gently stroked Yuffie's hair as she nodded to Tifa. Tifa let out a sigh, "Good. I'll go tell the guys." She turned and left.
Aerith gently spoke, "What happened Yuffie?"
Yuffie pulled herself away from Aerith and sat hugging her knees, "Something tried to kill me." She stuttered. "But something else stopped it." Yuffie visibly winced at the memory of the sounds in the darkness. Aerith sat next to the shivering ninja.
"It will be okay." Aerith comforted Yuffie. "You've got to be strong, we all have terrifying things we have to face."
Yuffie's troubled gray eyes locked with Aerith's serene green. Something seemed to pass from Aerith to Yuffie, "Thanks." Yuffie's shivering subsided as the door slid open and Tifa entered.
"Everyone is asleep," Tifa spoke quietly, "Except for him." She motioned to the doorway. Yuffie looked to the doorway as Vincent emerged from the shadows.
"Are you alright?" Vincent asked quietly. Tifa and Aerith glanced at him in surprise; neither had expected him to asked such a question. Vincent ignored their stares and asked again, "Are you alright?"
Yuffie downcast her eyes as she nodded, "I'm okay." Aerith looked between Yuffie and Vincent.
"What's wrong Yuffie?" Aerith pressed. Yuffie stared at Aerith and then at Vincent. She looked down to her shoes again.
"Come on Yuffie." Tifa added, "We can all see something's up. You have to trust us with it." Tifa joined Aerith and Yuffie on the futon, "Please Yuffie." Yuffie just shook her head and stared at the floor. Vincent looked at the frightened figure crouched before him. She seemed so fragile, like some porcelain doll that would shatter if touched. Her armor and shoes had been removed. Without them she looked so small, her shoulders shuddered from her sobbing.
Vincent knelt in front of her, Yuffie looked up in surprise. Vincent's voice was emotionless. "Let us help you." Vincent watched as the tears in Yuffie's stormy eyes began to flow down her cheeks. "What did you dream?" He asked in his detached voice. Yuffie cried freely as she fell into Vincent. A wave of surprise swept across his pale features but soon returned to the emotionless normal. He uncomfortably patted Yuffie on the head. Aerith and Tifa stared at the scene in complete shock; neither would have ever expected Vincent to say anything much less try to comfort the girl.
"It was horrible." Yuffie sobbed, "I was surrounded by darkness, strange voices started talking and then a monstrous creature appeared and tried to crush me." Yuffie struggled to take a breath. "And then something came from the darkness and saved me." Yuffie carefully left out her plea to Vincent and the glowing red eyes.
Aerith placed a hand on Yuffie's shoulder, "That's awful. You must have been terrified."
Yuffie looked up from Vincent's chest. "I couldn't even move to save myself." Yuffie tried to sink deeper into Vincent but he pushed her towards Aerith. 'He thinks I'm disgusting.' Yuffie sobbed to herself as she left the comfort he had provided.
"At least you won your freedom in the Pagoda." Tifa tried to cheer the small ninja up.
"Not quite." A voice came from outside the screen. Vincent rose quickly and instinctively reached for his gun as the screen slid open. "That won't be necessary." Godo raised his hands in a gesture of peace. Vincent released his gun and moved to lean in the corner, but continued to stare at Yuffie's father.
Tifa's face flushed in anger, "What do you mean not quite? She beat all of you!" Tifa clenched her fists tightly causes her leather gloves to groan in protest. "What more does she have to do!"
Godo looked towards his daughter, "She must face her inner demons." Godo paused before continuing, "Each of the Kisaragis have always been born with great power. But with that power comes the demons."
'I sensed no demons within the girl.' Vincent thought, 'The ones within me would have tried to release her's as well."
"They aren't true demons." Godo continued, "They represent the evil within us. There are always two. One possessing limited intelligence but containing all of the bloodlust that resides with in her. The other is all of the unfulfilled intentions and plans." Godo sighed, "It sounds like the bloodlust demon has already been destroyed." Godo looked straight into Yuffie's eyes, "Now you must finish what has begun."
'Are my demons really demons? Or are they really just me?' Vincent pondered Godo's explanation. 'Did Hojo implant them or did he just manifest them into their own minds?'
"Why does she have to fight them!" Tifa shouted, "We all have those things within all of us! We all have to contend with them every day! Tell us why!"
Godo sighed again as he knelt in front of Yuffie. She pulled herself closer to Aerith. "Because Yuffie's will eventually take control. She must face it in order to stop it and finish herself. If she doesn't she'll hurt many people and will never be able to transform."
Aerith looked up, "You mean she'll transform like you? Into that thing?"
"No," Godo shook his head, "That is my form. She will find herself in the fight within herself. Although she may never gain enough power to change."
