A/N: I do not own final fantasy

Now and Forever

Chapter 4: Alone in the dark

"One more kiss could be the best thing
But one more lie could be the worst
And all these thoughts are never resting
And you're not something I deserve

In my head there's only you now
This world falls on me
In this world there's real and make believe
And this seems real to me

Chorus
You love me but you dont know who I am
I'm tore between this life I lead and where I stand
And you love me but you dont know who I am
So let me go
Let me go

I dream ahead to what I hope for
And I turn my back on loving you
How can this love be a good thing
When I know what I'm goin through

In my head there's only you now
This world falls on me
In this world there's real and make believe
And this seems real to me

Chorus
You love me but you dont know who I am
I'm tore between this life I lead and where I stand
You love me but you dont know who I am
So let me go
Just Let me goo...
Let me go

And no matter how hard I try
I can't escape these things inside I know
I knowww..
When all the pieces fall apart
You will be the only one who knows
Who knows

Chorus
You love me but you dont know who I am
I'm tore between this life I lead and where I stand
And you love me but you dont know Who I am
So let me go
Just let me go

and you me but you dont
you love me but you dontyou love me but you dont know who I am
and you love me but you dont
you love me but you dont
you love me but you don't know me"

3 Doors down

Vincent cursed the heavens for being so against him. When he had first left Nibelheim the weather had seem pretty calm but as he traveled on, the clouds seemed to be trying to keep him from getting anywhere.

The rain was falling in torrents now which aggravated him. Even though his hair was somewhat being tamed by his head band when the rain wasn't falling like sheets from the heavens, but now his hair was plastered to his face, trying to obscure his eyesight.

Whenever he tried to move a piece of his hair its brethren would just fall down in its place.

Drenched and cold, Vincent had to find the nearest cave to stay for the night, well at least until the rain dispersed.

The black chocobo's feathers were also sticking to him like another skin, and whence they came in from the rain, Vincent had stood in front of the cave entrance and shook all the water from his body, which made a certain someone wark with half-surprise half-anger as all the water droplets landed on the already soaked form of the chocobo.

Vincent paid no heed to the fuming chocobo as he reached into his pocket where he had a few assorted materia's in their, and pulled out the fire materia as he tried to look for a scattered few of dry wood, or sticks, anything that would keep the both of them warm.

The whole cave was pitch black, but Vincent with his in-human eyesight could see well.

The cave seemed to have been inhabited by either an animal or a person who had been stranded, like him, because of a storm.

The cave had some boulders that were against the walls, mold and moss was growing on the walls and rocks. The floor was smooth except for a scattered few humps, or dents.

Amber eyes roamed the cave as he spotted another passage way that seemed to be vaguely hidden with a tattered black sheet with leaves and moss on it to try and make it camouflage with its surroundings, but it was futile.

Gracefully walking over to the sheet, his metal tips on his shoes 'clanging' against the rock floor and reverberating off the walls, and his ebony hair swayed as his shoulders moved left from right.

Stopping in front of the odd material, he pulled it back. It revealed to him a little makeshift home.

The room had wood stacked up against the wall. Also it had a little makeshift bed laid out on the floor, but something wafted into his nostrils, it was a peculiar smell, to him it smelled like rotting flesh with fish guts attached to it just to make it more unbearable.

Albeit Vincent didn't care for the smell it still made him a little nauseous, but he would have to grin and bear it.

Coaxing himself to go further to get the wood, he sensed something, someone was watching him from the shadows, he could feel its eyes seemingly probing his mind.

He frowned and looked around for the source. There was nothing, the only things that he could see was the bed and the wood.

He shrugged off the sense of foreboding, and walked over to the wood, he lifted six of the pieces into his arms and started back to the entrance.

Scuffling could be heard from behind him, Vincent stopped walking and stood still to try and see if he would hear the sound again.

Moving his eyes left to right just to see if it was waiting in the shadows on the sides of him. Seeing nothing on either sides of him, he frowned. He knew that something was there his senses were going into overdrive which was another thing that told him something was there, not just the sudden sound.

