Chapter 24: Old wounds.
The sun rose to greet Vincent still atop the roof. His position unchanged since the night before. His face stern and unreadable yet his eyes stirred in thought, memories of Yuffie's song still echoed throughout his plagued soul. Even the demons were silenced by the melodies that shimmered in his mind. Below he could hear the others stirring from their rest.
One by one the group emerged from the house to greet the morning. Vincent watched silently until they had all gathered. "Come join us Vincent!" Aerith called up towards him. Vincent gracefully flipped from the roof and landed lightly on the ground. "Have a good night?" Aerith asked with a hint of amusement. Vincent made no reply and simply leaned against the wall of the house.
"Alright everyone!" Cloud called, "Lets mosey!" Cloud lead the group through the still slumbering town into the misty fields. Through a few monsters they returned to the Tiny Bronco. With only a few cussings from Cid the small plane came to life. They all carefully boarded the tiny craft. Yuffie turned green before she even stood on the wing.
"So where to?" Tifa asked.
"Junon." Cloud shrugged. "All we know is the Temple is south of Junon so we go there and head south."
"Can't we just walk?" Yuffie commented sickly.
Cloud rolled his eyes, "Unless you can walk on water, no." He turned to Cid, "To Junon." Cid maneuvered the tiny plane into the ocean's billowing waves. AVALANCHE chatted over the clapping waves, Yuffie's sickness, and Vincent's silence.
HALF A WORLD LATER.
"There's that $$ cannon." Cid shouted as Junon's massive cannon shimmered into view.
Cloud looked to the setting sun, "Hmph." He snorted.
Tifa looked at him with a questioning look, "What's wrong?"
Cloud shook his blonde spikes, "It took us a nearly a month to cross the continent, now we're back in less then a day."
Cid looked up proudly, "Of course! My machines are the only way to travel! Course if I had the Highwind..." His voice trailed off, a glaze fell over his eyes.
Even seasick Yuffie couldn't resist, "Anyone home?" She asked weakly as she waved her hand in front of the pilots face. "AVALANCHE to Cid!"
Cid snapped out of his reverie, "Get your #$ out of my face!" Yuffie just snickered. "You think that's funny?" Cid suddenly began rocking the plane-boat side to side. Very quickly Yuffie's snickers turned to retching over the wing. "That'll teach ya' brat." Cid smiled to himself. "Well, what ya wanna do?" he turned to Cloud.
Cloud looked up towards the rapidly darkening sky. "We better stay here for the night. We'll only get lost if we try to find the Temple in the dark." Cid nodded and turned the ship towards the shore. He then carefully beached the damaged plane.
Barret looked up towards the gigantic fortress, "We stayin' down here o' up there?"
Cloud shrugged, "Since the guard can be bribed we'll just go into Upper Junon. We'll need to fully supply for the temple. We don't know what's waiting for us."
Yuffie jumped off the plane and fell face first into the beach, "Finally! No more of that stupid thing!"
"WHAT!" Cid roared, "My #$# machine got your bratty butt here so you should be grateful!"
Yuffie rolled from her stomach to her side, "Maybe if you were a better pilot I wouldn't get so seasick." She teased.
Cid's face turned red as the cigarette turned completely to ash. "Better pilot! ME! I'll kill you brat!" With that he dived for Yuffie. Yuffie leaped out of the way and bolted towards the small town laughing. Cid tried to follow but Yuffie quickly outdistanced him. Everyone laughed at the pair's antics, save one.
Vincent watched the small ninja disappear into the town. "Well, shall we go into town?" Cloud motioned everyone forward. They approached the elevator, bribed the guard, and soon emerged into the busy streets of the fortress town. Yuffie suddenly reappeared from the crowds.
"So what are the plans Spike?" She said too happily.
Cloud gave her a suspicious look but let it drop, "First we re-supply then find someplace to stay for the night." Cloud gave a quick glance to the multitude of buildings lining the mountain. "Anyone know a good place to stay?"
Cid's eyes brightened, "There used to be this #$ good place at the other end of the town. We'll stay there." Cid immediately began walking away from the group, "It's called Blue Skies. Come on Barret let's go have a drink!" After reading the light in Cid's eyes Barret quickly followed the brazen pilot.
Cloud laughed as the two disappeared into the crowds, "Well that's the rooms for tonight. Now for the supplies..." He turned to Aerith and Tifa. "Can you two handle that?"
