Chapter 23: Midnight Revelations.
The entire town followed AVALANCHE to the Pagoda praising Yuffie's abilities. The group was showered with cherry blossoms as they walked through the city. Everyone's hearts were filled with joy. Yuffie soaked in all the adoration. She waved to the crowd; she egged them on when they began to quiet, all while having a great time. She looked between the crowd and her comrades, Cloud, Barret, and Cid all had a look of pride on their faces. Aerith and Tifa cheered the loudest. Cat Sith used his megaphone, albeit only when he was next to someone. Nanaki followed with what could only be called a smile on his snout. Yuffie's mood fell and her smiled faded when she couldn't find the last member of the group, the ebony-haired shadow-walker.
Yuffie pulled Aerith closer to herself, "Where's Vinnie? I thought he was just behind us when we left my house." An edge of worried betrayed itself within her voice. Aerith didn't have a chance to reply as the crowd swept Yuffie towards the door of the Pagoda. On the doorstep stood the Five Mighty Gods, their robes shimmering in the morning light.
"Kisaragi Yuffie, my daughter. You have challenged the Gods and been found worthy!" Godo bellowed. "You have proven yourself in battle..."
Yuffie tuned her father out as she scanned the crowd looking for the shimmer of red that would reveal Vincent. 'Where are you?' Yuffie continued her search. She glanced at Aerith but only received a shrug from the flower girl. Yuffie was about to continue looking for the vanished man when she noticed Tifa motioning back toward Godo with urgency written across her features. Yuffie snapped her attention back to the winded man beside her.
"...you have made Da Chao proud. Now to conclude the ceremony I will bestow upon you Wutai's greatest treasure." Godo reached within his heavy robes and revealed an ornate pouch; golden fabric interlaced complex designs through the black silk. Godo carefully reached within it and revealed a faintly glowing red orb. "I, Godo Leader of Wutai, grant unto you our God and Protector; Leviathan." Godo lifted the shocked Yuffie's hand and gingerly placed the orb in her palm. Then in a voice just above a whisper, "Wutai's future now lies within your hands Yuffie. Make us all proud." Godo turned back to the crowd and his speech.
Yuffie stared into the swirling depths of the crystal; she could almost see the snake-god's writhing form. She slowly raised it and held it at arms length. Suddenly the mists within the orb cleared and Yuffie could see through it clearly. A smile formed upon her lips at the sight revealed. In the shadows of her father's house, leaning with seeming indifference against the wall, stood Vincent Valentine. 'Thanks Vinnie.'
Vincent watched the small ninja's face brighten when she looked deeply into the orb, 'Congratulations.' He thought solemnly before straightening and returning to the heart of town.
The rest of the day blurred by, robes were piled atop the young shinobi, gifts filled her house, and an endless stream of congratulators funneled by. Finally, as the sun began setting again Yuffie closed her doors.
"Whew." Yuffie sighed as she collapsed against the door, "Now that's what the Great Ninja Yuffie deserves." Yuffie pulled herself onto her futon. "I'm beat."
Cloud chuckled slightly, "I suppose you would be. Now back to serious matters. What's our next destination? We don't have any idea where Sephiroth is headed now." Strained looks came from most of the group.
"Temple of the Ancients." Cid suddenly piped up. "Rufus said something about needing the Bronc to follow Sephiroth there. Supposed to be south of Junon." He flicked his cigarette out the window, drawing another into his mouth but not lighting it due to the stern looks of Tifa and Aerith.
"Why didn't you tell us that before?" Cloud asked exasperatedly.
Cid just shrugged, "Slipped my mind."
Cloud rubbed his head, "So tomorrow we go find this Temple of the Ancients. Alright time to turn in." Cloud held up his hand before Tifa could speak, "I know guys downstairs, besides our hostess is already sleepy." Everyone, save Vincent, smirked at the sight of Yuffie yawning broadly. "Good night." Cloud waved as he stood and descended the stairs. The men all followed and as night wore on the party silenced and the town became still.
Vincent stared at the ceiling in his endless waking. 'Nightmares would only come.' He excused himself. His thoughts wandered to the small woman on the floor above, he remembered the pain on her face during her inner battle and his own spark of worry that had crept into his chest. His mind then flitted to the morning after when her face was filled with joy and rapture at the summon materia. He berated himself when the corners of his mouth had twitched nearly drawing a smile from his lips. 'I am a monster, a freak, never to know my own humanity or others ever again.'
The demons within him laughed and cackled. The three had worried that they would lose their host to this new intruder but the host was pushing himself away without their help. They waded through his memories and force him to remember glimpses of the experiments, Hojo's face twisted into a sneer as he looked down. His eyes burned with an inner madness.
Vincent sat up as he tried to push the images from his mind. He pressed his human hand to his face, his claw clenched into a tight fist at his side. 'Be gone!' He mentally shouted at the demons. The three demons just laughed as they continued their assault. Vincent rose and rushed from the house, with a small leap he perched himself atop the roof and continued to fight with his inner demons. Small droplets of sweat began appearing across his face.