His eyes narrowed as he didn't hear the sound again, he didn't like the waiting, to him it was to suspenseful and he would of been more happy if the thing had been just waiting for him to come out, then it wouldn't have taken long to kill it, but now he was going to have to be on full alert.

'What does this thing want from me? If that thing thinks I will tell him where Yuffie is or where she is going it can go to hell, because I would rather die then tell something that is trying to kill another person I love where SHE was!' Vincent thought as his delicate ebony brows furrowed.

His hands clasped tightly on the wood that was settled in his arms. He continued back to the main cave and threw down the wood in frustration.

Taking out his Death Penalty and resting it on the rock ground as he bent down to place the wood that was scattered around the floor, and placed it neatly in a stacked pile, he took a few of the pieces and made a Tipi-style fire.

Taking back out the fire materia that he had put back into his pocket when he found the wood, and held it into his palm as he focused all his energy onto the materia.

The materia glowed, then the flame burst out of it and glided to the wood as it lit the kindling.

The small fire illuminated the whole cave as soon as it was lit up. The chocobo scooted closer to the fire.

The fire seemed to outline the chocobo's feathers as it rested its head against its feathers and drifting into a dreamless sleep.

Vincent watched the black bird's body heave up and down as he slept soundly. Its charcoal feathers blending in with the shadows.

Hues of red, retreated their gaze from the slumbering bird to the gaping mouth of the cave.

He sighed as he never seen any alarming being out lurking around the cave. He also haven't heard or smelled the creature that was at its wake in the cave.

Vincent thought that if the creature were to attack it would have done so before, but as he sensed no movement he relaxed and sighed as he laid down on the rough ground, forgetting about the makeshift bed in the other compartment of the cave as he slowly fell to sleep clutching his rifle at his side on the ground, so that if anything had decided to come out he would be ready.

His dreams were of his beloved---- Yuffie.

Yuffie also had to retreat to a nearby shelter, because of the atrocious rain that came in torrents above her head.

Finding a nearby cave with some rotted, and dry wood in it she started a fire and waited until she was warm and took out her blanket that she had stuffed in her undersize bag, which barely held all the stuff she had in it.

She was pretty sure that it would start bursting at the seams, but to her bewilderment it had withstood all the luggage put in it.

Laying the blue, splattered green, blanket out she laid down on it resting her head on her arm to make sure she didn't have a stiff neck when she woke up because it wasn't elevated.

She laid there, hair spilling into her face as her thoughts escape her back to Vincent. She tried not to think of him since she had left, in fear that she would have turned back, but because she was this far, she didn't have to worry anymore of that.

Feeling a lump form in her throat, she instinctively tried to swallow it back down, but to no avail did it work.

Her breathing became choked and raspy as she inhaled and exhaled, it came in heavy breaths as she found herself crying at the thought of never seeing Vincent no more.

Whimpering silently as she calmed down and her intakes of breath became even as she fell into a sleep, dreaming of the one she loved----- Vincent.

A dark looming castel hovers up in the clouds, reaching out their talons to grasp the surrendering, and vulnerable clouds.

Dark cloaked figures climb the spiraling stairs up to where they're masters quarters were.

One lonesome, grotesque creature seem to stand out amongst them.

It's face oblivious to what was happening around it, because of the lack of eyes, which were replaced with black holes. It's nose had two holes that resembled where the nose should have been, it's mouth was sewn together, it's bottom lip falling apart and showing some of it's yellow and deteriorating teeth.

The only thing that could be heard coming from the monstrosity was 'Moaning' and 'groaning.' Also then this deafening shrieking that sounded like a hurt animal screeching in pain.

It had no cloak so it could easily be seen from high above, because it was surrounded by other's with cloaks.

Reaching the door the creature pushed it open, and stepped inside. The whole room was huge it was dimly lit with torches hanging on posts.

There was a red carpet laid down on the dust covered floor. At the end of this room was a throne. It was engraved with ravens with their talons rested on the arms on the chairs, there was also a lion engraved at the head of the tall seat, where a unruly and most malicious of most creatures sat waiting for its 'pet' to get near enough so he could beat it.

As the zombie-like creature neared it's master, it moaned. Then there came a booming and demanding voice as it growled, " What! What do you mean " you haven't found those 'simpletons'?"You imbecile! I laid them out on a platter for you, and you can't find them!"