Aerith gave him a grin and nodded. Tifa gave him a questioning look for a moment before answering, "You want us to do it so that you can join Cid and Barret huh?"
Cloud shook his head in denial, "No, no. I just thought... that since you two do most of the cooking... you would know what you need."
Tifa laughed and turned away, "Alright Cloud, you can go join them. We'll take care of the shopping." With that Aerith and Tifa merged into the crowd laughing. Leaving a forsaken Cloud.
"Well what about the rest of us?" Yuffie piped up. "What does our great leader desire of us?" Her voice was thick with sarcasm, eyes rolling.
Cloud turned to her, "Anything you want. I'm going to the hotel to check in." Cloud followed the direction that Cid had disappeared in.
"I am attracting far too much attention." Nanaki spoke up. "I'll also retire for the evening." He trotted after Cloud.
"Well Vinnie that leaves just you and me!" Yuffie laughed. "What'cha wanna do?" Vincent said nothing as he began walking away. "That was rude! Where ya goin?" Yuffie ran to catch him, but again Vincent did not answer. "I asked you a question! Are you just going to ignore me?" Yuffie's voice became slightly annoyed. Vincent continued to walk. Yuffie suddenly stopped, "Fine! I'll have my own fun!" With that she turned and ran into the crowd.
As Vincent walked down the street the demons within him forced the memories of the bloody missions he had done in the town. Vincent glanced down an alleyway only to see the mirage of his younger self calmly executing an anti-Shinra protester. Vincent moved quickly away from the memory, but the demons wouldn't rest. Vincent was forced to relive all of the atrocities he had committed.
People parted as he struggled down the street, no one was sure what to make of this dark stranger. Suddenly Vincent froze and his eyes widened. He had wandered to the edge of the town overlooking the sea. Before him stood the images of him and a young girl struggling. The girl had thrown a dagger at President Shinra during his parade. To the girl's misfortune one of the President's bodyguards had jumped in the way, saving Shinra's life. The President was quickly rushed from the scene but not before giving Vincent an order, "Kill her."
As head of the Turks Vincent could only obey the order. He tracked the girl down and cornered her against the railing. When the girl saw she had no escape she threw down her weapons and challenged him to an honorable fight. Vincent had absently noted that her weapons were from Wutai design. Vincent agreed to the fight and dropped his gun.
Her battle skill had surprised Vincent. She threw punches and kicks with speed and accuracy. Vincent and the girl traded blows, her attacks were light against his heavier frame. His blows tossed the girl about until her body finally gave out and she collapsed in exhaustion. When Vincent looked down upon the girl she looked up at him with eyes blazing in hate. Vincent slowly picked up his gun. "No." the girl's voice cracked. "Let me die with honor." Vincent holstered his gun and stared at the girl expectantly. He waited for her to end her life with one of her own weapons, but instead the girl pulled herself up.
"What are you doing?" Vincent asked with mild curiosity. "Don't you want to end your own life?"
The girl's eyes flashed with anger, "You can't escape it that easy, I won't take my on life." The girl had pulled herself up to a standing position although she still hung tightly to the railing. "My blood will be on your hands!"
The present Vincent reached out to stop his past self. Vincent's hand passed through the image uninhibited. The demons laughed. Vincent was forced to watch as his former self calmly walked up to the young girl, "As you wish." With those words the blue-suited Vincent pushed the hapless girl over the railing. The current Vincent pressed his hands against his ears to try and block out the echoes of the girl's scream.
Finally the girl's voice faded, Vincent lowered his hands to his lap and looked at them. He was repulsed to see them covered in blood. 'I'm a soulless killing machine.' He closed his eyes tightly as the memory of Yuffie's form on the Wutai roof reappeared in his mind. The demons replaced the small girl's image with that of Yuffie's and Vincent watched himself throw Yuffie to her doom. 'They're right.' Vincent sank to his knees, 'How could a monster ever feel friendship with humans?' Vincent's mind cleared as the demons exhausted themselves. 'I must ensure AVALANCHES safety. I must stay apart from them.' With those solemn thoughts Vincent rose and staggered to the hotel.
He glided past Cloud, Barret, and Cid at the bar; then quietly slipped into his room. Nanaki was quietly curled in the corner evidently sleeping soundly. Vincent crossed the room and leaned into the opposite corner. 'For their protection.'