Chapter 25: Nice afternoon.
The crew of adventures eventually retired for the night. Leaving only Vincent alone with his thoughts. The night was long for the gunslinger as the demons continued their assault of memories. Vincent shook from the memories but refused to give into the monsters will of transformation. "I can't endanger them."
Morning finally broke the night, as the sun crept into the room Vincent was able to force the demons back into the depths of his soul. Slowly the group awoke and gathered about one of the inns tables. The adventurers devoured breakfast before they returned to the Tiny Bronco. "Oh no." Yuffie moaned at the sight of the sea-craft, only a ripple of laughter arose to comfort her.
The engine roared to life and AVALANCHE's journey continued. Silence fell over the boat except for Aerith's excited voice. "I can't wait to get there."
"We know." Cloud smiled.
Aerith grinned sheepishly, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to be annoying."
"You ain't annoying." Cid answered before Cloud, "Me, I'm #$( glad that someone else is making noise other than the brat's vomiting." Cid ducked as a potion flew just above his skull. "Besides we'd all be like the vampire if no one was happy."
"Cid!" Tifa started.
"Well just look at him!" Cid defended.
Vincent ignored the conversations behind him. He sat with his back toward the group; he could feel his cape being pulled by the wind but paid it no heed. Yuffie how ever was enthralled by his visage. The sea spray glistening over his clothing, his cape rippling followed closely by the black sea of his hair. For once she was happy so be seasick, it allowed her to hide the blush in her cheeks.
The day wore on, the coastline they were following disappeared making the group feel alone in the blue world of the seas. After hours of travel land finally crested into view, "Ya think dat's it?" Barret asked.
"Don't know." Cloud shrugged, "Land there Cid." Cid gave a sarcastic salute and beached the small plane. Everyone slowly disembarked from the craft, stretching their sore, cramped muscles. "Think this is the right place?" Cloud asked absently. Before them lay a forest of thick trees. An aura of the past seemed to seep from the branches. The trees looked upon the travelers with almost a sense of ancient beginnings.
"Its here." Aerith suddenly replied. Everyone looked to her, "I can feel it, this way." Aerith began walking into the forest, everyone followed her with mild shock, never before had the gentle flower-girl ever been so forceful. The group walked for only an hour in the thick forest before a cleared opened before them. They all stared in amazement at what stood within the clearing. "The temple of the Ancients." Aerith barely whispered before running up the steps.
"Wait!" Cloud called and gave chase, followed closely by the rest. "Aerith!"
"Sephiroth... Keystone... temple's key..." echoed from the temple's darkened entrance. Aerith jumped back with her staff raised. Slowly a robed figure stumbled out of the doorway.
"EWWW! Another one of those things!" Yuffie said with revulsion.
"What's it saying?" Nanaki approached the figure cautiously. "It's saying something..." The figure collapsed into a heap. "I couldn't make it out." Nanaki apologized.
"It said something about a keystone being the temple's key." Aerith said as she looked with pity at the figure. Suddenly a small breeze surrounded the black-robed figure and lifted it into the air, as it rose into the air it faded into nothingness followed closely by the breeze that had lifted it.
"So I guess we need the Keystone." Cloud shrugged as he continued staring at where the figure had been. He turned to the group, "Any ideas?"
"We could try that old collector friend of mine." Cid offered.
"Who?" Cloud replied.
"An old friend of mine. He's been collecting things for most of his life. Might know something about it." Cid shrugged. "Last I heard he was south of the Gold Saucer. Need to see him anyways the #$#$ owes me poker money."
"Great another boat ride." Yuffe whined.
Cid just grinned, "Yep."
SOUTH OF GOLD SAUCER.
"We can't just leave it behind!" Cid yelled. "Someone might steal it!"
"You didn't have a problem in Junon." Cloud countered.
"Because I could chain it up there!" Cid said furiously, "Some stupid !#$ could just walk by and take it from here!"
"Fine!" Cloud gave in, "Stay and guard it then! We'll be back within two hours."
"No way you leavin' me behind you !#$$!" Cid continued his tirade, "That stupid !#$ owes me money and I intend to collect!"
"I will stay."
"What you wanna- huh?" Cloud and Cid both stopped and stared at the speaker. "Say again Vincent."
"I will guard the plane." Vincent replied.
"That solves the problem then." Cid said happily, "Let's go." Cid began to walk inland. With only quick good-byes the group began to depart, save one.
"Aren't you coming Yuffie?" Tifa called to the ninja who was staring at the dark gunslinger.
"Yes, I mean no... well..." Yuffie stuttered, "We shouldn't just leave him alone should we? I mean there are monsters and shinra."
"Then stay with him Yuffie." Tifa called, "We'll be back in about two hours. Set up camp please it'll be dark by then."
