Chapter 33: Loose ends.
Six days. It had been six days since the crater. Six days since Cloud's disappearance. Six days since the other AVALANCHE members were captured by Shinra. Six days since they had been forced into hiding. And Yuffie... "What are we going to do?" was sick of it.
"Wait." Vincent replied calmly.
"I'm tired of waiting!" Yuffie snorted. "I'm tired of being stuck in this stupid attic!" Vincent ignored the continuing tirade. "I'm sick of not saving our friends!" Continued silence from Vincent as he carefully kept watch out the curtained window. "And I'm tired of doing all the talking!"
At this Vincent slowly turned his head and met Yuffie's angered gaze, "Do you always find it necessary to fill silence with noise?" And returned to his watch.
Yuffie went red as she clenched her fists at her sides. "GRRR!" was the only thing she could manage before she turned and threw herself onto the squeaky cot, stuck her tongue out at Vincent, then turned over grumbling to herself. "Six days!" She yelled trying to get the last word in against a man who said almost nothing. Yuffie began to think over what had happened in the crater for the hundredth time.
After they had been found gone, Rufus had ordered a complete search of the ship. After searching in vain for the pair, the guards had begun to believe they had remained in the crater. Then Yuffie's motion sickness had overcome her and things got... interesting. A pile of vomit had proven that they still remained on the ship causing the guards to redouble their efforts. Yuffie was positive that, if not for Vincent's keen senses, she would be with Barret and the others in Shinra custody.
Vincent had kept himself and the green faced ninja one step ahead of the soldiers. Finally he had to lower them both over the railing and hang there while the guards searched the deck. Yuffie could only guess how long he kept his claw buried in the metal as the ocean sped by them. Luckily for them, Junon's massive cannon finally appeared on the horizon.
Yuffie suddenly picked up a crumbled piece of paper and threw it at Vincent. After it bounced off his shoulder he glanced at Yuffie. "That was for scaring me so bad." She said with satisfaction. A gracefully arched eyebrow was her only reply before he looked away. "Humph." And Yuffie returned to her own thoughts.
Yuffie's sickness was suddenly interrupted when she felt Vincent tense up. "Hold tightly to me." Vincent ordered as he stared hard at something. Yuffie followed his view, to the Junon cannon; its massive barrel gleamed in the setting sun.
"Oh no." Yuffie groaned, "You're not serious?" Vincent nodded slightly. "Leviathan save us." Yuffie mumbled as she tightened her grip. Yuffie could suddenly feel the airship slow down dramatically, preparing for its landing on the Junon airstrip. Vincent's bloody eyes glanced down into Yuffie's gray ones, and for a moment time stopped, then Vincent let go of the airship.
Yuffie's scream would have echoed off the cliffs if not for the wind that tore her breath away. Vincent twisted them in the air so that they faced downward then as they approached the cannon he stretched out his claw. SCREECH Vincent's claw left a shower of sparks as he dug the metal digits into the cannon barrel. After several feet of sliding they settled to a stop, dangling over the edge. "Climb." Vincent ordered the frightened ninja. Yuffie did so without question, she blushed furiously when Vincent's hand press on her butt.
'He's just helping me climb.' Yuffie told herself as her face burned, 'He's just helping me climb.' Finally, after much travail, the pair stood atop the cannon, looking down over the city-fortress of Junon. "Now what do we do?" Yuffie asked as the wind threatened to push her over the side.
"We lay low and wait for word from the others." Vincent said as he began walking down the barrel towards the town. Yuffie glanced back at the claw marks along the barrel.
"Someone's going to be weirded out when they clean the cannon." Yuffie laughed before carefully catching up to the crimson-caped man. "Wait up Vinnie!" The target of her call winced slightly.
With as much caution and stealth as the pair could manage they descended through the upper levels of Junon. Narrowly avoiding guards. Barely managing to make it to the back alleys of Junon's highest residential area. Yuffie followed Vincent as he passed through the alleys with amazing confidence.
"Where are you taking us?" Yuffie finally asked as she leaned against a wall for a breather, 'Stupid Vinnie and his long legs.'
Vincent stopped and waited for her to rest. "A safe house." A confused look from Yuffie earned an explanation. "I set up a place to lay low here when I was a Turk. We'll be able to remain unseen there."
"Oh, just wanted to know why we were slogging around in all this garbage." Yuffie cringed as she kicked a can and it hissed back. "GROSSNESS!" Vincent just turned and continued along his path. Finally they came around a corner after what seemed to Yuffie as an eternity. "Is this it?" Yuffie stared at the decrepit building, 'More like hole in the wall.' That rose two stories above her. "We have to stay in this house?"
"No." Vincent said. Yuffie almost let out a sigh of relieve but Vincent interrupted her, "We will stay in the attic." Yuffie looked upwards and could only see a single window in the roof of the building; she let out a deep sigh.
