Hey there, guys and gals! Thanks soooo much for reading and reviewing this story! Angel of the Fallen Shadows—you are so cool! You inspire me! FF Fan, sorry if it's moving too fast! I'll see if I can work on developing the romance a little slower. Highwaywoman—I'm glad you appreciate the Yuffie humor. And all the rest of ya, thanks!!! I really love writing this more than I've ever loved writing any story, so I'm gonna follow through to the end!

Chapter Four

Cosmo Canyon loomed in the distance, a cluster of connected buildings set against a backdrop of tall red cliffs.

Maena didn't see it. She had seen nothing but Vincent for a full day, listening to the story of his life. She was in total awe. This man was amazing! Not only was he devilishly handsome, he was also brilliant and utterly fascinating.

Vincent studied Maena inconspicuously as he told her the sad tale that was his life. There was something about this girl that he knew he needed. She was always gentle, always tactful, quiet and calm; yet there was a fire inside of her, a passion that he did not understand. And he needed it. More than that, he wanted it.

Yuffie Kisaragi suddenly came barreling through the door. "Hey, you guys, we're there!" As quickly as she had come, she was gone.

Vincent shook his head, smiling. "To think she used to get motion sickness!"

Maena laughed. "Well, I guess she got over it." She smiled softly. "She has been so nice to me, letting me borrow her clothes and all. Her and Shera both."

"You look good in them," Vincent said. He was amazing himself with his conduct. He was usually reluctant to talk. But now... Maena was breathing life back into him. "Let's go up to the deck..." Vincent tired to sit up, but groaned and fell back against the pillow.

"Lie still, Vincent." Maena looked at him with concern. "You seem to be feeling better. You're talking a mile a minute." She frowned. "When I'm sick, I get hysterical and I talk a lot."

Vincent just smiled tightly at her, trying not to let the pain get to him. I don't EVER talk a lot, he thought. Well, I haven't until now.

Maena stood, the skirt of her little blue dress swishing around her knees. The long white coat slipped from her shoulders, but she quickly pulled it back up, blushing.

She's very modest, Vincent thought, smiling at her. I like that.

Maena cocked her head to the side, curious as to why he was smiling at her like that.

Yuffie came running back into the room. "We're landing, you guys. We gotta get out and walk up the rocks to Cosmo Canyon!" She reached out and grabbed hold of Maena's arm. "Come ON!"

"Wait, Yuffie. What about Vincent?" Maena cleverly slipped her arm out of Yuffie's grasp.

"Oh yeah!" Yuffie rubbed her narrow chin thoughtfully. "Well, I guess ol' Cid'll have to carry him." She shrugged. "Guess I'd better get him, then!"

"Go with her, Maena," Vincent said, sounding a bit breathless. "You don't want to be trapped in a cabin with a sorry specimen of humanity like me all day." His throat tightened as he said it. How strange.

Of course I do, Maena thought. But she said, "okay, if you say so." She followed Yuffie out of the little room, fighting the temptation to look back at Vincent.

As they headed for the deck, Maena's thoughts were only of Vincent. He was still much of an enigma to her. He seemed to be voluntarily lost in his tragic past. But there were times—she could see it in his eyes—when he fought the gloom surrounding him. She realized with a shock that most of these times had to do with her. Perhaps... perhaps she was his light in the dark. She smiled just thinking about it. She was the light for Vincent, Vincent with the long black hair, the deep, penetrating reddish-brown eyes, the long, lean body, and the regal stance. It gave her chills just thinking about it.

Maena was so involved in her thoughts that she didn't notice Yuffie going after Cid. She didn't even notice the spectacular view ahead of her. All she could do was wonder why she was attracted to this enigmatic man Vincent after knowing him for just one day. It was like... destiny...

And then, she saw it—Cosmo Canyon. Its towers stood hodgepodge against the side of a red cliff, their thatched roofs and sweeping windmills silhouetted against the sheer cliff walls. Everything seemed homemade and natural. Maena smiled. She already liked the place. It seemed like a sanctuary.

Yuffie grabbed Maena's arm impatiently. "Come on, boobs! Let's get out there!" She ran to the edge of the deck, dragging Maena along with her.

"Somebody help me!" Maena screamed dramatically to the flight crew. "This mad ninja is going to throw m overboard!" She laughed, unable to keep up the pretense of distress.

The crew laughed.

Yuffie halted at the railing and turned to give Maena an evil grin. "Don't look down."

Maena stopped laughing. "You're kidding, right? We're not gonna jump... are we?"

Yuffie's dark eyes gleamed with what Maena was sure was insanity. "What do you think? Golly, you think I'm chicken or something?"

"No." Maena began twisting her arm in Yuffie's grasp. "But I AM!" She wrenched her arm free.

The two girls stared at each other for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"What's going on up there?" Shera called from below.

Maena bent over the railing to call down to her. "It's murder!" she screeched, her voice hoarse from laughing. "Bloody murder!" She and Yuffie collapsed to the deck in laughter.

"You're not so bad after all," Yuffie cackled. "I thought I was gonna hafta teach you a lesson. You taught me one instead!"

Maena wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. She held out her hand to Yuffie. "You're not so bad either, Yuff. Friends?"

Yuffie gave her five. "Forever, girlfriend!" she exclaimed. She nimbly hopped to her feet and pulled Maena up beside her. "And by the way, you can keep the dress. I don't much care for dresses." She eyed Maena's figure jealously. "And anyway, I'm sure you stretched it in certain areas."

"Yuffie!" Maena gave her friend a shove.

Yuffie shoved her back, nearly knocking her over.