Yuffie tossed and turned in her blankets. Her once flowery dreams had been invaded by the shadows again. "I'm not afraid of you this time!" She yelled into the shadows. "I don't know what you are but I'm not running this time!" Yuffie stood defiantly as the shadows pushed closer. Yuffie suddenly felt the ground beneath her crumble away. "What!" she cried
Yuffie struggled to grab onto the edge, her fingers barely latched onto the edge. When she looked down into the pit her eyes widened in fear. Below her swirled fire and shadow, it seemed to be risings and lapping at the edges of the pit, as if inviting her to come down. Yuffie desperately tried to scramble up to solid ground. When she was finally able to grab the ledge with her other hand, she sighed in relief. Her sigh turned to a scream as the ledge crumbled to dust and she fell. "Help!"
She plummeted with a splash into the bubbling pool. Memories of her life flooded her mind, all the pain from her mother's death, the torment of her father's neglect, and the hurt of being singled out from the rest of the children. "Stop." She pleaded as she grabbed her head. "I don't want to remember! Leave me alone!" Pain suddenly coursed through her body, the fire licked her skin eagerly, Yuffie could feel the pain but her skin remained whole. "Help!" she cried again as her world slowly began to become filled with darkness.
"Yuffie wake up!" someone answered.
Yuffie was freed from the torment and was flung back into reality. She sat bolt upright in bed, coming eye to eye with a very concerned Tifa. "What's going on?" Tifa asked.
Yuffie pulled her knees up to her chin. "I don't know." She answered as she stared blankly across the room.
Aerith joined Tifa, "Is there anything you want to talk about? Sometimes that helps with nightmares." She offered.
Yuffie just shook her head and rose, "I just need some air." Yuffie quickly disappeared through the door. Aerith giggled slightly, Tifa gave her a questioning look.
"What's so funny?" Tifa asked.
Aerith's grin grew broader, "Vincent's already out there."
A grin appeared on Tifa's face, "Oh I get it." The pair crept to the door and carefully listened.
Yuffie stood outside her home and looked over the city of her birth. A slight wind blew across the city. Yuffie ignored the sound of rustling cloth. "Huh?" She turned to locate the sound, her eyes finally rose to the roof, she nearly gasped at the sight. Vincent crouched atop the tiles and stared into the sky. His hair and cape flowed in the breeze; the moon cast an ethereal light on his lithe form. "Vinnie?" she called quietly. Vincent made no response. Yuffie took a step toward the wall but froze when she saw Vincent's glowing eyes. She could see the pain and torment shining from within them. "Vinnie?" she called again slightly louder. Vincent snapped from his thoughts and when he looked at Yuffie the torment no longer shone within his eyes.
The two stared at each other. Yuffie suddenly became very aware that she was wearing only a blue knee length nightgown with chocobos dotting it. Her face flushed but she forced herself to speak, "Couldn't sleep either?" Vincent simply returned his gaze to the sky. Yuffie felt slight relief that she was free from his penetrating stare. With careful thought to her dignity she climbed up onto the roof. She strolled carefully over and sat next to the dark gunslinger. She followed his gaze to the moon. "Wha'ca lookin' at Vinnie?" Vincent kept silent.
Yuffie lowered her gaze back to the man who had deemed himself monster. She was surprised to see that he looked tired. "Have a nightmare too?" Vincent didn't answer but one of his eyebrows arched slightly. Yuffie took it as a question about her nightmare. "Mine was pretty bad. I was surrounded by shadows and then fell into a burning vortex of pain. How bout you?"
Vincent was almost startled by her nonchalance. He had heard her call out in terror and now she was relaxed. 'Spirited child.' He thought solemnly.
Yuffie waited for a moment before she continued, "Aerith said talking about nightmares helps." Yuffie offered when Vincent seemed likely not to answer. "What do you think?"
Vincent seemed to be lost in thought but suddenly spoke, "Singing."
Yuffie glanced at him in surprise. 'He answered me.' She felt her face flush again. "Huh? What was that?" she covered.
Vincent still did not take his gaze from the stars, "Singing helps soothe nightmares."
Yuffie was startled by this answer and was quiet in thought. "Really?" Vincent made no further attempt to answer. The stars stared down at the pair. The stillness of the night was quietly broken as Yuffie began to sing. Her voice was softly sweet. The words were barely more than a whisper but seemed to drift over the night air, filling the town with quiet melody. Vincent turned sharply to look at Yuffie.
She sat with her legs curled up to her side, her arms delicately folded, and her head bowed with eyes closed. Her song enthralled Vincent as he continued to stare at her tiny form. He watched her lips form the words as she sang. Suddenly the demons within him began to rage, he could feel them pushing to escape and take over his body. But as he continued to look at the small teenager and listen to her song the demons were pushed down. He felt all the strain on his mental barriers lighten as her song ended.
Yuffie could feel Vincent staring at her, his eyes penetrating down to her soul, but she remained still. Vincent snapped his eyes away from her as she began to open her eyes. "You were right." She smiled, "That did help. Thanks Vinnie." She moved quickly up to him and before he could react hugged him. "Night." She called as she released him and scampered off the roof.
"Thank you Yuffie." Vincent called quietly. He lifted his gaze back to the stars.
Yuffie was blushing furiously as she entered the house. "I can't believe I did that." She looked up at a sudden giggle from Aerith. "You were listening!" she accused. Aerith remained silent. "Don't try that with me! I know you two were eavesdropping, you two are in each other's beds!"
Aerith and Tifa finally rose with guilty looks. "We couldn't help ourselves!" They said in unison.