'Great.' Yuffie thought, 'I bet there isn't even TV up there.'
Vincent then led her to the side of the house, Yuffie gasped in surprise when Vincent began climbing a vine-covered wall. Yuffie tested the vines where Vincent had grasped and was surprised to find small metal indentations hidden under them. "Nice one Vinnie." Yuffie called up to the man as she followed him. When Yuffie reached the roof she watched Vincent silently cross the shingles and disappear into the window she had seen earlier. When Vincent waved her on she followed quickly, thoroughly impressing herself that she didn't make much noise crossing the roof either. 'Vincent isn't the only one who can move quietly.' She grinned to herself.
Yuffie slid into the open window; she blinked as her eyes tried to adjust to the dim light. When her vision returned she looked about the small room. 'This is where we have to stay?' Yuffie couldn't believe how small the room was. It barely allowed for a small cot and an even smaller chair. 'I've seen jail cells with more room!' Yuffie grimaced to herself. A thought came to her that made her face go white, "Um... Vinnie?" Vincent turned to look at her, "Where is the bathroom?"
Vincent moved to one of the walls and pulled. To Yuffie's amazement the wall swung outward. Yuffie looked around Vincent to see a small restroom behind the hidden wall. "Why do you have it hidden?" Yuffie asked curiously.
"It also serves as a hiding place if this room is found." Vincent replied in his cold tone as he pushed the wall closed. Vincent turned and took the step and a half required to place him next to the cot, then sat down with what Yuffie could have sworn was a sigh. He quietly leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. 'Still yet to be tired enough to sleep.' Vincent thought to himself, 'Yet it does feel good to rest my eyes.'
Yuffie stared at the dark man as he sat quietly. She couldn't help but notice that, when he finally closed his eyes, he looked so... 'Peaceful.' Yuffie felt a small warmth ignite within her chest. One that had she had felt several times since she had first met the guilt-ridden man. Yuffie bit her lower lip in debate. 'I don't know what to do...' Yuffie silently prayed to her mother and Leviathan for guidance, but all she could feel was that small glow within her. She gulped slightly before she softly walked over next to the cot and sat down on Vincent's left side.
'What is she doing?' Vincent thought to himself, 'She's only trying to rest.' He told himself.
Yuffie continued to stare at Vincent, her eyes wondered down to his tarnished-gold claw. She had seen Vincent do amazing things with that claw. He had torn through monsters and break through objects with it. And yet when he had saved her from the fall in the Nibel Mountains he hadn't left a mark on her. She carefully reached out and placed her hand on top of what Vincent said marked him as a monster. To her surprise, and Vincent's, he did not move the claw away from her touch. Yuffie could feel the cool metal twitch slightly.
'I can feel... her touch.' Vincent was surprised that he could feel Yuffie's hand so clearly. He had always been able to feel with the claw but it was still foreign to him, like it was not really there. Vincent nearly gasped at what Yuffie did next she gently leaned against him. Her head resting on his shoulder, he could smell the jasmine scent coming from her hair.
'He's not pulling away.' Yuffie sighed to herself in relief. 'Thank you.' She silently prayed to whichever god had granted her this favor. She almost cried when she felt Vincent shift; she quickly looked up to find red eyes staring down at her. Her gray eyes stared back, trying somehow to tell Vincent everything but her mind would allow nothing.
Vincent's bloody gaze continued to search her stormy eyes. And for a moment, all the demons shrieking within were silenced, all the guilt he felt was gone, and all the hatred for Hojo faded into nothing. For a moment he felt... 'Happy?'
But that moment was shattered when he saw a deep red begin to form within Yuffie's eyes. Vincent looked in astonishment as the red spread over her entire form. Vincent looked around the room to realize that everything was beginning to turn red. He stood and rushed to the window, everything outside had the same red hue spreading over it.
'What happened?' Yuffie thought as she fell to her side on the cot. Her head felt clouded, she shook it in hopes of clearing it. She looked over to Vincent who was glancing about at the outside. "What's going on Vinnie?" Vincent looked back at her then stepped aside, allowing her so see the outside. "Oh my... Why is everything red?" Vincent just continued to stare out into the world that had become shrouded in red.
RING! Yuffie jumped slightly at the shrill sound of Vincent's PHS going off. Vincent quickly answered it. "This is Vincent." Yuffie watched as Vincent listened intently to whoever was on the other end of the line. "Yes, she's with me." Vincent continued to listen. Yuffie was surprised when Vincent detailed how to get to their location. "Fine." Vincent hung up the device.
"Who was that, what was it about, and did they know why everything is red?" Yuffie asked.
"Cat Sith, he wants us to stay here, and Meteor has been summoned." Vincent answered coolly as he stepped through the window and onto the roof, Yuffie quickly followed. Yuffie's jaw dropped at the sight that lay in the sky. An enormous ball of fire and shadow blurred out even the sun. Yuffie could to nothing but stare at what was the entire planet's doom. "The world," Vincent broke the silence, "is in grave danger." Vincent turned away from the horrendous sight in the sky and reentered the small attic. Yuffie continued to stare for some time before following the gunman inside.