Suddenly, Cid came up behind the girls, the sleeping Vincent in his arms. "Yuff, get your &% over to the winch and ready the basket," he ordered.

"Cid! Shame on you! Maena's not a wench! She just has big boobs!" Yuffie burst out laughing again.

"Get your tail over there, you idiot!" Cid yelled. "This is serious!"

"Aye, aye, Captain." Yuffie saluted him and rushed to lower the basket.

Cid sighed. "Silly &$%," he muttered, just loud enough for Maena to hear him.

"She's still young, after all," Maena said quietly. She grinned at Yuffie, who seemed to be having a blast preparing the basket. "I think she's pretty cool."

Cid shrugged. "Yeah. She's all right. I just come down hard on her because she reminds me of myself at that age—a silly fool."

Maena sighed. So much for convincing Cid of anything.

Cid stepped past her and set Vincent down into the basket. He turned to Maena. "Get in, lady." He reached out a hand and helped her into the basket. For some reason, marriage to Shera had changed the way he treated ladies. Well, except for Yuffie, whom he didn't consider a lady anyway. "Lower the basket, Kisaragi!" he yelled.

Yuffie saluted and commenced to follow orders.

Maena felt suddenly cold. A feeling of dread settled in the pit of her stomach. She stood shakily in the basket and looked around, anxious. Nothing seemed out of order.

"Hey, kid, what is it?" Cid was immediately alert.

Maena knelt down in the basket. "I don't know... I just have this... weird feeling. It's like something's not right. I don't know." She felt nervous, so nervous she could be sick. The feeling of dread was becoming physically painful. "Cid... something's not right."

Cid frowned. "What could it be?"

"I don't know." Maena had gone pale, her green eyes huge and feverish in her slender face. She looked at Vincent. He was sleeping peacefully.

"He's gonna be okay, if THAT's what you're worried about," Cid said kindly.

"No, no." Maena shook her head. "It's not just him I'm worried about." She gave him a level stare, chills running up her spine. "I'm worried about all of us."

Cid frowned harder, worried now himself.

Maena bit her lip. Her worry was turning into fear now. She had never been so afraid before. "I—I left my staff..."

"I got it!" Yuffie leaped down into the basket, almost tipping it over. She quickly handed over the silver staff. "What's wrong, Maena? You look kinda like you wanna puke!" She made a face. "Grossness!"

Maena wrapped her arms around the staff. "I'm afraid, Yuffie..." Her voice sounded distant. "...so afraid..."

The basket roughly hit the ground. Vincent awoke with a start. "What—what's going on!?"

"We're about to walk to Cosmo Canyon," Cid explained.

Vincent's eyes found Maena. "Maena..." His voice was weak. HE was weak. But he could tell that at this time, she was even weaker. "What is it?" His red gaze was piercing.

Maena looked up at him. "Vincent... I'm scared..." Her voice sounded young and weak and helpless. It scared Vincent. She was usually so calm and strong.

Cid stood and climbed out of the basket. "Shera!" he called to his wife. "Come help me with Vince!"

Maena and Vincent just sat there, staring at each other as Yuffie climbed out of the basket.

"Maena..."

"Vincent." Her voice was shaking now. SHE was shaking now. "Something terrible is gonna happen to us if we get out of this basket," she whispered.

Cid reached into the basket and began helping Vincent out. He glanced at Maena. "Shera, help me with Vincent. Yuffie... take care of Maena," he ordered.

Yuffie was swiftly at Maena's side. "Are you gonna get out or not?" she demanded.

Maena quickly stood. "I'm all right; I'm all right." But I won't be, she thought ominously. She joined the others outside of the basket, her eyes drawn the structure ahead—Cosmo Canyon. Looking at it made her even more afraid for some reason.

"Maena..."

She looked at Vincent, who sagged weakly between Cid and Shera.

"Maena, do you know what's wrong?"

She shook her head. "I have no clue. That makes it much worse..."

Yuffie linked her arm with Maena's. "It's okay, Maena. You've got the best fighter in the world as your friend! I'll take 'em on! Whoever they are..."

Cid nodded towards the cluster of buildings that was their destination. "Come on, let's go," he said. "Whatever happens, we can handle it."

They began walking uphill towards Cosmo Canyon.

Suddenly, Maena felt a strange energy course through her body. And her hands began to glow. There was a sudden clanging sound as a light shined around her and each of her companions, then died away.

They all stopped walking.

"The heck was that!?" Yuffie exclaimed.

"She just cast a magic barrier around all of us!" Cid replied, staring at the wizardess.

Maena was just as shocked as the others were. "My magic... It's anticipating something, so it's protecting us." She didn't know whether to be more afraid or less afraid.

"We have to keep going," Shera said. "Vincent's weakening. If we don't get there soon, he'll pass out."

Maena looked at Vincent. He smiled groggily at her. Shera was right. He didn't have much strength to go on. Maena nodded. "Well, let's keep going then."

They all started walking again.

Soon, they were climbing the steps that led to Cosmo Canyon. They could see the flickering light of the flame of Cosmo Canyon, the Cosmo Candle, a fire that was always lit.

Cid stopped at the top of the stairs, looking around, eyeing the man-made huts, the wooden ladders, and the caves carved out of the side of the canyon. He frowned, looking worried.

Maena was suddenly hit by a wave of fear that made her dizzy. "Cid?" she asked, her voice ragged with fear. "What is it?"

Cid turned to her, his blue eyes wide. "Where the &%$ is the man who's supposed to greet us here? Where is he?" He looked around. "And where is everybody else?"