Chapter 31: Towering heights.
Yuffie felt warmth, very slight warmth that the biting artic wind tried to sheer away, but it was warmth nonetheless. 'What? What's going on?' Her mind desperately tried to force its way through the frozen fields of her body, "Mmmm." Was all it could manage before falling back into darkness.
A set of eyes glanced down at the small ninja currently cradled in strong arms, alarmed by the sound. But when no noise followed, those eyes returned their gaze forward, growing intent when the destination came into view through the blizzard. RAP
After only a moment the door opened, "Ahh you've returned." An old man stared down at the freezing ninja. "Hurry, bring her inside." He stepped aside to allow entrance. "Is she the last one?" A small nod was his reply. "Good." The old man sighed in relief. "These people are lucky to have you for a friend."
The old man had turned his head so he didn't notice the small wince the other made at the word "friend."
"Bring her here." The old man motioned to a space on the floor next to a pile of sopping wet clothes and a huge malfunctioning doll. When the ninja was placed gently on the floor the old man immediately went to work, "She's worse then the others." A slight raise of an eyebrow earned an explanation. "The others were simply soaked, their own body heat kept the water in their clothes thawed. This one has been out there for too long, the water has turned to ice." The old man's cheeks flushed, "You will have to remove ALL her clothing."
A tarnished gold claw clenched at the old man's words. "You are certain." More statement then question.
The old man ran his hand through his thinning hair, "At least you're her friend." The old man stood up, "I'll leave you to it." He motioned to the closet; "There are still a few fresh clothes in there. Put them on her then wrap her in blankets and put her with the others." With a blush still on his face the old man exited the room and closed the door behind him. 'Feel bad for the boy, at least the rest could keep their underwear.'
Vincent stood over the shivering Yuffie, contemplating what he was about to do. 'No monster deserves to see such innocence.' A sound interrupted his thoughts, one he had heard once before. Yuffie's teeth were chattering again, most of her body had turned a pale blue. "Forgive me Yuffie." He said aloud before beginning his work.
"..." Vincent's inhuman sense of smell caught the scent of blood. He looked over her quickly till he found the gash in her arm. He quickly cast Cure on it and was pleased when the magic sparks flitted over the wound and sealed it quickly, leaving only the faintest of white scars.
"Remember to make sure she's dry before you wrap her in fresh blankets." The old man's voice came from the other room.
Vincent quickly finished removing the rest of Yuffie's clothes, being as gentlemanly as possible. When his first task was done he quickly dried her off and dressed her in the clothes the old man mentioned before. As Vincent carried the comatose shin obi he noticed that her lips had already begun to lose their blue tinge to the normal pink one. He entered a room filled with beds latched to the walls, a roaring fire burned, filling the room with blessed heat. Vincent carefully laid the small ninja on the last remaining bed, adding one more blanket, before stepping away from the beds.
"..." Vincent looked over the beds, only a day before he had left these people in the middle of the night. Now he stood before them once again. 'Friend... me?' Was his only thought as he stared over the sleeping forms of AVALANCHE. He stood there until the old man came in to stir and feed the fire.
"Come on." The old man motioned to him, "If you're not going to sleep at least come have a hot drink with me." Vincent glanced over the beds once more before following. "Have a seat." The old man motioned to a plain but finely built chair as he poured two mugs full of tea. Vincent took the seat and the mug when it was offered to him.
'I no longer need food, but this tea smells good.' Vincent thought to himself as he carefully sipped the steaming liquid.
The old man took the seat across from him. "Shoot!" He snapped his fingers, "With all that has been going on I forgot to introduce myself." He extended his hand to Vincent, "My name's George Holzoff, glad to meet you Mr.?"
"Vincent Valentine." Vincent replied but did not take Mr. Holzoff's hand.
Mr. Holzoff returned his hand to his mug and sipped. The two sat in silence as they sipped their tea, for a while. Mr. Holzoff's chuckle broke the silence, when Vincent glanced at the man he explained. "I haven't had this much excitement in some time." He leaned back in his chair. "Would have given a hundred gil to see my face when that big black man burst through the door dragging that huge doll and the boy with the huge sword. Nearly had a heart attack when he ran out the door after I said I would help the blonde boy." He sighed, "Too bad the next time I saw him you where carrying him and that first lady over your shoulders." He gave Vincent a long look. "Just how did you carry him anyways?"