The zombie-like creature seemed to shrink back into the darkness as his master bellowed at him.

It moaned in response as it seem to have gained it's composure again.

The man in a black leggings and a black overcoat that went down to his ankles, with a black T-shirt inside it.

Tattoos of snakes, wolfs, and lions were decorated on his arm all the way to his shoulder, but the only thing you could see would be a snake down by his neck right by his shoulder.

Blond hair cascaded down his face and ended below his ears.

He had his left ear pierced. A blue sapphire glistened in the faint light on his ear.

He had broad shoulders and was slightly muscular, but not enough that he was bulging.

His eyes were green but they were tainted with evil and greed. Every single one of his 'Slaves' all feared him.

He sneered at his zombie slave. " You want another chance to get them?" he cackled, holding his stomach as he laughed, his evil laughter reverberating off the walls.

"HA! What do you take me for?" he said pointing his finger at the creature as he continued. " I told you to get the girl and not come back without her, and what do you do? You come back without her!" He strictly said using hand gestures to prove his point.

The creature moaned and groaned in response. Lowering it's head down toward the floor in a bow, and crouching down on one knee still moaning.

The man in black standing now next to his throne, paced back and forth, as he seemed to be contemplating on something. Stopping in stride and turning to look down on the bowing creature.

" So you say that you know exactly where she is? Hmm... Well for once I won't kill you, but you better find her, and bring her back here alive. If you see her follower, Vincent Valentine, kill him!" He said. With that he stalked off leaving the abomination to his thoughts.

' It's been three days. What has happened to Yuffie?' Thought a stressed out Tifa. Long brown hair falling down her shoulder as she leaned on the window-sill gazing at the orange-red moon.

All the rest of they're friends had came three days ago, and has been looking for her and Vincent when they went to his mansion to find that know one was there.

If she knew Yuffie like she did, she would guess that she had run off in search for something, probably where danger would lay.

But she didn't know how right that was. With a heavy and tired sigh she pushed herself away from the window and went back down stairs to where everyone was gathered.

The 'Final haven' hadn't changed very much, it was still the same old small pub where she worked. Which had a secret hideout down stairs.

The only thing that had changed was the color of it, and everything seemed to be more brighter and fresh since she made it a smoke-free zone because of little Marlene.

The walls weren't the old brown log walls, it was painted red with a black edging. There was now a upstairs to, where Marlene's room and other rooms were, where the Avalanche members would stay when they visited.

Cid had swore his head off when he seen the sign that said 'No smoking' on the door to the ' Final haven'.

His blond hair had some silver strands in it, but he still was the same old- smoking freak- Cid who swore constantly.

Red is still the same. Barret since he lived there, he had changed, he was now more kinder, and tried not to swear to much or get mad at people and threatening to kill them, since he thought it might be a bad ' influence' on Marlene. Cait sith was still his annoying self, always bothering everyone, and yelling into his micro-phone on top of his mog, which would make a certain pilot angry and he would get a ear full of cussing, and probably a few punches from him.

Cloud who was Tifa's husband had been watching his wife for the past few days, pacing back and forth worrying about Yuffie and Vincent. He had told her continuously that they were alright but she wasn't to content with that. All of the Avalanche members had just returned a few hours ago from a taxing trip, but everybody knew that they were going to be going back out again tomorrow.

From the far end of the bar, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, Cloud watched his wife wash the counter, which was clean, again. His spiky chocobo hair had grown a little and was touching his shoulders, but it was still spiky.

Mako eyes roamed over the place, looking at everyone. Cid, Barret, and Caith sith sat around one of the tables playing poker. Red IIX curled up underneath the table listening to the group playing cards.

Adverting his eye's back to Tifa who was now washing the dishes, he sighed, and moved away from the wall and walked over to the overly-stressed Tifa.

Strong, gentle arms enclosed around her thin waist, which made her jump a little, but she soon relaxed when she realized it was her husband.

She sighed heavily as she leaned against him after she had put down the dish towel on the counter top.

Long brown locks were tamed in a loose ponytail at the end of her hair. Hazel eyes were full of worry and stress, eyebrows creased into a frown as she kept worrying about her friends.

