Author's Notes:

Jeez... I'm way too busy these days to update at the pace I'd like to. Two jobs, two RP sites, this fic, a fic in the making, and just a load of crap I can't deal with. But anyway. I don't own the rights to Final Fantasy. Final Trinity is coming.

Chapter Fourty Three

Detective

The cavern-like tunnel inside Mount Cosmo, the home of the residents of Cosmo Canyon, was empty, having been cleared at the behest of Vincent Valentine. The former Turk had begun his investigation into Elder Juyan's death, while Barret and Dio worked on the fortifications outside. Red XIII frequently made trips between the two, checking over their progress, as well as watched Frennal and Dorret as well as he could.

The feline warrior traveled down the tunnel, and saw Vincent, newly clothed in the same black pants and boots as always, but with a new addition of a black shirt and coat strikingly similar to Sephiroth's. The only difference in the cape was a pair of slits in the back to make room for the former Turk's new, bat-like wings.

"Just because you wield Masamune," Nanaki said, "doesn't mean you have to dress like its former owner."

Vincent, who was squatting on the floor near to where Juyan's body had lain, made no physical reaction and merely swept a careful glance about the hall and responded, "A woman of Cosmo Canyon made it. Said it was a 'gift for the black angel.'"

"There have been others. White robes, capes, cloaks and so forth. People give them to me, expecting me to deliver them to you. I must say, though, the black is far more befitting."

Vincent looked up, and quirked an eyebrow at the cat. "Because it symbolizes death? Mourning? Destruction?"

"No. Because it was the same colour Sephiroth wore. The more I think of it, the more appropriate I believe it to be."

"And why is that?"

"Because Sephiroth very well could have been your son, if things had gone right."

Vincent nodded once, then looked back to the ground, intent on something that Red XIII couldn't see. The man lazily traced a metal finger along it, outlining it carefully. The feline warrior approached slowly, and saw that the shape was a boot print. A very large boot print, barely there, lightly stamped into the dust of the floor.

"Amazing that you found this."

"More a fluke than anything," Vincent supplied. "Intuition. Old Turk instincts."

"And what do your Turk instincts tell you?"

"That Juyan was not killed for the sake of murdering him. I think he stumbled on something." Vincent looked up meaningfully, and cast his glance at the end of the hallway where a sealed door stood. The door to the Cavern of the Gi Tribe, the one weak spot in Cosmo Canyon's defenses where the Gi had once charged through and were held back by Seto.

"You think someone attempted to open the door and Juyan found them and was killed for that?"

"I'm not sure. But either way, I went to Bugenhagen's old room and using some of the technology there, constructed a safe guard. The problem is solved."

"What did you do?" Red XIII asked suspisciously.

Vincent looked reluctant to answer, as if doing such a thing went against his very nature. The man paused for a moment, then uttered, "I made a bomb."

"You made a bomb? In my home?" the cat snarled.

"Be at ease," Vincent hissed, "and quiet yourself. This boot print is a day old. There are others, but this one was the most obvious, because the owner was heavier."

"Frennal?"

"Perhaps, but I have no proof. I have set the bomb on the door, so when it explodes, it will only kill the man who tried to open it, and cave the door in. No one will be harmed who shouldn't be. The only way to disarm the bomb is to input the password, which is 'Lucrecia.' If someone attempts to disarm it in any way, or take off the outer casing, it will explode. Tell only Barret." Vincent paused for a moment, and then added, "And Dio. I think he can be trusted."

"How did you make something that complex out of spare parts?" Red marveled.

"Standard Turk training. It's one of the first things they teach you."

The feline shook his head, whether in disbelieving admiration or disgust, even he wasn't sure. He was about to make another remark about the bomb, but instead voiced, "Dorret is holding his meeting now. He has probably nominated the man he wants to fill in the empty position of Elder, and has undoubtedly begun the vote."

"Who did he nominate?"

"I am unsure. I wasn't present when he put forth a name."

Vincent nodded, then asked, "How does the vote work? I am unfamiliar with Cosmo Canyon politics."

Red motioned for Vincent to follow him as he turned from the corridor heading to Cosmo Candle, and began to explain. "In the event of the death of an Elder, five parties vote, the majority winning. The voting parties are the two remaining Elders of Cosmo Canyon, the Guardian of Cosmo Canyon, Grandfather, and the people of Cosmo Canyon. Whatever the majority of the people want is the way their vote is cast into one voice."

"But Bugenhagen is de... parted."

"Yes, so Grandfather will not be voting. I'm not sure what will be done in his stead. I fear that Dorret will use that against us."

The two were now outside, and saw the people of Cosmo Canyon, Corel, and Gold Saucer standing around the ever-burning flame. At the forefront were Frennal and Dorret, accompanied by a man wearing brown robes.

"Large man," Vincent observed. "Is he the one they are nominating?"

"Standard procedure. The nominee is robed, hooded, and hidden from the people during the vote. It's an old custom. It prevents the nominee's looks to sway in the voting at all. He is neither allowed to speak nor reveal himself during the voting. The nominee is only told of his potential appointment an hour before the ceremony. Furthermore, he is only allowed to be named once, and I fear we both missed it."

The people about Cosmo Candle seemed overjoyed at this ceremony, and as Vincent and Red XIII walked among them, they parted. The normally blank look on Vincent's face flickered to one of annoyance for half a second, then reverted back to its normal expressionless visage.

"Who do you think they nominated?" Vincent asked.

"From what I saw, he's entirely too large to be any of the obvious candidates I thought Dorret would choose. He's a mystery."

Dorret's voice sounded as they came close, "Let them come forth! Nanaki, Guardian of Cosmo Canyon, and Vincent Valentine, Demonic Angel, come and cast your votes!"

The feline turned his head slightly to the side and asked, "Why must Vincent vote? Surely the crowd has decided their vote and need no swaying from him."

Dorret frowned, and explained in a careful voice, one that seemed faintly disappointed. "It is the opinion of the people of Cosmo Canyon that Valentine vote in Bugenhagen's place. He is as much a symbol to them now as Bugenhagen ever was."

Vincent nodded, only half-listening, and instead focused on the man who wore the robes. A large man, certainly, well muscled. He couldn't make out the face underneath the hood, though.

"What is the vote?" Red XIII asked.

Frennal jumped up and answered, "Dorret for, the people for, myself against, and now awaiting your votes to decide."

"Very well," Red XIII said. "I vote against."

But even as Red XIII said those words, Vincent hissed. The wind picked up for a moment, and one of the sleeves of the robe came up, revealing something. Immediately he said, "I vote for!"

The feline whirled on Vincent, an incredulous expression on his face. But even as he did, Dorret shouted, "It is decided! Our new Elder is chosen! All welcome Elder Wallace!"

And with that, Barret pushed back his hood, and nodded to the crowd. And everyone cheered.