"..." Was Vincent's reply.
"Probably none of my business anyways." Mr. Holzoff took another sip of his tea. "You really are a strong one, you still didn't look tired even after you carried that animal and that guy with the goggles." Mr. Holzoff's brow wrinkled in thought, "I think I only saw your face change expression twice." He watched Vincent very carefully, "When I said the young girl was worse then the others and then when I said all her clothes had to come off."
Vincent's face remained unchanged as he carefully sipped his drink.
Mr. Holzoff shrugged before finishing his drink and rising from the table. "I can tell you're the type of person who isn't going to sleep tonight, so I'll just be on my way to bed." Mr. Holzoff nodded his head at Vincent before disappearing into a room and closing the door.
Vincent continued to watch the snow blow past the window as he took another sip of his tea. Eventually he rose, walked over to the sink and poured his nearly full mug down the drain. 'Smells good, tastes awful.'
DAWN.
The morning rays revealed that the blizzard had slowed to a steady snowfall. The wind that had torn through the glacier was no more. Mr. Holzoff opened his door and gasped in surprise. "Well I'll be." His living room had become a drying rack. All of the sopping wet clothes from the night before hung upon ropes, drying puddles below them.
Mr. Holzoff walked through the forest of now dry clothes toward the bunkroom. He slowly creaked the door open and for the second time gasped in surprise. The fire was still blazing and Vincent was still standing watch.
"You didn't sleep at all did you." The question more a comment, to which Vincent only shook his head slightly. "Well I didn't really expect you to." Mr. Holzoff looked over the occupied beds, "They should be waking up shortly." As if on cue a growl was heard coming from beneath a set of blankets. Mr. Holzoff smirked, "Told you."
Vincent made no reply but to go to the now moving bundle and quickly unwrapped the fiery form of Nanaki. Nanaki's golden eye darted about the place. "What happened?"
Mr. Holzoff nearly jumped to the ceiling, "IT CAN TALK!"
Nanaki sighed slightly, "I am Nanaki, not "it" and yes I can speak." Mr. Holzoff only continued to stare. "Yes?" Nanaki asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Mr. Holzoff ran his hand through his thinning hair, "Well I'll be..." His normal cheer returned, "Would have given a hundred to see my face just then!" He laughed.
A single golden eye rolled, "Indeed." Nanaki returned his gaze to Vincent, "What happened? The last thing I remember is trying to pull Cid through the snow." He began trying to rise.
"I wouldn't do that just yet." Mr. Holzoff rushed over and put his hands gently on the great beast, "You need to let your head finish saying hello to the rest of you." Nanaki only nodded in agreement when he felt a small wave of dizziness begin to creep over him. Nanaki looked pointedly at Vincent.
Vincent returned the gaze, "You fell unconscious, I brought you here."
Mr. Holzoff interrupted before Nanaki could ask another question, "Why don't we save the questions for later when everyone is awake?" Nanaki gave Vincent one final look before nodding to Mr. Holzoff. "Great. Ok now you should be ok to start walking." Mr. Holzoff motioned to the next room "Lets get some food in you." Nanaki shakily rose and followed as Vincent watched the pair disappear through the door.
Vincent's thoughts turned to the near future, 'What will my answer be? How will they take the answer I give them?' Vincent's train of thoughts was interrupted by a low moan from another pile of blankets.
For the next hour AVALANCHE slowly awoke from their slumber until only two remained in the realm of dreams. "Shouldn't they have woken up by now?" Cloud nervously asked Mr. Holzoff.
"Patience." The old climber replied, "They'll be around in due time." Tifa wrung her hands in worry while Barret paced back and forth. Nanaki seemingly dozed in the corner while Cloud sat staring intently at Vincent.
"Why are Cid and Yuffie taking so long to wake up?" Tifa asked.
Mr. Holzoff zipped up Cat Sith with a displeased look on his face, "Cid is older so he will take longer and Yuffie was the last to be found, and was in the worst condition when she was." The elderly man gave Cat Sith's moogle a kick, "Work will you!"
"Never get the #$& working like that." Cid said as he balanced himself against the doorframe, "And I am not old."