Clouds deep comforting voice awakened her from her thoughts as he said he a calm soothing voice.

" Tiff, stop worrying. They'll be alright. Vincent is with Yuffie he'll make sure she doesn't get herself into much trouble." Cloud was oblivious to the fact that Vincent was actually looking for Yuffie.

Holding Tifa more tightly to him, he breathed a sigh and rested his head in the nook of her neck, and pressed his lips against the soft creamy-color skin, in a reassuring gesture.

Tifa knew that he was only trying to comfort her, but she couldn't shake the foreboding feeling that kept popping its head up just to irritate her.

She was mentally and physically exhausted, but she couldn't get herself to go to sleep, just thinking that they could be in a lot of trouble, or even worse...killed.

Stifling a yawn she turned around in Clouds arms and looked up at him with tired, loving eyes. Cloud smiling reassuringly at her as he planted a soft passionate kiss on her lips.

She kissed him back, as she started to relax, and all her thoughts seem to stop their racing, making her feel calm, as she pulled away from Cloud returning his smile, and hugging him tightly as she did.

Arms still wrapped around his tired wife, he kissed the top of her head as she clung to him like a little girl who's dog had just died.

" Why don't me and you go up to bed, because you need your rest Tiff, there's no need in worrying, because they are alright ok? So lets go on upstairs and get some well earned sleep? And will look for Vincent and Yuffie again tomorrow, but lets go get some sleep" He asked with love for his wife dripping from his voice, and as he reassured her that they would look again tomorrow after everybody was rested up.

He felt her shift her head slightly to look up at him again, as he gave him a lopsided-tired smile.

Taking that as a 'Yes' he released her and took her hand and headed towards the stairs, but stopping to tell everybody to get some sleep. He was rewarded with relieved sighs as everybody got up and went to their rooms, they're shoulders hanging low from they're taxing trip looking for Vincent and Yuffie, which they had returned with nothing, and said that they would look again tomorrow.

Walking up the stairs, his hand still clasp in Tifa's hand as he dragged her up to the room where they would blissfully greet sleep with open arms.

Alarms went off in his head as his eyes snapped open just in time to see the walking dead standing over him with a rock in his arms, held above its faceless head, in position to crush his preys head.

Swiftly moving to the side as the rock just missed his head. Clutching his 'Death penalty' to him as he raised it up and pointed at the creature. Point blank. It should have killed the creature because it had hit him between the eyes, a liquid oozing out of the wound. The creature seemed unfazed as it charged at Vincent with incredible speed that any person would think it was impossible for something like this creature to posses such speed.

Dropping his long-range gun to the floor, and dropping into a fighting position. His claw held out in front of his face as his right hand was at his side. Looking through the huge-metal digits as he flexed them, and watched as the abomination raced towards him.

Eyes intense with a fire of anger burning in it's depths as he swiped his claw out and gashed the zombie-like creature across the face. Unfazed, it swiftly punched Vincent in the mouth.

Feeling his head snap to the side from the force of the blow, and tasting blood in his mouth. Turning his blood-red gaze back towards the creature and returning the blow and knocking it down on it's back and sliding across the floor.

Getting back to it's feet, and reaching in it's ravaged shirt pocket, he pulled out a small red orb.

Glistening in the faint light of the moon, as the creature seemed to be concentrating on the small orb.

It glowed faintly, and before Vincent could move a barrage of hot-white flames engulfed his form.

Burned him and his clothes, singed some of his hair, before the magical-energy faded, leaving a smoking, slumped over Vincent.

Anger seething through as he fought back the demon, whom of which, was trying to tear down his barriers.

Flashes of Yuffie's body on the ground in a heap of blood raced through his mind, as the last of his barriers collapsed.

Head in hands, as he cringed with pain. A tug on his shoulder blades, then a ripping of flesh could be heard. Hot liquid slowly flowing from the wounds between his shoulder blades.

Agonizing pain rain through his entire body as he shot up straight when jet black, bat-like wings sprouted from his back.

Eye's turning blood red, pupils gone, ebony hair fading replaced with a black, bald, head.