Yuffie's eyes shoot up at this, "I'll be able to change! If someone like you can do it, I'll be able to do it easily!" Yuffie release her hold and stood shakily, her eyes took on their normal spark. "How do I fight it?"
'She's already going to fight?' Vincent was confused, 'A moment ago she was crying at the thought of the demons, now she wants to fight them?'
Godo chuckled to himself, "Such spunk from a miserable daughter." Yuffie opened her mouth to reply but Godo silenced her with a raised hand, "You will need to go within yourself and face it. No one will be able to help you. And you may not survive even if you win." Godo stood and looked her directly in the eye, "Are you ready?"
"Of course I am!" Yuffie snorted in reply. "I beat it so quick it won't know what hit it!" She spun and grinned proudly. "What do I need to do old man?"
Godo just rolled his eyes, "Use meditation and go within yourself, the demon will find you. Be ready, it will not hold back." Godo sat on the ground, motioning Yuffie to do the same. "You must go now while your new powers are unknown to even the demon. Go my daughter."
Yuffie shrugged and sat down, "Want to watch me in action huh? Didn't you get enough when I beat you silly?" She grinned as she closed her eyes. She could feel everyone's eyes on her. Her father, Aerith, and Tifa all watch her intently. Yuffie could also feel Vincent's eyes, although he seemed to not be looking at her inasmuch within her. Yuffie shuddered involuntary as she concentrated, 'Come on demon, where are you hiding?'
"Right here." The dry voice echoed. "Come to face me so soon?"
Yuffie opened her eyes and looked around, she was in the Pagoda again, although it seemed to be distorted slightly. "Yes I have, I'm the Great Ninja Yuffie! I'll beat you just like I beat the Five Mighty Gods!"
A dry chuckled reverberated from behind a pillar, "I don't think so."
Yuffie spun to face the direction the voice came from. "Show yourself! Or are you really afraid of me?" She mocked.
The chuckle became a laugh from another direction, "You know so little and still come here. What a fool."
"I'd be careful what you say!" Yuffie shouted, "I'm not the one hiding behind pillars like a coward!" Yuffie laughed.
"As you wish." The voice became stern, "Here I come." Yuffie noticed a movement in the corner of her eye and whirled to face it.
Before her stood "Me?" Yuffie was stunned. Ten feet in front of her stood a mirror image of herself. "Can't you even get your own shape?"
The demon Yuffie shook her head and chuckled, "I am you. Or rather you without any morals. I am that which you refuse to become. I am all of the dark desires that you wish you could do." Everything about the demon Yuffie was the same except for the dry empty voice that flowed from her mouth. "You can't defeat me."
"We'll see about that!" Yuffie narrowed her eyes dangerously and reached for her shuriken. Shock swept over her when she realized it wasn't there, nor was her armor. She stood before the fight of her life without anything but the green turtleneck and undone shorts. "#$!"
"I'd have to agree." The demon Yuffie pulled her own shuriken and threw it at Yuffie. "Now die!" Yuffie narrowly dodged the spinning blades, "This time there won't be any outside interference." The shuriken turned in the air and returned to demonic Yuffie.
Yuffie looked up quickly, "Outside interference? What are you talking about?" Yuffie ducked to avoid the next attack.
"The monster that killed your bloodlust." Demonic Yuffie answered as she caught the spinning weapon. "Don't tell me you thought that that thing came from with in you!" She sent the deadly instrument flying again.
Yuffie stood her ground as the shuriken flew toward her. At the last moment, she slapped her hands together catching the weapon. "Where else could it have come from?" Yuffie threw the captured weapon at the demonic Yuffie. "No one around me has psychic powers that I know of."
As the spinning blade approached the demonic Yuffie she held her hand out; the point of one of the blades came to a rest against her hand. "Did you really think my own weapon could hurt me? In this arena? You really are a fool. You don't even see what is in front of you." Yuffie stared in shock as the demonic Yuffie flicked her hand sending the weapon back again. Yuffie wasn't able to fully dodge and winced in pain when the blades nicked her shoulder.
Aerith gasped when a cut appeared on Yuffie's shoulder. "Isn't she fighting in her mind?"
Godo nodded, "But in this battle everything becomes real. If her inner self takes damage, her real body creates it. When her real body gives out her mind will falter and the demon will win." Aerith and Tifa stared at the calm man in shock.
Tifa wrung her hands in worry, "Will cure spells work? If we heal the outside she definitely win."
Godo shook his head and sighed, "These injuries are beyond materia they won't close until the battle is over, win or lose." Godo glanced between the women and Vincent, "All we can do is watch and pray." Aerith and Tifa both moved closer to Yuffie and bowed their heads in prayer. Vincent remained in his shadows.