"Cid your awake!" Tifa jumped from her seat and hugged the foul-mouthed pilot.
"Squeeze me any harder and I'll be #$&( back in bed." Cid gasped. Tifa immediately released him with a small blush on her face. Cid held up his hand to stop the others from doing anything else to him, "Just let me get to work on the #$ &#$ toy." Cid began walking across the room but froze when he saw his clothes hanging on the line. "That is after I get my #$&( pants back!"
AN HOUR SLOWLY TICKS BY.
"Isn't the brat ever waking up?" Cid asked no one. Tifa's eyes shone with worry.
Cloud put his hand on her shoulder, "She'll be fine." Cloud's eyes took on a look of confusion when he looked toward Vincent. "Besides we need the time to settle a few things." Although Vincent felt Cloud's gaze, he remained staring out the window. "Why did you leave Vincent?"
Mr. Holzoff looked about the room nervously, "I think I'll just go tend to the girl." With that he quickly entered the bunkroom and firmly closed the door.
Cloud continued to look expectedly at Vincent, "Answer me Vincent. Why did you leave and why did you help us?"
Vincent slowly turned to face Cloud, his cold red eyes met Cloud's mako blue ones. "I helped you because it would have been another sin not to." Vincent glanced to the other members of AVALANCHE, "I left for reasons of my own." With that he turned towards the door.
"Wouldn't it be another sin to just forget Aerith!" Tifa burst out, "If you leave us then we might not be able to finish what she died for!" Vincent froze with his hand on the doorknob. "And you know you can't do it without us either!" Tifa's eyes slowly filled with tears. "How can you do that Vincent? Throw away your life and Aerith's sacrifice as if they were nothing!" Tears streamed down her face as she ran into the bunkroom.
"Tifa..." Cloud's eyes were soft as he looked after the fighter. The room grew tense and silent, everyone waiting for someone else to speak. Vincent's hand suddenly dropped from the door handle.
"I will stay if you still think I'll be of use to you." Vincent said quietly. The same silence lingered.
Cloud looked about the room, desperately trying to tell what the rest of AVALANCHE thoughts. Cloud finally spoke, "Welcome back Vincent."
Unseen by the others Vincent's eyes widened slightly, 'Even after abandoning them, after all they have gone through, they still welcome me back?' Vincent stood straight and turned back towards Cloud. "I will continue with you then." He said before returning to the window. A great burden was lifted off of everyone's shoulders in that moment and they returned to waiting for Yuffie; drinking badly tasting tea.
"Ha! Told ya old man!" A voice came from the bunkroom.
"Shhh!" Another voice hissed, "They're going to hear us!"
"No they won't." The first voice said smugly.
"Yes we did." Cloud called back with a laugh. The voices on the other side of the door went silent. "Come on out Yuffie, we know you're up now." Silence continued. "Tifa please bring Yuffie out."
"WAIT!" Yuffie said defeated, "Fine but give me my stuff first. These clothes are all itchy." Cloud laughed as Mr. Holzoff exited the bunkroom while he handed Yuffie's clothes through the door.
"Please hurry Yuffie," Tifa started as she walked through the door, "We need to leave soon, while the weather is still good." With that she turned and closed the door.
Yuffie glanced to the window and snorted at the falling snow, "Good weather my foot." Yuffie began changing, as she removed the borrowed clothes and pulled on her undergarments she came to a startling revelation. 'Just who undressed me...?' Yuffie quickly dismissed it, 'Was probably Tifa, none of the guys would dare.' With that she finished getting dressed and jumped through the door. "READY!"
Cloud looked up and nodded from where Mr. Holzoff was pointing to a map. "Good, we need to leave as soon as we can." Cloud started to rise.
"Hold on there boy." Mr. Holzoff said firmly, "You can't just go blindly up the mountain." Mr. Holzoff's eyes misted over, "Some of you won't survive if you try that." He glanced around before rubbing the unshed tears from his eyes, "My best friend and I tried that..." Mr. Holzoff's eyes wandered to stare at the cliffs through the window.
"Mr. Holzoff?" Tifa gently touched his shoulder. "Are you ok?"
