A/N: Unfortunately, this story is reaching its climax. Maybe… 2 or 3 more chapters. (loud gasp) Argh! Nooooo! So soon? Darnnit! But, who knows? (makes creepy hand gestures) Anyways, enjoy the story!

Thanks for reviewing! Cait isn't on the top of my favorite FF7 characters either, but I gotta love him. No one can resist kitty! I could just imagine him running around looking like a human… AW!

Disclaimer:

Cait: (panting like crazy) Sheeesh! You're so… so mean!
Author: HAH! ROYAL FLUSH! (slams cards on table) I WIN I WIN I WIN! Gimme my pay!
Cait: (takes out 100 gil) Meh! You cheated!
Author: No! YOU cheated!
Cait: That was only in chess! (gasps then covers mouth)
Author: Ah HAH! CHEATER! I CALL IN MY WITNESS! (drags Nanaki in) Tell him!
Nanaki: …eh… you cheated, Cait?
Cait: LIAR! (attacks Author)
Cid: (prances in) FF7 doesn't belong to Miss Author! IMINADISCLAIMERAGAIN!
Nanaki: …

Back To Those Human Years
Chapter Thirteen

I Can Feel Pain

A huge crowd started to form right outside of the Pagoda. Practically the whole village was empty. Only the leftover streamers occupied the grounds. I had already made my way up to the Pagoda to search for Kimara. I still haven't found her anywhere yet. It was strange… she said she would come. I really hoped that she and Shougu would finally get to see each other. Then, all that was left were Yuffie and Godo. I had to talk to both of them… somehow.

I sighed and rubbed my head. "Ugnn! My head hurts just thinking about it!" I hissed to myself.

"Oi, Blue Boy!"

I turned and spotted Cid and the gang finally making their way through the crowd.

"Hey, you finally made it!" I said with a smile. I've been wondering where they had been. It kind of looked like they went to the Highwind to change. Tifa had her new yukata on and the rest had dressed differently as well.

"Why are you here so early then?" Cloud said, looking at the big paper lamp hung above his head.

"I just wanted to look for someone."

"Yuffie?" Cid said right away.

I glared at him. "No, she's… somewhere with Shougu."

"Look, Cloud!" Tifa exclaimed. "I got a red bag for the ritual!"

"I guess the girls ritual is similar to the boys ritual?" Cloud scratched his chin at that.

"Aw! That ritual was so beautiful!"

I smiled at that then turned my attention to the center of the Pagoda. I noticed an insanely huge torch sitting there. The base of the torch was sculpted into a serpent… Leviathan. It was really beautiful. I felt my body warm up whenever I set my eyes on Leviathan's. I clutched my green streamer from inside my sleeve and looked up.

The gong sounded off, calling all attention to the crowd of people. All the women made their way to the center, forming a circle around the torch. I spotted Yuffie giving Shougu a hug before running to the center. I narrowed my eye at him. He seemed to notice that and turned away.

As another gong sounded off, silence filled the air. All the women had their eyes closed and began to hum something surprisingly low. The torch revealed a red flame peeking out from its base. Just when the women lifted their arms in unison, the flame burst out with such power. I even felt the warmth of the flame from way in the back. Imagine how hot it must have been in the front.

Suddenly, all the torches surrounding the Pagoda lit up one after the other. It began to form a figure that I had come to familiarize with. Leviathan. Drums sounded off as it echoed throughout, giving it that mysterious and eerie feeling to the atmosphere. Soon after the drums, Shougu made an appearance and began to play his recorder. It sounded so low-spirited for some reason. Even the look on Shougu, he seemed so… sad.

"…Shougu…" I whispered to myself. He probably really wanted to see Kimara. I really hoped she was here. I don't know how long Shougu can last anymore.