"Ok!" Yuffie called as the group faded over one of the hills. 'What did I do that for?' She mentally slapped her self. Already she could feel an awkward silence descend upon them. Of course the silence came from Vincent and the awkwardness Yuffie provided. Yuffie glanced to Vincent as she began to unload the night's equipment. Yuffie steeled herself, "Aren't ya gonna help me Vinnie?" She tried to tease. Vincent said nothing but began helping to set up the camp. 'Great now he's mad. Nice one Yuffie, the only one to talk to and you make him mad.'
After a half hour the camp was prepared, Yuffie sat poking the small fire while Vincent stared into the coming darkness. 'This is boring.' Yuffie sighed to herself. 'I'm gonna go crazy!' Yuffie flicked a small stick out of the fire; it sat in the dry grass smoking slightly. She was surprised when a metal-shod boot crushed the faint glow. "Oh, hi Vinnie." Yuffie stuttered. Vincent quickly doused the fire. "What'd you-" Yuffie began but was silenced when Vincent closed his gloved hand over her mouth. When Yuffie looked into his eyes she was frightened by the dangerous glint that shone from within them.
Vincent motioned into the darkness and help up four metal digits. Yuffie nodded and Vincent removed his hand and motioned for her to remain where she was. Yuffie looked to him in confusion but he had already turned into the shadows. Yuffie tried to keep his form in view but quickly lost him. 'How does he do that!' Yuffie waited in the darkness, desperately trying to pick out any sound, either of Vincent or of the four enemies. Suddenly she caught faint voices on the breeze.
"The light was in this direction."
"They must have spotted us."
"No, they just went to their tents. It'll be easy pickin's men." A murmur of chuckles rippled threw the men. "Just remember that the women aren't to be killed until after we are sure of which one is Aerith."
'They're still after her?' Yuffie was surprised. Yuffie cringed as the last man spoke.
"So we get to have fun with the others after right." His voice was thick, with obvious intentions strewn through his words.
'Over my dead body you will.' Yuffie's anger began to rise higher. 'I'll show them what 'women' can do!'
"Ok men, split up and converge upon where the light last was. And be quiet!" Yuffie nearly laughed out loud as the men tried to do so. She could hear each one crunch twigs and leafs under their heavy boots.
'Morons.' Yuffie snickered. Suddenly one of the crunching boots stopped. 'Did they hear me?' Within a moment another pair stopped. 'Is that Vincent?' The last two suddenly quickened, Yuffie quickly stood and turned in the direction that one of the men were coming from. She prepared to unleash her shuriken as the man's outline emerged from the darkness. "Too easy." Yuffie smiled and waited for the man.
She felt the cold ring of a gun's barrel press against the small of her back, "Indeed. Drop your weapon." Yuffie cursed herself for not paying attention to how much faster this man was from the other. The other man finally approached them, breathing slightly heavy.
"Can I have her?" The beefy man asked in his thick voice, lust oozing over his words.
The man behind Yuffie's back didn't even acknowledge the lewd question, "Where are Phil and John?" The heavier man just shrugged. "Fine give me some rope and check the tents for the others." He ordered the beefy man. "Remember Nick that we kill the men spare the women. NO mistakes this time." Yuffie felt her hands being firmly tied together. "On your knees." The man ordered with a quick shove that force Yuffie to fall face first into the ground.
Yuffie rolled to her back, "You son of a-"
"That's not what a lady should say." The man cut her off. "Now where are the others?" Yuffie just stuck her tongue out and turned her head. Her eyes widened when she saw Vincent pulling his claw out of Nick's throat. Yuffie quickly recovered from her surprised and kicked the last man squarely in the crotch. He slumped to the ground in pain.
Yuffie flipped up to her feet then jumped back through her bindings so her hands were in front of her. She leaned over and cut the rope on her weapon's edge. 'There's more than one way to untie a knot!' She though proudly, but before she could even straighten the man grabbed her arm. "Leggo you sicko!" The man began to tighten his grip but his hand fell limp when a bullet passed through his skull. Yuffie turned to Vincent, "I had him!" she fumed.
Vincent silently approached her, "Are you alright?" He asked as he easily lifted the corpse.
"You could have been a little quicker there." Yuffie prodded, "They did tie me up and all."
Vincent turned away carrying the two dead men. "I apologize."
"You should!" Yuffie laughed. "I guess I'll start the fire again so Cloud doesn't get lost on the way back." Only Vincent's fading figure was her answer.
Cloud and the others returned as predicted. Yuffie jumped up when they appeared, "So how'd it go?" she asked cheerily.
Cloud shook his head, "Fairly well. He had it but sold it to Dio."
"Who's Dio?" Yuffie was perplexed.
"The owner of the Gold Saucer." Tifa replied as she and Aerith began to cook, while the others surrounded the fire.
Yuffie began jumping for joy, "Yay! Another trip to the Gold Saucer then!"
"Sorry but we'll only be there enough time to get the stone then leave." Cloud burst her bubble.
"Aw nuts." Yuffie sank to the ground.
Aerith looked to Yuffie with a smile, "Anything 'happen' while we were gone?"
Yuffie hid the blush in her cheeks by leaning away from the fire, "No nothing really."