Mr. Holzoff sighed deeply before turning back to the group. "Alright," his voice took a commanding tone. "You'll need to follow this map very carefully and remember not to let yourselves get too cold. I've had other climbers place markers along the cliffside..." Mr. Holzoff proceeded to explain which way the group should attempt to climb.
AFTER THE EXPLANATION.
"Now remember to keep your self's warm and stick together!" Mr. Holzoff called up to the group of people clinging to the cliffside. 'I sure hope they make it.' He thought before he gave a small chuckle at the sight above him. 'Good luck.' He prayed silently before turning back and entering his house.
The sight was truly comical, Nanaki and Cat Sith were both strapped to the back of Barret and Cid respectively. Nanaki glared at the grinning Cloud, "Not one word please." Cloud just tried his best to hold back a laugh and quickly climbed higher.
THE GROUND BLURS INTO NOTHING.
"Aren't we there yet?" Yuffie shouted up to Cloud.
"No!" Cloud shouted back. "I can't see the top or the bottom anymore! I can only keep going up!" After several rests on jagged edges and dank caves the group of adventures were about halfway up... at least by Cloud's logic. "That's what the map says!" Cloud argued with Cid.
"I don't care about any #$ map!" Cid retorted violently, "We need to rest for more then a few minutes!"
Cloud looked over the group, everyone save Vincent looked exhausted and cold. "Ok."
"Now don't give me that tough guy..." Cid stumbled over his words, "Huh! You said ok!"
Cloud nodded, "I did. We're in no shape to continue. Lets see if we can get a fire going. The winds are too strong right now, we'll probably be spending the night here."
"Here?" Yuffie absently kicked a chunk of snow over the edge. "This is gonna be a fun night!" She walked to the back of the cave and slumped to the ground. She wrapped her arms around herself trying to stay warm, 'Stupid snow!' She thought angrily. 'Stupid wind.'
"Let me try something." Nanaki suddenly spoke up as he turned toward the entrance to the cave. His golden eye grew intense and his muscles tightened in concentration. Slowly a sparkle of ice blue crystals formed before him. With a grunt Nanaki pushed the crystals into the entrance, where they formed an intricate pattern. With a final snort from Nanaki the crystals flashed and grew together, effectively sealing the cave from the outside elements. "That should help." Nanaki said with a slightly strained voice as the others stared in amazement.
"Thank you!" Yuffie leapt from the back of the cave and squeezed the great fire beast tightly. "I didn't know you could do that with materia!"
"Heh." Nanaki chuckled, "Materia isn't just for destruction."
Yuffie released Nanaki, "Ummm..." Yuffie gave Nanaki her biggest grin, "You wouldn't happen to know how to make a fire without wood do you?" Everyone laughed at that one.
"Simple." Cid suddenly interrupted, "We just use fire materia to heat the rocks." Everyone stared at Cid, "WHAT! Can't a guy like me know anything about the #$ materia!" The laughter of before returned and increased.
NIGHT HAS FALLEN.
Warmth bathed the once freezing cave. A pile of red-hot rocks gave off a comfortable temperature. Gray eyes glanced about the shadowed walls and across the sleeping forms of AVALANCHE. Only one other pair of eyes remained open besides hers and they were a blood red. "Whatcha' thinking about Vinnie?" Yuffie called quietly.
"..." Vincent remained, as he was, staring intently at or maybe even through the ice door.
Yuffie silently rose and crossed the cave to sit next to Vincent. "Can't sleep either huh?" Again no reply, Yuffie followed his gaze and stared at the ice door as well. As the seconds passed she grew more and more impatient. "Gah!" Yuffie rubbed her burning eyes. Silence returned again. 'I'm gonna do it.' Yuffie tried to boost her own confidence, 'And I won't take silence for an answer.' Yuffie took a deep breath and turned to Vincent, slowly she leaned closer to the dark gunman. "Vinnie?" Yuffie asked without a reply, "I..." Her mouth grew dry and her tongue refused to move, "I..."
To her surprise Vincent turned his head so that both his eyes were looking directly into hers, "Yes Yuffie?" He said in a voice that was as cold as the cliffside. Although they were both sitting Vincent still dwarfed Yuffie's form.
"I..." Yuffie licked her dry lips, "IwanttoknowwhyyouleftandIwon'ttakeanythingbutthetruth!" She blurted in one breath.