She walked over to the cot and slumped to her side. 'What are we going to do?' Yuffie asked herself over and over. Vincent pulled the chair closer to the window and took it upon himself to keep watch. "Vinnie?" Yuffie suddenly spoke, "What are we going to do?" Her voice filled with emotion, pleading for some comfort.
"We will wait." Vincent replied in his empty tone, "We will wait for Cat Sith to contact us again." Yuffie found no comfort in his words and let the tears begin to stream down her face as she rolled so her back was to Vincent. Yuffie cried herself to sleep that night while Vincent continued to keep watch.
Yuffie found herself sitting in a broad field, the normally comforting sight was contaminated by the red glow from above. Yuffie lay on her back and stared up at the end of the world. "How are we supposed to stop that?" She asked the open field.
"You'll be able to." Someone answered causing Yuffie to bolt upright and scan the field.
"Who's there?" Yuffie called, unable to find anyone. A shimmering in the air caught her attention. "Answer me!" Yuffie demanded. The shimmering slowly formed a figure, one that Yuffie could vaguely recognize. "Mother?" Yuffie's voice caught in her throat. Although Yuffie couldn't see the figure's face she knew it was her mother, she was wearing the white kimono with green trim. The one Yuffie had torn off and made into her headband.
"I'm sorry I left you so soon," Yuffie's mother walked over and took her daughter into her arms, "But I knew you would be fine." Yuffie couldn't speak. "I know that you and your friends can stop that monstrosity," She pulled Yuffie so they were eye to eye, "Don't let it douse your spirit. Things will become very difficult but I know you'll be fine." Yuffie could only begin crying again. "Remember always that I love you." The shimmering form of Yuffie's mother suddenly vanished, leaving Yuffie alone.
"Mother?" Yuffie called, "How can we? What am I supposed to do?" Yuffie's tears flowed freely as she wrapped her arms around herself. "I don't know what do to..."
"Don't let is douse your spirit." Yuffie heard her mother's words echo over the field.
Yuffie straightened herself and wiped away her tears, "I won't Mother, and we'll find a way to win!" Yuffie stood tall and breathed a deep breath; "I'll make you proud!"
Yuffie slowly opened her eyes, she was back in reality, and Vincent still sat at the window keeping watch as the morning sun broke over the horizon.
"Mornin' Vinnie!" Yuffie said happily, which earned her a glance from Vincent. "What?" Yuffie gave him a big smile, Vincent just returned to looking out the window. 'I wonder what he thinks of me now...' Yuffie thought about what had happened between them before Meteor had risen. Neither Yuffie nor Vincent acted as if they remembered it but they couldn't get it off their minds.
Yuffie sighed as she pulled her mind to the present; the sun was setting on the sixth day. "When do you think Cait Sith will call us?" Yuffie asked only to have the ringing of Vincent's PHS answer.
Vincent answered and with only a quick conversation ended the call. "We move tomorrow, Tifa and Barret are going to be executed."
"What!" Yuffie shouted, "We have to save them!"
Vincent gave her a cold look, "Cait Sith has a plan, and we will meet him before the execution and save them."
"Ok..." Yuffie agreed, "What about Nanaki and Cid?"
"Cat Sith is taking care of them." Vincent answered before returning to the window.
"Ugh!" Yuffie collapsed back onto the cot, "Another night of waiting!" Yuffie lay strewn on the cot while Vincent kept watch.
'The world is ending and all that I have is these two idiots.' A man thought as the two to whom he was referring argued over how the AVALANCHE members should each be killed. "Get out." He suddenly said.
"What?" Heidegger looked up from his argument with Scarlet. "What do you mean?"
Rufus Shinra rose from his seat, "I said "Get out" I would think that even you could understand those two words."
"But we still-!" Scarlet began.
Rufus turned to them and fixed them both with icy stares from his ice blue eyes, "I said out." His voice was far sharper then any blade could be. Both Heidegger and Scarlet cringed before fleeing from the gaze of the President of Shinra, INC.
"What did you allow to happen Father?" Rufus felt a certain revulsion as he said that word. "You were a complete fool. You allowed Hojo to create something far beyond anyone's control. Neither your money nor my army can stop him." Rufus sank down into his chair, "And now I will have to execute the only people who might be able to fix your mistake."
Rufus had wanted to face Cloud again but now he doubted he would ever be able to. A simple soldier, one who had been nothing, had nearly killed him. "I won't allow my company do die. I won't allow the mistakes made by my father to be repeated." Rufus stood and walked to the window over looking the Junon city. "You won't win Sephiroth. I won't let you." With that the President of the most powerful force on the planet retired to his bedroom to await the execution of those that could be the planet's only hope.