His song continued to play as Godo finally had his appearance from inside the Pagoda. And, like yesterday, he began to gesture around with his hands. All the women brought out their red bags and slowly opened it. A sudden bright light escaped through, causing me to immediately turn away. I managed to peek through and notice a red orb forming in each of the girls' hands. Their whole bodies began to glow a bright red color. Everyone then kneeled down as their orbs floated straight for the sky.

When everyone did this, I leaned forward after spotting Yuffie. Her head was bowed down and… I think she was… crying. Crying? Why?

I watched as the orbs twinkled brightly in the sky. I would have cherished such a moment, but I just couldn't. Everything would be over soon… resulting in…both a happy… and a horrible ending…

'…Yuffie...'

The final gong sounded off. The orbs shot down from the sky and headed straight to the ground. I spotted Yuffie running towards Shougu with a smile on her face. I lifted my head and watched as an orb came right for Shougu. He gently grabbed it with his hand and stared at it. I couldn't bare to watch anything now. As I turned my head away, I heard a shatter then a loud gasp from the crowd. I quickly turned my attention back and widened my eye.

…Shougu just shattered Yuffie's orb into pieces.

Godo stomped his foot incredibly loud. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!" he roared furiously. "EXPLAIN YOURSELF!"

Shougu bowed his head and gritted his teeth. I felt horrible about this. Was this… the right thing to do?

Yuffie stepped back with her hands covering her mouth. "S-Sho…oug… u…?"

"…I don't need your damn orb… you… you didn't promise me…"

"W-What?"

"I DON'T NEED YOU ANYMORE! YOU MEAN NOTHING TO ME!"

"Stop it, Shougu!"

I made my way through the crowd and stopped right in front of him. "What do you think you're saying!"

He glared down at me. "What the hell do you mean!"

"But-"

"YOU SAID THAT KIMARA WOULD BE HERE! I'VE BEEN LONGING FOR HER ORB EVER SINCE! YUFFIE'S ORB MEANS NOTHING TO ME IF I TAKE IT IN!"

Godo suddenly appeared and rudely brushed past Yuffie. "Explain yourself!" he yelled to Shougu. "Look what you did!"

"You…" the boy hissed. "You're the only reason why I'm doing this. If you haven't thought of this selfish act to accomplish something you couldn't do, then you shouldn't deserve to be head of this village."

"SHOUGU!"

"After what happened last year, you started to peer into my personal life. You've been asking questions about my relationship and it led up to this little scandal you wanted to bring about. You fogged up my truth… you said Kimara didn't care… you said she was all in the past and I should concentrate on the present. But, what this glowing blue boy said to me before… cleared away the fog you created in my mind. I believe this little man. I believe… Kimara will come back for me."

"Do not speak of such nonsense! I wanted you to fulfill something I could never accomplish, because I wanted what was best for my daughter! Every year she would be left alone with no one to hang around with. I've been so busy, I couldn't be with her! I wanted her to be happy when the festival began!"

"But, your little tactic turned out not what you expected," I said, turning to Godo. "You thought you were thinking about others, when you were actually thinking about yourself. You wanted what was best for her. And you wanted someone else to do it, when they had other problems to deal with. I bet you never even talked to her once about it. You never listened to what she had to say."

Godo narrowed his eyes then turned to Yuffie, who started backing away from him.

"Yuffie…" Godo said calmly. "…I…"

Yuffie shook her head around. "Why didn't you say anything! Dad? Shougu?" She gave me sad look then quickly ran right out of the Pagoda.

"Yuffie!" Godo yelled as he followed after her.

"YU- AH!"

I suddenly fell to my knees and grabbed my head. My head felt like it was going to explode! Such a powerful sensation… what… was happening?

A/N: End of chapter thirteen! Yep! Sorry I had to leave you with that horrible ending. (dodges chef knives) Ah! I gots news! (jumps around all happy-like) I am going to start a new FF7 story! Ah ah! If you want full details, read my profile! Muahahahaa- (gets stabbed in the eye with knife) ANYWAYS!…ow. Hope you enjoyed and please tell me how you thought of it!