Vincent continued his gaze on the gasping ninja. "Yuffie..." He began.
"No Vinnie!" Yuffie interrupted him as she rose from sitting to her knees, bringing her eye lvl with the former assassin. "I just want to hear the truth from a friend."
Vincent looked away, "Friend?" he said quietly.
"Yes friend." Yuffie sat down again, "You're our friend or you wouldn't have risked your own life to save us."
Vincent didn't return his gaze to the young shin obi. "I left because I was not welcome." He said bluntly. "I could feel the anger in everyone's eyes."
Yuffie's shoulder's sank a little, "Well...you didn't seem to care that Aerith had just been murdered. What were we supposed to think?" Vincent's normal silence returned. "Oh come on." Yuffie sighed, "You say that and clam up?"
Vincent finally returned his bloody gaze to Yuffie, "Child, I am a monster. You have seen two of my forms, I no longer possess human emotions." Although his words seemed as even as ever, Yuffie could feel that he was finished talking.
"Piff, whatever." Yuffie shrugged before rising and returning to her original spot. 'Does a monster cry out a woman's name? Does a monster cry red tears?' Yuffie thought. "And don't call me CHILD." She called before pulling her blankets tightly around her to go to sleep.
Unbeknownst to the pair one other had still been awake. 'Hmm, intriguing. Yuffie actually got Vincent to speak fairly normal.' The one's mind raced with thoughts, 'Aerith mentioned something about Yuffie's destiny...hmm, truly intriguing.'
DAWN.
CRASH. Everyone snapped awake at the loud sound, each desperately grabbing for their weapons. "What's going on!" Cloud cried. When everyone calmed down they focused on a slightly red-faced Cid.
"I didn't think it would break that #$ easy." He said defensively. Everyone put down their weapons when they realized Cid had smashed the ice barrier Nanaki had formed.
Cloud ran a hand through his hair, "We need to get moving anyways." With that the group quickly repacked and began climbing again.
"It's a bad day for this!" Tifa yelled over the howl of the biting wind.
"I know!" Clouded shouted back, "But we can't go back! We have to keep going!" And so the freezing group slowly continued to crawl up the mountainside through the blizzard that had begun midday. Cloud suddenly stopped and pulled at something in the snow. "We're almost there!" He called down to everyone.
"How do you #$&( know!" Cid hollered back.
"I just found the last of Mr. Holzoff's markers!" Cloud replied with renewed hope in his voice. "He said that after this marker its only about two hundred feet to the top!" Everyone seemed to start to move a little faster at that news.
'Almost there! Almost there!' Yuffie thought herself as she quickened her pace. She reached up and grabbed her next handhold and pushed herself off with her foot. "NOO!" Yuffie felt her foothold give way as her fragile grip slipped. "HELP ME!" She cried as she slowly fell away from the cliffside.
"YUFFIE!" Tifa shouted as the ninja fell past her.
Yuffie's descent was suddenly stopped by a quick snap of teeth. "I've got you Yuffie!" Nanaki said through tightly gritted teeth. "Barret you ok!" The only reply was a grunt from the big black man.
"Thank you Nanaki! Thank you!" Yuffie shook her arms wildly, desperately trying to reach the stonewall.
"Don't move so much Yuffie!" Nanaki said with a slight panic in his voice, "I can feel your coat ripping." Yuffie immediately froze. "You have to carefully try to swing yourself over Yuffie." Nanaki ordered as the entire group looked on in worry. Yuffie nodded and carefully began pumping her legs. RIP. "Keep going Yuffie." Nanaki urged. RIP. "NO!" Nanaki felt all the weight leave his jaws.
Yuffie seemingly hung motionless in the air for a moment. Arms and legs waving, trying for all she was worth to learn to fly. "HELP!" She cried as gravity took its effect and pulled her towards the earth. Yuffie felt the winds tearing at her as she passed Cid and Cat Sith. Each reached for her but failed by inches.
Yuffie knew there was only one last hope, Vincent. Yuffie looked down to see him looking up intently at her, his human arm poised as his golden claw was sunk deep into the rocks. When Yuffie glanced into his eyes she thought she saw worry in them. But a flicker of wind tossed his cloak around him distracting her. Yuffie reached for his ready hand, and as she passed she felt his long, slender fingers latch onto her thin arm. As gravity continued to pull her down she felt Vincent's grip tighten even more.