'Does a prayer from a monster matter.' He thought darkly, 'Mine would help the demon not Yuffie.' Vincent stared at the trickle of blood from Yuffie's shoulder. 'Or would it?' And for the second time in his life and for the same person he prayed.
Yuffie ducked the demonic Yuffie's kick and sweep at the evil one's feet. Demonic Yuffie jumped to avoid and slashed with her shuriken on her decent, catching Yuffie across the stomach. Only Yuffie's quick reflexes saved it from being deep although she could feel a painful line of blood trickle down. "If only I had my stuff!" She cried. Suddenly a bright flash threw the demonic Yuffie across the room. Yuffie blinked at the source, before her stood Aerith and Tifa, each held part of her armor out to her. When Yuffie touched the armguard and leg support each flashed again and appeared in their proper place. "Thanks." She called to Aerith and Tifa as they faded. "But where's my weapon!"
"Too late!" The demonic Yuffie yelled as she dashed in with a flurry of kicks, punches, and slashes. "Your friends help won't matter!" Yuffie blocked what she could but small cuts and bruises appeared over her exposed skin and her clothing became tatters.
In the outside world Aerith and Tifa were nearly having stress fits from watching the numerous injuries their friend was receiving. "How much more can she take!" Tifa suddenly cried. "We've got to help her more somehow!" She began reaching for Yuffie.
Godo grabbed her arm firmly; "If we do anything from here we'll only break her concentration!" Tifa pulled her arm away and stared at Yuffie with tears in her eyes.
'Believe in someone? When I last believed in someone they betrayed me.' Vincent's thoughts went back to Lucrecia and Hojo. 'And yet...' His mind wondered back to the memory of Yuffie in the mist at the waterfall. 'Her eyes are so... clear.' He remembered when he looked at them the first time when she stood above his coffin. They held fear but they also shone with wonder. 'Even when she was terrified of what lay before her she still had that innocent wonder.' Vincent closed his crimson eyes. 'Maybe I can believe... just for a moment.'
Yuffie was becoming desperate, her armor helped but without a weapon she couldn't match the demonic Yuffie's attacks. While she stood bleeding trapped in a corner, the demonic Yuffie sneered at her with only a few bruises forming. "Ready to give up yet?" Its dry voice had a hint of humor. "You can't possibly win."
Yuffie stood defiantly, "I beat Gorki, Shake, Chekhov, Staniv, and my father. I won't let some petty fake beat me!" She glowered at the chuckling doppelganger. "I have to help AVALANCHE beat that moron Sephiroth!"
"Your choice." The demonic Yuffie laughed, "Time to end this." She charged Yuffie with the shuriken above her head, with the obvious intent to split Yuffie in two. "DIE!" She swung the weapon.
Yuffie raised her arms to try to deflect the blow, 'I'm dead.' She thought. She waited for the blade to cleave through her arm but heard a loud clang just above her. When she parted her arms, her eyes widened in surprise, before her stood a flowing red cape with intermingling ebony hair. He had used his golden claw to catch her doppelganger's weapon and hold her dangling in the air. "Vinnie!" Yuffie cried.
"Vinnie?" The demonic Yuffie smirked. "What can you do?" Almost in answer Vincent's image flung the offending one across the room, she smashed into the wall and slumped to the floor. Vincent turned to the real Yuffie.
"Thanks." Yuffie began. "How did you?" Vincent cut her off by abruptly reaching within his cloak and revealing her shuriken. Yuffie grabbed it happily, "Thank you!" Vincent simply stared at her with his emotionless face before vanishing. Yuffie held the weapon too her for a moment before fixing her gaze upon the rising demon. "Now we can finish this." She smirked.
"Don't think that will save you." The demon laughed, "I'm still not done!" With that, the too opposites charged each other; sparks flying from each collision of the oversized weapons. They seemed to blur as they each tried different attacks, finally Yuffie landed a powerful kick too the demons face, sending it reeling across the room. Yuffie smirked when she saw the demon spit out several teeth.
"Not so easy when your opponents armed is it!" Yuffie took her turn at snickering. "Shall we continue?" Yuffie assumed her normal fighting stance.
The demon began laughing again, "Like I said, I'm not done yet." She continued to laugh as she rose slowly into the air, "Now feel my true power!" A thick black fog suddenly consumed the demon. Yuffie stared into the swirling mass until it burst outwards into a shower of shards. Yuffie gasped at what stood before her. The demon was now ten feet tall. Its skin had become pitch black covered in glowing red runes. The demons face had become monstrous with cruel fangs and even crueler black eyes. Wings spread from the demons back, the dark flesh stretched between the wing bones as the demon beat the air. Her clothes had become onyx armor. Her shuriken had enlarged and was now covered in black flames. "Let us finish this." The demon hissed its coal eyes locked onto the now shuddering ninja.