Ears on the side on his head disappearing replaced on the top of his head, looking like black horns.

His whole body and clothes gone, leaving behind one of the most feared demon's in the entire universe–Chaos.

Inhuman shriek shook the earth. Chaos looked at his prey, and grinned, looking like a fallen angel, but more devil-like.

Blood-red eyes showed no mercy for the cowering creature. Lifting his hands in the air, and rising above the floor with a ' whoosh' of his wings. Chaos generated all his power into his hands as they started to glow with a ring of light. It shot forth, taking the zombie-like creature by surprise as it shuddered, and let out a pained moan, as it was engulfed in the light.

Chaos still grinning landed on the floor lightly, emerging victorious after killing the monstrosity.

Standing with his arms cross as he internally talked with his 'Master'.

'That weak excuse for a creature didn't stand a chance against me!' He thought with pride in himself which earned him a growl from his very pissed off 'Master'.

' Demon I would have vanquished that disgusting thing, if you hadn't interrupted me!' Vincent snarled and continued demandingly. 'Now demon, give me my body back!'

Chaos seemed to think about this for a minute before he came up with his decision. ' I don't know.. I like it like this, where I'm in control.' smirking at his response.

' Demon, if you do not let me back into my body now, I'll have you removed!' Vincent snarled.

Chaos shuddered at his comment, angrily sighed in defeat. Besides he would rather live then to be stuck in a jar again.

' Fine. But I want you to promise me next time your in danger, let me fight.' He mentally asked Vincent.

' As long as you don't hurt any of my friends, when you are out.' Vincent replied.

Chaos smirked, as he knew all to well who he really didn't want him hurting. That was none other then Vincent's beloved Yuffie.

' Fine.' Was his response. Searing pain went through his body as his clawed hands went unconsciously to his head, holding it in pain.

Chaos fading being replaced by a very tired and tattered Vincent. Hands still clutched to his head as the pain faded to a slight stinging.

Straightening up slowly, and dropping his hands from his head, Vincent looked around to see that his chocobo had ran away in a fright. Luckily Vincent had everything he needed. Still dark out, and Vincent very exhausted from transforming into Chaos and re-transforming back into himself, he laid himself back down on his makeshift bed, with ease, minding his cuts.

He managed to lay himself gently down but still cringed from the slight pain in his shoulders as he lay on his back.

Relaxing a little, knowing that know one else would come for him, but if they did his gun was only a foot away from him, so he didn't worry to much about that as he did about the person he was searching for.

Closing his eye's he drifted off into a now dreamless sleep, his senses still alert for any impending threat.

Wake up,
Grab a brush and put a little (makeup),
Grab a brush and put a little,
Hide the scars to fade away the (shakeup)
Hide the scars to fade away the,
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table?
Here you go create another fable

You wanted to,
Grab a brush and put a little makeup,
You wanted to,
Hide the scars to fade away the shakeup,
You wanted to,
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table,
You wanted to,

I don't think you trust,
In, my, self righteous suicide,
I, cry, when angels deserve to die, Die,

Wake up,
Grab a brush and put a little (makeup),
Grab a brush and put a little,
Hide the scars to fade away the (shakeup)
Hide the scars to fade away the,
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table?
Here you go create another fable

You wanted to,
Grab a brush and put a little makeup,You wanted to,
Hide the scars to fade away the shakeup,
You wanted to,
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table,
You wanted to,

I don't think you trust,
In, my, self righteous suicide,
I, cry, when angels deserve to die
In my, self righteous suicide,
I, cry, when angels deserve to die

Father, Father, Father, Father,
Father/ Into your hands/I/commend my spirit,
Father, into your hands,

Why have you forsaken me,
In your eyes forsaken me,
In your thoughts forsaken me,
In your heart forsaken, me oh,

Trust in my self righteous suicide,
I, cry, when angels deserve to die,
In my self righteous suicide,
I, cry, when angels deserve to die.

Chop suey

by: System of a down

A/N:This chappie was a lot better then most of my other ones, in my opinion that is.

I'm going to change a couple things on the first and second chappie, because I read them over and they weren't that good, so yeah...

But anywayz R&R please? BYE!

Karina