POP. Yuffie's fall was roughly stopped although she could feel her shoulder dislocate from the force of it.
"Do you have her Vincent!" Cloud called down.
"Yes!" Vincent replied.
"Good! There is a ledge only about ten feet to your left! Take her there and make sure she is alright." Cloud shouted back with relief. "We'll meet you at the top!"
"Ok!" Vincent answered as he slowly pulled himself and the whimpering Yuffie over to the ledge. With a grunt he pulled himself and the injured fighter onto the small outcrop. "Are you ok?" He asked as the wind pulled his ebony hair in every direction.
Yuffie looked up at him with tears brimming in her eyes, "My shoulder." She cried. Vincent gently inspected her injured arm.
"It's dislocated." Vincent informed her. "I will have to push it back in." Yuffie could only nod. Vincent situated himself around her, "Ready?" Yuffie nodded again. "1." Yuffie took a deep breath. "2." POP. Vincent forced the bone to return to its normal place.
"OOWWWW!" Yuffie's scream echoed off the cliffside only to be swallowed by the storm. "Why didn't you wait till 3!" Yuffie yelled at Vincent.
"You would have become even more tense." Vincent explained as he began to tightly wrap Yuffie's arm against her body with shreds of cloth. "The arm may not have reset correctly."
Yuffie stared with tears and anger in her eyes, until she noticed the cloth he was using. "That's your blanket. You can't use that!" Vincent just continued his work until he finished. "What will you use to keep warm?"
Vincent's blood red eyes locked with her storm gray ones. "Monsters don't deserve warmth." Yuffie could only choke in reply as Vincent's strong gaze forced her to be silent.
"Fine!" Yuffie broke the stare, "But you have to get a new one when we go back to civilization!" Vincent made no reply as he turned and knelt in front of her. "Huh?"
"You can not climb with that arm. I will carry you the rest of the way." Vincent explained. Yuffie was glad his back was turned so he didn't see her face go red. Yuffie took a step forward and gently began to wrap her arm around his neck. "Under my cloak Yuffie. You can grab on to the belts that hold it on." Yuffie's blush deepened as she pushed aside his cloak and proceeded to climb onto his back. After a few adjustments the pair began to climb the cliff again.
Yuffie could feel her cheeks blazing as she felt Vincent's muscles work as he climbed. 'He doesn't seem to be straining, how strong is he?' Yuffie thought back to when he had jumped himself and her up to the Tiny Bronco back in Rocket town. 'At least its warmer under his cloak.' She thought happily.
"Come on Vincent your almost here!" Tifa yelled down to them. Vincent continued his steady climb until he was able to pull himself and Yuffie over the edge. Tifa immediately inspected Yuffie's wrapped arm and tried to cast cure spells on it. "At the very least it will help with the pain." Tifa comforted Yuffie as the sparks settled into Yuffie's aching shoulder. Yuffie gave Tifa a warm smile before standing up.
"Well lets keep going!" She said in her usual tone, "We just have to walk up this last bit!"
Cloud shook his blonde mane as he chuckled, "You're right. Let's mosey." Cloud led the way up and over the last bit of hill only to freeze at the top. As each member of AVALANCHE crested the hill they did the same as they stared into the massive crater that lay before them. Mako energy swirled in a massive funnel around a gaping hole in the center of it all. Huge torrents of green mists sprang off of the main funnel, causing bolts of lightning to crash into the ground. "We going in there?" Tifa asked Cloud.
"Yep." Cloud answered, his voice grew hard.
"We gonna kick Sephiroth's $$?" Barret grinned.
"Yep." Cloud's eyes glinted with quiet rage.
"Then lets go!" Cait Sith called happily.
Everyone, save for Vincent, turned to Cait Sith and burst out laughing. "Good way of spoiling the moment!" Cloud laughed as he scratched his head. "Lets mosey then." With that he took the first step in the inner side of the crater. The entire group could feel something or someone become aware of their presence. "Sephiroth!" Cloud called down into the whirling vortex, "Its time you paid for your crimes!"